Tube cutter for tubes of different sizes

Abstract

To provide a tube cutter for tubes of different sizes, which is capable of cutting tubes of different sizes with the same tube cutter, and thereby providing more convenient tube cutting experiences.SOLUTION: A tube cutter for tubes of different sizes includes a body 10, a cutter blade, a pedestal 30, and a position regulating member 40. The body 10 includes a cutting space 11 and a storage groove that are mutually communicating. The storage groove has one apex opening and two lateral openings. The apex opening communicates with the cutting space 11, the two lateral openings not communicating with the cutting space 11. The cutter blade is provided in the body 10, and positioned at least partly in the cutting space 11. The pedestal 30 is detachably provided in the storage groove of the body 10, and can be switched between a first angle and a second angle. The position regulating member is movably provided in the body 10, is adjacent to one lateral opening of the storage groove, and is driven to be movable along a space between the first position and the second position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to hand tools, and more particularly to tube cutters for different size tubes. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, construction work often requires the use of various types of tubing (copper tubing, iron tubing, PVC tubing, etc.). These tubings are typically manufactured to be very long, but only a portion of them is needed in practice. In this case, the tubing must be cut to the desired length using tubing cutting equipment. Generally, when cutting tubing, the desired tubing is cut in advance in a factory using hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, and then the tubing is taken to the site for use. However, tubing cutting machines are large machine tools, and not all construction companies have such equipment. When workers on a construction site need to perform temporary tubing cutting work, they must use a portable tubing cutter.

[0003] A problem with conventional tube cutter structures is that the size of the cutting groove is fixed, so they can only be used to cut tubes of the corresponding diameter. When an operator uses a tube cutter to cut a tube larger or smaller than the corresponding diameter, the tube diameter and the groove do not match, making the clamping unstable. This can cause the tube to move during the cutting process, requiring more time and effort to adjust the tube position, resulting in poor cutting efficiency or requiring the operator to replace the tube cutter with one that is compatible with a different diameter, which is extremely inconvenient. Therefore, the ability of tube cutters to stably clamp tubes of different diameters is one of the problems that related industries urgently need to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a tube cutter for different size tubes, which allows different size tubes to be cut by the same tube cutter, providing a more convenient tube cutting experience.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the invention, the tube cutter for different size tubes according to the present invention includes: A main body having a cutting space and a receiving groove that are in communication with each other. The receiving groove has one top opening and two side openings, the top opening being in communication with the cutting space and the two side openings not being in communication with the cutting space. A cutter blade is provided on the body, and at least a portion of the cutter blade is located in the cutting space. The base is removably mounted in the receiving groove of the main body and is switchable between a first angle and a second angle. Opposite sides of the base have a first groove and a second groove of different sizes, and when the base is switched to the first angle, the first groove communicates with the cutting space and abuts against a tube of a predetermined size. When the base is switched to the second angle, the second groove communicates with the cutting space and abuts against a tube of a different size. a position restricting member movably provided on the main body, adjacent to one side opening of the storage groove, and driven to move along the groove between a first position and a second position; when the position restricting member is moved to the first position, at least a portion of the position restricting member blocks the side opening, preventing the base from moving in or out through the side opening; when the position restricting member is moved to the second position, the position restricting member moves away from the side opening, allowing the base to move in or out through the side opening;

[0006] The tube cutter for different sizes of tubes according to the present invention effectively restricts the base to the main body in a normal state using a position limiting member. Furthermore, the base can be removed by pulling the position limiting member when needed, changing the mounting angle of the base, thereby achieving the effect of cutting different sizes of tubes with the same tube cutter. Meanwhile, the present invention also provides a storage space for spare cutter blades, effectively solving the problem of cutter blades breaking and becoming unusable when out and about. Compared with conventional tube cutters, the present invention provides a more convenient and safer tube cutting experience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the base clamps the tube at a first angle. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a position restriction member is in a first position. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a position restriction member has moved to a second position. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the base clamping the tube at a second angle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] 1 to 4, a tube cutter for tubes of different sizes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a main body 10, a cutter blade member 20, a base 30, and a position restriction member 40. Specifically, the components are as follows.

[0009] The main body 10 is a generally C-shaped arc-shaped housing having, in its central portion, a cutting space 11 and a storage groove 12 that are connected to each other. The cutting space 11 is for storing a tube. The storage groove 12 is located below the cutting space 11 and is a groove that corresponds to the outer shape of the base 30 and is for storing the base 30. The storage groove 12 has a top opening 120 and two side openings 121 and 122. The top opening 120 is located above the storage groove 12 and is connected to the cutting space 11. The two side openings 121 and 122 are located on opposite sides of the main body 10, are arranged generally perpendicular to the top opening 120, and do not communicate with the cutting space 11.

[0010] The main body 10 has a cutter blade accommodating space 13 therein. The cutter blade accommodating space 13 is located in the upper half of the main body 10 and is for accommodating the cutter blade member 20, and includes a rail 130. The main body 10 has two side covers 14 that are removably provided on opposite sides of the main body 10 and for closing the cutter blade accommodating space 13.

[0011] In this embodiment, the main body 10 further includes a storage space 15 located in the lower half of the main body 10 for storing the spare cutter blade 50. Specifically, the inner edges of the two side covers 14 each include a spare cutter blade storage portion 140, and the two spare cutter blade storage portions 140 together surround the storage space 15, and the outer shape of the storage space 15 corresponds to the outer shape of the spare cutter blade 50.

[0012] A partition wall 141 is provided on the inner edge of the side cover 14. The partition wall 141 is adjacent to the side opening 122 and is higher than the bottom surface of the accommodation groove 12, thereby preventing the base 30 from entering or exiting through the side opening 122.

[0013] The cutter blade member 20 has a cutter blade 21, a cutter blade shaft 22, and a plurality of elastic pre-presses 23. The cutter blade 21 is provided on the main body 10, and at least a portion of it is located in the cutting space 11 for cutting a tube located in the cutting space 11. The cutter blade shaft 22 passes through the center of the cutter blade 21, and both ends abut against the rails 130 of the main body 10. The elastic pre-presses 23 abut against the cutter blade 21 and the cutter blade shaft 22, respectively, for applying a directional pre-load to the cutter blade 21 when the cutter blade 21 cuts a tube.

[0014] The base 30 is removably mounted in the receiving groove 12 of the main body 10 and is switchable between a first angle and a second angle. Opposite sides of the base 30 have a first groove 31 and a second groove 32 of different sizes. The width and depth of the first groove 31 are greater than those of the second groove 32. In a normal state, one of the first groove 31 and the second groove 32 communicates with the cutting space 11. Specifically, when the base 30 is switchable to the first angle, the first groove 31 faces the cutter blade 21. When the base 30 is switched to the second angle, the second groove 32 faces the cutter blade 21. This allows the first groove 31 and the second groove 32 to accommodate tubes of different sizes. Note that, although the base 30 has a groove structure in this embodiment, in another embodiment, roller structures of different sizes may be provided on opposite sides of the base.

[0015] The base 30 also has a first abutment surface 33 and a second abutment surface 34, the first abutment surface 33 being connected to the first groove 31, and the second abutment surface 34 being connected to the second groove 32. When the base 30 is attached to the main body 10 at a first angle, the first abutment surface 33 abuts against the main body 10. When the base 30 is attached to the main body 10 at a second angle, the second abutment surface 34 abuts against the main body 10. This prevents the base 30 from entering or exiting the accommodating groove 12 through the top opening 120 of the accommodating groove.

[0016] The position restriction member 40 is movably provided on one side of the main body 10 facing the partition wall 141 and is driven to move between a first position and a second position. When the position restriction member 40 moves to the first position, the position restriction member 40 approaches the side opening 121 and blocks at least a portion of the side opening 121, preventing the base 30 from detaching the main body 10 from the side opening 121. When the position restriction member 40 moves to the second position, the position restriction member 40 moves away from the side opening 121, allowing the base 30 to detach the main body 10 from the side opening 121. In this embodiment, the position restriction member 40 is a spring and has two fixed portions 41 and one movable portion 42. The two fixed portions 41 are fixed to the main body 10 at a predetermined distance apart. The movable portion 42 is located between the two fixed portions 41, and both ends of the movable portion 42 are connected to the two fixed portions 41, respectively, and protrude from the main body 10. The movable portion 42 has a generally U-shape. When the position restricting member 40 is in the first position, the portion of the movable portion 42 adjacent to the side opening 121 is generally parallel to the side opening 121, and the portion of the movable portion 42 away from the side opening 121 is generally perpendicular to the side opening 121. When the position restricting member 40 is moved to the first position, the height of the movable portion 42 is higher than the bottom surface of the accommodation groove 12, so the movable portion 42 blocks part of the side opening 121, closing the side opening 121. When the position restricting member 40 is in the second position, the height of the movable portion 42 is not higher than the bottom surface of the accommodation groove 12, opening the side opening 121. In this embodiment, the position restricting member 40 is a spring, so it tends to move from the second position to the first position in its normal state.

[0017] 4 and 5, in a normal state, the base 30 is mounted on the main body 10 at one of a first angle or a second angle, with the first angle being the normal state in this embodiment. In this case, the first groove 31 of the base 30 communicates with the cutting space 11 and faces the cutter blade 21, allowing a tube 60 of a first predetermined size to be received in the first groove 31 and abut against the cutter blade 21, enabling the tube cutting operation. When the tube is not being cut, one of the first abutment surface 33 and the second abutment surface 34 of the base 30 abuts against the inner edge of the main body 10, preventing the base 30 from removing the main body 10 from the top opening 120 of the receiving groove 12. Furthermore, one side opening 122 of the main body 10 is blocked by the partition wall 141, and the other side opening 121 is blocked by the position restriction member 40 in the first position, so the base 30 cannot detach the main body 10 from the two side openings 121, 122 of the accommodation groove 12. Therefore, in the normal state, the base 30 and the main body 10 may be considered to be in a fixed normal state.

[0018] 6 and 7, when a user wishes to cut a tube at a second angle, the user can move the position restricting member 40 from the first position to the second position by grasping the movable portion 42 of the position restricting member 40 by hand or with a tool and pulling it downward. When the movable portion 42 of the position restricting member 40 is in the second position, the height thereof is not higher than the side opening 121 of the receiving groove 12, so the side opening 121 is opened, and the user can apply force to the base 30 to remove the base 30 from the side opening 121. After rotating the base 30 to the second angle, insert the base 30 into the receiving groove 12 along the side opening 121, and then release the position restricting member 40. The position restricting member 40 then automatically returns to the first position from the second position due to its elasticity and is fixed again. At this time, the second groove 32 communicates with the cutting space 11 and faces the cutter blade 21, allowing a tube 70 of a second predetermined size to be placed in the first groove 31 and abut against the cutter blade 21, enabling the tube to be cut. This allows the user to freely change the mounting angle of the base 30 by operating the position restricting member 40, thereby achieving the goal of cutting tubes of different sizes with the same tube cutter. Note that in this embodiment, the first angle and the second angle are 0 degrees and 180 degrees, respectively. However, in other embodiments, the first angle and the second angle may be any other angle.

[0019] As described above, the tube cutter for different sizes of tubes according to the present invention effectively restricts the base to the main body in a normal state using a position restricting member. Furthermore, the base can be removed by pulling the position restricting member when needed, changing the mounting angle of the base, thereby achieving the effect of cutting different sizes of tubes with the same tube cutter. Meanwhile, the present invention also provides a storage space for spare cutter blades, effectively solving the problem of the cutter breaking and becoming unusable when out and about. Compared with conventional tube cutters, the present invention provides a more convenient and safer tube cutting experience. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 10 Main Unit 11 Cutting space 12 Receiving groove 120 Top opening 121 Side opening 122 Side opening 13 Cutter blade storage space 130 Rail 14 Side cover 140 Spare cutter blade storage compartment 141 Partition Wall 15 Storage space 20 Cutter blade member 21 Cutter blade 22 Cutter blade shaft 23 Elastic Pre-press 30 pedestal 31 First Groove 32 Second Groove 33 First contact surface 34 Second contact surface 40 Position control member 41 Fixed part 42 Moving parts 50 spare cutter blades 60 First tube of a given size 70 Second tube of a given size

Claims

1. a main body having a cutting space and a receiving groove that are in communication with each other, the receiving groove having one top opening and two side openings, the top opening communicating with the cutting space and the two side openings not communicating with the cutting space; a cutter blade provided on the main body, at least a portion of which is located in the cutting space; a base that is detachably mounted in the receiving groove of the main body and is switchable between a first angle and a second angle, the base having a first groove and a second groove of different sizes on opposite sides thereof, and when the base is switched to the first angle, the first groove communicates with the cutting space and abuts against a tube of a predetermined size, and when the base is switched to the second angle, the second groove communicates with the cutting space and abuts against a tube different from the tube of the predetermined size; a position restriction member movably provided on the main body, adjacent to one of the side openings of the accommodating groove, and driven to move along the groove between a first position and a second position, wherein when the position restriction member is moved to the first position, at least a portion of the position restriction member blocks the side opening to prevent the base from moving in or out through the side opening, and when the position restriction member is moved to the second position, the position restriction member moves away from the side opening to allow the base to move in or out through the side opening; Includes a tube cutter for different size tubes.

2. 2. The tube cutter for different size tubes according to claim 1, wherein said position restricting member is a spring and normally tends to move from said second position toward said first position.

3. The position restricting member has two fixed parts and one movable part, the two fixed parts are fixed to the main body at a predetermined distance, the movable part is located between the two fixed parts, and both ends are respectively connected to the two fixed parts and protrude from the main body, 2. A tube cutter for tubes of different sizes as described in claim 1, wherein when the position regulating member is moved to the first position, the height of the movable part is higher than the height of the bottom surface of the storage groove, and when the position regulating member is moved to the second position, the height of the movable part is lower than the height of the bottom surface of the storage groove.

4. 4. A tube cutter for tubes of different sizes as described in claim 3, wherein when the position regulating member is located in the first position, the portion of the movable part adjacent to the side opening is parallel to the side opening, and the portion of the movable part away from the side opening is perpendicular to the side opening.

5. 2. The tube cutter for different size tubes according to claim 1, wherein the body has an internal storage space, and the body further includes a spare cutter blade stored in the storage space.

6. 6. The tube cutter for tubes of different sizes according to claim 5, wherein the main body has two side covers removably provided on opposite sides of the main body, each of the two side covers having a spare cutter blade accommodating portion on its inner edge, and the two spare cutter blade accommodating portions together surround the storage space.

7. 2. A tube cutter for tubes of different sizes as described in claim 1, wherein the main body has a partition wall adjacent to the accommodation groove and facing the side opening of the position regulating member, and the height of the partition wall is higher than the bottom surface of the accommodation groove, thereby preventing the base from entering or exiting through the side opening facing the partition wall.

8. 8. The tube cutter for tubes of different sizes according to claim 7, wherein said main body has a side cover removably provided on one side of said main body, and said partition wall is formed on an inner edge of said side cover.

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