Apparatus for forming a hole in a pipe

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming a hole in a pipe having a valve mounted to said pipe having at least two axially aligned openings disposed substantially perpendicular to an axis along the length of said pipe, comprising: a sleeve temporarily attachable to said valve, a drilling shaft coaxially disposed and freely axially and rotatably moveable within said sleeve and the openings of said valve, said drilling shaft having a portion extending outside said sleeve through and away from said valve, adapted to be rotated at a speed of at least 50 rpm, means forming a pressure seal at said end of said sleeve away from said valve, said pressure seal means receiving said drilling shaft to permit rotation thereof, whereby the interior of said valve and sleeve are pressure isolated from outside said sleeve, hole-cutting means carried by said drilling shaft within said sleeve, and lever means engaging said sleeve and said drilling shaft at its portion extending outside said sleeve for manually, controllably, and axially advancing said drilling shaft to bring said cutting means into cutting engagement with and urged into said pipe.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a first collar attachable to said drilling shaft, and pin means outwardly extending from opposite sides of said sleeve, and wherein said lever means comprises: first and second yokes, rotatably interconnected, said first yoke having pin receiving slots at its forked end to receive said pin means, a second bearing collar, carried between the forked ends of said first yoke, adapted to rotatably receive said drilling shaft, and to bear upon said first collar, and a lever rod attached to said second yoke whereby said first and second yokes transmit the pressure applied to said lever rod to said first bearing collar by said second bearing collar with respect to said sleeve at said pin means to thereby advance said drilling shaft.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an electric drill attachable to said drilling shaft to rotate said drilling shaft.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said hole-cutting means comprises a circular saw and a drill coaxially disposed within said circular saw and extending beyond the saw in its direction of advance.

Claim 6

Apparatus for forming a hole in a pipe having a valve mounted to said pipe having at least two axially aligned openings disposed substantially perpendicular to an axis along the length of said pipe, comprising: a sleeve temporarily attachable to said valve, an elongated rod having ends extending beyond the ends of said sleeve, said rod being coaxially disposed within said sleeve and axially advanceable within said sleeve through said valve in the direction of said pipe, a cutting head, including a circular saw carried by said rod at its end advanceable towards said pipe and a drill carried by said rod within said saw extending beyond said saw in the direction of said pipe, whereby said drill forms a pilot hole in said pipe to guide said saw thereinto, first and second rotatably interconnected yokes, a first collar attachable to said rod at its end above said sleeve, a second collar carried by said first yoke for receiving said rod, adapted to bear upon said first collar, and to permit rotation of said rod, and pins outstanding on said sleeve adapted to be received in slots in said second yoke, whereby upward rotational pressure exerted on said first yoke produces a downward force upon said rod by said first and second collars to advance said cutting head in the direction of said pipe.

Claim 7

Apparatus for forming a hole in a pipe having a valve mounted to said pipe having at least two axially aligned openings disposed substantially perpendicular to an axis along the length of said pipe, comprising: a sleeve temporarily attachable to said valve, an elongated rod having ends extending beyond the ends of said sleeve, said rod being coaxially disposed within said sleeve and axially advanceable within said sleeve through said valve in the direction of said pipe, a cutting head, including a circular saw carried by said rod at its end advanceable towards said pipe and a drill carried by said rod within said saw extending beyond said saw in the direction of said pipe, whereby said drill forms a pilot hole in said pipe to guide said saw thereinto, first and second rotatably interconnected yokes, a first collar attachable to said rod at its end above said sleeve, a second collar carried by said first yoke for receiving said rod, adapted to bear upon said first collar, and to permit rotation of said rod, and pins outstanding on said sleeve adapted to be received in slots in said second yoke, whereby upward rotational pressure exerted on said first yoke produces a downward force upon said rod by said first and second collars to advance said cutting head in the direction of said pipe.

Claim 8

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a drill attachable to said rod for rotating said rod at a speed of at least 50 rpm.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising pressure seal enclosing the end of sleeve away from said valve to contain pressure within said cylinder and adapted to permit rotation of said rod.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sleeve and said first and second yokes are of aluminum.