Conduit-slitting machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for slitting an elongated tubular workpiece of substantially constant cross-section, comprising work-positioning means, tool-positioning means, and means including elongated guide means coacting between said positioning means for traversing one with respect to the other of said positioning means; said work-positioning means including stabilizing-element means adapted to engage and stabilize a workpiece at angularly spaced regions of the periphery thereof; said tool-positioning means including first and second tool holders, support means external to the aliGnment of the workpiece and located angularly intermediate two of the spaced regions of work stabilization, said support means including a connection to the first tool holder for positioning a first tool to enter only the adjacent wall of the workpiece on a generally radial alignment at a first longitudinal location, said support means further including a generally radially extending strut projecting radially inwardly of said first tool holder and also including an axially offsetting stem connecting said second tool holder to said strut at a second longitudinal location axially forwardly offset beyond the region of first-tool support, said second tool holder having means to support a second tool to enter only the remote wall of the workpiece on a generally radial alignment at said second longitudinal location.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said tool holders is adapted to hold a knife tool with its cutting edge oriented generally radially of the axis of work-positioning.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein knife tools are held by said tool holders with their cutting edges in substantially a single plane which also includes the axis of work-positioning.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tool-positioning means is fixed, wherein said stabilizing-element means is also fixed, and wherein said work-positioning means includes a work-engaging feed element guided by said guide means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, in which said work-engaging feed element is part of an endless loop having a longitudinal course guided by said guide means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said feed element is one of a plurality of like feed elements at periodic spacings along said loop.

Claim 8

Apparatus for continuously slitting a succession of like elongated tubular workpieces of substantially constant cross-section, comprising a frame including elongate substantially horizontal guide means, an endless workpiece-conveyor loop including an upper stretch guided by said guide means, means for continuously driving said loop in a work-feeding direction along said upper stretch, frame mounted stabilizing-element means adapted to engage and stabilize a workpiece at opposite lateral offsets from the central vertical plane of symmetry of said guide means and in a central region of said stretch, and tool-positioning means including first and second tool holders and a framemounted support therefor, said support being external to the alignment of the workpiece along said stretch and supporting said tool holders from a location above said stretch and within the longitudinal span of said stabilizing-element means, said support including a connection to said first tool holder for positioning a first tool to enter only the adjacent upper wall of the workpiece on a generally radial alignment at a first longitudinal location, said support further including a strut portion projecting radially inwardly of said first tool holder and also including an axially offsetting stem portion connecting said second tool holder to said strut portion at a second longitudinal location axially forwardly offset beyond the region of first-tool support, said second tool holder having means to support a second tool to enter only the remote lower wall of the workpiece on a generally radial alignment at said second longitudinal location.

Claim 9

Apparatus for continuously slitting a succession of like elongated tubular workpieces of substantially constant cross-section, comprising a frame including elongate substantially horizontal guide means, an endless workpiece-conveyor loop including an upper stretch guided by said guide means, means for continuously driving said loop in a work-feeding direction along said upper stretch, frame mounted stabilizing-element means adapted to engage and stabilize a workpiece at opposite lateral offsets from the central vertical plane of symmetry of said guide means and in a central region of said stretch, and tool-positioning means including first and second tool holders and a framemounted support therefor, said support being external to the alignment of the workpiece along said stretch and supporting said tool holders from a location above said stretch and within the longitudinal span of said stabilizing-element means, said support including a connection to said first tool holder for positioning a first tool to enter only the adjacent upper wall of the workpiece on a generally radial alignment at a first longitudinal location, said support further including a strut portion projecting radially inwardly of said first tool holder and also including an axially offsetting stem portion connecting said second tool holder to said strut portion at a second longitudinal location axially forwardly offset beyond the region of first-tool support, said second tool holder having means to support a second tool to enter only the remote lower wall of the workpiece on a generally radial alignment at said second longitudinal location.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said stabilizing-element means is external to the path of workpiece conveyance and is positioned to engage angularly spaced regions of the outer wall of each passing workpiece.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said stabilizing-element means comprises separate elongate parallel rails positioned for stabilizing contact with a workpiece over a longitudinal span which substantially exceeds the separation of said rails.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said rails are adjustably positionable laterally of the vertical plane of symmetry of said guide means.

Claim 13

Apparatus accOrding to claim 9, wherein said rails are vertically adjustably positionable.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said strut portion is adjustable whereby the effective radial separation of said tool holders may be selectively varied.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said support and strut portion are connected by a pivot, and clamp means coacting between said support and strut portion for retaining a selected elevation of said second tool holder.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13, and including jack means coacting between said support and strut portion for jack adjustment of the elevation of said second tool holder.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said strut portion is longitudinally offset behind said first tool holder to an extent which is at least as much as the longitudinal offset of said first tool holder behind said second tool holder.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said strut portion includes a leading edge which is raked rearwardly in the direction extending beneath said support.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 7, in which longitudinally spaced uprights on opposite lateral sides of said guide means connect the frame and said support, said stabilizing-element means being parallel work-engaging rails adjustably mounted to said uprights.

Claim 20

Apparatus for slitting an elongated tubular workpiece of substantially constant cross-section, comprising work-positioning means, tool-positioning means, and means including elongated guide means coacting between said positioning means for traversing one with respect to the other of said positioning means; said work-positioning means including stabilizing-element means adapted to engage and stabilize a workpiece at angularly spaced regions of the periphery thereof; said tool-positioning means including first and second tool holders, support means external to the alignment of the workpiece and located angularly intermediate two of the spaced regions of work stabilization, said support means including a connection to the first tool holder for positioning a first tool to enter only the adjacent wall of the workpiece on a first generally radial alignment at a first longitudinal location, said support means further including a generally radially extending strut projecting radially inwardly of said first tool holder and also including an axially offsetting stem connecting said second tool holder to said strut at a second longitudinal location axially forwardly offset beyond the region of first-tool support, said second tool holder having means to support a second tool to enter the wall of the workpiece on at least a second generally radial alignment at said second longitudinal location, said second generally radial alignment being angularly offset from said first generally radial alignment.

Claim 21

Apparatus for slitting an elongated tubular workpiece of substantially constant cross-section, comprising work-positioning means, tool-positioning means, and means including elongated guide means coacting between said positioning means for traversing one with respect to the other of said positioning means; said work-positioning means including stabilizing-element means adapted to engage and stabilize a workpiece at angularly spaced regions of the periphery thereof; said tool-positioning means including first and second tool holders, support means external to the alignment of the workpiece and located angularly intermediate two of the spaced regions of work stabilization, said support means including a connection to the first tool holder for positioning a first tool to enter only the adjacent wall of the workpiece on a first generally radial alignment at a first longitudinal location, said support means further including a generally radially extending strut projecting radially inwardly of said first tool holder and also including an axially offsetting stem connecting said second tool holder to said strut at a second longitudinal location axially forwardly offset beyond the region of first-tool support, said second tool holder having means to support a second tool to enter the wall of the workpiece on at least a second generally radial alignment at said second longitudinal location, said second generally radial alignment being angularly offset from said first generally radial alignment.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first and second generally radial alignments are in substantially 180-degree offset relation, whereby the workpiece may be severed into semi-cylindrical halves.