Abstract: An improved motor mount for attaching a drive motor to a clamshell lathe includes a gear box whose angular disposition can be adjusted relative to a drive gear housing affixed to the periphery of the clamshell lathe. This facilitates the positioning of the clamshell lathe on a workpiece with reduced chance of interference of the drive motor with neighboring obstructions.

Abstract: A tube saw for precision cuts on tubing wherein a motorized circular saw is rotated about the circumference of a tube to cut it without leaving burrs, finishing marks or other deformations on the tubing. The tubing is held firmly and precisely by a plurality of facing triangular clamping elements and the clamping elements are centered and firmly locked in place relative the housing containing the saw to ensure the blade does not move relative the tube during the cut. The housing, rotatably holding the saw, has bearings with angular and radial stiffness to hold the saw firmly in position during the cut to ensure a high quality cut. A servomotor drives the rotatable portion of the housing at an even rate to cut the tubing with an even force and rate around its circumference. The saw is positioned close to the end of the clamping elements to limit bending and vibrations in the tubing from interfering with a square high precision cut.

Abstract: A rapid set-up end prep lathe for machining piping and piping components in the field comprises a mandrel mountable to the internal diameter of a tubular workpiece and with the ability to rapidly establish a concentric orientation of the mandrel with the workpiece. Mounted on the mandrel is an annular housing that is longitudinally displaceable along the mandrel. It supports a gear ring carrying either one or two tool feed assemblies thereon for orbital and radial movement of a cutting tool relative to the workpiece. The tool slide assemblies are adjustably mounted permitting the tool to travel at an angle between 0° and about 37° with respect to the surface of the gear ring. Ramps of adjustable slope affixed to the annular housing are coupled through a one-way ratchet clutch to permit variation of the feed rate of the tool slide.

Abstract: A portable tool for squaring the ends of tubes is adapted to be coupled to an electrically powered hand drill for driving a shaft carrying a cutting tool at the free end thereof. The shaft is journaled for rotation in a tubular torque housing that is effectively clamped to the drive motor partially. Surrounding the torque housing is an axial feed housing that is keyed to the torque housing by elongated keys disposed in axially aligned keyways formed in both the torque housing and the axial feed housing. A portion of the axial feed housing has external threads adapted to mate with internal threads on a manually rotatable feed ring. A workpiece clamping collet assembly is affixed to the end of the axial feed housing such that when the feed ring is rotated, the workpiece is may be axially displaced against the spinning/cutting tool.

Abstract: The portable lathe 10 for turning a shaft at a job site in the field includes a pair of clamping rings 12 and 14 that are adapted to be centered at spaced-apart locations along a length of a shaft to be refurbished. Extending between the clamping rings are a plurality of glide shafts 40, 42, 56, 58 which slidingly support a split-ring clamshell assembly 68. A cutting tool carrier 100 is affixed to the rotatable ring portion 74 of the clamshell assembly so that when the movable ring is driven, the tool carrier orbits the shaft being refurbished. A feed screw 98 driven by a servo motor 92 translates the clamshell assembly along the glide shafts.

Abstract: A portable end prep facer for refurbishing piping components in the field comprises a chuck to which a cylindrical mandrel is affixed where the chuck can be centrally mounted relative to a longitudinal axis of the piping component by affixing the chuck either to the I.D. or the O.D. of the piping component. A non-rotatable torque housing surrounds the mandrel and is longitudinally positionable there along. A cutting head assembly is journaled for rotation about the mandrel by means of bearings mounted in the torque housing and coapting with an annular race formed in a face plate of the cutting head assembly. Mounted on the face plate is a variable speed reversing drive mechanism that couples to a lead screw that forms a part of a tool support guide member. A sliding head is affixed to the lead screw and it, in turn, supports a tool bit holder that can be manually adjusted to set the depth of cut when machining the flange portion of a piping component being repaired.

Abstract: A shield slide mechanism for moving the cutting tool of a clamshell lathe is provided. By shielding the mechanism, metal chips created during the cutting process are precluded from jamming the mechanism and preventing the controlled movement of the cutting tool. The tool block slide assembly incorporates a cam lever actuated feed screw operating through a unidirectional roller clutch rather than a conventional star wheel to provide a more controlled movement of the tool block slide.

Abstract: A plasma arc pipe cutting apparatus incorporates a plasma arc torch adjustably coupled to a motor-driven ring which transports the torch in an orbit about the pipe to be cut. The apparatus includes a pipe clamping fixture allowing the pipe to be cut to be concentrically mounted within the ring so that the gap between the electrode of the plasma arc torch and the work piece remains constant through the orbital travel of the torch.

Abstract: A journal turning lathe comprises a pair of split clam shell assemblies that are held in parallel, spaced relationship by a plurality of spacer rods, two of which support a tool carrier assembly for axial movement relative to a shaft to be turned by the lathe. The tool carrier assembly includes at least one, but preferably two, cutting tool advancing mechanisms for controlling the radial position of the cutting tool(s) and, hence, the dept-of-cut. The tool carrier assembly is arranged to be reciprocally driven in the axial direction by a threaded lead screw driven by a star wheel which rotates through a predetermined angle upon each full rotation of the clam shell's movable ring member. The lead screw cooperates with a quick-release nut in the tool carrier assembly.

Abstract: A clamshell machining lathe for cutting and finishing pipes in industrial settings comprises a split-ring assembly, including a clamping ring that is positioned about the pipe, and journaled to the clamping ring is a rotatable gear ring that supports a tool block carrying a cutting tool. The improvement resides in the bearing arrangement used to journal the gear ring to the stationary clamping ring. One face of the gear ring includes an annular groove whose side walls define a bearing race. The race is dimensioned to receive a plurality of roller bearings therein, the roller bearings being affixed to a planar surface of the clamping gear in a circumferential arrangement so as to fit into the bearing race when the gear ring is coupled to the clamping ring. The arrangement can support greater loads without canting, thus reducing wear on the moving parts.

Abstract: A portable lathe especially designed to remove overlay welds used as a temporary fix to slow the propagation of IGSCC at the joints between pipes and nozzles in nuclear boiling water reactor systems comprises a clamshell-type portable machining lathe having a tool translating mechanism affixed to the rotatable portion of the clamshell where the tool translating mechanism provides both radial and axial movement of the tool bit relative to the weld material to be removed. To accommodate an arcuate surface of the nozzles, the tool translating mechanism includes a cam track whose profile or contour parallels that of the surface from which the weld material is to be removed. Completing the assembly is a positioning device which allows the clamshell to be precisely positioned on the pipe where the central axis of the clamshell is coincident with the center line of the pipe on which it is mounted and the plane of the clamshell is perpendicular to the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for refurbishing the ends of control rod drive (CRD) penetrations used in nuclear boiling water reactor systems where the rods are disposed in a grid of rows and columns with a known predetermined spacing therebetween. The apparatus is rapidly positioned for support on a pair of CRDs adjacent to a CRD to be refurbished, coaxially aligning the end mill with the CRD to be refurbished. The end mill is then brought into contact with the CRD to be refurbished. After the refurbishment process, the apparatus is rapidly removed and ready to be positioned on another pair of CRDs adjacent to another CRD to be refubished.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a portable milling machine for remachining radially directed access bores of interest in large check valves which is readily attached to and removed from the valve and is precisely alignable with respect to the center of the bore to be remachined. The machine is capable or remote operation.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a cam-actuated ratchet feed drive for a clamshell lathe having a guide block attachable to the rotating ring gear of the clamshell and which slidingly supports a tool holding block in a dove-tail guideway. A threaded lead screw is coupled to the tool holding block and adapted to be driven either clockwise or counterclockwise by a cam-actuated pawl/racket combination. Means are provided for shifting a pair of pawls relative to associated ratchet wheels such that one, the other or neither of the ratchet wheels is driven upon engagement of the cam surface with a stationary cam follower.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable machining lathe (10) having a stationary member (11) interconnected with a gear housing (16) which covers a rotating gear member (15). A circular race member (25) is connected to the gear member (15) and held in place by means of a plurality of roller bearings (20). A tool module (35) having a tool bit (54) machines the work piece (38) and automatically advances longitudinally along the work piece (38) by means of an advance mechanism (72).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a valve seat while the valve body is positioned in-line are disclosed. The valve reseater apparatus (25) includes stabilizers (27) for positioning the valve reseater (25) near the valve seat (21) to be repaired, as well as a cutting tool (42) mounted on a tool head (41) which is rotated by means of a revolution shaft (44) interconnected with a motor (34). The cutting tool (42) is simultaneously translated by means of translation screws (66, 67) which are controlled by means of a rotatable hand knob (56). The circumference of rotation is automatically controlled by means of a star wheel arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a portable end preparation apparatus having a housing 11 and motor 15 cooperatively connected to the housing. A mandrel 29 is positioned in the housing. A rotating drive member 41 is rotatably mounted on the mandrel 29 and includes a bull gear 50, base member cooperatively connected to the bull gear and a head member 52 releasably and cooperatively connected to the base member 42. Further, a tool module 58 is releasably mounted on the head member 52. The apparatus 10 may also include extension members 56 and a thrust bearing 80. Still further, the apparatus 10 allows for up to a five degree tilt of the mandrel assembly 29.