Machining device operating inside a canalization

Claim 2

Apparatus for piercing a hole through a canalization tube from inside the tube in a radial direction of the tube, the apparatus comprising a housing movable longitudinally along the tube; a rotary cutting tool including a shaft; first and second, concentric sleeves disposed about the shaft of the tool, rotatably mounted to the housing and oriented in the radial direction; a threaded connection between the sleeves; means rotationally coupled the tool to the first sleeve and permitting relative longitudinal movements between the tool and the first sleeve in the radial direction; drive means including a single motor for rotating the first sleeve and therewith the cutting tool in a cutting direction and, simultaneously therewith, for generating relative rotational movement between the first and second sleeves so that the threaded connection of the sleeves causes the second sleeve to move in the radial direction towards the tube; and radial force transmitting means disposed between the second sleeve and the tool for transmitting the relative radial movement of the second sleeve to the tool to thereby advance the tool movements of the tool induced by the motor cause the piercing of the tube wall.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for rotationally coupled comprises a key and groove connection between the first sleeve and the cutting tool permitting relative axial movements between the first sleeve and the tool.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for rotationally coupling comprises a multi-face, radially inwardly oriented surface on the first sleeve and a correspondingly shaped, radially outwardly oriented, multi-face surface on the cutting tool shaft which rotationally couple the shaft to the sleeve while permitting relative axial movements therebetween.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said single motor of the driving means is selected from the group of motors consisting of electric motors, pneumatic motors, and hydraulic motors.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the single motor comprises a reversible motor so that rotation of the cutting tool in the first direction causes the advancement of the tool towards the tube and rotation of the cutting tool in the opposite direction causes axial movement of the cutting tool away from the tube.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cutting tool is selected from the group consisting of conical drill bits, milling cutters, and grinding wheels.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a positioning module for placement in the tube and adapted to move longitudinally along the tube, and a coupler connecting the positioning module with the housing for longitudinally moving the housing relative to the tube by activating the positioning module.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the piecing module includes means for varying the length of the piercing module, and wherein the positioning module further includes means for pivoting its ends with respect to each other in opposite directions about a longitudinal axis of the positioning module, and wherein the coupler connects the positioning module with the housing for moving the housing both longitudinally along the tube and rotationally about its axis.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 including a first motor for the means for varying the length of the positioning means and a second motor for the pivot means, the first and second motors being selected from the group consisting of electric motors, pneumatic motors, and hydraulic motors.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the coupler includes a flexible coupling device.

Claim 12

Apparatus for piercing an underground, tubular canalization liner for establishing communication between an interior of the liners and a canalization branch line, the apparatus comprising a positioning module advanceable longitudinally along the liner; a piercing module coupled to the positioning module and including a rotary cutter extensible in a radial direction relative to the liner for piercing through the liner after the positioning module has aligned the cutter with the branch line, the piercing module comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a first sleeve rotatably mounted to and axially immovable relative to the housing; (c) means for mounting the cutter inside the first sleeve so that the cutter rotates with the first sleeve and can move relative to the first sleeve in an axial direction thereof; (d) a second sleeve disposed concentrically about the first sleeve and a threaded connection between the sleeves so that relative rotational movements between the sleeves result in corresponding movements of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve and the housing in the axial direction; (e) means permitting relative rotational movements between the second sleeve and the cutter and transmitting movements in the axial direction of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve to the cutter; (f) a single drive motor; and (g) transmission means operatively coupled the single drive motor with the first and second sleeves for simultaneously rotating the sleeves in a cutting direction and for simultaneously generating a differential rate of rotation for the sleeves selected to result in movements of the second sleeve, and therewith of the cutter in the axial direction towards the liner so that the combined rotational and axial movements of the cutter pierce the hole at the branch line.

Claim 13

Apparatus for piercing an underground, tubular canalization liner for establishing communication between an interior of the liners and a canalization branch line, the apparatus comprising a positioning module advanceable longitudinally along the liner; a piercing module coupled to the positioning module and including a rotary cutter extensible in a radial direction relative to the liner for piercing through the liner after the positioning module has aligned the cutter with the branch line, the piercing module comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a first sleeve rotatably mounted to and axially immovable relative to the housing; (c) means for mounting the cutter inside the first sleeve so that the cutter rotates with the first sleeve and can move relative to the first sleeve in an axial direction thereof; (d) a second sleeve disposed concentrically about the first sleeve and a threaded connection between the sleeves so that relative rotational movements between the sleeves result in corresponding movements of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve and the housing in the axial direction; (e) means permitting relative rotational movements between the second sleeve and the cutter and transmitting movements in the axial direction of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve to the cutter; (f) a single drive motor; and (g) transmission means operatively coupled the single drive motor with the first and second sleeves for simultaneously rotating the sleeves in a cutting direction and for simultaneously generating a differential rate of rotation for the sleeves selected to result in movements of the second sleeve, and therewith of the cutter in the axial direction towards the liner so that the combined rotational and axial movements of the cutter pierce the hole at the branch line.