Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer comprising: a primary shaft having first wedge means adjacent one of its ends, said first wedge means having a plurality of principal wedge surfaces on the outer surfaces of said primary shaft, an elongated primary wedge assembly having second wedge means formed adjacent one of its ends, said second wedge means having a plurality of principal wedge surfaces on the interior surfaces of said elongated primary wedge assembly, means for telescopically attaching said primary shaft to said elongated primary wedge assembly whereby when said primary shaft is driven axially toward said elongated primary wedge assembly while the elongated primary wedge assembly's axial movement has been restrained, said principal wedge surfaces of said primary shaft will contact and travel along said principal wedge surfaces of said elongated primary wedge assembly to be driven radially outwardly thus increasing the width of said elongated primary wedge assembly with the result that the internal concussion and driving force exerted on said primary shaft by a breaking hammer is directed against the walls of a bore hole into which said rock splitting attachment has been inserted causing internal fractures in the rock, said means for telescopically attaching said primary shaft to said elongated primary wedge assembly comprises: a bore in said primary shaft extending axially inwardly from that end of the primary shaft which has the first wedge means adjacent thereto, and a secondary shaft that forms a part of said elongated primary wedge assembly, the width of said secondary shaft being smaller than the width of said bore so that it may be telescopically received therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer comprising: a primary shaft having first wedge means adjacent one of its ends, said first wedge means having a plurality of principal wedge surfaces on the outer surfaces of said primary shaft, an elongated primary wedge assembly having second wedge means formed adjacent one of its ends, said second wedge means having a plurality of principal wedge surfaces on the interior surfaces of said elongated primary wedge assembly, means for telescopically attaching said primary shaft to said elongated primary wedge assembly whereby when said primary shaft is driven axially toward said elongated primary wedge assembly while the elongated primary wedge assembly's axial movement has been restrained, said principal wedge surfaces of said primary shaft will contact and travel along said principal wedge surfaces of said elongated primary wedge assembly to be driven radially outwardly thus increasing the width of said elongated primary wedge assembly with the result that the internal concussion and driving force exerted on said primary shaft by a breaking hammer is directed against the walls of a bore hole into which said rock splitting attachment has been inserted causing internal fractures in the rock, said means for telescopically attaching said primary shaft to said elongated primary wedge assembly comprises: a bore in said primary shaft extending axially inwardly from that end of the primary shaft which has the first wedge means adjacent thereto, and a secondary shaft that forms a part of said elongated primary wedge assembly, the width of said secondary shaft being smaller than the width of said bore so that it may be telescopically received therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for telescopically attaching said primary shaft to said elongated primary wedge assembly further comprises means for preventing the de-coupling of said secondary shaft from said primary shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for preventing the de-coupling of said secondary shaft from said primary shaft comprises an external groove in the surface of said secondary shaft extending axially along a substantial portion of its length and a set screw that is threadable seated in said primary shaft so that said set screw extends radially inwardly far enough into said primary shaft that it extends into the external groove of said secondary shaft, said external groove being closed at its top end to prevent said secondary shaft from being pulled out of the bore of said primary shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 1 wherein said secondary shaft has a plurality of arms extending laterally from its lower end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 4 wherein said primary wedge assembly further comprises a plurality of leg members each having a laterally oriented bore adjacent one of its ends and each having one of the laterally extending arms of said secondary shaft received in its bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 5 wherein the cross section of said laterally extending arms and the bores in which they are received are of a predetermined shape to prevent said legs from rotating about the axis of said laterally extending arms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 5 wherein said leg members have said principal wedge surfaces on their inwardly facing sides with the taper of said principal wedge surfaces being such that their thinnest portion is adjacent the top of said legs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 7 wherein said leg members have a raised portion on their inwardly facing sides adjacent their bottom ends that has an axial groove for receiving said secondary shaft when said elongated primary wedge assembly is in its contracted state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A rock splitting attachment for a breaking hammer as recited in claim 8 wherein said leg members have a primary shaft limit surface to limit the axial movement of said primary shaft into said primary wedge assembly.