MACHINE FOR CUTTING SEWER-PIPE RINGS.
The machine shown in Figs. 146 to 152 is for cutting rings from clay-pipe while in the green or undried condition in which they are formed ; and which rings are designed, after burning, to be employed in the construction of drains and sewers. The invention consists in a horizontally vibrating wire-carrying frame arranged to swing over a suitable pipe supporting platform, and capable of being moved vertically between each vibration and supported in place during each motion, so that the pipe is divided by vibrating wire into suc cessive rings.
Figure 146 is a side elevation. Fig. 147 is a vertical section through the upper socket, showing the catches which support the racks and wire-frame. Fig. 148 is a sectional view, show ing the ratchet of the wire-reel. Fig. 149 is an end view of the wire-reel on an enlarged scale, showing its mode of attachment to the lower arm of the wire-frame. Fig. 15o is a side view of the same. Fig. 151 is a perspective view. Fig. 152 is a sec tional view on the line x x, Fig. 146.
A, Fig. 146, is an upright post or other suitable support, to which the swinging wire-carrying frame is attached by means of the lugs or sockets L G K and the sliding-bar B.
P is the pipe, resting on the fixed platform or stand U, and w the wire strained on the swinging frame, by which the pipe is cut.
R is a counter-weight, by which the swinging frame is bal anced ; and C C' are the racks, and h j the catches by which the length of the rings is determined.
In order to provide for cutting rings of different lengths, two or more racks C C' are made on the upper end of the bar B. The distance between the teeth of these racks corresponds with the desired length of the rings to be cut by the machine.
The frame may be made of sufficient strength to sustain the wire w without the curved arm E; but it is preferable, for the sake of lightness, to employ it. Where it is not used the two rings S and S' should be connected by an upright bar, so that they oscillate together.
In order to prevent loss of time consumed in replacing the wire when it is accidentally broken, the inventor attaches to the ring S' a reel c, Figs. 149 and 15o, about which a supply of wire is wound.
In the practical operation of this improved pipe-cutter, one or more of the pipes which it is desired to cut into rings being placed upright on the platform U, the operator swinging the frame backward and forward from the positions indicated by E' w', Fig. 152, to E" w", passes the wire through the pipe and severs it. At each end of the oscillating motion of the swing ing frame, it is raised upward, or depressed for a distance cor responding with one of the teeth of the racks C or 0 occupy ing in succession the positions indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 152, and cutting a ring from the pipe while moving in each direction. A number of pipes may be cut into rings at one time, if placed on the ptatform U. After the completion of the cutting operation the rings, which remain on each other, are re moved, and the process repeated.
It is preferable to commence the cutting operation at the lower end of the pipe, moving the frame upward between each cut, and using the handle M only, to disengage the dog h from the rack C, when it becomes necessary to depress the swinging frame.