APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CUTTING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TUBE AND ELECTRODE THEREFOR

An apparatus for cutting an electrically conductive tube comprises:an electrode adapted to be introduce into a tube such that a longitudinal axis of the electrode is at least in substance arranged in parallel to or coincident with a central axis of the tube,an electric voltage source for providing an electric voltage between the electrode and the tube, in particular for generating electric discharges between the electrode and the tube section,an electric motor for rotating the electrode around the longitudinal axis,a coupling element for coupling the electrode to the motor, the coupling element being adapted to transmit a rotational movement of a shaft of the motor to the electrode such that the electrode rotates around its longitudinal axis,a gas passage for introducing gas into the interior of the tube, the gas passage comprising a straight gas pipe arranged along the longitudinal axis between the motor and the electrode,the coupling element comprises a connecting element which extends along the longitudinal axis through the inside of the gas pipe, the connecting element having a first end attached to the motor shaft and a second end held by the gas pipe.