Internal pipe cutting system and method thereof

Abstract

An internal pipe cutting system is disclosed. The internal pipe cutting system includes an internal pipe cutter which includes a motor, an upper shaft, and a cutting blade. The internal pipe cutting system further includes a hollow cylindrical support basket which includes an adjustable ring removably mounted to the exterior surface of the support basket. Further, the internal pipe cutting system includes a bearing assembly configured to be coupled between the internal pipe cutter and the support basket.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An internal pipe cutting apparatus comprising:
 a motor;   an upper shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adapted to connect to the motor;   a rotary cutting blade coupled to the distal end of the upper shaft and having a proximal end and a distal end;   a lower bearing assembly attached to the distal end of the rotary cutting blade; and   a lower bearing assembly tube housing the lower bearing assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The internal pipe cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor mount coupled to the motor, the motor mount having a proximal end and a distal end; and   an upper shaft housing attached to the distal end of the motor mount.   
     
     
         3 . A method of repairing a damaged underground pipe, the method comprising:
 determining the furthest location in a damaged pipe portion where damage has occurred:   cutting the damaged pipe portion beyond the furthest location of damage utilizing an internal pipe cutter assembly;   extracting the damaged pipe portion; and   inserting a replacement pipe portion into a remaining upper valve box.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the internal pipe cutting assembly comprises:
 a motor;   an upper shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adapted to connect to the motor;   a rotary cutting blade coupled to the distal end of the upper shaft and having a proximal and distal surface;   a lower bearing assembly coupled to the distal surface of the rotary cutting blade; and   a lower bearing assembly tube housing the lower bearing assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the damaged pipe section is extracted by a method comprising:
 threading a puller onto the damaged pipe section;   attaching the puller to a device providing mechanical advantage; and   extracting the damaged pipe section by exerting a force on the device providing mechanical advantage which translates force down onto the puller attached to the damaged pipe section.   
     
     
         6 . A method of repairing a damaged water valve box, the method comprising:
 determining the lowest point in an upper valve box where damage has occurred;   cutting the upper valve box below the lowest point of damage utilizing an internal pipe cutter assembly;   extracting a damaged upper valve box; and   inserting a replacement upper valve box into a remaining upper valve box.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the internal pipe cutting assembly comprises:
 a motor;   an upper shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adapted to connect to the motor;   a rotary cutting blade coupled to the distal end of the upper shaft and having a proximal and distal surface;   a lower bearing assembly attached to the distal surface of the rotary cutting blade; and   a lower bearing assembly tube housing the lower bearing assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the damaged upper valve box is extracted by a method comprising:
 threading a puller onto the damaged upper valve box;   attaching the puller to a device providing mechanical advantage; and   extracting the damaged upper valve box by exerting a force on the device providing mechanical advantage which translates force down onto the puller attached to the damaged upper valve box.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein inserting a replacement upper valve box into a remaining upper valve box is accomplished by the method comprising:
 threading the replacement upper valve box into the remaining upper valve box until the proximal end of the replacement upper valve box is set slightly below the road surface height.