US 6,189,425 B1Granted

Rapid end prep lathe

AssigneeDonato L. Ricci

InventorsDonato L. Ricci, Brent Place

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Abstract

A rapid set-up end prep lathe for machining piping and piping components in the field comprises a mandrel mountable to the internal diameter of a tubular workpiece and with the ability to rapidly establish a concentric orientation of the mandrel with the workpiece. Mounted on the mandrel is an annular housing that is longitudinally displaceable along the mandrel. It supports a gear ring carrying either one or two tool feed assemblies thereon for orbital and radial movement of a cutting tool relative to the workpiece. The tool slide assemblies are adjustably mounted permitting the tool to travel at an angle between 0° and about 37° with respect to the surface of the gear ring. Ramps of adjustable slope affixed to the annular housing are coupled through a one-way ratchet clutch to permit variation of the feed rate of the tool slide.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Portable apparatus for machining pipes, valves, flanges and fittings, comprising in combination:

(a) an elongated mandrel having radially adjustable legs proximate one end thereof and adapted to concentrically mount the mandrel to an inside diameter of a tubular workpiece to be machined;
(b) an annular housing member concentrically disposed on said mandrel and longitudinally displaceable along the mandrel, said housing member containing a plurality of regularly spaced bearings projecting outwardly from one face proximate an outer periphery thereof;
(c) a gear ring concentrically disposed on and journaled for rotation about the mandrel, the gear ring having first and second faces, the first face including an annular groove for receiving said plurality of regularly spaced bearings therein;
(d) a first tool slide assembly having a base with a threaded feed screw journaled for rotation therein, the feed screw carrying a threaded feed nut and a tool block slidably mounted on the base and engaged by the feed nut such that rotation of the feed screw displaces the tool block relative to the base, the first tool slide assembly being adjustably mounted to the second face of the gear ring whereby the base is positionable at a desired acute angle to the second face;
(e) motor means affixed to the annular housing member for driving the gear ring;
and
(f) drive means operatively coupled between the gear ring and the feed screw for rotating the feed screw as the gear ring is rotated.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.