Rolling cutter and seals therefor

Claim 2

A cutter, said cutter comprising: a. a rolling cutter having a bearing opening extending longitudinally of the rolling cutter from one end to the other end; b. a journal; c. said journal being in said bearing opening and extending throughout the length of said opening and projecting from both ends thereof; d. said cutter being secured on said journal be antifriction radial bearings and by antifriction thrust bearings; e. said antifriction thrust bearings serve to lock together the rolling cutter and the journal against longitudinal movement; f. said rolling cutter and said journal near one end defining a first cavity and near the other end defining a second cavity; g. said rolling cutter and said journal being of metal; h. said rolling cutter having a first annular seat in said first cavity; i. said journal having a first annular ring in said first cavity and serving as a first annular seat; j. a first graphite seal having an annular seat for seating with the first annular seat of the rolling cutter to form a graphite-to-metal seal; k. said first graphite seal being in the general configuration of a torus; l. a first flexible yieldable ring between said first annular ring and said first graphite seal; m. said journal having a second annular seat in said second cavity; n. said rolling cutter having a second annular ring in said second cavity and serving as a second annular seat; o. a second graphite seal having an annular seat for seating with the second annular seat of the journal to form a graphiteto-metal seal; p. said second graphite seal being in the general configuration of a torus; q. a second flexible yieldable ring between said second annular ring and said second graphite seal; and r. said graphite seal, flexible yieldable ring and annular ring functioning as a seal to preclude extraneous material entering into said cutter.

Claim 3

A cutter according to claim 1 and comprising: a. each of said first and second graphite seals having an edge surface; b. a retainer ring attached to each graphite seal at said edge surface; and c. said retainer ring projecting above said edge surface and toward said adjacent annular ring.

Claim 4

A cutter according to claim 2 and comprising: a. said retainer ring comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and, b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said hard protective material.

Claim 5

A cutter according to claim 1 and comprising: a. each of said first and second graphite seals having a sloping edge surface; b. a protective covering material attached to said sloping edge surface; and c. said flexible yieldable ring being between said protective covering material and an adjacent annular ring.

Claim 6

A cutter according to claim 4 and comprising: a. said protective covering material comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said hard protective material.

Claim 7

A cutter, said cutter comprising: a. a rolling cutter having a bearing opening extending longitudinally of the rolling cutter from one end to the other end; b. a journal assembly; c. said journal assembly being in said bearing opening and extending throughout the length of said opening and projecting from both ends thereof; d. said cutter being secured on said journal assembly by antifriction radial bearings and by antifriction thrust bearings; e. said antifriction thrust bearings serve to lock together the rolling cutter and the journal assembly against longitudinal movement; f. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly near one end defining a first cavity and near the other end defining a second cavity; g. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly being of metal; h. said rolling cutter having a rolling cutter first seat in said first cavity; i. said journal assembly having a journal assembly first seat in said first cavity; j. two first graphite ring seals in said first cavity; k. each of said first graphite ring seals having a first sealing surface; l. said first graphite ring seals being so positioned that said first sealing surfaces are in a sealing relationship; m. a first flexible yieldable ring between one of said first graphite ring seals and said journal assembly first seat; n. a second flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said first graphite rings and said rolling cutter first seat; o. said roller cutter having a rolling cutter second seat in said second cavity; p. said journal assembly having a journal assembly second seat in said second cavity; q. two second graphite ring seals in said second cavity; r. each of said second graphite ring seals having a second sealing surface; s. said second graphite ring seals being so positioned that said second sealing surfaces Are in a sealing relationship; t. a third flexible yieldable ring between one of said second graphite ring seals and journal assembly second seat; and u. a fourth flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said second graphite rings and said rolling cutter second seat.

Claim 8

A cutter, said cutter comprising: a. a rolling cutter having a bearing opening extending longitudinally of the rolling cutter from one end to the other end; b. a journal assembly; c. said journal assembly being in said bearing opening and extending throughout the length of said opening and projecting from both ends thereof; d. said cutter being secured on said journal assembly by antifriction radial bearings and by antifriction thrust bearings; e. said antifriction thrust bearings serve to lock together the rolling cutter and the journal assembly against longitudinal movement; f. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly near one end defining a first cavity and near the other end defining a second cavity; g. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly being of metal; h. said rolling cutter having a rolling cutter first seat in said first cavity; i. said journal assembly having a journal assembly first seat in said first cavity; j. two first graphite ring seals in said first cavity; k. each of said first graphite ring seals having a first sealing surface; l. said first graphite ring seals being so positioned that said first sealing surfaces are in a sealing relationship; m. a first flexible yieldable ring between one of said first graphite ring seals and said journal assembly first seat; n. a second flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said first graphite rings and said rolling cutter first seat; o. said roller cutter having a rolling cutter second seat in said second cavity; p. said journal assembly having a journal assembly second seat in said second cavity; q. two second graphite ring seals in said second cavity; r. each of said second graphite ring seals having a second sealing surface; s. said second graphite ring seals being so positioned that said second sealing surfaces Are in a sealing relationship; t. a third flexible yieldable ring between one of said second graphite ring seals and journal assembly second seat; and u. a fourth flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said second graphite rings and said rolling cutter second seat.

Claim 9

A cutter according to claim 6 and comprising: a. each of said two first graphite seals having an edge surface; b. each of said two second graphite seals having an edge surface; c. a retainer ring attached to each graphite seal at said edge surface; and d. said retainer ring projecting above said edge surface and toward an appropriate seat.

Claim 10

A cutter according to claim 7 and comprising: a. said retainer ring comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said hard protective material.

Claim 11

A cutter according to claim 6 and comprising: a. each of said graphite seals having a sloping edge surface; b. a protective covering material attached to said sloping edge surface; and, c. said flexible yieldable ring being between said protective covering material and an adjacent annular ring.

Claim 12

A cutter according to claim 9 and comprising: a. said protective covering material comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said hard protective material.

Claim 13

A combination of a saddle and a cutter, said combination comprising: a. said cutter comprising a rolling cutter having a bearing opening extending longitudinally of the rolling cutter from one end to the other end; b. a journal; c. said journal being in said bearing opening and extending throughout the length of said opening and projecting from both ends thereof; d. said cutter being secured on said journal by antifriction radial bearings and by antifriction thrust bearings; e. said antifriction thrust bearings serve to lock together the rolling cutter and the journal against longitudinal movement; f. said rolling cutter and said journal near one end defining a first cavity and near the other end defining a second cavity; g. said rolling cutter and said journal being of metal; h. said rolling cutter having a first annular seat in said first cavity; i. said journal having a first annular ring in said first cavity and serving as a first annular seat; j. a first graphite seal having an annular seat for seating with the first annular seat of the rolling cutter to form a graphite-to-metal seal; k. said first graphite seal being in the general configuration of a torus; l. a first flexible yieldable ring between said first annular ring and said first graphite seal; m. said journal having a second annular seat in said second cavity; n. said rolling cutter having a second annular ring in said second cavity and serving as a second annular seat; o. a second graphite seal having an annular seat for seating with the second annular seat of the journal to form a graphite-to-metal seal; p. said second graphite seal being in the general configuration of a torus; q. a second flexible yieldable ring between said second annular ring and said second graphite seal; r. said graphite seal, flexible yieldable ring and annular ring functioning as a seal to preclude extraneous material entering into said cutter; s. said saddle comprising a base, a first leg and a second leg in a generally U-configuration; t. each leg on its surface having a slot for receiving an end of said journal; and u. a means to retain said journal and cutter in said saddle.

Claim 14

A combination of a saddle and a cutter, said combination comprising: a. said cutter comprising a rolling cutter having a bearing opening extending longitudinally of the rolling cutter from one end to the other end; b. a journal; c. said journal being in said bearing opening and extending throughout the length of said opening and projecting from both ends thereof; d. said cutter being secured on said journal by antifriction radial bearings and by antifriction thrust bearings; e. said antifriction thrust bearings serve to lock together the rolling cutter and the journal against longitudinal movement; f. said rolling cutter and said journal near one end defining a first cavity and near the other end defining a second cavity; g. said rolling cutter and said journal being of metal; h. said rolling cutter having a first annular seat in said first cavity; i. said journal having a first annular ring in said first cavity and serving as a first annular seat; j. a first graphite seal having an annular seat for seating with the first annular seat of the rolling cutter to form a graphite-to-metal seal; k. said first graphite seal being in the general configuration of a torus; l. a first flexible yieldable ring between said first annular ring and said first graphite seal; m. said journal having a second annular seat in said second cavity; n. said rolling cutter having a second annular ring in said second cavity and serving as a second annular seat; o. a second graphite seal having an annular seat for seating with the second annular seat of the journal to form a graphite-to-metal seal; p. said second graphite seal being in the general configuration of a torus; q. a second flexible yieldable ring between said second annular ring and said second graphite seal; r. said graphite seal, flexible yieldable ring and annular ring functioning as a seal to preclude extraneous material entering into said cutter; s. said saddle comprising a base, a first leg and a second leg in a generally U-configuration; t. each leg on its surface having a slot for receiving an end of said journal; and u. a means to retain said journal and cutter in said saddle.

Claim 15

A combination according to claim 11 and comprising: a. said slot in each leg expanding inwardly so that said slot is wider at its base than at its throat; b. said journal having a hub on each end and each hub becoming larger in size as it progResses away from said cutter so as to fit in a respective slot; and c. said means being a keeper for positioning said journal in said slot.

Claim 16

A combination according to claim 12 and comprising: a. each of said first and second graphite seals having an edge surface; b. a retainer ring attached to each graphite seal at said edge surface; and c. said retainer ring projecting above said edge surface and toward said adjacent annular ring.

Claim 17

A combination according to claim 13 and comprising: a. said retainer ring comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said hard protective material.

Claim 18

A combination according to claim 12 and comprising: a. each of said first and second graphite seals having a sloping edge surface; b. a protective covering material attached to said sloping edge surface; and c. said flexible yieldable ring being between said protective covering material and an adjacent annular ring.

Claim 19

A combination according to claim 15 and comprising: a. said protective covering material comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said protective material.

Claim 20

A combination of a saddle and a cutter, said combination comprising: a. said cutter comprising a rolling cutter having a bearing opening extending longitudinally of the rolling cutter from one end to the other end; b. a journal assembly; c. said journal assembly being in said bearing opening and extending throughout the length of said opening and projecting from both ends thereof; d. said cutter being secured on said journal assembly by antifriction radial bearings and by antifriction thrust bearings; e. said antifriction thrust bearings serve to lock together the rolling cutter and the journal assembly against longitudinal movement; f. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly near one end defining a first cavity and near the other end defining a second cavity; g. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly being of metal; h. said rolling cutter having a rolling cutter first seat in said first cavity; i. said journal assembly having a journal assembly first seat in said first cavity; j. two first graphite ring seals in said first cavity; k. each of said first graphite ring seals having a first sealing surface; l. said first graphite ring seals being so positioned that said first sealing surfaces are in a sealing relationship; m. a first flexible yieldable ring between one of said first graphite ring seals and said journal assembly first seat; n. a second flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said first graphite rings and said rolling cutter first seat; o. said rolling cutter having a rolling cutter second seat in said second cavity; p. said journal assembly having a journal assembly second seat in said second cavity; q. two second graphite ring seals in said second cavity; r. each of said second graphite ring seals having a second sealing surface; s. said second graphite ring seals being so positioned that said second sealing surfaces are in a sealing relationship; t. a third flexible yieldable ring between one of said second graphite ring seals and journal assembly second seat; u. a fourth flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said second graphite rings and said rolling cutter second seat; v. said saddle comprising a base, a first leg and a second leg in a generally U-configuration; w. each leg on its surface having a slot for receiving an end of said journal; and x. a means to retain said journal and cutter in said saddle.

Claim 21

A combination of a saddle and a cutter, said combination comprising: a. said cutter comprising a rolling cutter having a bearing opening extending longitudinally of the rolling cutter from one end to the other end; b. a journal assembly; c. said journal assembly being in said bearing opening and extending throughout the length of said opening and projecting from both ends thereof; d. said cutter being secured on said journal assembly by antifriction radial bearings and by antifriction thrust bearings; e. said antifriction thrust bearings serve to lock together the rolling cutter and the journal assembly against longitudinal movement; f. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly near one end defining a first cavity and near the other end defining a second cavity; g. said rolling cutter and said journal assembly being of metal; h. said rolling cutter having a rolling cutter first seat in said first cavity; i. said journal assembly having a journal assembly first seat in said first cavity; j. two first graphite ring seals in said first cavity; k. each of said first graphite ring seals having a first sealing surface; l. said first graphite ring seals being so positioned that said first sealing surfaces are in a sealing relationship; m. a first flexible yieldable ring between one of said first graphite ring seals and said journal assembly first seat; n. a second flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said first graphite rings and said rolling cutter first seat; o. said rolling cutter having a rolling cutter second seat in said second cavity; p. said journal assembly having a journal assembly second seat in said second cavity; q. two second graphite ring seals in said second cavity; r. each of said second graphite ring seals having a second sealing surface; s. said second graphite ring seals being so positioned that said second sealing surfaces are in a sealing relationship; t. a third flexible yieldable ring between one of said second graphite ring seals and journal assembly second seat; u. a fourth flexible yieldable ring between the other one of said second graphite rings and said rolling cutter second seat; v. said saddle comprising a base, a first leg and a second leg in a generally U-configuration; w. each leg on its surface having a slot for receiving an end of said journal; and x. a means to retain said journal and cutter in said saddle.

Claim 22

A combination of a saddle and a cutter according to claim 17 and comprising: a. said slot in each leg expanding inwardly so that said slot is wider At its base than at its throat; b. said journal having a hub on each end and each hub becoming larger in size as it progresses away from said cutter so as to fit in a respective slot; and c. said means being a keeper for positioning said journal in said slot.

Claim 23

A combination of a saddle and a cutter according to claim 18 and comprising: a. each of said two first graphite seals having an edge surface; b. each of said two second graphite seals having an edge surface; c. a retainer ring attached to each graphite seal at said edge surface; and d. said retainer ring projecting above said edge surface and toward an appropriate seat.

Claim 24

A combination of a saddle and a cutter according to claim 19 and comprising: a. said retainer ring comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said hard protective material.

Claim 25

A combination of a saddle and a cutter according to claim 18 and comprising: a. each of said graphite seals having a sloping edge surface; b. a protective covering material attached to said sloping edge surface; and c. said flexible yieldable ring being between said protective covering material and an adjacent annular ring.

Claim 26

A combination of a saddle and a cutter according to claim 21 and comprising: a. said protective covering material comprising a flexible yieldable material and a hard protective material; and b. said flexible yieldable material being between said graphite seal and said hard protective material.

Claim 27

A saddle for receiving a rolling cutter, said saddle comprising: a. a base, a first leg and a second leg in a generally U-configuration; b. each leg on its surface having a slot for receiving an end of said journal; and c. a keeper for positioning said rolling cutter in said slot.

Claim 28

A saddle for receiving a rolling cutter, said saddle comprising: a. a base, a first leg and a second leg in a generally U-configuration; b. each leg on its surface having a slot for receiving an end of said journal; and c. a keeper for positioning said rolling cutter in said slot.

Claim 29

A saddle according to claim 23 and comprising said slot in each leg expanding inwardly so that said slot is wider at its base than at its throat.