Rotating Roller Holder for Pipe Edge Milling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for processing the edges of tubes with milling and/or grinding machines are not easy or flexible to handle, requiring significant force and manual dexterity, especially when dealing with circular motions and varying pipe sizes.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable holding device with adjustable rollers that supports the milling or grinding machine, allowing it to maintain orientation while moving along the pipe edge, reducing the need for manual force and enabling easier processing with a hand-held machine by distributing the weight and maintaining a constant distance from the edge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stationary milling device with a clamped pipe is used, then the pipe is securely held and the milling machine can be guided along the edge, but the device is complex and not easy to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a holding device with rollers for supporting the pipe, and a milling machine that can be independently attached and detached. This segmentation allows each component to be simpler while maintaining overall functionality, making the device easier to handle and operate
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe itself serves as the support structure for the holding device, eliminating the need for a complex external frame. The rollers attach directly to the pipe and use its geometry for positioning, allowing the pipe to 'serve itself' as part of the machining system, thereby reducing device complexity
2Ease of operation
If the milling machine is moved in a circular motion along the pipe edge, then the edge can be processed, but significant manual force and dexterity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device with rollers positioned on both the inside and outside of the pipe provides counterbalancing support that offsets the weight of the milling machine. This counterweight effect reduces the manual force needed to maintain the milling machine's position and guide it along the circular path
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to conform to the cylindrical curvature of the pipe, with rollers positioned to match the pipe's geometry. This curved design allows the milling machine to follow the circular edge path more naturally, reducing the dexterity and force required compared to linear motion on a flat surface
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hand-held milling machine is used for portability, then the device is easy to transport, but it requires more manual force to hold and guide
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers mounted on the pipe provide counterbalancing support that compensates for the weight of the hand-held milling machine. This allows the operator to guide the machine along the circular path with minimal force, combining the portability benefits of a hand-held device with the force-reduction advantages of supported motion
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from purely manual holding in three-dimensional space to guided motion constrained by the pipe's cylindrical geometry. The rollers provide support in the radial dimension while allowing motion along the circumferential dimension, effectively reducing the manual force requirement while maintaining portability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for holding a milling and/or grinding machine (2), particularly hand-held milling and/or grinding machine, in a position for machining an edge (3) at one end of a pipe (4). According to the invention, the holder device (1) comprises at least one rotatable roller (5, 6, 7) which can be laid against the pipe inner side (9) or the pipe outer side (10) and by means of which a connecting part (14) of the holder device (1), on which said milling and/or grinding machine (2) can be arranged, may be moved along the edge (3).