Pipe rotator assembly
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsWalter A. Onushko, Michael J. Tuma, Joseph J. Fulop, Daniel R. White, Kevin R. Gee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe rotator assembly includes a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable, and a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the wheel. The pipe rotator assembly additionally includes a drive shaft coupled to the wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the wheel to rotate, and a drive unit for providing torque to the drive shaft. The drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor.
Claims19
A pipe rotator assembly comprising:
- a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable;
- a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the wheel;
- a drive shaft coupled to the wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the wheel to rotate;
- and
- a drive unit for providing torque to the drive shaft, wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor, and wherein the drive unit further includes a chuck drivably coupled to the motor.
A pipe rotator assembly comprising:
- a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable;
- a first wheel and a second wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the first and second wheels;
- a gearbox including an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein the output shaft is coupled to the first wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the first wheel to rotate;
- and
- a drive unit for providing torque to the output shaft, wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor, and wherein the drive unit includes a chuck drivably coupled to the motor;
- wherein the drive unit provides a first rotational speed to the input shaft and the gearbox provides a second rotational speed to the output shaft, and wherein the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.
A method of supporting a pipe during a pipe beveling operation, the method comprising:
- positioning a first end of the pipe within a cradle of a pipe rotator assembly;
- connecting a chuck of a drive unit to a shaft of the pipe rotator assembly, wherein the chuck is drivably coupled to a motor of the drive unit;
- and
- activating the drive unit, thereby causing the drive unit to impart torque to the shaft and a wheel on the cradle upon which the pipe is supported, thereby causing the wheel and the pipe to rotate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.