Importance

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Abstract

An end preparation tool for pipe fittings includes an end preparation tool having a rotary cutting head with shaping bits carried thereon mounted on a base that also carries a universal clamping fixture for pipe fittings having end openings to be machined in preparation for welding. The clamping fixture includes workpiece engaging clamping pads that permit adjustment of the position of the workpiece relative to a pair of opposed clamping plates that normally secure the pipe fitting in place relative to the cutting head of the end preparation tool. The clamping fixture includes adjustment features that enable the fixture to be moved transversely relative to the cutting head, along the rotary axis of the cutting head and about a vertical axis that permits indexing of the clamping fixture relative to the tool cutting head. The workpiece engaging pads are disposed in an array that extends along a square and diagonal pattern of intersecting lines, and along lines perpendicular to the square lines between their intersections. By locating workpiece engaging pads in such a geometric array, virtually all conventional fittings can be accommodated between the clamping pads comprising the clamping fixture using a minimum number of pad elements. Several embodiments of clamping pads are described.

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First Claim