Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[39 of 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10 and Rule 13]

TITLE: “A DEVICE FOR CUTTING PROFILES ON A WORKPIECE”

Name and Address of the Applicant:
TATA STEEL LIMITED, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India 831001.

Nationality: INDIAN

The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Present disclosure in general relates to field of manufacturing. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to cutting profiles on a workpiece. Further, embodiments of the disclosure discloses a device and a system for cutting profiles on the workpiece.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In production engineering, workpieces such as elongated tubes or pipes are cut into sections of different profiles based on requirement. These sections of different profiles are then joined through joining techniques such as welding, brazing and the like to form a desired product. Conventional way of cutting such profiles on the workpiece includes manual marking on the workpiece and manual cutting using a cutting tool along the marked portion to obtain a pipe section of desired profile. These techniques require repetitive measurement of cutting dimensions and the cutting profile on each of workpieces. This technique delays cutting operations, and moreover it required skilled labour, which is costly and undesired. Further, the manual way of performing the cutting operations, leads to shortcomings such as low cutting efficiency, large amount of labour, low cutting accuracy, wastage of products and the like. Also, since the cutting operation depends on skill of the labour, any inaccuracies leads to wastage of workpiece, which is again undesired.

In addition, there may be machines such as CNC machines which may be used conventionally to cut such profiles. However, initial and running costs of such CNC machines are expensive and each cut of the profile may also prove to be expensive.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any other limitation associated with the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by a device and a system as disclosed and additional advantages are provided through the device and the system as described in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the technique of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment, a device for cutting profiles on a workpiece. The device includes a base and a spindle rotatably disposed on the base. The spindle is configured to removably support a template of a predefined profile. Further the device includes a follower coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate along with rotation of the spindle. Furthermore, the device includes a cutting tool removably connected to the follower and a cam coupled to the follower. The cam is configured to traverse along an edge of the predefined profile of the template, relative to rotation of the follower for selectively displacing the cutting tool for cutting profiles on the workpiece. This configuration of the device aids in automatically cutting the profiles on the workpiece based on requirement with high accuracy and at faster rate.
In an embodiment, the follower is a spring loaded follower.
In an embodiment, the spindle is rotated by one of manual rotation through a hand wheel.
In an embodiment, the spindle is rotated automatically by a mechanism comprising a prime mover, a power transferring unit extending between the prime mover and the spindle for transmitting power from the prime mover to the spindle to rotate the spindle.
In an embodiment, the device comprises a bracket coupled to the spindle, the bracket is configured to couple the follower and the spindle.
In an embodiment, the cam is defined with a provision, the provision is configured to be received by the edge of the predefined profile of the template to guide the cam along the predefined profile of the template.
In an embodiment, the follower comprises a support plate for accommodating the cutting tool.
In another exemplary embodiment, a system for cutting profiles on a workpiece. The system comprises a support element disposed on the platform and configured to removably accommodate a portion of the workpiece. Further, the system includes a device disposed on the platform and configured to cut profiles on the workpiece. The device includes a base connected to the platform and a a spindle rotatably disposed on the base. The spindle is configured to removably support a template of a predefined profile. Further the device includes a follower coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate along with rotation of the spindle. Furthermore, the device includes a cutting tool removably connected to the follower and a cam coupled to the follower. The cam is configured to traverse along an edge of the predefined profile of the template, relative to rotation of the follower for selectively displacing the cutting tool for cutting profiles on the workpiece.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a device of the system of Figure. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the apparatus and system illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which forms the subject of the description of the disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent devices and systems depart from the scope of the disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, as to operation of the device and the system, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.
In the following detailed description, embodiments of the disclosure are explained with reference of accompanying figures that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Figure. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating a system (100) for cutting profiles on a workpiece (119). As an example, the workpiece (119) may be but not limiting to a pipe, a tube and the like. The system (100) may be configured to provide profiled end cuts to the workpiece (119). The profiled ends cuts may include any geometrical shape such as but not limiting to circular, elliptical, sinusoidal, conical and the like. As seen in Figure. 1, the system (100) may include a platform (117) which may be configured to support various components of the system (100). Further, the system (100) may include a support element (102) which may be disposed on the platform (117). The support element (102) may be configured to accommodate the workpiece (119). In an embodiment, the support element (102) may include a column (118) extending away from the platform (117) to a rotating member (114).
The rotating member (114) may be configured to selectively rotate or orient the workpiece (119) in predetermined direction based on profile to be cut on the workpiece (119). Further, the support element (102) may be include a conveyor (115) which may be disposed on the rotating member (114). The conveyor (115) may be configured to selectively move the workpiece (119) towards the cutting tool (111) and may facilitate in adjusting length of the workpiece (119) to be cut. Further, the support element (102) includes a locking mechanism [not shown in figures] configured to rigidly lock the workpiece (119) on the conveyor (115) during cutting profiled end cutting of the workpiece (119). In an illustrated embodiment, the conveyor (115) includes a plurality of rollers (116), which may rotate about its axis for displacing (thus, moving) the workpiece (119) based on length of the workpiece (119) to be cut. In another example, the conveyor (115) may include a belt which facilitates in displacing the workpiece (119).
Referring further to Figure. 1, the system (100) may include a device (101) [best seen in Figure. 2] which may be disposed on a base (103) and may be configured to cut profiles on the workpiece (119). The base (103) is being coupled to the platform (117). In an embodiment, the base (103) may be configured to support a plurality of components of the device (101). The device (101) may further include a spindle (104) which may be rotatably disposed on the base (103) and may be configured to radially support a template (105) of a predefined profile. In an embodiment, the template (105) may be rigidly fixed around the spindle (104) such that, the template (105) remains stationary relative to rotation of the spindle (104). Based on the profile to be cut on the workpiece (119), a similar profiled template (105) may be supported on the spindle (104). As an example, if a sinusoidal profile needs to be cut on the workpiece (119), then the template (105) having same profile is positioned radially around the spindle (104).
In an embodiment, the spindle (104) may be configured to rotate about an axis A-A either manually or automatically. Manual rotation of the spindle includes rotation through a handle wheel and automatic rotation is performed by a mechanism. The mechanism may include a prime mover (106) such as but not limiting to a motor, engine and the like. Further, the mechanism may include a power transferring unit (107), which may extend between the prime mover (106) and the spindle (104). The power transferring unit (107) may be configured to transmit power from the prime mover (106) to the spindle (104) to rotate the spindle (104). As an example, the power transferring unit (107) may be a belt drive, a chain drive, a gear drive and the like.
Turning now to Figure. 2, the device (101) may further include a follower (108) which may be coupled to the spindle (104). The follower (108) may be rotatably coupled to the spindle (104) such that, the follower (108) may rotate as per the rotation of the spindle (104). In an embodiment, the follower (108) may be a spring loaded follower (108) and may be coupled to the spindle (104) through a bracket (110) which is rotatably coupled to the spindle (104). In an illustrated embodiment, the follower (108) may include a pair of links (112) which are parallelly connected to the bracket (110) and at least one cross bar (113) adjoining either ends of the pair of links (112). The follower (108) may be configured to rotate along with rotation of the bracket (110) when the spindle (104) rotates. Further, the device (101) may include a cutting tool (111), which may be removably connected to one of the cross bars (113) of the follower (108). As an example, the cutting tool (111) may be a thermal cutter such as a plasma cutter. As apparent from Figure. 2, the device (101) may further include a cam (109) which may be coupled to the follower (108). The cam (109) may be configured to abut to an edge of a predetermined profile of the template (105). In an embodiment, the cam (109) may include a groove defined along an outer surface. The groove may be configured to abut the edge of the predetermined profile of the template (105). Further, the cam (109) may be configured to traverse along an edge of the predetermined profile, relative to rotation of the follower (108) hereby displacing the follower (108), such that, the cutting tool (111) is also displaced which may follow similar path of that of the predetermined profile of template (105), thereby cutting the workpiece (119) in a similar profile as that of the predetermined profile of the template (105). Thus, the configuration of the system (100) aids in cutting profiles (thus, profiled end cuts) in a faster and accurate manner without relying on skill of the operator. Displacing may be considered to the movement of the follower (108) (apart from rotation) along the A-A axis due to crest and troughs on the edge of the template (105), thereby the cutting tool (111).
In an operational embodiment, the template (105) having predetermined profile [i.e., based on profile to be cut on the workpiece (119)] may be supported around the spindle (104) and the cam (109) may be engaged to an edge of the predetermined profile of the template (105). The spindle (104) may be operated at a predetermined speed either manually by rotating the hand wheel (120) or may be rotated automatically through the mechanism at a predetermined speed (thus, rpm based on depth of cut required and thickness of the workpiece). Corresponding to rotation of the spindle (104), the follower (108) may also be rotated causing the cam (109) to traverse along the edge of the predetermined profile. Due to rotation of the cam (109) along the edge of the predetermined profile of the template (105), the follower (108) may displace thereby displacing the cutting tool (111) to travel in path which is same as that of the shape of the predetermined profile of the template (105). Thus, the cutting tool (111) may cut the workpiece (119) in a profile which is same as that of the predetermined profile of the template (105).
The configuration of the system (100) aids in automatically cutting the profiles on the workpiece (119) accurately and at a faster rate and eliminates the chances of wastage of workpieces.
EQUIVALENTS

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system (200) having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system (200) having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals:

Referral Numerals Description
100 System
101 Device
102 Support element
103 Base
104 Spindle
105 Template
106 Prime mover
107 Power transferring unit
108 Follower
109 Cam
110 Bracket
111 Cutting tool
112 Links
113 Cross bar
114 Rotating member
115 Conveyor
116 Rollers
117 Platform
118 Column
119 Workpiece
120 Hand wheel
, Claims:We Claim:

1. A device (101) for cutting profiles on a workpiece (119), the device (101) comprising:
a base (103);
a spindle (104) rotatably disposed on the base (103) and configured to radially support a template (105) of a predefined profile;
a follower (108) coupled to the spindle (104), the follower (108) is configured to rotate along with rotation of the spindle (104);
a cutting tool (111) removably connected to the follower (108); and
a cam (109) coupled to the follower (108), the cam (109) is configured to traverse along an edge of the predefined profile of the template (105), relative to rotation of the follower (108) for selectively displacing the cutting tool (111) for cutting profiles on the workpiece (119).

2. The device (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the follower (108) is a spring loaded follower (108).

3. The device (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spindle (104) is rotated by manual rotation through a hand wheel (120).

4. The device (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spindle (104) is rotated automatically by a mechanism comprising:
a prime mover (106); and
a power transferring unit (107) extending between the prime mover (106) and the spindle (104) for transmitting power from the prime mover (106) to the spindle (104) to rotate the spindle (104).
5. The device (101) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a bracket (110) coupled to the spindle (104), the bracket (110) is configured to couple the follower (108) and the spindle (104).

6. The device (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cam (109) is defined with a provision, the provision is configured to be received by the edge of the predefined profile of the template (105) to guide the cam (109) along the predefined profile of the template (105).

7. The device (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the template (105) is stationarily supported around the spindle (104).

8. A system (100) for cutting profiles on a workpiece (119), the system (100) comprising:
a platform (117);
a support element (102) disposed on the platform (117) and configured to removably accommodate a portion of the workpiece (119); and
a device (101) coupled to the platform (117) and configured to cut profiles on the workpiece (119), the device (101) comprising:
a base (103) connected to the platform (117);
a spindle (104) rotatably disposed on the base (103) and configured to removably support a template (105) of a predefined profile;
a follower (108) coupled to the spindle (104), the follower (108) is configured to rotate along with rotation of the spindle (104);
a cutting tool (111) removably connected to the follower (108); and
a cam (109) coupled to the follower (108), the cam (109) is configured to traverse along an edge of the predefined profile of the template (105), relative to rotation of the follower (108) for selectively displacing the cutting tool (111) for cutting profiles on the workpiece (119).

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support element (102) comprises:
a rotating member (114) configured to selectively rotate the workpiece; and
a conveyor (115) disposed on the rotating member (114), and configured to selectively move the workpiece (119) towards the cutting tool (111).

10. The system (100) as claimed in claims 7 and 8, comprises a locking mechanism configured to rigidly lock the workpiece (119) on the conveyor (115) during cutting profiled end cutting of the workpiece (119).

Dated this 31st day of July 2022


Gopinath Arenur Shankararaj
IN/PA-1852
of K&S Partners
Agent for the Applicant