Metal deforming – With cutting – By composite tool
Patent
1995-08-02
1997-09-16
Crane, Daniel C.
Metal deforming
With cutting
By composite tool
72367, 7245316, 7245302, B21D 2820
Patent
active
056668481
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for cutting pipes or tubes, particularly, but not exclusively, pipes or tubes which have been used to convey hazardous material.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
When dismantling pipework which has been used to convey hazardous material, such as radioactive fluids used in the nuclear industry, it is desirable to put each pipe so that the two ends of the cut pipe are closed. This prevents the escape of any harmful contaminants that may be contained in the pipe.
It is known to sever pipes by means of a hydraulically-powered cutting tool which is provided with a crimping attachment designed to compress the pipe at the region to be cut. After compressing the pipe, the crimping attachment is removed and replaced by a cutting blade. The cutting blade is then operated to cut through the compressed region, leaving sealed pipe ends on either side of the cut to prevent the escape of contaminants.
A disadvantage with this known pipe cutting tool is the necessity to remove the crimping attachment and replace it with the cutting blade. This is particularly disadvantageous when cutting pipes in hazardous environments, such as a radioactive environment found in the nuclear industry, where it is necessary for the operative to wear protective clothing. During the exchange of the crimping attachment and cutting blade it is possible that one of these items could damage the protective clothing. It will be apparent that the leakage of harmful substances through the damaged clothing causes a threat to the health of the operative. Therefore, in addition to being a time consuming operation, the requirement to exchange the crimping attachment and cutting blade is very undesirable from a safety aspect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a pipe crimping and cutting device which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantage.
According to the invention there is provided a device for crimping and cutting a pipe or similar component, the device comprising a frame, means defined by the frame to provide an anvil for locating a pipe to be cut, crimping means mounted on said frame, said crimping means having a passage formed therein and being movable towards said anvil to produce a compressed region in a pipe located by the anvil, and a cutting blade adapted for movement through said passage towards the anvil so as to cut through the pipe at said compressed region.
Preferably, the crimping means and the cutting blade are each movable towards the anvil along the same axis.
The crimping means may be moved by operation of a first fluid-operated actuator and the cutting blade is moved by operation of a second fluid-operated actuator.
Advantageously, the first actuator and the second actuator are arranged coaxially on the frame.
Preferably, the second actuator is mounted between the first actuator and the anvil, the second actuator being operatively connected to the crimping means and the first actuator being operatively connected to the second actuator, whereby operation of the first actuator causes the second actuator to move the crimping means towards the anvil.
In a preferred embodiment the second actuator comprises a fluid-actuated piston operatively connected to the cutting blade.
The crimping means may comprise a generally cylindrical body having an end surface facing the anvil, the passage comprising a diametral rectangular slot extending into the crimping means from said end surface.
The passage preferably opens into a recess formed within the crimping means, the device further comprising blade fixture means to provide a connection between the piston of the second actuator and the cutting blade, the recess serving as a guideway for the blade fixture means.
The anvil preferably comprises two substantially parallel web portions separated by channel means, the arrangement being such that the channel means receives the cutting blade when said blade cuts through the pipe.
The frame may comprise a generally tubular body portion
REFERENCES:
patent: 4516593 (1985-05-01), Muto
patent: 4790168 (1988-12-01), Vonthien
British Nuclear Fuels PLC
Crane Daniel C.
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