Rapidly retractable tool support for a pipe machining apparatus
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorRoy C. Coakley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Pipe machining apparatuses, tool supports, and methods of operating pipe machining apparatuses are provided. In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame, and a tool support coupled to and movable with the tool carrier relative to the frame. The tool support is adapted to support a tool and move the tool in a first direction toward a pipe at a first increment and move the tool in a second direction away from the pipe at a second increment. The second increment is larger than the first increment.
Claims6
A method of operating a tool support, the method comprising:
- providing a tool clamp adapted to support a tool;
- moving a worm gear to a first position;
- coupling the worm gear with a feed screw in the first position;
- rotating the worm gear in a first worm gear direction to rotate the feed screw;
- moving the tool clamp along the feed screw to move the tool in a first tool direction upon rotating the worm gear in the first worm gear direction;
- rotating the worm gear in a second worm gear direction to rotate the feed screw;
- moving the tool clamp along the feed screw to move the tool in a second tool direction upon rotating the worm gear in the second worm gear direction;
- moving the worm gear to a second position;
- uncoupling the worm gear from the feed screw in the second position;
- and
- rotating the feed screw independently of the worm gear with the worm gear in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.