A tilt device includes: a drive motor that provides a drive force for swinging a tilt member; an auxiliary cylinder coupled to the tilt member to assist swing of the tilt member by the drive motor; and a control device that performs drive control of the drive motor and the auxiliary cylinder. In the movable range of the tilt member, a moment about the swing axis generated in the tilt member by the gravitational force is always directed to only one side in the rotational direction, and an assistive moment about the swing axis provided to the tilt member by a cylinder pressure is always directed to only the other side in the rotational direction. The control device fluctuates the cylinder pressure such that the assistive moment is less than the moment generated in the tilt member by the gravitational force.

A pipe facing machine (PFM) system includes a PFM and a hydraulic power source having a single hydraulic pump arranged to provide a hydraulic oil flow to the PFM via single hydraulic circuit. The PFM includes a body defining an axis and a cutting head arranged to rotate and translate relative to the axis. Drive systems are arranged to drive clamping of the PFM on a workpiece, rotation of the cutting head about the axis, and translation of the cutting head along the axis. A hydraulic controller includes a plurality of control elements and hydraulically connects the drive systems. The hydraulic controller is arranged to direct and regulate hydraulic oil flow between the drive systems and the hydraulic controller based on signals from the control elements and a computer control system.

A pipe facing machine (PFM) system includes a PFM and a hydraulic power source having a single hydraulic pump arranged to provide a hydraulic oil flow to the PFM via single hydraulic circuit. The PFM includes a body defining an axis and a cutting head arranged to rotate and translate relative to the axis. Drive systems are arranged to drive clamping of the PFM on a workpiece, rotation of the cutting head about the axis, and translation of the cutting head along the axis. A hydraulic controller includes a plurality of control elements and hydraulically connects the drive systems. The hydraulic controller is arranged to direct and regulate hydraulic oil flow between the drive systems and the hydraulic controller based on signals from the control elements and a computer control system.

In one aspect, a pipe machining system is provided and includes a positioning apparatus, a pipe machining apparatus, and an adjustment member coupled to the positioning apparatus and a pipe machining apparatus. The adjustment member is configured to move the pipe machining apparatus relative to the positioning apparatus. In one aspect, the pipe machining system also includes a position tracking apparatus configured to identify a position of the pipe machining apparatus relative to a pipe on which the system is mounted.

A method of processing a workpiece comprises identifying processing locations on the workpiece, drilling a first hole at one of the processing locations using a rotary drive, sensing a flow of fluid while drilling, generating an operation signal based on the flow, comparing the duration interval of the operation signal to a predetermined temporal value, and drilling a different hole at a different processing location based on the duration interval and the temporal value.

A method of processing a workpiece comprises identifying processing locations on the workpiece, drilling a first hole at one of the processing locations using a rotary drive, sensing a flow of fluid while drilling, generating an operation signal based on the flow, comparing the duration interval of the operation signal to a predetermined temporal value, and drilling a different hole at a different processing location based on the duration interval and the temporal value.

A tilt device includes: a drive motor that provides a drive force for swinging a tilt member; an auxiliary cylinder coupled to the tilt member to assist swing of the tilt member by the drive motor; and a control device that performs drive control of the drive motor and the auxiliary cylinder. In the movable range of the tilt member, a moment about the swing axis generated in the tilt member by the gravitational force is always directed to only one side in the rotational direction, and an assistive moment about the swing axis provided to the tilt member by a cylinder pressure is always directed to only the other side in the rotational direction. The control device fluctuates the cylinder pressure such that the assistive moment is less than the moment generated in the tilt member by the gravitational force.

A tilt device includes: a drive motor that provides a drive force for swinging a tilt member; an auxiliary cylinder coupled to the tilt member to assist swing of the tilt member by the drive motor; and a control device that performs drive control of the drive motor and the auxiliary cylinder. In the movable range of the tilt member, a moment about the swing axis generated in the tilt member by the gravitational force is always directed to only one side in the rotational direction, and an assistive moment about the swing axis provided to the tilt member by a cylinder pressure is always directed to only the other side in the rotational direction. The control device fluctuates the cylinder pressure such that the assistive moment is less than the moment generated in the tilt member by the gravitational force.

A pipe facing machine (PFM) system includes a PFM and a hydraulic power source having a single hydraulic pump arranged to provide a hydraulic oil flow to the PFM via single hydraulic circuit. The PFM includes a body defining an axis and a cutting head arranged to rotate and translate relative to the axis. Drive systems are arranged to drive clamping of the PFM on a workpiece, rotation of the cutting head about the axis, and translation of the cutting head along the axis. A hydraulic controller includes a plurality of control elements and hydraulically connects the drive systems. The hydraulic controller is arranged to direct and regulate hydraulic oil flow between the drive systems and the hydraulic controller based on signals from the control elements and a computer control system.

A system for processing a workpiece, including a rotary drive having a path along which a flow of a fluid is established during operation, a sensor in communication with the path, to generate a signal responsive to the flow of the fluid and not to generate the signal responsive to an absence of the flow, and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor to enable the operation of the rotary drive subsequent to a termination of the signal if a duration interval thereof is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and to prevent the operation if the duration interval of the signal is less than the predetermined value. The rotary drive may include a drill.