Resilient Pipe Cutter Body for Deformation-Free Severing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cutting tools for pipes are expensive, tedious to operate, and can cause deformation of plastic pipes, and existing solutions do not efficiently address the need for cutting various pipe sizes and materials.

Innovation Solution

A cutting tool with a cylindrical body composed of two half portions, one rigid and one flexible, featuring a tapered slot and a cutting blade that flexes to accommodate and sever pipes of specific diameters, allowing for efficient cutting of pipes with minimal deformation and adaptability to different sizes and materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a metallic support with rollers and a screw mechanism is used to advance the cutting disc, then the cutting action can be controlled, but the tool becomes expensive and tedious to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the complex metallic support structure, rollers, and screw mechanism from the cutting tool, replacing them with a simple handle and a resilient body that naturally provides the necessary advancement and cutting action through elastic deformation when the handle is squeezed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient body automatically advances the cutting blade into the pipe and maintains cutting pressure through its elastic recovery, eliminating the need for manual screw mechanisms or metallic supports to control the cutting depth and progression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If pressure is exerted by the conventional cutting tool on plastic pipes, then the pipe can be cut, but the pipe deforms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidpipe deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a resilient body made of flexible material that can elastically deform to accommodate the pipe's shape and dimensions, distributing the cutting pressure evenly and preventing localized deformation while maintaining effective cutting action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient body's elastic properties allow it to adapt its hardness and flexibility parameters to match different pipe materials and thicknesses, enabling cutting without excessive pressure that would cause deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single cutting tool design is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot accommodate various pipe sizes and materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to pipe sizesVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient body is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate different pipe diameters, wall thicknesses, and materials through its elastic deformation capabilities, allowing a single tool design to perform multiple cutting functions without requiring size-specific variants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient body's material properties and geometric parameters can be adjusted to optimize performance for different pipe sizes and materials, enabling one tool design to serve multiple purposes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The tool effectively severs pipes with reduced operational effort and minimal deformation, accommodating various pipe sizes and materials, including plastics and copper, while ensuring user safety through protective features.

Implementation Method 1

the second segment will resile and urge the conduit against the blade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2252422B1Cutting tool
Publication Date: 2012.06.20 SCOTT CUTTERS
  • EP2252422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2252422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2252422B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3e

AI summary

A cutting tool for a pipe of specific diameter comprises a generally cylindrical body (1) defining a central bore (10) extending along a predetermined axis. The body is divided into two axially spaced half portions (2A and 2B) which clamp between them a cutting blade (8) that projects into the bore (10). The body has a progressively narrowing slot (12) extending from its outer circumference to the bore. At the bore (10) the width of the slot (12) is narrower than the diameter of the bore. The tool to one side of the slot (12) is flexibly resilient so as to flex away when a pipe of diameter equal to the bore is pushed along the slot into the bore and to resile when the pipe has entered the bore and so urge the pipe against the blade so that subsequent relative rotation between the tool and pipe will cause the pipe to be severed.