Gear cutting – milling – or planing – Milling – Means for internal milling
Patent
1998-03-13
1999-09-14
Howell, Daniel W.
Gear cutting, milling, or planing
Milling
Means for internal milling
166 55, 166 552, 166 558, 166297, 408 79, 408102, 408138, 409185, B23C 130
Patent
active
059512210
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to apparatus for in-pipe use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to remotely drill or mill a hole in a pipe wall using an in-pipe device the drill bit must be aligned at right angles to the axis of the pipe and a means of reacting the load exerted on the drill against the pipe wall must be provided. Most existing in-pipe machines are designed to operate in pipes sufficiently large that the inclusion of a separate actuator specifically to provide a reaction support is feasible. In smaller pipes such an actuator is difficult to accommodate, therefore there was a need to consider an alternative approach.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has particular application to cutting a hole through a liner composed of polymeric material, such as polyethylene, in a relatively small diameter gas main but the invention is applicable quite generally for example to larger gas mains and to water and sewage pipes whether the main or pipe contains a liner or not. In such a liner, the hole is aligned with a lateral offtake pipe, known as a service pipe, leading to a dwelling or commercial property. The invention is not restricted to cutting a hole as other operations are envisaged such as milling or grinding or drilling, for example, and in this specification the words "work-performing device" are intended to embrace a device which performs one of those operations at least.
According to the invention, apparatus for in-pipe use includes a body and a work-performing device which is advanceable and retractable relatively to said body in a direction transverse to the length of said body, said apparatus comprising a mechanism which is actuatable in response to advance of said device to advance support means, said mechanism thereafter being effective to prevent retraction of said support means while allowing further advance of said device.
The support means may comprise two support legs on opposite sides of said direction.
The support means preferably comprises four support legs, two being on one side of said direction and two being on the opposite side of said direction.
Said support leg in each case preferably comprises a master leg advanceable by one of said mechanisms and a slave leg with a compression spring arranged between the master and slave legs, said slave leg leads said master leg during advance of the legs then, after said slave legs have engaged the inner surface of said pipe, said master leg continues to be advanced to compress said spring but said master leg does not advance as far as said slave leg.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of the apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus, with parts removed for clarity;
FIG. 3 is a vertical section on the line III--III in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow IV in FIG. 3 with parts removed for clarity;
FIG. 5 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow V in FIG. 3 with parts removed for clarity;
FIG. 6 is a vertical section on the line VI--VI in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 7 is a view of the underside of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 to 7 show apparatus consisting of a body 10 (FIG. 1) which is intended in use to form one module of a train of modules which are inserted in a pipeline such as a gas main, for example. The train is self-propelled by means (not shown) and supported by wheels (not shown). The body 10 is intended to be provided with a structure for supporting a work-performing device (not shown) such as a cutter, for example. The structure comprises a platform 12, which is movable while remaining parallel to itself relatively to the body 10 by means of two ball-screws 14. Thus, the device is advanceable and retractable relatively to the body 10 in a direction transverse to the length of the body 10. The length is parallel to the arrow A in FIG.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4986314 (1991-01-01), Himmler
patent: 5046903 (1991-09-01), Nagayoshi et al.
patent: 5088553 (1992-02-01), Ralston et al.
patent: 5105882 (1992-04-01), Ralston et al.
patent: 5197540 (1993-03-01), Yagi et al.
patent: 5378092 (1995-01-01), Griner
patent: 5799729 (1998-09-01), Breckwoldt et al.
BG plc
Howell Daniel W.
Smith Monica
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