Cutting Device

Abstract

A cutting device ( 10 ) for cutting a pipe ( 32 ) having a pipe wall is disclosed. The cutting device ( 10 ) includes an elongate carrier ( 12 ) having a tool end ( 12.1 ) which is engageable with a power tool and an opposed free end ( 12.2 ). The device ( 10 ) includes a guide wheel ( 16 ) located at the free end ( 12.2 ) of the carrier ( 12 ) which is loosely mounted thereon for rotation relative thereto, having a bearing surface ( 34 ) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier ( 12 ). The device ( 10 ) also includes a cutting element ( 14 ) having a peripheral cutting edge ( 36 ) which is located adjacent to the guide wheel ( 16 ) being positioned intermediate the guide wheel 16 and the tool end ( 12.1 ). The cutting element ( 4 ) is of greater transverse dimension than the guide wheel ( 16 ) so that when the bearing surface ( 34 ) bears against an internal surface of the pipe ( 32 ) the distance between the cutting edge ( 36 ) of the cutting element ( 14 ) and the bearing surface ( 34 ) enables the cutting element ( 14 ) to cut through the pipe wall.

1 . A cutting device including:
 (i) an elongate carrier having a tool end which is engageable with a power tool and a free end;   (ii) a guide or support member located towards the free end of the carrier which is rotatably attached to the carrier and which has a bearing surface extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier;   (iii) a cutting element having a peripheral cutting edge which cutting element is located intermediate the guide member and the power tool end of the carrier wherein the cutting element is located closely adjacent to the guide member and is of greater transverse dimension than the guide member thereby forming,   (iv) a peripheral space between the cutting edge of the cutting element and a bearing surface of the guide member which in use is occupied by that portion of the blade which cuts through the work piece being cut.   
     
     
         2 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the axial distance between the cutting element and the guide or support member is 0.5-5.0 mm. 
     
     
         3 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the axial distance between the cutting element and the guide or support member is 0.5-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a retaining formation is located at the free end of the carrier which has a larger transverse dimension than the carrier so as to loosely retain a seat or hub of the guide or support member. 
     
     
         5 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the carrier has a threaded portion adjacent the retaining formation and a nut is threaded onto the threaded portion of the carrier to hold the cutting element on the carrier. 
     
     
         6 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate carrier has at least one key and the cutting element defines at least one keyway that is capable of retaining engagement with the key on the carrier. 
     
     
         7 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 6 , having a pair of keys on the carrier that engage with a corresponding pair of keyways on the cutting element. 
     
     
         8 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein there is provided a disc rigidly attached to the carrier or machined out of the carrier which also incorporates said pair of keys. 
     
     
         9 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is provided a compression ring which engages a mating groove located in an end cap attached to the free end of the carrier and an aligned groove on the carrier to securely retain the cutting element on the elongate carrier. 
     
     
         10 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is provided a spring clip having a pair of outwardly extending legs biased away from each other and a pair of adjacent end projections or tabs located at a free end of each leg which engage with corresponding notches on the carrier to securely retain the guide or support member and the cutting element on the elongate carrier. 
     
     
         11 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the spring clip has one end remote from the pair of end projections or tabs which is releasably attached to an end cap attached to the carrier at the free end thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 1 , where there is provided an end cap attached to the carrier at the free end thereof which has a spring located in an internal bore of the end cap. 
     
     
         13 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 12 , including a longitudinal pin having a tapered surface and a pair of transverse pins also having a tapered surface whereby the tapered surfaces of the longitudinal pin and each transverse pin abut each other when each transverse pin is located in a corresponding notch or groove of the carrier to securely retain the guide or support member and the cutting element on the carrier. 
     
     
         14 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is provided an end fastener at the free end of the carrier which engages with an internal passage of the carrier to provide a force against a bushing surrounding the end fastener to ensure that the cutting disc and guide or support member are securely retained on the carrier, and wherein the end fastener is screw threadedly attached to the internal passage. 
     
     
         15 . A cutting device including:
 (i) an elongate carrier having a longitudinal axis, a tool end engageable with a power tool and a free end;   (ii) a guide or support member located towards the free end of the carrier which is rotatably attached to the carrier and which has a bearing surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; and   (iii) a cutting element having a peripheral cutting edge which cutting element is located intermediate the guide or support member and the tool end.   
     
     
         16 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 15 , including an eccentric cam member defining an internal cavity and an adjustable collar mounted to the carrier and received within the internal cavity of the eccentric cam member, wherein the cutting element is moved in a similar direction to provide a spacing between the guide or support member and the cutting element, which corresponds to a desired wall thickness of a pipe or sheet being cut in use. 
     
     
         17 . A cutting device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the adjustable collar has a screw threaded shank or shaft to which is attached an adjustment nut wherein the shank or shaft extends through a side wall of the eccentric cam member and actuation of the nut causes said movement of the adjustable collar relative to the eccentric cam member having an effective limit governed by abutment of the adjustable collar with end walls of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         18 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of use of a cutting device to cut a work piece which includes the following:
 (a) attaching one end of a rotatable elongate carrier to a power tool which at another end has a guide member rotatably attached thereto and a cutting element attached to the rotatable carrier inwardly of the guide member wherein said cutting element also has a greater transverse dimension than the guide member and is located closely adjacent to the guide member so as to form a peripheral space between the guide member and the cutting element;   (b) operating the power tool to cause rotation of the rotatable carrier wherein the guide member rotates along a surface of the work piece being cut, wherein said bearing surface is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rotatable carrier; and   (c) cutting through the work piece.   
     
     
         25 . A method of use of a cutting device according to  claim 24 , wherein the guide member counter rotates to the direction of rotation of the cutting element.