US3666029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tunneling cutter gage ring replacement
Assignee: Smith International Inc
•
Filing: 1970-10-23
•
Granted: 1972-05-30
•
Expires: 1990-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A rotary cutter for tunneling machines comprising one of a series of gage cutters about the periphery of a face plate, the outer or gage end of the gage cutters being subject to rapid deterioration resulting in wearing away of the metal of the body of the cutter and displacement of the hardened metal inserts around the gage end, a gage ring about the gage end being produced by cutting inwardly beneath the gage row and possibly one or more additional rows of hardened inserts, and then cutting down from a valley between rows of hardened inserts to the first described separation to provide a removable and replaceable gage ring portion on the cutter containing peripheral rows of hardened metal inserts in the same manner as the damaged gage ring portion being replaced.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Dixon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:09
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B10/00; E21B10/46; E21B10/50; E21B10/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of replacing the gage ring portion of a rotary tunneling cutter having a metal body with an axis of rotation and having hardened metal inserts embedded therein in rows thereabout, beginning with a gage row at the gage end of said body, said rotary body, at its gage end, having an end face, wherein the method includes: providing a first area of separation constituting a surface of revolution located radially outwardly from said axis of revolution and radially inwardly from the inner ends of said hardened metal inserts, said area of separation extending axially inwardly from said end face a distance beyond at least the gage row of inserts, said area of separation terminating at a plane transverse to said axis of rotation and located between two of said rows of inserts, providing a second area of separation about said body from the circumference of the body inwardly of said transverse plane and intersecting said first area of separation, the two areas of separation defining a removable gage ring portion, and replacing a worn gage ring portion having displaced hardened metal inserts with an unworn gage ring portion having a complement of hardened metal inserts.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of replacing the gage ring portion of a rotary tunneling cutter having a metal body with an axis of rotation and having hardened metal inserts embedded therein in rows thereabout, beginning with a gage row at the gage end of said body, said rotary body, at its gage end, having an end face, wherein the method includes: providing a first area of separation constituting a surface of revolution located radially outwardly from said axis of revolution and radially inwardly from the inner ends of said hardened metal inserts, said area of separation extending axially inwardly from said end face a distance beyond at least the gage row of inserts, said area of separation terminating at a plane transverse to said axis of rotation and located between two of said rows of inserts, providing a second area of separation about said body from the circumference of the body inwardly of said transverse plane and intersecting said first area of separation, the two areas of separation defining a removable gage ring portion, and replacing a worn gage ring portion having displaced hardened metal inserts with an unworn gage ring portion having a complement of hardened metal inserts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in claim 1, and providing welds along the exposed adjacent surfaces of said rotary body and said replaced gage ring portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, and the replacing of an unworn gage ring portion being accomplished by pressing the ring portion on the rotary body and then mechanically securing the ring to the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 1, and the replacing of an unworn gage ring portion being accomplished by pressing the ring on the rotary body, and locking the ring against rotation about the body with dowels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method in claim 1, and the replacing of an unworn gage ring portion being accomplished by pressing the ring on the body, bolting the pressed ring to the body, and locking the ring against rotation about the body with dowels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
A rotary gage cutter for tunneling machines and the like for use about the edge or gage surface of a rotary face plate, wherein the improvement comprises: a rotary cutter body having an axis of rotation and having a side wall with a plurality of spaced rows of hardened metal inserts therein, said body having valleys circumferentially about its side wall between rows of inserts, the cutter body having a gage end adapted to lie at the gage edge portion of a rotary face plate, said gage end being of reduced diameter axially inwardly from said end and terminating at a plane transverse to said axis of rotation and coinciding with a valley portion between adjacent rows of inserts, said body enlarging approximately to its side wall diameter along said plane, to provide, with said reduced diameter, a circumferential rabbet about said body, a gage ring having about its circumference at least one row of hardened meta inserts, and means securing said gage ring on said reduced diameter of said body and in said circumferential rabbet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A rotary gage cutter for tunneling machines and the like for use about the edge or gage surface of a rotary face plate, wherein the improvement comprises: a rotary cutter body having an axis of rotation and having a side wall with a plurality of spaced rows of hardened metal inserts therein, said body having valleys circumferentially about its side wall between rows of inserts, the cutter body having a gage end adapted to lie at the gage edge portion of a rotary face plate, said gage end being of reduced diameter axially inwardly from said end and terminating at a plane transverse to said axis of rotation and coinciding with a valley portion between adjacent rows of inserts, said body enlarging approximately to its side wall diameter along said plane, to provide, with said reduced diameter, a circumferential rabbet about said body, a gage ring having about its circumference at least one row of hardened meta inserts, and means securing said gage ring on said reduced diameter of said body and in said circumferential rabbet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |