Abstract: A portable tool for use in axially cutting and squaring ends of tubes includes a main tool body within which is rotatably mounted a tool shaft having a cutting tool attached at one end thereof, a tube receiving and clamping unit for retaining an end portion of a tube to be worked upon, a mechanism for shifting the tool shaft relative to the main tool body so that the cutting tool can progressively engage the end portion of the tube and a power drive unit for rotating the tool shaft. The tube receiving and clamping unit is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports which provides viewing access to a cutting zone, enables adjustments to or changing of the cutting tool and permits chips cut from the tube to be readily removed from within the tool. The shifting mechanism includes a camming arrangement that ensures smooth shifting of the tool shaft and which is designed to minimize the ingress of foreign matter into the tool.

Abstract: A roller cutter module for use with a rotatable tool carrier head of a lathe machine tool includes multiple opposed cutter wheels for transversely cutting tubular workpieces, and wherein the wheels are rotatably mounted upon support arms that are pivotally attached to a support plate that is attached to the tool carrier head. An actuating system carried by the support plate pivots the support arms so as to cause the cutter wheels to be fed radially inwardly to sever a workpiece. The actuating system includes a linkage assembly which cooperates with the support plate to enable equalization of the cutting forces applied by the opposed cutter wheels to an out-of-round workpiece. The cutter wheels are mounted on the support arms so as to biased against spring elements in an axial direction to track a cutting centerline axially away from the support plate.

Abstract: A machine tool for resurfacing seats surrounding non-circular openings in members, such as elliptical manways, includes a housing adapted to be mounted in the opening, and a tool bit carried by a slide mechanism mounted on the housing for rotation about a central axis. The slide member is resiliently biased outwardly to urge a tracker wheel into engagement with an inner surface of the opening, whereby the tool bit is constrained to follow the contour of the non-circular opening as it moves across the seat during a resurfacing operation. Movement of the tool bit across the surface being refaced is achieved by a feed screw driven from a feed sprocket that engages a tripper pin upon each revolution of the tool about the central axis.

Abstract: An end preparation tool for pipe fittings includes an end preparation tool having a rotary cutting head with shaping bits carried thereon mounted on a base that also carries a universal clamping fixture for pipe fittings having end openings to be machined in preparation for welding. The clamping fixture includes workpiece engaging clamping pads that permit adjustment of the position of the workpiece relative to a pair of opposed clamping plates that normally secure the pipe fitting in place relative to the cutting head of the end preparation tool. The clamping fixture includes adjustment features that enable the fixture to be moved transversely relative to the cutting head, along the rotary axis of the cutting head and about a vertical axis that permits indexing of the clamping fixture relative to the tool cutting head.

Abstract: A storage container, such as a crate or bin, which may be formed of plastics material, and which is adapted for transportation by a fork lift truck, comprises a base having a generally level upper surface and four similar sides adapted for mounting perpendicularly to the base. The base is formed with a pair of substantially parallel downwardly facing channels, constituted by walls which are integrally formed with the base and are disclosed above the general level of the base. The lower edge of each side is recessed to accommodate the ends of the channels, each recess having an inner margin which is spaced upwardly from the lower edge of the side. Each side is mounted on the base by complementary engagement between the lower edge of the side and the periphery of the base, at least at the inner margins of the recesses and between the recesses.