Planetary Tubing Cutter

A planetary tubing cutter, comprising:

• a. a first rotational drive element having a passage axially through the center thereof;
• b. a second rotational drive element having a passage axially through the center thereof and being mounted coaxially with the first rotational drive element;
• c. means for causing the first and second drive elements to rotate;
• d. a plurality of rotationally driven elements mounted to engage the first and second drive elements such that when the first and second drive elements rotate synchronously, the driven elements do not rotate relative to the first and second drive elements, and when the first and second drive elements rotate non-synchronously, the driven elements rotate relative to the first and second drive elements;
• and
• e. a blade fixedly mounted to each of the driven elements and residing in a plane substantially perpendicular to the passage.

A planetary tubing cutter, comprising:

• a. a first rotational drive element having a passage formed axially therethrough;
• b. a second rotational drive element having a passage formed axially therethrough, wherein the first and the second rotational drive elements are coaxial;
• c. a plurality of driven elements mounted to the first rotational drive element for movement therewith, the plurality of driven elements in contact with a portion of the second rotational drive element such that when the first and second rotational drive elements are rotated in the same direction at a synchronous speeds, the plurality of driven elements do not rotate relative to the first and second rotational drive elements, and when the first and second rotational drive elements are rotated in the same direction at non non-synchronous speeds, the plurality of driven elements rotate relative to the first and second rotational drive elements;
• d. a plurality of blades, each blade extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of driven elements for rotation therewith, the blades sized such that when the plurality of driven elements are rotated relative to the first and second rotational drive elements, the blades are rotated to intersect and cut tubing as the tubing passes through the axial passages of the first and second rotational drive elements.