Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A full-face rock tunnelling tool comprising a pair of disc cutters disposed in parallel, said disc cutters each having a peripheral cutting edge defined by a V-shaped circumferential portion; a support member for said cutters disposed radially inwardly of the cutting edges thereof, and on which each cutter is borne for rotation independently of the other; and a mounting pedestal to which said member is attached between planes defined by the respective cutting edges of the cutters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A full-face rock tunnelling tool comprising a pair of disc cutters disposed in parallel, said disc cutters each having a peripheral cutting edge defined by a V-shaped circumferential portion; a support member for said cutters disposed radially inwardly of the cutting edges thereof, and on which each cutter is borne for rotation independently of the other; and a mounting pedestal to which said member is attached between planes defined by the respective cutting edges of the cutters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A rock tunnelling tool according to claim 1 wherein said support member is attached to the pedestal at a point midway between the planes defined by the cutting edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A rock tunnelling tool according to claim 1, wherein said planes defined by the cutting edges are spaced apart by a distance which is in the range of 80 to 100 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tock tunnelling tool according to claim 3, wherein said planes are spaced apart by a distance of about 90 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A rock tunnelling tool according to claim 1, wherein the disc cutters are borne on the support member by means of rolling element bearings, each bearing having one race attached to a cutter and a complementary race attached to the support member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rock tunnelling tool according to claim 5, wherein each rolling element bearing is symmetrically disposed with respect to the plane defined by the cutting edge of its respective cutter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A rock tunnelling tool according to claim 5, wherein the bearings are tapered roller bearings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
A full-face rock tunnelling machine having a rotary head provided with a plurality of cutter tools; each cutter tool comprising a pair of disc cutters disposed in parallel, said disc cutters each having a peripheral cutting edge defined by a V-shaped circumferential portion, a support member for said cutters disposed radially inwardly of the cutting edges thereof and on which each cutter is borne for rotation independently of the other, and a mounting pedestal to which said member is attached between planes defined by the respective cutting edges of the cutters; and each cutter tool being mounted on the rotary head by means of its respective mounting pedestal such that the axes of rotation of the disc cutters are arranged radially from the axis of rotation of the rotary head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
A full-face rock tunnelling machine having a rotary head provided with a plurality of cutter tools; each cutter tool comprising a pair of disc cutters disposed in parallel, said disc cutters each having a peripheral cutting edge defined by a V-shaped circumferential portion, a support member for said cutters disposed radially inwardly of the cutting edges thereof and on which each cutter is borne for rotation independently of the other, and a mounting pedestal to which said member is attached between planes defined by the respective cutting edges of the cutters; and each cutter tool being mounted on the rotary head by means of its respective mounting pedestal such that the axes of rotation of the disc cutters are arranged radially from the axis of rotation of the rotary head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A full-face rock tunnelling machine according to claim 8, wherein, in each cutter tool, the planes of the cutting edges of the disc cutters are spaced apart by a distance which is in the range 80 to 100 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A full-face rock tunnelling machine according to claim 8, wherein the cutting head is provided with four radial arrays of cutting tools.