TOOL FOR CUTTING TUBES Specification

The present invention relates, in general, to a tool for cutting pipes. More particularly, it is a tool for use in combination with a cutting device for cutting corrugated pipes.

As is well known, corrugated polymer pipes are used to make air or cable ducts. Such pipes are usually wound into coils and are cut by an operator to the required size.

Such cutting operations are usually difficult and time-consuming, as they are carried out manually using familiar tools, such as knives or cutters, which among other things do not allow for a particularly precise cut.

For some years now, tools consisting of a 'C device with an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the tube to be cut and having a built-in blade protruding from the device itself have therefore been introduced onto the market. Pipe cutting operations first involve the pipe being held in the 'C device so that it embraces the pipe itself at the cutting zone.

Next, the blade makes the cut by rotating the tool in relation to the tube or vice versa.

Tools of this type, such as the one illustrated in patent document IT 102018000002496, present certain problems.

First of all, when the blade present in known tools is worn or worn, the entire tool becomes unusable and a new tool must be purchased.

Alternatively, one can proceed with the replacement of the blade only; but this solution is complex and potentially dangerous. Furthermore, it can be difficult to find a new blade of the same size as the blade to be replaced.

Another drawback is related to the disposal of the known tools; they include both the 'C device, usually made of plastic, and the blade, made of metal, which is attached to the device. And the two parts made of different materials are difficult to separate, as previously mentioned.

Moreover, the configuration as illustrated also entails that such tools have an important cost, certainly higher than a cutter or a knife.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe cutting tool which solves the drawbacks of the known technique.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a pipe cutting tool that can be used continuously, irrespective of the state of the blade used for cutting.

A further scope of the invention is to provide a pipe cutting tool that is easily disposable.

Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a pipe cutting tool that has a lower cost than known tools.

These and other purposes are achieved, according to the invention, by a tool capable of being coupled to a cutting device C having a blade L for the purpose of cutting a corrugated tube T having a maximum outer diameter De and a minimum outer diameter Dg.

More particularly, the tool comprises a first element and a second element placed side by side.

The first element is suitable for engaging at least partially with the outer surface of the tube T at its maximum outer diameter De.

The second element is capable of at least partially abutting the outer surface of the tube T at its minimum outer diameter Dg.

The tool according to the invention is characterised, in particular, by the fact that it comprises coupling means suitable for removably coupling the blade L of the cutting device C to the tool.

Thanks to said coupling means, it is, in fact, possible to associate to the tool, object of the invention, a cutting device, such as, for example, a cutter, using the blade L of said device until it is totally worn.

Once the blade L of the cutting device is totally worn, it is possible to use a new cutting device, or at least a new blade L, without having to replace the tool, object of the invention.

Advantageously, the coupling means may comprise a slot capable of being passed through by the blade L. In this way, the coupling of the cutting device to the tool, object of the invention, is very simple and practical.

In addition, the gap can be cut between the first element and the second element, so that the blade L can protrude inwards.

Advantageously, the first element and the second element can be joined together by means of fasteners.

Thus, the first element and the second element can be made separately and then joined by means of such fasteners.

Furthermore, the fastening means may ensure the grip of the blade L between the first element and the second element themselves.

In particular, the fastening means may comprise at least one screw tightened by a nut. In this way, by first loosening the screw, the blade L can be placed in the appropriate position, and then secured therein by tightening the nut to the same screw.

Advantageously, the first element may comprise an inner edge describing a portion of the circumference with a diameter equal to the maximum outer diameter De of the tube T. In this way, the first element can rotate with respect to the tube T, always remaining in contact with the outermost portion of the tube T itself.

Similarly, the second element may comprise at least one protrusion comprising an inner edge describing a portion of a circumference having a diameter equal to the minimum outer diameter Dg of the tube T. In this way, the second element may rotate with respect to the tube T, while remaining in contact with the innermost portion of the tube T itself.

Furthermore, the second element may have a "C" conformation and may comprise a first extreme protrusion and a second extreme protrusion, arranged at opposite ends of the second element and having a distance between them of slightly less than the minimum outer diameter Dg of the tube T.

In this way, the tool can embrace the tube T and thanks to the conformation of the second element, it can remain stably coupled to the same tube T.

Advantageously, a tongue can be attached to the first element arranged at the slot and at the front of the second element, so as to ensure a better grip of the blade L to the tool itself.

In addition, the slot may be cut in the first element or in the second element, so that the blade L arranged therein may cut the tube T at the portion of the tube T itself on which the first element or the second element goes into contact.

Further features and details may be better understood from the following description, given as a non-limiting example, as well as from the annexed drawing tables in which figure 1 is a side view of a tool for cutting tubes, according to the invention, coupled to a cutter C for cutting a corrugated tube T; figure 2 is a side view of the tool of figure 1 ; figure 3 is a sectional view of the tool of figure 2, according to the plane A-A.

With reference to the enclosed figures, 10 denotes a pipe cutting tool to be used in conjunction with a cutter C equipped with a blade L for cutting a corrugated pipe T.

A corrugated tube T comprises equidistant grooves G.

Consequently, as illustrated in figure 1 , tube T has an external diameter that varies between a maximum value De, corresponding to the outermost portion of tube T, and a minimum value Dg, corresponding to the lowest point of each groove G.

The cutting of the tube T by means of the tool 10 object of the invention, can be performed precisely at the lowest point of each throat G.

The tool 10 comprises a "C"-shaped portion 12 having a protruding body 13 capable of cooperating with the cutter C in order to ensure an integral movement between the tool 10 and the cutter C itself when cutting the tube T.

The tool 10 comprises a first arched element 14 and a second arched element 16 of substantially similar shape.

The first arched element 14 and the second arched element 16 are fixed to each other by means of an adhesive and are, in addition, joined by means of a knob screw 18 tightened by a nut 20.

The first arched element 14 has an inner edge 22 which describes a portion of circumference with a diameter equal to the outermost diameter of the tube T, i.e. it has an extension equal to De previously defined.

A first extreme projection 24 and a second extreme projection 26 protrude from the inner edge of the second arcuate element 16, arranged at both ends of the same second arcuate element 16.

A first inner protrusion 28 and a second inner protrusion 30 protrude from the same inner edge of the second arched element, arranged, however, more internally than the first extreme protrusion 24 and the second extreme protrusion 26.

The first extreme projection 24, the second extreme projection 26, the first internal projection 28 and the second internal projection 30 all have an innermost edge which is arranged on the same circumference, having a diameter equal to the diameter Dg defined above.

Furthermore, the first extreme projection 24 and the second extreme projection 26 have a distance from each other slightly less than the diameter Dg of the tube T.

Between the second arched element 16 and a tongue 32, fixed to the first arched element 14, a slot 34 is obtained in which the blade L of the cutter C can be inserted. In particular, the tab 32 has the function of compressing the blade L against the second arched element 16 by tightening the knob screw 18.

When using the tool 10, the operator first inserts the blade L of the cutter C into the slot 34 present between the tab 32 of the first arched element 14 and the second arched element 16, so that the same blade L protrudes slightly from the inner side of the tool between the first inner protrusion 28 and the second inner protrusion 30.

The operator tightens the knob screw 18 so that the blade L is fixed in position.

The operator then couples the tool 10 to the tube T. He first identifies the position of the cut and then ensures that tube T is embraced by the tool.

In particular, since the first extreme projection 24 and the second extreme projection 26 have a mutual distance slightly smaller than the diameter Dg, there is a slight elastic deformation of the same tube T when coupling tool 10 to tube T.

The configuration now achieved is that illustrated in figure 1 , in which the first extreme projection 24, the second extreme projection 26, the first internal projection 28 and the second internal projection 30 all have their innermost edge in contact with the innermost portion of the groove G having diameter Dg, while the innermost edge 22 of the first arched element 14 is in contact with a portion of the outermost surface of the tube T, having diameter De. Having reached this configuration, the operator can proceed with cutting the tube T, by rotating the tool and the cutter C coupled thereto, around the tube T.

The tool 10 according to the invention does not need to be replaced or decommissioned. Indeed, it can be used perpetually.

In fact, once the blade L is worn, it is sufficient to proceed with the removal of the same portion of the worn blade L as is regularly carried out for all cutters.

Furthermore, once the entire L-blade is worn out, a new C-cutter can be used.

In order to cut corrugated pipes T like those currently on the market, i.e. with diameters varying between 50 and 110 mm, it is sufficient to use tools according to the invention, of different sizes depending on the size of the pipe to be cut.

In particular, for each size of tube T, it is sufficient to have a tool 10 having the measurements De and Dg of the corresponding tube T.

It is therefore possible to use a single cutter C for tools 10 of different sizes.

In addition, there may be variations which are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

For example, the shape of the protruding body 13 may be different from that illustrated in the figures.

Similarly, the clamping means of the first arched element 14 with the second arched element 16 may be different from the knob screw 18.

Furthermore, it is possible to avoid the use of clamping means such as the screw 18, for example, by making a slot corresponding to the slot 34 illustrated above, which has a width perfectly identical to the thickness of the cutter blade.

Or, it is possible to couple a cutter to a tool, made according to the invention, without having to insert it into a previously made slot, but by coupling it externally with corresponding coupling means.

The tool according to the invention can also conform in one piece, made for example by moulding.