Patents Assigned to Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6536316
    Abstract: A pipe beveling tool with improved operation and structure with reduced chatter due to its anti-backlash design. This tool allows for quick changing of cutter heads and tool bits. It also incorporates a quieter pneumatic motor muffler system and has a reduced overall length due to a double action feed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 6279437
    Abstract: A pipe beveling tool employs a draw bolt that pulls an actuator rearwardly. The draw bolt does not extend all the way through the device, enabling smaller diameter pipes to be engaged. Wedge keys provide adjustable engagement of the driving system to prevent or allow reduction of backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Arlan W. Way
  • Patent number: 6044571
    Abstract: A bore measurement apparatus and method is provided for measuring with a single apparatus the inner diameter of a bore and the outer diameter of a cutting tool mounted on a boring bar. The apparatus comprises a set of clamping jaws secured to an elongate bar having a magnetic graduated strip positioned thereon, an indicating head slidably mounted on the elongate bar, and a measurement arm having a stylus, the measurement arm slidably mounted on the indicating head for movement between an inner measurement position wherein the stylus contacts the inner surface of a bore and an outer measurement position wherein the stylus contacts the upper surface of a cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 5954462
    Abstract: A spot facing mechanism employs a self centering chuck, a stationary mandrel and housing. Axial feed controls are also stationary when the apparatus is operational. Incremental radial feeding of the tool head is provided, with the degree of feed being adjustable between zero feed and maximum feed. Radial feed rate adjustment controls remain stationary while the apparatus is operating, enabling adjustment of feed rate without having to stop the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Arlan W. Way, Terence M. McCarver
  • Patent number: 5860446
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for safely controlling fluid flow comprises a safety control valve that automatically stops fluid flow upon a fluid pressure failure, requires two-handed manual operation to open the valve, and the valve being biased to prevent being left in the open position in the absence of fluid pressure. The safety control valve comprises a valve body that coaxially receives therein a slidable spool manually operable in an axial direction between a closed valve position and an open valve position. The valve further comprises a spring and a spring biased coaxial safety piston capable of axial movement along the spool and being pneumatically connected to a fluid supply line. In the absence of fluid pressure, the spring biases a safety piston against a contact surface of the spool so as to bias the spool into the closed position thereby preventing fluid flow through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher C. Hunt
  • Patent number: 5775188
    Abstract: A portable facing head comprises a feed body portion in threaded engagement with lead screws that extend through the feed body. The lead screws are translated through the feed body by a worm gear enclosed within the feed body wherein the worm gear is rotated by action of a star feed. The star feed is rotated by contact with a cam member extending outwardly from a torque bar positioned adjacent the feed body such that upon rotation of the feed body about a rotational axis, the star feed is incrementally rotated by the cam member thereby effecting incremental rotation of the worm gear and incremental linear translation of the lead screws through the feed body. Directional movement of the lead screws through the feed body is selectively set at forward, reverse or zero during rotation of the feed body by manipulation of a torque arm handle to position the cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 5732607
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a chuck mountable in a bore of a workpiece, a drive assembly attached to the chuck, and a tool head releasably attached to the drive assembly. The tool head has a tool head body, and a drive shaft extends through the tool head body and is coupled to an input shaft of the drive body. The input shaft of the drive assembly is connected through a reduction gear and an output shaft to the tool head body for supplying power thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 5678464
    Abstract: A portable lathe is modular in construction and provides a cutting tool having a variable feed rate. The mechanism comprises a cam member that imparts linear motion to a series of push rods that in turn pivot a clutch mechanism to activate a rack-and-pinion drive mechanism that effects movement of the cutting tool. A feed rate adjustment knob controls pivotal movement of the clutch mechanism so as to allow variability of the feed rate. Spacer blocks including push rods therein allow use of the mechanism to turn a variety of surface sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Arlan W. Way
  • Patent number: 5642969
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a mounting member for attachment to a workpiece. The mounting member includes a bearing portion that has an external surface of circular cross section and is formed with an aperture in its external surface. A utility device has an internal peripheral surface that defines a cylindrical cavity for receiving the bearing portion of the mounting member in a manner that allows the utility device to move axially and rotationally relative to the mounting member. A clamp is actuable when the utility device is fitted to the bearing portion of the mounting member for releasably retaining the utility device against axial and rotational movement relative to the bearing portion. A spring-loaded detent member projects into the cylindrical cavity from the peripheral surface and is receivable in the aperture of the bearing portion for retaining the operating assembly against axial and rotational movement relative to the bearing portion in the event that the clamp is not actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 5630346
    Abstract: A portable machine tool comprises a main spindle and a machine body that is rotatable relative to the main spindle. A take-off shaft is mounted in the machine body and is rotatable relative to the machine body, and a rocker arm is rotatable about the axis of the take-off shaft. A cam and follower mechanism converts rotation of the machine body to reciprocating rotation of the rocker arm, and a releasable clutch mechanism that is effective between the rocker arm and the take-off shaft can be switched between a first state in which it converts reciprocating rotation of the rocker arm to unidirectional rotation of the take-off shaft and a second state in which reciprocating rotation of the rocker arm has no effect on the take-off shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 5297907
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises an elongated beam adapted to be supported in a horizontal orientation at two locations spaced apart therealong and adapted to support a machining head. Tensioning bars extend parallel to the beam and engage the beam at opposite ends thereof. At least one of the tensioning bars is below the medial plane of the beam, and the tensioning bars are selectively operable to eliminate deflection from the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Strait, Arlan W. Way
  • Patent number: 5125299
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a support structure having first and second opposite ends spaced apart along an axis, a drive assembly mounted on the support structure at the first end thereof, the drive assembly comprising at least one drive motor, and an output drive shaft coupled drivingly to the drive motor. The machine tool also comprises a machining head mounted on the support structure at the second end thereof, a tool support member mounted on the machining head and movable relative thereto, and a transmission shaft coupling the output drive shaft to the tool support member to effect movement of the tool support member. The transmission shaft extends parallel to the axis of the support structure over at least a substantial part of the distance of the first end of the support structure from the second end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 5106243
    Abstract: A portable machine tool includes a bed and a cantilevered ram mounted for movement in a longitudinal direction along the ways thereof. A dovetail slide on a side of the ram movably supports a rotatable spindle unit capable of machining in the transverse direction completely crossways of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher C. Hunt
  • Patent number: 4990037
    Abstract: A boring machine includes a power unit having a housing, a drive member for engaging a boring bar, and a motor for driving the drive member to rotate relative to the housing. The boring machine also includes a bearing assembly comprising an inner bearing member defining a passage through which the boring bar extends, and an outer bearing member in which the inner bearing member is fitted in a manner permitting angular movement of the inner bearing member relative to the outer bearing member about axes perpendicular to the axis of the passage defined by the inner bearing member. In use, the bearing assembly is attached to a workpiece in a manner preventing movement of the outer bearing member relative to the workpiece, and a collapsible torque transmission linkage connects the housing of the power unit to the outer bearing member, whereby the housing unit is held against rotation relative to the outer bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 4852435
    Abstract: A portable flange facer may be used to machine flange faces without removing the pipe from its installation thereby avoiding extensive disassembly and downtime. A stationary spindle, mounted centrally within the pipe bore, provides a structure about which a main body rotates. A motor, mounted upon the main body, and a gear means, coupling the motor to the stationary spindle, are used to rotate the main body about the spindle. A cutting element, mounted upon a turning bar slidable within the main body, may be moved radially inwardly and outwardly by manual or automatic means. The flange facer may be used to resurface a flange face or to form circular grooves therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Hunt
  • Patent number: 4842452
    Abstract: A surfacing machine mountable within a valve body includes a tubular turning bar supported by chucks engaging the valve body and having independently adjustable legs and a bearing arrangement which permits rotational and axial movement of the turning bar relative to the chucks. Hoses and control rods are routed through the tubular turning bar to a removable tool head which may be accessed when deep within the valve body. The arrangement facilitates both visual and physical access to the work site such that an operator may exchange tool heads to switch surfacing operations without changing the mounting alignment of the surfacing machine within the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 4824296
    Abstract: A surfacing machine mountable within a bore of a workpiece includes a turning bar supported by a bearing arrangement which permits rotational and axial movement of the turning bar relative to support chucks mounted on a workpiece. The arrangement facilitates both visual and physical access to the work site such that an operator may switch surfacing operations without changing the mounting alignment of the surfacing machine within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait
  • Patent number: 4778316
    Abstract: An improved portable milling machine adapted to grip a work piece and to cut a keyway through a clamping area. This is accomplished without releasing the grip of the milling machine on the work piece by forming an elongated slot in a bed plate with lands lying at opposite sides of the elongated slot. A clamp plate is arranged in stacked alignment with said lands and a work piece is gripped between the clamp plate and the lands of the bed plate. This structure permits a cutting element to pass through the elongated slot to cut a keyway upon the work piece while said work piece is gripped, the cutting action being performed through the clamped area. Improvements include interchangeable spindle construction allowing the use of a variety of cutter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Strait