Abstract: A weld sample cutter has a rotating saw blade and a vice. The vice has jaws which will retain a cylindrical work piece so that it can be cut either longitudinally or transversely by the blade. The vice is movable along a slide plate so that the work piece held in the vice can be moved toward or away from the saw blade.

Abstract: A squaring machine has an elongate housing with a rotatable spindle extending from one end thereof and attached to which is a tool for squaring the end of work piece. At the opposite end of the housing are first and second feed members, the first feed member in the form of a screw which is locked against axial movement within the housing, and the second feed member in the form a nut which is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. The feed nut is rotatably connected to an end of the spindle such that rotation of the feed screw will cause axial movement of the spindle. Also, the machine includes a first and second removable retainers, each of which has a pair of opposing jaws for clamping around a cylindrical work piece, however, the jaws of the first retainer are for grasping a work piece of a different size than the jaws of the second retainer.

Abstract: A valve turning machine includes an adjustable length mount to retain the machine on the bed of a truck. Also, an improved track facilitates the movement of the table and motor assemble between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: An alignment pin has a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter equal to the outer diameter of a work piece, and axially aligned therewith is a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter equal to the inner diameter of a work piece. The pin is inserted into a tube squaring machine to align the cutting tool of the machine for squaring a work piece having outer and inner diameters equal to the first and second diameters of the pin.

Abstract: A method of operating a municipal water system employs a master computer having a memory which retains information regarding all the valves in the system. One assigned to exercise certain valves in the system obtains a print out of current information regarding the valves to be exercised from the computer. A valve turning machine which is controlled by a hand held computer is provided to the operator and after the operation exercises the assigned valves, information stored in the hand held computer is down loaded into the memory of the master computer to thereby update the municipal recorder.

Abstract: A tube saw has a housing body with a first side, a second side, and a central opening. Surfaces of the first and second sides are machined parallel to each other. A cutter with a rotating blade is mounted on the first side and a vice is mounted on the second side to thereby maintain a work piece held in the vise perpendicular to the cutter. An indicator pin and viewing hole facilitate aligning a work piece within the saw so that the blade will cut the work piece where desired.

Abstract: A machine for cutting a length of pipe has a body with cross-sectional dimensions which are less than the inner diameter of the pipe to be cut. The machine has a plurality of legs which extend radially from the body such that the machine can be fitted within a length of pipe and locked in position by moving the legs radially outward. The machine further has a rotating tool for cutting the inner wall of the length of pipe.

Abstract: A collet for retaining a work piece comprises a plurality of wedge segments, and each of the wedge segments has inner and outer surfaces which, when the segments are assembled, form a collet having a cylindrical bore and a frustonconical outer surface, and the segments are retained in aligned relationship within a nut attachable to the machine.

Abstract: A squaring machine has an elongate housing with a rotatable spindle extending from one end thereof and attached to which is a tool for squaring the end of work piece. At the opposite end of the housing are first and second feed members, the first feed member in the form of a screw which is locked against axial movement within the housing, and the second feed member in the form a nut which is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. The feed nut is rotatably connected to an end of the spindle such that rotation of the feed screw will cause axial movement of the spindle. Also, the machine includes a first and second removable retainers, each of which has a pair of opposing jaws for clamping around a cylindrical work piece, however, the jaws of the first retainer are for grasping a work piece of a different size than the jaws of the second retainer.

Abstract: A squaring machine has an elongate generally cylindrical housing with an axially mounted motor at one end of the housing which rotates a shaft extending through the axis of the housing. The shaft is longitudinally moveable within the housing, and a non-rotatable inner sleeve is fitted around the shaft and is fixed for longitudinal movement with the shaft. The housing has a feed ring which is axially slidable but non-rotatably fixed around the tubular section, and a pin extends through a slot in the housing and the pin is connected to both the feed ring and the inner sleeve such that the feed ring, the inner sleeve, and the shaft move longitudinally in unison with respect to the housing. Rotation of a feed nut, which threadably engages the feed ring, causes axial movement of the feed ring along the tubular portion of the housing, and simultaneous axial movement of the shaft.

Abstract: A squaring machine has an elongate housing with a rotatable spindle extending from one end thereof and attached to which is a tool for squaring the end of work piece. At the opposite end of the housing are first and second feed members, the first feed member in the form of a screw which is locked against axial movement within the housing, and the second feed member in the form a nut which is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. The feed nut is rotatably connected to an end of the spindle such that rotation of the feed screw will cause axial movement of the spindle. Also, the machine includes a first and second removable retainers, each of which has a pair of opposing jaws for clamping around a cylindrical work piece, however, the jaws of the first retainer are for grasping a work piece of a different size than the jaws of the second retainer.

Abstract: A valve operating machine has a reversable motor and a drive assembly for turning the stem of a valve, and a sensor for determining the torque applied to the valve stem. The amount of torque applied to the valve stem is regulated so as not to exceed the torque limits of the valve. The machine will gradually apply greater amounts of torque in opposite directions until the valve has become unfrozen. Thereafter, the valve will be rotated until the opening or closing cycle has been completed. When an increase in torque is detected, the machine will reverse to unjam a valve, and where such reversal does not result in further forward movement, the machine will terminate the cycle.

Abstract: A pipe machining apparatus includes a tool carrier, with a frame attachable to a pipe for rotatably mounting the tool carrier. The tool carrier is circumferentially rotatable about the pipe and carries a tool for performing cutting or machining operations on the pipe. A plurality of rotatable bearings are provided between the frame and the tool carrier, and the bearings are individually adjustable in a radial direction to compensate for wear of the bearings during use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A pipe machining apparatus having a tool carrier rotatable about a frame mounted externally of a pipe, with the frame being formed of two semiannular sections which are releasably held together by connection devices including coacting pin and latch structures which are effectively positioned by means operable from the side of the frame. The tool carrier mounts at least one tool head having a tool slide for a tool movable radially of the pipe. The tool slide is movable by rotation of a feed screw which is rotated in a tool slide advancing direction by a rack and pinion structure including a rack adjustably mounted on a feed plunger which coacts with a tool advance cam on the frame. The rack is also mounted for pivotal movement to permit manual rotation of the feed screw in a tool slide retracting direction, which pivoting results from cogging of the pinion gears relative to the rack gears.

Abstract: A pipe machining apparatus having a tool carrier rotatable about a frame mounted externally of a pipe, with the frame being formed of two semiannular sections which are releasably held together by connection devices including coacting pin and latch structures which are effectively positioned by a member operable from the side of the frame. The tool carrier mounts at least one tool head having a tool slide for a tool movable radially of the pipe. The tool slide is movable by rotation of a feed screw which is rotated in a tool slide advancing direction by a rack and pinion structure including a rack adjustably mounted on a feed plunger which coacts with a tool advance cam on the frame. The rack is also mounted for pivotal movement to permit manual rotation of the feed screw in a tool slide retracting direction, which pivoting results from cogging of the pinion gears relative to the rack gears.

Abstract: A portable end prep lathe having presettable mechanical structure operable in response to rotation of a tool head for controlling the angle of a bevel cut on a pipe.A frame is supported relative to a pipe by a mast having a threaded section. The frame carries a rotatable tool head having a tool slide movable to advance a tool radially of the mast. The rate of radial advance of the tool slide is controlled by cam and cam follower structure mounted on the frame and tool head, respectively, and with the number of cams controlling the rate of advance per revolution of the tool head. The tool head is advanced axially of the mast and a pipe by means responsive to rotation of the tool head, including a star wheel mounted on the frame and drivingly connected to a nut threaded on the threaded section of the mast.

Abstract: A tube-squaring tool and a clamping mechanism for clamping a workpiece by only a partial revolution of a cam ring to provide quick and easy clamping and unclamping of a workpiece with respect to the body of the tube-squaring tool to which the clamping mechanism is connected. The tube-squaring tool body mounts a motor centrally thereof to facilitate handling of the tube-squaring tool and the cutting action is performed by advancing a tool shaft relative to the body by operation of a handle pivotally mounted adjacent an end of the body of the tube-squaring tool.The clamping mechanism has a cam ring movable between a first position to permit endwise insertion and removal of a tubular member and a second position to bind the tubular member in associated structure. A spring provides a certain amount of tolerance and yieldability to the clamping force applied by the cam ring.

Abstract: A portable lathe usable on site for preparing the end of a pipe preparatory to an operation, such as welding another pipe thereto, comprising a frame, a tool head carried by said frame and rotatable about an axis and having a tool post which movably mounts a tool slide for movement radially of said axis, and means for moving said tool slide including a feed cam on the frame, a clutch driven lead screw on the tool post, and a rigid link for transmitting motion imparted by said cam to said clutch.

Abstract: A travelling pipe cutter for cutting of pipe having a frame defined by a pair of spaced, interconnected plates with guide rollers thereon for movably supporting said frame for travel around a pipe, a gear box positioned between said frame plates and having a feed drive shaft extending from opposite sides thereof and through said adjacent frame plates, chain means extended around the pipe and drivingly connected to drive sprockets at opposite ends of said feed drive shaft, a cutter drive shaft extending from the gear box and through a curved slot in one frame plate and in spaced parallel relation with the feed drive shaft, the gear box being rotatable about the axis of the feed drive shaft relative to the frame to adjust the distance of the cutter drive shaft from the pipe, drive mechanism for rotating the drive shafts including motors mounted for movement with the gear box and gearing in the gear box which interconnects the motors to the drive shafts, and an adjustable connection between the frame and the gea

Abstract: A weld sander for smoothing the surface of a weld which joins lengths of pipe. The weld sander has a carriage which travels around the pipe and movably mounts a head carrying a grinding belt, with the belt mounted for movement toward and away from the weld and also for tilting movement. Pipe followers, associated with the head, control the minimum distance of the belt from the pipe sections and, additionally, establish a minimum distance between an edge of the belt and a pipe to prevent engagement between the belt and a pipe when the belt tilts.