Plasma arc pipe cutting apparatus
OwnerDonato L. Ricciinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plasma arc pipe cutting apparatus incorporates a plasma arc torch adjustably coupled to a motor-driven ring which transports the torch in an orbit about the pipe to be cut. The apparatus includes a pipe clamping fixture allowing the pipe to be cut to be concentrically mounted within the ring so that the gap between the electrode of the plasma arc torch and the work piece remains constant through the orbital travel of the torch.
Claims13
An apparatus for circumferentially cutting metal pipes of a predetermined outer diameter and wall thickness to desired lengths, comprising:
- (a) a stand having a base and a pair of support members extending upwards from said base;
- (b) a first ring member having an inner diameter greater than the predetermined outer diameter of a pipe to be cut, the first ring member being coupled to the pair of upright members;
- (c) a second ring member having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the pipe to be cut;
- (d) means for journaling the second ring member to the first ring member for rotation in a plane parallel to the first ring member;
- (e) a plasma arc cutting torch affixed to and rotatable with the second ring member;
- (f) means adapted to concentrically support the pipe to be cut within a central opening of the first and second ring members;
- (g) drive means affixed to the first ring member and coupled in driving relation to the second ring member;
- and
- (h) control means synchronized with the drive means for controlling the ignition and extinguishing of the plasma arc cutting torch and including means responsive to the plasma arc cutting torch penetrating through the wall of the pipe to be cut for energizing the drive means, and means responsive to the rotation of the plasma arc cutting torch through a predetermined angle in excess of 360.degree. for extinguishing the cutting torch and reversing the drive means.
A method for circumferentially cutting off segments from a tubular pipe, comprising the steps of:
- (a) mounting a plasma arc cutting torch on an annular ring that is journaled for rotation about a center line extending perpendicular to a plane containing said annular ring;
- (b) concentrically locating the pipe to be cut within the annular ring;
- (c) directing the plasma arc cutting torch at an exterior wall of the pipe to be cut;
- and
- (d) initiating rotation of said annular ring about said center line through a predetermined angle of at least 360.degree. upon penetration of a plasma arc from the plasma arc cutting torch through the exterior wall of the pipe to be cut;
- and at a predetermined speed sufficient to allow continued penetration of a plasma arc produced by the plasma arc cutting torch through the exterior wall of the pipe to be cut;
- and
- (e) reversing the direction of rotation and extinguishing the cutting torch when the annular ring completes rotation through the predetermined angle.
An apparatus for circumferentially cutting metal pipes of a predetermined outer diameter and wall thickness to desired lengths, comprising:
- (a) a stand having a base and a pair of support members extending upwards from said base;
- (b) a first ring member having an inner diameter greater than the predetermined outer diameter of a pipe to be cut, the first ring member being coupled to the pair of upright members;
- (c) a second ring member having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the pipe to be cut;
- (d) means for journaling the second ring member to the first ring member for rotation in a plane parallel to the first ring member;
- (e) a plasma arc cutting torch affixed to and rotatable with the second ring member;
- (f) means adapted to concentrically support the pipe to be cut within a central opening of the first and second ring members;
- (g) drive means affixed to the first ring member and coupled in driving relation to the second ring member;
- and
- (h) control means synchronized with the drive means and responsive to a plasma arc of the plasma arc cutting torch penetrating through the wall of the pipe to be cut for energizing the drive means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.