Cutting/expanding tool

A tool comprising:

• a support body having a guide side and a cutting side;
• first and second guide rollers mounted in tandem along a longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side of the support body;
• and
• a cutter mounted between said first and second guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body,
• wherein said first guide roller includes a peaked guide surface adapted to form a guide groove, and
• wherein said second guide roller is mounted rearwardly of said first guide roller and includes a cusp adapted to track the groove formed by said first guide roller.

A tool for cutting and expanding a main, comprising:

• a cylindrical support body having a guide side and an opposed cutting side;
• a first guide roller including a surface means shaped for forming a guide groove mounted along a longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side of the support body;
• a second guide roller mounted in tandem with the first guide roller along the longitudinal axis on the guide side of the support body including a surface means shaped for tracking the formed guide groove;
• a first cutting wheel mounted rearwardly of said first guide roller;
• a second cutting wheel mounted rearwardly of said first cutting wheel, said second cutting wheel having a diameter larger than that of said first cutting wheel;
• and
• an expander connected to said support body and rearwardly thereof.

A tool for cutting and expanding a main, comprising:

• a cylindrical support body having a guide side and an opposed cutting side;
• first and second guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of said support body on said guide side;
• a first cutting wheel mounted rearwardly of said first guide roller;
• a second cutting wheel mounted rearwardly of said first cutting wheel, said second cutting wheel having a diameter larger than that of said first cutting wheel;
• and
• an expander connected to said support body and rearwardly thereof,
• wherein said first guide roller includes a peaked guide surface adapted to form a guide groove, and
• wherein said second guide roller is mounted rearwardly of said first guide roller and includes a cusp adapted to track the groove formed by said first guide roller.

A method for cutting and expanding a main, comprising the steps of:

• forming a guiding groove on the upper inner surface of said main with a surface of a first guide roller of a cutting/expanding tool;
• cutting through the lower, inner surface of said main with the cutting/expanding tool;
• tracking along the guiding groove formed by the surface of the first guide roller of the cutting/expanding tool with a surface of a second guide roller of the cutting/expanding tool located rearwardly of the first guide roller so as to prevent substantial rotation of the cutting/expanding tool;
• and
• expanding the main along the guiding groove formed by the cutting/expanding tool.