Clamp for in-line fixture
AssigneeSloan Valve Company
InventorsRichard Nortier, Mark Gutting-Kilzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for creating a hole in a tube. The tube includes a saddle clamp positioned thereon. The saddle clamp has a threaded cutting chamber, and the cutting device is insertable and engageable with the threaded saddle clamp, the cutting device having a cutting edge. The cutting device is engageable with the cutting chamber to axially move therethrough towards the tube as the blade device is rotated.
Claims18
A system for cutting a hole in a tubular material, comprising:
- a saddle clamp having a front strap and a rear strap, engageable with each other to form a ring such that tubular material is disposable therethrough;
- the front strap having a cutting chamber defining a passage through the front strap to an interior of the ring, the cutting chamber having an interior wall which is threaded;
- and
- a cutting device having a tubular shape with a plurality of cutting edges at a first end;
- wherein the cutting device is engagable with the cutting chamber such that rotation of the cutting device will rotate the plurality of cutting edges about a point while the cutting device moves laterally through the cutting chamber.
A method for cutting a hole in a tube comprising:
- positioning a front strap of a saddle clamp on a tube, the front strap having a cutting chamber aligned with an intended area for a hole;
- attaching a rear strap of the saddle clamp to the front strap, the tube being disposed therebetween;
- inserting a cutting device into the cutting chamber of the front strap, the cutting device having a first end with a cutting edge and a threaded sidewall;
- rotating the cutting device about a longitudinal axis, moving the cutting device laterally though the cutting chamber of the front strap and rotating the cutting edge about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- engaging the cutting edge with the tube and cutting a circular hole in the tube.
A clamp for joining a secondary tube to a tube through a hole in the tube's sidewall, the clamp comprising:
- a saddle clamp having a front strap and a back strap engageable with each other, the tube disposed therebetween,
- the front strap having a threaded cutting chamber passing therethrough substantially perpendicular to the tube;
- and
- a cutting device having threads for engaging the threaded chamber, the cutting device comprising at least three cutting edges positioned at one end, proximate the tube
- wherein the tube is in fluid communication with the secondary tube through the hole created by the cutting device.
A cutting device comprising:
- a first end and a second end with a cylindrical body positioned therebetween;
- the first end having a plurality of teeth, each of the teeth having at least one cutting edge with the plurality of cutting edges defining a circular cutting path of the cutting device when rotated, the circle centered about a longitudinal axis of the device;
- and
- each cutting edge comprising a first curvilinear cutting edge positioned at a first angle with respect to a lateral axis of the cutting device and a second curvilinear cutting edge positioned at a second angle with respect to the lateral axis of the cutting device, the first angle being less than the second angle,
- wherein the cutting device is engagable with a material whereupon rotation of the cutting device about its longitudinal axis cuts a hole in the material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.