Patent US3989115A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3989115A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Adjustable gage cutter scraper for tunneling machines

Assignee: Tamrock Canada Inc
•
Filing: 1975-07-10
•
Granted: 1976-11-02
•
Expires: 1995-07-10
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An adjustable gage cutter scraper system is provided to clear a path through fallen rock and muck in a tunnel invert. The scraper system protects the gage cutters from recutting or regrinding the rock and muck and thus prevents or retards excessive wear of the gage cutters. Scraper blades are positioned proximate the periphery of the rotary head immediately preceding the gage cutters. Retaining members on the rotary head restrain movement of the scraper blades in all directions other than radially from the central axis of the rotary head. Driver members on the rotary head are selectively used to move the scraper blades radially. The driver members adjust the position of the scraper blades relative to the tunnel wall, thereby compensating for blade wear and maintaining effective protection for the gage cutters.

Inventors

  • 👤 Albert Robin Ambrose

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 13:04
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C25/00; E21C25/06; E21C25/14; E21D; E21D9/00; E21D9/10; E21D9/1006; E21D9/104

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a bore in earth formations wherein portions of the formations are broken away causing the portions of the formations of fall to the bottom of the bore, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis of rotation, the improvement comprising: a gage cutter, said gage cutter including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located on said rotary head that rotates with said rotary head and precedes said gage cutter; holder means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than a radial direction from said central axis of rotation; and driver means on said rotary head for forcing said scraper blade to move radially within said holder means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 138 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a bore in earth formations wherein portions of the formations are broken away causing the portions of the formations of fall to the bottom of the bore, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis of rotation, the improvement comprising: a gage cutter, said gage cutter including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located on said rotary head that rotates with said rotary head and precedes said gage cutter; holder means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than a radial direction from said central axis of rotation; and driver means on said rotary head for forcing said scraper blade to move radially within said holder means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 164 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a bore in earth formations wherein portions of the formations are broken away causing the portions of the formations to fall to the bottom of the bore, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis of rotation, the improvement comprising: a gage cutter, said gage cutter including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located on said rotary head that rotates with said rotary head and precedes said gage cutter, said scraper blade having a scraper blade adjustment surface; holder means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than a radial direction from said central axis of rotation; and a driver means on said rotary head for forcing said scraper blade to move radially within said holder means, said driver means having an inclined adjustment surface that mates with said scraper blade adjustment surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 164 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a bore in earth formations wherein portions of the formations are broken away causing the portions of the formations to fall to the bottom of the bore, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis of rotation, the improvement comprising: a gage cutter, said gage cutter including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located on said rotary head that rotates with said rotary head and precedes said gage cutter, said scraper blade having a scraper blade adjustment surface; holder means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than a radial direction from said central axis of rotation; and a driver means on said rotary head for forcing said scraper blade to move radially within said holder means, said driver means having an inclined adjustment surface that mates with said scraper blade adjustment surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 179 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a bore in earth formation wherein portions of the formations are broken away causing the portions of the formations to fall to the bottom of the bore, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis of rotation, the improvement comprising: a gage cutter, said gage cutter including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located on said rotary head that rotates with said rotary head and precedes said gage cutter, said scraper blade having a scraper blade adjustment surface; holder means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than a radial direction from said central axis of rotation; a drive member on said rotary head for forcing said scraper blade to move radially within said holder means, said drive member having an inclined drive member adjustment surface that mates with said scraper blade adjustment surface; and means contacting said drive member for allowing said drive member to be moved.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 179 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a bore in earth formation wherein portions of the formations are broken away causing the portions of the formations to fall to the bottom of the bore, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis of rotation, the improvement comprising: a gage cutter, said gage cutter including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located on said rotary head that rotates with said rotary head and precedes said gage cutter, said scraper blade having a scraper blade adjustment surface; holder means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than a radial direction from said central axis of rotation; a drive member on said rotary head for forcing said scraper blade to move radially within said holder means, said drive member having an inclined drive member adjustment surface that mates with said scraper blade adjustment surface; and means contacting said drive member for allowing said drive member to be moved.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 200 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a hole in the earth wherein portions of the formations fall to the invert of the tunnel, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis, the improvement comprising: at least one gage cutter member located proximate the periphery of said rotary head, said gage cutter member including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located proximate the periphery of said rotary head adjacent said at least one gage cutter member, said scraper blade having an adjustment surface and an axis of translation; retaining means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than radially from said central axis along said scraper blade axis of translation; and a locking and adjustment member on said rotary head, said locking and adjustment member having an axis of translation and a surface in contact with said adjustment surface of said scraper blade wherein the plane of contact of said surface and said adjustment surface is at an angle to both said scraper blade axis of translation and said locking and adjustment member axis of translation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 200 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a hole in the earth wherein portions of the formations fall to the invert of the tunnel, said machine including a body portion and a rotary head that rotates about a central axis, the improvement comprising: at least one gage cutter member located proximate the periphery of said rotary head, said gage cutter member including a rolling body portion rotatably mounted on said rotary head; a scraper blade located proximate the periphery of said rotary head adjacent said at least one gage cutter member, said scraper blade having an adjustment surface and an axis of translation; retaining means on said rotary head for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than radially from said central axis along said scraper blade axis of translation; and a locking and adjustment member on said rotary head, said locking and adjustment member having an axis of translation and a surface in contact with said adjustment surface of said scraper blade wherein the plane of contact of said surface and said adjustment surface is at an angle to both said scraper blade axis of translation and said locking and adjustment member axis of translation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 213 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a tunnel in the earth wherein portions of the formations fall to the invert of the tunnel, said machine including a body portion, a cutterhead that rotates about a central axis, and at least one gage cutter member located proximate the periphery of said cutterhead, the improvement comprising: a scraper blade located proximate the periphery of said cutterhead adjacent said at least one gage cutter member, said scraper blade having an adjustment surface and an axis of translation; retaining means on said cutterhead for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than radially from said central axis along said scraper blade axis of translation; a fixed support member on said cutterhead; a locking and adjustment member positioned to move along said fixed support member, said locking and adjustment member having an axis of translation and a wedge surface in contact with said adjustment surface of said scraper blade wherein the plane of contact of said wedge surface and said adjustment surface is at an angle to both said scraper blade axis of translation and said locking and adjustment member axis of translation; and means in contact with said locking and adjustment member for allowing said locking and adjustment member to be moved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 213 words
In an earth boring machine for producing a tunnel in the earth wherein portions of the formations fall to the invert of the tunnel, said machine including a body portion, a cutterhead that rotates about a central axis, and at least one gage cutter member located proximate the periphery of said cutterhead, the improvement comprising: a scraper blade located proximate the periphery of said cutterhead adjacent said at least one gage cutter member, said scraper blade having an adjustment surface and an axis of translation; retaining means on said cutterhead for restraining said scraper blade from movement in substantially all directions other than radially from said central axis along said scraper blade axis of translation; a fixed support member on said cutterhead; a locking and adjustment member positioned to move along said fixed support member, said locking and adjustment member having an axis of translation and a wedge surface in contact with said adjustment surface of said scraper blade wherein the plane of contact of said wedge surface and said adjustment surface is at an angle to both said scraper blade axis of translation and said locking and adjustment member axis of translation; and means in contact with said locking and adjustment member for allowing said locking and adjustment member to be moved.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US786952A Cited
US883137A Cited
US1858926A Cited
US2389920A Cited
US2879049A Cited
US2998964A Cited
US3232670A Cited
US3583503A Cited
US3722957A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-11-02 1980-05-03 1980-11-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-11-02 1984-05-03 1984-11-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-11-02 1988-05-03 1988-11-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag