Method for cutting a boiler tube and apparatus therefor

A tube cutter apparatus for cutting a tube into two, wherein the tube is constrained against rotation and only a circumferential segment thereof is generally accessible prior to cutting the tube, said tube cutter apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• clamp means mounted on said frame for clamping said frame to only a portion of an accessible circumferential segment of a tube to be cut such that said frame and the tube are constrained from rotational movement relative one another, said clamp means including a plurality of contact edges to contact the tube exterior wall, said contact edges defining an arcuate surface having a radius generally conforming to the circumferential portion of the tube to which said frame is clamped;
• slide means movably mounted on said frame for free-sliding movement relative said frame in a straight line path towards and away from the circumferential segment of the tube when said frame is clamped thereto;
• motor means mounted for movement with said slide means for providing rotation;
• and
• a grinding wafer having a circular outer cutting periphery, said wafer coupled to said motor means for rotation thereby and movement therewith, said motor means mounted to said slide means such that said wafer periphery is rotatable and movable in a movement plane parallel a plane of cut to be made through the tube and into and out of cutting engagement with the tube as said slide means is moved towards and away from the circumferential segment of the tube when said frame is clamped thereto whereby to cut the tube into two in said movement plane with said cutting periphery without relative rotation between said frame and the tube and without grippingly engaging a generally nonaccessible portion of the tube opposite the circumferential portion to which said frame is clamped.

A tube cutter apparatus for cutting a tube into two, wherein the tube is constrained against rotation and only a circumferential segment thereof is generally accessible prior to cutting the tube, said tube cutter apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• clamp means adjustably mounted on said frame for clamping said frame to only a portion of an accessible circumferential segment of a tube to be cut such that said frame and the tube are constrained from rotational movement relative one another;
• slide means movably mounted on said frame for free-sliding movement along said frame in a straight line path towards and away from the circumferential segment of the tube when said frame is clamped thereto;
• motor means mounted for movement with said slide means for providing rotation;
• a grinding wafer having a circular outer cutting periphery, said wafer coupled to said motor means for rotation thereby and movement therewith, said motor means mounted to said slide means such that said wafer periphery is rotatable and movable in a movement plane parallel a plane of cut to be made through the tube and into and out of cutting engagement with the tube as said slide means is moved towards and away from the circumferential portion when said frame is clamped thereto, whereby to cut the tube into two in said movement plane with said cutting periphery without relative rotation between said frame and the tube and without grippingly engaging a generally nonaccessible portion of the tube opposite the circumferential portion to which said frame is clamped;
• and
• adjustment means for selectively adjustably positioning said frame relative to said clamp means when said frame is clamped to the tube whereby to adjust said movement plane towards and away from said plane of cut.

A method of cutting a tube into two, wherein said tube is constrained against rotation and only a circumferential segment thereof is generally accessible prior to cutting said tube, said method comprising:

• clamping a frame to only a portion of said circumferential segment such that said frame and said tube are constrained from rotational movement relative one another;
• movably mounting a slide means on said frame for free-sliding movement along said frame in a straight line path towards and away from said circumferential segment of said tube;
• coupling a grinding wafer having a circular outer cutting periphery to a selectively energizable motor means for rotation thereby and movement therewith,
• mounting said motor means for movement with said slide means such that said wafer periphery is rotatable and movable in a movement plane parallel a plane of cut to be made through said tube and into and out of cutting engagement with said tube as said slide means is moved towards and away from said circumferential segment when said frame is clamped to said tube and said motor is energized;
• mounting combination slide control/switch means to said slide means, said motor means being energized by application of pressure to said combination means, such that when pressure is applied to said combination means to energize said motor means said slide means will be caused to be moved toward said circumferential segment;
• and
• applying pressure to energize said motor means and causing movement of said slide means towards said circumferential segment to cut said tube into two in said movement plane with said cutting periphery without relative rotation between said frame and said tube and without grippingly engaging a generally nonaccessible portion of said tube opposite said circumferential portion to which said frame is clamped.

A method of cutting a tube into two, wherein said tube is constrained against rotation and only a circumferential segment thereof is generally accessible prior to cutting said tube, said method comprising:

• clamping a frame to only a portion of said circumferential segment such that said frame and said tube are constrained from rotational movement relative one another;
• movably mounting a slide means on said frame for free-sliding movement along said frame in a straight line path towards and away from said circumferential segment of said tube;
• coupling a grinding wafer having a circular outer cutting periphery to a motor means for rotation thereby and movement therewith,
• mounting said motor means for movement with said slide means such that said wafer periphery is rotatable and movable in a movement plane parallel a plane of cut to be made through said tube and into and out of cutting engagement with said tube as said slide means is moved towards and away from said circumferential segment when said frame is clamped thereto;
• providing adjustment means for selectively adjustably positioning said frame relative said tube without unclamping said frame from said tube;
• adjusting said movement plane towards and away from said plane of cut;
• and
• moving said slide means towards said circumferential segment whereby to cut said tube into two in said movement plane with said cutting periphery without relative rotation between said frame and said tube and without grippingly engaging a generally nonaccessible portion of said tube opposite said circumferential segment to which said frame is clamped.