Apparatus for making grooved endform

Abstract

An apparatus or tool for simultaneously cutting an end and forming a groove in a tube includes at least one cutter for cutting the tube and at least one roller for forming a groove in the tube. The cutter can include a profile for simultaneously cutting the tube and forming a shaped end of the tube. In one aspect, a body and a carrier are used to make the at least one cutter and the at least one roller relative to the tube. In another aspect, a pair of opposing dies are used to move the at least one cutter and the at least one roller with respect to the tube. The dies can be moved by a drive shaft connected to an output of an electric power drill.

1 . An apparatus for simultaneously cutting an end and forming a groove in the tube spaced from the end comprising: 
 means for cutting an end in the tube;    means for forming a groove in the tube spaced from the end; and    means for moving the cutting means and the groove forming means relative to the tube.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cutting means further comprises a profile for simultaneously cutting the tube to a length and forming the end on the tube.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cutting means further comprises at least one cutter and the groove forming means further comprises at least one roller.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the moving means further comprises: 
 a body carrying the at least one cutter and the at least one roller;    a carrier having another cutter and another roller, respectively positioned in opposition to the at least one cutter and the at least one roller of the body;    means for moving the carrier relative to the body.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the body further comprises: 
 means for rotatably attaching the at least one cutter and the at least one roller to the body; and    means for maintaining a pre-selected spacing between the at least one cutter and the at least one roller.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the spacing maintaining means further comprises a bushing mounted between the at least one cutter and the at least one roller.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the body further comprises means for adjusting movement of the carrier moving means to accommodate a plurality of different diameter tubes.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the adjusting means further comprises a plurality of indicia each corresponding to a one of a plurality of distinct tube diameters.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the adjusting means further comprises an adjustable stop attached to the body.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the adjustable stop further comprises: 
 a restraint attachable to the body; and    detent means for defining a plurality of stop positions for the restraint relative to the carrier.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the restraint further comprises means for rotatably attaching the restraint to the body.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the detent means further comprises: 
 a member movably partially recessed in a bore of the body;    means for biasing the member from the bore to engage the member with one of a plurality of apertures of the restraint, each corresponding to one of the plurality of stop positions.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the member further comprises a ball.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the biasing means further comprises a spring.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the carrier further comprises: 
 at least one shaft for rotatably attaching the at least one cutter and the at least one roller to the body;    means for maintaining a selected spacing between the at least one cutter and the at least one roller; and    at least one pair of apertures in the carrier with each aperture of the pair receiving an opposite end of the at least one shaft.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the spacing means further comprises a bushing.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the moving means further comprises a threaded shaft attached between the body and the carrier.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the moving means further comprises: 
 a pair of opposing dies;    means for moving the dies relative to each other;    means for translating the motion of the dies to motion of the cutting means and the groove forming means in a perpendicular direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube; and    an actuator for rotatably moving the cutting means and the groove forming means relative to the tube.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a housing.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the cutting means further comprises: 
 a base;    a cutting wheel; and    means for rotatably attaching the cutting wheel to the base.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the base further comprises: 
 a first surface;    a protrusion located on the first surface and having a complementary shape to an at least one aperture of a first surface of a first gear; and    a second surface having a complementary shape to an aperture of the die.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the second surface further comprises an angled surface.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the groove forming means further comprises: 
 a base;    a roller wheel; and    means for rotatably attaching the roller wheel to the base.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the base further comprises: 
 a first surface;    a protrusion located on the first surface and having a complementary shape to an at least one aperture of a first surface of a first gear; and    a second surface having a complementary shape to an aperture of the die.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the second surface further comprises an angled surface.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the die moving means further comprises: 
 at least one threaded aperture associated with each die;    at least one drive shaft having a complementary thread pattern to the at least one aperture; and    means for turning the at least one drive shaft.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the at least one drive shaft further comprises: 
 a first gear;    a first drive shaft including a second gear for driving the first gear; and    a second drive shaft including a third gear driven by the first gear.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the first drive shaft further comprises an aperture corresponding to an aperture of the second gear for receiving a fastener for securing the second gear relative to the first drive shaft.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the second drive shaft further comprises an aperture corresponding to an aperture of the third gear for receiving a fastener to secure the third gear relative to the second drive shaft.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the turning means further comprises an output shaft of an electric power drill.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the output of the power drill comprises at least one of a chuck and a shaft each attachable to the at least one drive shaft.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the power drill further comprises at least one of a plug in power drill and a battery power drill.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the translating means further comprises: 
 at least one angled surface on the cutting means and the groove forming means; and    at least one aperture associated with each die, the at least one aperture having a complementary shape to the at least one angled surface.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the actuator further comprises: 
 a first gear for rotating at least one of the cutting means and the groove forming means relative to the tube;    a second gear in driving engagement with the first gear; and    means for turning the second gear.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the first gear further comprises: 
 at least one aperture of a first surface of the first gear for receiving the cutting means; and    at least one aperture of a second surface of the first gear for receiving the groove forming means.    
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the at least one aperture of the first surface of the first gear further comprises a radially extending aperture.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the at least one aperture of the first surface of the first gear further comprises a complementary shape to a protrusion of the cutting means.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the first gear further comprises: 
 at least one stop located in the at least one aperture of the first surface;    means for biasing the cutting means away from the tube.    means for securing the biasing means and the cutting means relative to the at least one aperture of the first surface.    
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the biasing means further comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the securing means further comprises at least one ring mounted concentrically to the first gear.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the at least one aperture of the second surface of the first gear further comprises a radially extending aperture.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the at least one aperture of the second surface of the first gear further comprises a complementary shape to the groove forming means.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the first gear further comprises: 
 at least one stop located in the at least one aperture of the second surface;    means for biasing the groove forming means away from the tube; and    means for securing the biasing means and the groove forming means relative to the at least one aperture.    
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the turning means for the second gear further comprises: 
 at least one drive shaft; and    means for turning the at least one drive shaft.    
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein the turning means for the at least one drive shaft further comprises an output of an electric power drill.  
   
   
       46 . An apparatus for cutting and making a grooved endform in a tube comprising: 
 a plurality of cutters for cutting a tube;    a plurality of rollers for forming a groove in the tube; and    means for moving the cutters and the rollers relative to the tube.    
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 48  wherein each cutter further comprises a profile for simultaneously cutting the tube to form an end and forming at least one of a rounded end and a chamfered end of the tube.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein the moving means further comprises a manually rotatable member rotatable by an operator.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 48  wherein the member further comprises: 
 a gripping knob; and    a shaft attachable to the knob.    
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 48  wherein the moving means further comprises an adjustable stop.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein the moving means further comprises: 
 a pair of opposing dies;    means for translating movement of the dies relative to each other to movement by the rollers and the cutters in a perpendicular direction relative to the tube;    a first gear for rotating the cutters and the rollers relative to the tube;    at least one drive shaft, for moving the dies relative to each other;    a second gear associated with the at least one drive shaft for turning the first gear; and    means for turning the at least one drive shaft; and    
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 51  wherein the means for turning the at least drive shaft further comprises an output of an electric power drill.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52  wherein the output of the power drill comprises at least one of a chuck and an output shaft each attachable to the primary drive shaft.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 52  wherein the power drill further comprises at least one of a plug in power drill and a battery power drill.