Disc cutter and excavation equipment.docx

1、Disc cutter and excavation equipmentDisc cutter and excavation equipment AbstractAn improved disc type rolling rock cutter, and novel cutterheads employing such cutters. A rock cutter with an improved, simplified structure, with compact bearing, and smooth, rounded blade shape is disclosed. The desi

2、gn incorporates a cutter ring, bearing assembly, and seal assembly. The cutter may be assembled and disassembled for rework by a single worker with simple hand tools. Replacement of worn out cutter rings is done quickly and easily by removing the old ring assembly and then sliding a new ring, bearin

3、g, and seal assembly on to the cutter shaft. This simplified assembly is achieved by using a comparatively large shaft which is normally in the range of 30-50% of the ring diameter. The shaft design is sufficiently robust to permit a cantilever mount of the cutter. The unique configuration allows 30

4、,000 lbs. or more thrust to be applied to a 5 inch diameter miniature disc. This capacity permits single disc cutter technology to be applied to smaller bits or cutterheads than previously possible. Also, a unique method of shaping and installing hard metal inserts improves cutting efficiency over t

5、he life of the cutter, and increases wear life in highly abrasive conditions. -Inventors: Friant; James E. (Seattle, WA), Ozdemir; Levent (Golden, CO) Assignee: Excavation Engineering Associates, Inc. (Seattle, WA) Appl. No.: 08/684,194 Filed: July 19, 1996Parent Case Text-This application is a cont

6、inuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/125,011 filed on Sep. 20, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,201. -Claims-What is claimed is:1. A rolling disc cutter for use in a mechanical excavation apparatus to exert pressure against substantially solid matter such as rock, compacted earth, or mixtures the

7、reof by acting on a face thereof, said cutter of the type which upon rolling forms a kerf by penetration into said face so that, when two or more cutters are used, solid matter between a proximate pair of said kerfs is fractured to produce chips which separate from said face, wherein said rolling di

8、sc cutter comprises: (a) a relatively stiff shaft, said shaft comprising (i) a proximal end, said proximal end further comprising an outwardly extending sloped flange with a radially inward sealing face surface, (ii) a distal end, and (iii) an axis for rotation thereabout; (b) a cutter ring assembly

9、, said cutter ring assembly further comprising (i) a cutter ring, said cutter ring further comprising (A) an interior annulus, said interior annulus having a distal side, and (B) an outer ring portion, said outer ring portion including a cutting edge having an outside diameter OD and radius R.sub.1,

10、 and (C) a proximal side, said proximal side further comprising a proximally inwardly extending flange with a radially inward sealing face surface; (ii) a bearing, said bearing (A) substantially fitting into said interior annulus of said cutter ring, and (B) positioned in a close fitting relationshi

11、p with said shaft, so that said cutter ring rotates with respect to and is supported by said shaft; (c) a seal, said seal adapted to fit sealingly between (i) said sealing face surface of said sloped flange of said shaft, and (ii) said sealing face of said inwardly extending sloped flange of said cu

12、tter ring, to form a lubricant retaining seal; (d) a retainer, said retainer adapted to retain said cutter ring assembly on to said shaft; (e) a cap, said cap sealingly joined against said cutter ring to cover said distal end of said interior annulus so that, in cooperation with said seal and said c

13、utter ring, a lubricant retaining chamber is provided to lubricate said bearing. 2. A rolling disc cutter for use in a mechanical excavation apparatus to exert pressure against substantially solid matter such as rock, compacted earth, or mixtures thereof by acting on a face thereof, said cutter of t

14、he type which upon rolling forms a kerf by penetration into said face so that, when two or more cutters are used, solid matter between a proximate pair of said kerfs is fractured to produce chips which separate from said face, wherein said disc cutter comprises: (a) a relatively stiff shaft, said sh

15、aft comprising (i) a proximal end, said proximal end further comprising an outwardly extending sloped flange with a radially inward sealing face surface, (ii) a distal end, and (iii) an axis for rotation thereabout; (b) a cutter ring assembly, said cutter ring assembly further comprising (i) a cutte

16、r ring, said cutter ring further comprising (A) an interior annulus, said interior annulus having a distal side, and (B) a proximal side, said proximal side further comprising a proximally inwardly extending flange with a radially inward sealing face surface (C) a pair of laterally spaced apart supp

17、ort ridges, said ridges having therebetween a groove forming portion, said groove forming portion including (1) a pair of interior walls, and (2) an interior bottom surface interconnecting with said interior walls (3) wherein said pair of interior walls outwardly extend relative to said interior bot

18、tom surface to thereby define a peripheral groove around the outer edge of said cutter ring, (D) two or more hardened, wear-resistant inserts, said inserts positioned within and located in a radially outward relationship from said groove, said inserts further comprising (1) a substantially continuou

19、s engaging contact portion of having outside diameter OD and radius R.sub.1, said contact portion on the outer side of each of said two or more inserts and adapted to act on said face, and (2) a lower groove insert portion, said lower groove insert portion, having (I) a bottom surface shaped and siz

20、ed in complementary matching relationship relative to said interior bottom surface of said peripheral groove, and (II) first and second opposing exterior side surfaces, said first and second exterior side surfaces being shaped and sized in a complementary matching relationship relative to said pair

21、of interior walls, and (III) a rotationwise, a front portion and a rear portion, (3) wherein said lower groove insert portion of said inserts fit within said peripheral groove in a close fitting relationship which defines a slight gap between said inserts and each of said pair of interior walls, and

22、 (4) a somewhat elastic preselected filler material, said preselected filler material placed between yet securely joining said inserts in a spaced apart relationship to said interior bottom surface and to said pair of interior sidewalls, said preselected filler material having a modulus of elasticit

23、y so that said inserts can slightly move elastically relative to said cutter ring so as to tend to relieve stress and strain acting on said inserts; and (ii) a bearing, said bearing (A) substantially fitting into said interior annulus of said cutter ring, and (B) positioned in a close fitting relati

24、onship with said shaft, so that said cutter ring rotates with respect to and is supported by said shaft; (c) a seal, said seal adapted to fit sealingly between (i) said sealing face surface of said sloped flange of said shaft, and (ii) said sealing face of said inwardly extending sloped flange of sa

25、id cutter ring, to provide a lubricant retaining seal; (d) a retainer, said retainer retaining said cutter ring assembly on to said shaft; (e) a cap, sealingly joined against said cutter ring to cover said distal end of said interior annulus so that, in cooperation with said seal and said cutter rin

26、g, a lubricant retaining chamber is provided to lubricate said bearing. 3. The rolling disc cutter as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said two or more inserts further comprise: (a) a peripheral groove insert portion, said peripheral groove insert portion further comprising (i) a bottom surface

27、 shaped and sized in complementary matching relationship relative to said interior bottom surface of said peripheral groove, and (ii) first and second opposing exterior side surfaces, said first and second side surfaces being shaped and sized in a complementary matching relationship relative to said

28、 pair of interior walls; (b) a face engaging contact portion of radius R.sub.1, and (c) rotationwise, (i) a rounded leading edge surface portion of reduced curvature relative to said face engaging contact portion of radius R.sub.1, and (ii) a rounded trailing edge surface portion of reduced curvatur

29、e relative to said face engaging contact portion of radius R.sub.1. 4. The rolling disc cutter as set forth in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said face engaging contact portion of each of said two or more inserts further comprise, in transverse cross-section, a smoothly curved face engaging contact por

30、tion edge. 5. The rolling disc cutter as set forth in claim 4, wherein, in transverse cross-section, said face engaging contact portion edge is symmetrical. 6. The rolling disc cutter as set forth in claim 5, wherein, in transverse cross-section, said face engaging contact portion edge is semi-circu

31、lar. 7. The rolling disc cutter as set forth in claim 2, or claim 3, wherein (a) said cutter ring is comprised of a first material, and (b) said two or more inserts are comprised of a second material, (c) wherein said second material is chosen for maximizing service life when in a position of direct contact said substantially solid matter being excavated, and (d) wherein said first material wears at a rate comparable, given the service location, to the rate of said second material, so that during the life of said cutter