Pipe cutter
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,569 there is described a pipe cutting device which is power-driven or manually operated by rotating a handle around the pipe to be cut. This prior device has proved to be highly successful in cutting pipes having accessible ends, for example in building construction. In building maintenance work, however, it is often necessary to cut a pipe which is already installed and which may be located in a rather inaccessible position close to a wall and/or floor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe cutter which can readily be used in such situations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pipe cutter comprising a frame which is arranged to be fitted round the pipe to be cut and which has a first part arranged to carry a cutting tool and a second part which carries at least one pipe-engaging member, said parts being relatively movable, a feeding mechanism which derives a drive from rotation of the frame around the pipe to feed said tool inwardly, an annular member formed in at least two parts and arranged to be fitted around the pipe to be cut, and a one-way drive mechanism between said frame and said annular member, whereby reciprocal movement of said annular member drives said frame around the pipe to feed the cutting tool and so cut the pipe. 
     Preferably, said pipe-engaging member comprises a roller which receives a rotary drive from the pipe when the pipe cutter is rotated, and said feeding mechanism is driven by the roller to feed said cutting tool inwardly. 
     Preferably also, said annular member comprises a two-part ring formed internally with ratchet teeth, and a spring-loaded pawl is carried by said frame to engage said teeth. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pipe cutter according to the present invention applied to a pipe to be cut; 
     FIG. 2 is an end view corresponding to FIG. 1 but showing the pipe cutter being applied to the pipe; and, 
     FIG. 3 is a section on the line III--III of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, the pipe cutter comprises a cutter device A which is substantially as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,569, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. The device A has a two-part frame of which part 20 is pivotally mounted on the base part 22. Part 20 carries a thin freely-rotatable cutter wheel 23. 
     Two rollers 25, 26 are rotatably mounted on the part 22 of the frame, and these rollers serve to support and position the device on pipe P. Roller 26 is knurled to receive a frictional drive from the pipe P as the device revolves around the pipe. The roller 26 is formed with an eccentric and operates to feed cutter wheel 23 as described in my earlier patent. 
     According to the present invention, a C-shaped bearing plate 50 is secured to the base part 22 of the cutter frame by a screw 51, and the plate is formed with grooves 52 which are received by the parallel driving tongues 18 on the frame part 22. The plate 50 is also formed with a recess 53 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to receive a two-part ring 54 which comprises two semi-circular sections 55 and 56 hinged together at 57. Section 55 carries a clasp device 58 at its free end, and section 56 is formed with an end recess 59 to receive tongue 60 of the device 58. The free end of ring section 55 is also formed with a hexagonal opening 61 to receive the end of a handle 62. The clasp device 58, which carries the tongue 60, is slidable along the free end of section 55 (radially outwardly from the position shown in the drawings) when the handle 62 is not inserted into the opening. 
     The sections of ring 54 are formed with internal ratchet teeth 63, and a spring-loaded pawl 64 is carried by the bearing plate 50 to engage these teeth. 
     In use of the pipe cutter according to the invention, the cutter device A with the bearing plate 50 attached, is positioned over pipe P; the mouth of the C-shaped plate 50 is sufficiently large to receive the pipe P and, as an example, the device may be suitable for cutting pipes having outside diameters of up to 2 inches. The cutter wheel 23 is then brought into engagement with the pipe by turning the adjustment screw head 42. With the device in position, the ring 54 is fed round the pipe, as indicated in full lines in FIG. 2, and closed to enter recess 53. The ends of the ring are then locked together by the clasp device 58, as indicated in broken lines, and the end of handle 62 is inserted into opening 61 to hold the clasp in the locking position. 
     Reciprocation of the handle 62 through the angle available, reciprocates the toothed ring 54 to act through the pawl 64 to rotate the cutter device A in series of steps round the pipe P. As the device moves round the pipe, the roller 26 is rotated to feed the cutter wheel 23 inwardly until the pipe is severed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat No. 3,651,569. 
     For use with welded pipes, the wheel cutter may be replaced by a V-groove cutting tool to provide an appropriate welding chamfer.