Scott Benson Taylor
Engineers in Saint George, UT

5920989, Jul 13, 1999

Jan 28, 1998

9/015013

Scott L. Taylor - Veyo UT

B23D 2104

30101

An automatic adjusting pipe cutting apparatus includes a housing having a first compartment defining a first cavity and a first axis of rotation extending in orthogonal relationship thereto and a second compartment defining a second cavity and a second axis of rotation extending in orthogonal relationship thereto, a cutting mechanism for cutting a pipe disposed in the first cavity, and a driving mechanism for driving the cutting mechanism disposed in the second cavity. The housing has a hinge disposed between and connecting the first and second compartments which allows them to pivot in relation to one another. The housing also has rollers circumferentially spaced apart from one another and rotatably mounted to the first compartment about the first cavity. The cutting mechanism has a cylindrical frame supported within the first cavity by the rollers and thereby is rotatable about the first axis of rotation. The driving mechanism has a drive wheel disposed in the second cavity and mounted to the second compartment and is rotatable about the second axis of rotation, a drive shank attached to and extending axially from the drive wheel and extending coaxially with the second axis of rotation for driving engagement with an external tool so as to cause rotation of the drive wheel upon rotation of the drive shank, and a resilient continuous belt mounted about and encircling the drive wheel and frictionally engaging the cylindrical frame so as to cause rotation of the cylindrical frame upon rotation of the drive wheel, causing the cutting mechanism to cut through the pipe.