Method of removing fibers protruding into bores

摘要

The walls of bores made in tubesheet/hollow fiber composite structures are trimmed, and the bores may be enlarged, by use of a rotating, generally tubular tool comprising a cutting head with outwardly extending portions of lands terminating in teeth having cutting edges generally parallel to the central axis of the tool. The lands are separated by ports in the tool wall which communicate with the hollow interior of the tool. The trimmings formed are deflected by the teeth into a flow of sweep gas passing through the interior of the tool. The operation is facilitated by flash-freezing of any portions of the generally softer fibers exposed and protruding into the bore or across the mouths of the fiber lumens.