US4382634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Material fracturing apparatus
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1981-01-26
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Granted: 1983-05-10
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Expires: 2001-01-26
Abstract
Abstract An impacting apparatus (10) for fracturing material includes a housing (14) and a fracturing shank (12) which is mounted adjacent the housing (14) so as to reciprocate about a pivot axis (24). The fracturing shank (12) has an impact receiving portion (28) and a sealing portion (26). The sealing portion (26) has a cylindrical sealing surface (26a) which is arranged about a longitudinal axis (26b). Such longitudinal axis (26b) is perpendicular to a radial line (33) extending from the pivot axis (24) and is inclined at a predetermined angle to a longitudinal axis (28b) extending through the impact receiving portion (28). An annular seal (16) is connected to the sealing surface (26a) and the housing (14) to obstruct the passage of material into and out of the housing (14). The seal (16) has a flexible portion (40) whose inner margin (46) lies along the radial line (33 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence E. Fox
- 👤 Harold L. Reinsma
- 👤 Albert L. Woody
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:43
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F5/00; E02F5/30; E02F5/32; E02F5/326; F; F16; F16J; F16J3/00; F16J3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An impact apparatus (10) for delivering intermittent impact blows comprising: a housing (14); a fracturing shank (12) reciprocatably mounted about a pivot axis (24), said shank (12) being reciprocatable along a reciprocation path and having a sealing portion (26), said sealing portion (26) having a cylindrical sealing surface (26a) disposed about a longitudinal axis (26b) which is perpendicular to a radial line (33) extending from said pivot axis (24); and an annular seal (16) connected to said shank's sealing surface (26a) and said housing (14) to prevent ingress of foreign matter into said housing (14) and egress of lubricating fluid from said housing (14), said seal (16) having a longitudinal axis (16a) and a flexible portion (40) which is bounded by an inner margin (46) which lies along said radial line (33).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An impact apparatus (10) for delivering intermittent impact blows comprising: a housing (14); a fracturing shank (12) reciprocatably mounted about a pivot axis (24), said shank (12) being reciprocatable along a reciprocation path and having a sealing portion (26), said sealing portion (26) having a cylindrical sealing surface (26a) disposed about a longitudinal axis (26b) which is perpendicular to a radial line (33) extending from said pivot axis (24); and an annular seal (16) connected to said shank's sealing surface (26a) and said housing (14) to prevent ingress of foreign matter into said housing (14) and egress of lubricating fluid from said housing (14), said seal (16) having a longitudinal axis (16a) and a flexible portion (40) which is bounded by an inner margin (46) which lies along said radial line (33).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 1 further including: a shank guide structure (31) disposed in said housing (14) for directing said fracturing shank's (12) motion, said shank (12) being receivable in and engageable with said shank guide structure (31) for all reciprocatable positions of said shank (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein said flexible seal portion (40) includes a plurality of axially facing, radially adjacent interconnected convolutions (42,44).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein each of said convolutions (42,44) has a radius of curvature (R 1 ,R 2 ), said radius of curvature (R 1 ) of said convolutions (42) adjacent said sealing surface (26a) being less than said radius of curvature (R 2 ) of said convolution (44) adjacent said housing (14).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein said radially adjacent convolutions (42,44) protrude in opposite axial directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein said annular seal (16) has an inner (36) and an outer (38) terminating portion, said inner terminating portion (36) being threadably engageable with said sealing surface (26a).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 6 wherein said seal's outer terminating portion (38) has a protruding securing bead (38b) which is receivable in a circular, securing notch (14a) in said housing (14).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 6 further including: a retainer ring (60) for securing said annular seal (16) along said outer terminating portion (38) to said housing (14), said seal's outer terminating portion (38) being disposable between said retaining ring (60) and said housing (14); and means (62) for securing said retaining ring (60) to said housing (14) with a predetermined securing force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 8 wherein said retaining ring (60) and said seal's outer terminating portion (38) have engageable surfaces (38a,60a) which are cooperatively inclined to provide a predetermined interference therebetween when said retaining ring (60) is secured to said housing (14) with said predetermined securing force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 1, said fracturing shank (12) further including: an impact receiving portion (28) having a longitudinal axis (28b) and a maximum protrusion (28d) therefrom which is less than the distance between said sealing surface (26a) and said sealing portion's longitudinal axis (26b).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The impact apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein said fracturing shank (12) has restraining slots (59) for receiving deformed portions (58) of the seal (16) to prevent disengagement between the seal (16) and said shank (12).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-09 | 1986-11-08 | 1987-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-09 | 1990-11-08 | 1991-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-09 | 1994-11-08 | 1995-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |