Universal pipe lathe

A universal lathe for performing plural diverse cutting operations on pipe and the like, comprising, in combination:

• clamping means for affixing said lathe to the pipe,
• a first stationary ring member interposed between said clamping means and said lathe,
• a second rotating ring overlying said first ring and supported thereon, cutting means disposed on said second ring,
• drive means carried on said first ring having an output means including a housing with an opening near said output means,
• a ring gear carried on said second rotating ring meshing with said output means through said opening,
• and a sealing area between said second ring and said housing at said opening whereby said second ring can be driveably rotated but said ring gear and said output means remain free from external contaminents, a follower means operatively associated with said cutting means adapted to advance said cutting means including at least one cam surface on said first stationary ring member, said follower means disposed on said second rotaing ring member oriented to travel over said cam surface, and fluidic pulse means extending between said follower means and said cutting means whereby fluidic pulses generated by said follower traveling over said cam surface similarly indexes said cutting means by advancement thereof by indexing means.

A universal lathe for performing plural diverse cutting operations on pipe and the like, comprising, in combination:

• clamping means for affixing said lathe to the pipe,
• a first stationary ring member interposed between said clamping means and said lathe,
• a second rotating ring member overlying a portion of first ring and supported thereon along a bottom face of said second ring,
• drive means on said first ring including an output means,
• a ring gear on a first side face of said second ring member in meshing engagement with said output means,
• and cutting means on a second opposed side face of said second ring member whereby when said secnd ring member rotates, said cutting means engages the pipe, whereby said cutting means includes indexing means and follower means to advance said cutting means on the pipe, wherein said second ring is supported on said first ring by roller means depending from said second ring and riding in a trough on said first ring, said first and second rings are each formed from two sections defining junctures which are divided along a chord line to allow said lathe to encompass a section of pipe along its length thereof and said ring sections are each attached by means of hinges at each section defined by an apertured bifuracted yoke on one said section which sandwiches an apertured tongue at the other said section and fastens thereto by a pin extending through said apertures, wherein said drive means comprises a fluidic drive motor disposed along a radial line of said rings on the outer circumference thereof, said output means includes a drive shaft extending downwardly from said motor and terminates in a truncated conical gear, wherein said follower means comprises at least one said cam surface provided on a side face of said first ring member nearest said second side face of said second ring member, and said second ring member rotatably carries thereon said follower means oriented to travel over said cam surface, said follower means advancing said cutting means through said indexing means, wherein said follower means comprises:
• a follower support block, a biased cam follower shaft having a follower thereon carried on said follower support block, a bell crank fixedly mounted on said cam follower shaft, a fluidic master cylinder carried on said follower support block having a plunger means addressing said bell crank, whereby rotation of said follower over said cam surface causes said bell crank to depress said plunger means thereby providing a fluid pulse to said indexing means.

A universal lathe for performing plural diverse cutting operations on pipe and the like, comprising, in combination:

• clamping means for affixing said lathe to the pipe,
• a first stationary ring member interposed between said clamping means and said lathe,
• a second rotating ring overlying said first ring and supported thereon having cutting means disposed on said second ring,
• drive means carried on said first ring having an output means including a housing with an opening near said output means,
• a ring gear carried on said second rotating ring meshing with said output means through said opening,
• and a sealing area between said second ring and said housing at said opening whereby said second ring can be drivably rotated but said ring gear and said output means remain free from external contaminents,
• wherein said drive means comprises at leat one fluidic drive motor disposed along a radial line of said rings on the outer circumference thereof, wherein said output means includes a drive shaft extending downwardly from said motor and terminates in a truncated conical gear, said housing includes a top, bottom and back wall surrounding said truncated conical gear and front wall which occludes said drive shaft, said sealing means comprises an annular joint seal extending between said front wall and said second ring, disposed within a slot on said front wall, wherein said second adjustable ring is supported on said first ring by means of plural rollers depending from said second ring and riding in a trough on said first ring, wherein said first and second rings are each formed from two sections defining junctures which are divided along a chord line to allow said lathe to encompass a section of pipe along its length thereof and said ring sections are each attached by means of hinge pins at each section defined by an apertured tongue at one said section, a bifurcated apertured yoke on another section and fastens thereto by said hinge pins extending through the apertures, and follower means comprising at leat one said cam surface provided on a side face of said first ring member nearest said second side face of said second ring member, and said second ring member rotatably carries thereon said follower means oriented to travel over said cam surface, said follower means advancing said cutting means through indexing means, wherein said follower means comprises:
• a follower support block, a biased cam follower shaft having a follower thereon carried on said follower support block, a bell crank fixedly mounted on said cam follower shaft, a fluidic master cylinder carried on said follower support block having plunger means addressing said bell crank, whereby rotation of said follower over said cam surface causes said bell crank to depress said plunger means thereby providing a fluid pulse to said indexing means.