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US 8,465,235 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for forming annular grooves on the outer surface of a cable or tube
AssigneeMiniflex Limited
InventorsPeter David Jenkins, Daniel Owen Jenkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus (100) for forming circumferential grooves (14) in the exterior surface of a linear member (10), such as a tube. The grooves are formed by rotating a cylindrical cutting element (120) around the tube such that cutting means in the cylindrical cutting element form the grooves. One rotation of the cylindrical cutting element causes multiple grooves to be formed in the surface of the tubes.
Claims11
An apparatus for forming a plurality of grooves in an outer surface of an elongate member, the apparatus comprising:
- a cylindrical cutter having a longitudinal axis, an internal surface of the cylindrical cutter comprising a plurality of cutting means;
- first and second rotatable positioning means, the first and second rotatable positioning means configured, in use, to hold the elongate member against the internal surface of the cylindrical cutter;
- the cylindrical cutter being received within a cutter rotation means such that the rotation of the cutter rotation means causes the cylindrical cutter to rotate, the rotation of the cylindrical cutter, in use, causing the first and second rotatable positioning means and the elongate member held against the internal surface of the cylindrical cutter to rotate relative to the internal surface of the cylindrical cutter such that the elongate member is advanced through the cylindrical cutter and the plurality of cutting means form a plurality of grooves in the outer surface of the elongate member,
- wherein, the apparatus further comprises a rotatable control means, the rotatable control means being in contact with both the first and second rotatable positioning means.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.