Abstract:
Cutting portion ( 11 ), which is rotatable in a direction of rotation ( 21 ) about an axis of rotation ( 22 ), having an annular portion ( 13 ), one or more cutting elements ( 14 ), which are fastened to a first end of the annular portion ( 13 ), and an insertion element ( 15 ), which is connected to the annular portion ( 13 ) at an end that is remote from the cutting elements ( 14 ). The insertion element ( 15 ) has at least one slit-shaped clearance ( 26 ) with a cross-slit ( 33 ) and a connecting slit ( 34 ), wherein the cross-slit ( 33 ) is arranged perpendicularly in relation to the axis of rotation ( 22 ) and is connected by way of the connection slit ( 34 ) to an upper edge ( 35 ) of the insertion element ( 15 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a cutting portion for a drill bit according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,320 A discloses a cutting portion that is connectable to a drill bit via a detachable plug-and-twist connection to a drill shaft portion. The drill bit is attached in the tool receptacle of a core drilling device and, during drilling, driven by the core drilling device in a rotational direction around an axis of rotation. The cutting portion comprises an annular portion, a plurality of cutting elements connected on a first end to the annular portion, and an outer insertion element that is connected on a second end facing away from the cutting elements to the annular portion. The drill shaft portion comprises a cylindrical drill shaft having an inner insertion element on one end facing the cutting portion. The inner and outer insertion elements form a plug connection in an insertion direction parallel to the axis of rotation. The outer insertion element comprises a plurality of pin elements on its interior that are directed radially inward in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The inner insertion element comprises a plurality of slit-shaped clearances in the shape of an L into which the pin elements are inserted. The L-shaped clearances comprise a transverse slit running perpendicular to the axis of rotation and a connector slit that runs parallel to the axis of rotation and connects the transverse slit to a lower edge of the inner insertion element. The insertion element of the drill shaft portion is designed in an open fashion in the region of the connector slits. The pin elements that are attached to the cutting portion are inserted via the connector slit. 
         [0003]    One disadvantage of the known cutting portion may be seen when the cutting portion has become jammed in the substrate. In core drilling, it is common for the cutting section to become jammed in the substrate during drilling and need to be removed by the operator. In stand-guided core drilling devices, in order to remove a jammed cutting section, the drill bit is driven opposite the rotational direction and the drill stand exerts a tensile force on the drill bit directed opposite the drilling direction. The operator attempts to free the cutting portion from the substrate by manually rotating it with the aid of a tool key and, at the same time, pulling with the aid of the drill stand. The L-shaped clearances of the known cutting portion present the risk that the operator will rotate the drill shaft portion around the axis of rotation until the pin element comes into contact with the connector slit and, at the same time, operate the handwheel of the drill stand, such that the pin element is moved out of the connector slit. As soon as the plug-and-twist connection between the cutting portion and the drill shaft portion has been opened, the cutting portion must be freed from the substrate in another manner, for example, by the removal of the substrate. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The object of the present invention is to develop an exchangeable cutting portion for a drill bit in which the risk is reduced of the connection accidentally being opened during the removal of a jammed drill bit from the substrate and the drill shaft portion being removed from the substrate without the cutting portion. In addition, the stability of the cutting portion during drilling and the ability of the cutting portion to withstand tensile force exerted by a drill stand should be increased. 
         [0005]    This object is attained in the cutting portion according to the invention by the features of independent claim  1 . Advantageous refinements of the invention may be found in the subordinate claims. 
         [0006]    Provision is made according to the invention for the insertion element to comprise at least one slit-shaped clearance having a transverse slit and a connector slit, with the transverse slit being disposed perpendicular to the axis of rotation and being connected via the connector slits to an upper edge of the insertion element. The insertion element of the cutting portion is designed in an open fashion in the region of the connector slits. The pin elements that are attached to the drill shaft portion are inserted via the connector slit; the connector slit may be disposed parallel or at an oblique angle to the axis of rotation. The transmission of torque from the pin elements to the plug element occurs in the transverse slit. 
         [0007]    The drill bit segments comprising the slit-shaped clearances is more susceptible to deformation by tensile force than the drill bit segment to which the pin elements are attached. The arrangement of the slit-shaped clearances on the exchangeable cutting portion has the 
         [0000]    advantage that the less stable drill bit segment is exchanged. The cutting portion according to the invention has a higher degree of stability and ability to withstand tensile force. 
         [0008]    It is preferable for the insertion element to comprise three or more slit-shaped clearances. Here, the slit-shaped clearances are preferably evenly distributed around the axis of rotation of the cutting portion. Due to the even distribution of the slit-shaped clearances, it is not necessary to assign pin elements to clearances, and a pin element may be inserted into any clearance. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the insertion element has an outer and inner diameter perpendicular to the axis of rotation and extends parallel to the axis of rotation over a length. The annular insertion element allows the formation of a plug connection with an inner insertion element and an outer insertion element. The inner insertion element is preferably provided on the drill shaft portion and the outer insertion element on the cutting portion. Due to the arrangement of the slit-shaped clearances on the outer insertion element and the arrangement of the pin elements on the inner insertion element, the drill bit can be designed in a watertight fashion on the inside and the misdirection of a cooling and rinsing medium can be prevented. When a drill bit is watertight, all of the cooling and rinsing medium is supplied, for example, via the insertion end of the drill bit, to the work surface and ensures the cooling of the cutting elements and the removal of drillings. The cutting portion according to the invention also allows the operator to monitor the opening and closing of the plug-and-twist connection. This monitoring is not possible or is possible only to a limited degree if the slit-shaped clearances are provided on the inner insertion element. 
         [0010]    It is particularly preferred for the length of the insertion element to be at least 18 mm. At a minimum length of 18 mm for the insertion element, sufficient ability to withstand force is ensured for the cutting portion. The slit-shaped clearances may be positioned on the insertion element at such a height that the cutting portion is able to withstand tensile forces that occur during the removal of a jammed drill bit with the aid of a drill stand. 
         [0011]    Here, it is particularly preferred for the length of the insertion element not to exceed 28 mm. Up to an insertion element length of 28 mm, the ability of the insertion element to withstand tensile force is improved. Greater insertion element lengths have no or very little influence on the ability of the cutting portion to withstand tensile force and only incur increased material and manufacturing costs. 
         [0012]    It is preferable for the transverse slit parallel to the axis of rotation to have a lower distance from the annular portion of at least 3 mm. A minimum distance of 3 mm guarantees a sufficient ability on the part of the cutting portion to withstand tensile force during the removal of a jammed drill bit with the aid of a drill stand. 
         [0013]    Here, it is particularly preferred for the lower distance from the transverse slit to the annular portion not to exceed 5 mm. Up to a distance of 5 mm, the ability of the cutting portion to withstand tensile force is improved. Greater distances have no or very little influence on the ability of the cutting portion to withstand tensile force and only incur increased material and manufacturing costs. 
         [0014]    In a refinement of the cutting portion, the transverse slit comprises a catching region and a locking region, with the catching region being connected to the connector slit on a side of the connector slit facing the rotational direction and the locking region being connected to the connector slit on a side of the connector slit opposite the rotational direction. The transmission of torque from the drill shaft portion onto the cutting portion occurs via the pin elements and the catching region. The locking region is disposed on the side of the connector slit opposite the catching region. The locking region reduces the risk of the plug-and-twist connection between the drill shaft portion and the cutting portion being unintentionally opened during the release of a jammed cutting portion from the substrate. The operator attempts to free the jammed cutting portion from the substrate by rotating the drill shaft portion around the axis of rotation with the aid of a tool key and, at the same time, pulling it with the aid of the drill stand. Practical experience has shown that operators primarily pull on the drill shaft portion when the pin element is resting against the transverse slit. When the pin element is resting against the catching region or the locking region, there is no risk that the plug-and-twist connection will be opened. In the cutting portion according to the invention, the plug-and-twist connection will be opened only if the operator pulls on the drill shaft portion at the precise moment at which the pin element is located over the connector slit. The risk of unintentionally opening the plug-and-twist connection is considerably reduced as compared to slit-shaped clearances in the shape of an L. 
         [0015]    In a first preferred variant, the width of the catching region and the width of the locking region coincide. Here, the catching region and locking region preferably have a minimum width of the pin radius plus 1.5 mm and a maximum width of the pin radius plus 3 mm. This embodiment is particularly advantageous for cutting portions with large diameters, in which the proportion of the circumference occupied by transverse slits is small. 
         [0016]    In a second preferred variant, the width of the catching region is greater than the width of the locking region. Here, the catching region and the locking region preferably have a minimum width of the pin radius plus 1.5 mm and a maximum width of the pin radius plus 3 mm. This embodiment is particularly advantageous for cutting portions with small diameters, in which the proportion of the circumference occupied by transverse slits is large. 
         [0017]    It is preferred for the height of the connector slit parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting portion to be at least 10 mm. At a height of at least 10 mm, sufficient ability by the cutting portion to withstand tensile force exerted by a drill stand is ensured. 
         [0018]    Here, it is particularly preferred for the height of the connector slit parallel to the axis of rotation not to exceed 13 mm. Up to a height of 13 mm, the ability of the cutting portion to withstand tensile force exerted by a drill stand is improved. Greater heights have no or very little influence on the ability of the cutting portion to withstand tensile force exerted by a drill stand and only incur increased material and manufacturing costs. 
         [0019]    In a refinement of the cutting portion, the annular portion comprises a guide portion, with the guide portion being flush to an outer edge, an inner edge, or to an outer edge and an inner edge of the cutting elements parallel to the axis of rotation. Due to the flush connection of the guide portion to the cutting elements, the guide portion forms a guide for the cutting elements during drilling and stabilizes the cutting elements. Here, guidance may occur on the outside of the cutting portion via the substrate surrounding the drill bore or on the inside of the cutting portion via the drill core. 
         [0020]    It is preferable for the length of the guide portion parallel to the axis of rotation to be less than 4 mm. A guide portion that is less than 4 mm does not impede the supply of a cooling and rinsing medium, or does not do so to a substantial degree. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment of the cutting portion, the outer insertion element comprises a groove disposed in the axial direction at the height of the slit-shaped clearances. An “axial direction” is defined as a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting portion. The groove can form a positive connection in the axial direction with a nose attached on the inner insertion element of a drill shaft portion. Due to the additional positive connection between the drill shaft portion and the cutting portion, the risk of the detachable connection between the drill shaft portion and the cutting portion being unintentionally opened during the removal of a jammed drill bit from the substrate is further reduced. 
         [0022]    Sections result between the slit-shaped clearances of the outer insertion element that display an elastic effect. The elastic effect may be adjusted via the number and axial height of the slit-shaped clearances and the length of the outer insertion element. In order to separate the drill shaft portion from the cutting portion, a force is exerted in the axial direction on the face of the outer insertion element with the aid of a tool. Due to the effect of said force, the elastic portion of the outer insertion element is deflected and the positive connection between the nose and the groove can be released. 
         [0023]    It is particularly preferred for the groove to be annular in shape and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A groove with an annular design disposed at the height of the slit-shaped clearances supports the elastic effect of the portions of the outer insertion element between the slit-shaped clearances. 
     
    
     
       EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
         [0024]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily intended to show the exemplary embodiments to scale; rather, the drawings are shown in a schematic and/or slightly distorted manner when it aids understanding to do so. With regard to elaborations on the teachings immediately discernible from the drawings, we refer to the relevant prior art. It should be noted here that numerous modifications and alterations may be made regarding the form and details of an embodiment without deviating from the general concept of the invention. The features of the invention disclosed in the specification, the drawings, and the claims may be considered essential to the refinement of the invention either alone or in any combination. In addition, all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the specification, the drawings, and/or the claims may be considered to fall within the scope of the invention. The general concept of the invention is not limited to the exact form or details of the exemplary embodiment shown and described in the following or limited to an object that would be considered limited in comparison to the object disclosed in the claims. In the case of measurement ranges given, values lying within the ranges named as boundary values should also be considered claimed and usable in any desired manner. For the sake of simplicity, the same reference characters have been used in the following for identical or similar parts or parts with an identical or similar function. 
           [0025]    Shown are: 
           [0026]      FIGS. 1A , B a cutting portion according to the invention that may be connected via a removable plug-and-twist connection to a drill shaft portion, in its non-connected state ( FIG. 1A ) and in its connected state ( FIG. 1B ); 
           [0027]      FIGS. 2A , B the cutting portion in a longitudinal section along the section plane A-A in  FIG. 1A  ( FIG. 2A ) and the insertion element of the drill shaft portion in an enlarged view ( FIG. 2B ); 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  the cutting portion in a longitudinal section along the section plane B-B in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  an additional embodiment of a cutting portion according to the invention that may be connected to a drill shaft portion via an additional positive connection. 
       
    
    
       [0030]      FIGS. 1A , B show a drill bit  10  comprising a cutting portion  11  according to the invention that may be connected to a drill shaft portion  12  via a removable plug-and-twist connection.  FIG. 1A  shows the cutting portion  11  and the drill shaft portion  12  in their non-connected state with an open plug-and-twist connection and  FIG. 1B  shows the cutting portion  11  connected via the plug-and-twist connection to the drill shaft portion  12 . 
         [0031]    The cutting portion  11  comprises an annular portion  13  that is connected on a first end to a plurality of cutting elements  14  and, on a second end, has a first insertion element  15 . Here, the first insertion element is embodied as an outer insertion element  15 . The cutting elements  14  are welded, soldered, bolted, or attached in some other suitable fashion to the annular portion  13 . The cutting portion  11  may, instead of a plurality of cutting elements  14 , also comprise a single cutting element embodied as a cutting sleeve that is connected to the annular portion  13 . The cutting portion  11  has a circular cross-section perpendicular to the axis of rotation  22 ; alternately, cutting portions according to the invention may also have other suitable cross-sections such as, for example, a polygonal cross-section. 
         [0032]    The drill shaft portion  12  comprises a cylindrical drill shaft  16  that has a second insertion element  17  on an end facing the cutting portion  11  and is connected to a receiving portion  18  on an end facing away from the cutting portion  11 . The second insertion element is designed as an inner insertion element  17 . The receiving portion  18  comprises a cover  19  and an insertion end  20 . The drill bit  10  is attached in the tool receptacle of a core drilling device via the insertion end  20 . During drilling, the drill bit  10  is driven by the core drilling device in a rotational direction  21  around an axis of rotation  22  and moves in the substrate to be drilled in a drilling direction  23  parallel to the axis of rotation  22 . During drilling, the axis of rotation  22  runs coaxially to a longitudinal axis of the drill shaft portion  12  and a longitudinal axis of the cutting portion  11 . 
         [0033]    The cutting portion  11  is connected to the drill shaft portion  12  via a plug-and-twist connection  24  ( FIG. 1B ). The term “plug-and-twist connection” is used to describe connections of two connector elements that form a plug connection in at least one direction, with the inserted connector elements additionally being connected via a twist connection. Here, the plug connection and the twist connection may be closed one after the other or simultaneously. 
         [0034]    The cutting portion  11  is placed with the outer insertion element  15  on the inner insertion element  17  of the drill shaft section  12 , with the insertion direction of the plug connection running parallel to the axis of rotation  22 . The twist connection comprises six pin elements  25  that are inserted into six slit-shaped clearances  26 . The six pin elements  25  are attached to the outer side  27  of the inner insertion element  17  and the six slit-shaped clearances  26  are provided in the outer insertion element  15 . The pin elements  25  and the clearances  26  are disposed in an evenly distributed fashion around the axis of rotation  22 . Due to the even distribution, there is no assignment of specific pin elements  25  to specific clearances  26 , and a pin element  25  can be inserted into any clearance  26 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 2A , B show the cutting portion  11  in a longitudinal section parallel to the drawing plane of  FIG. 1A . Here,  FIG. 2A  shows the entire cutting portion  11  and  FIG. 2B  shows a slit-shaped clearance  26  in the outer insertion element  15  in an enlarged view. 
         [0036]    The cutting portion  11  comprises the annular portion  13 , the cutting elements  14 , and the outer insertion element  15 . The annular portion  13  and the outer insertion portion  15  are designed in a monolithic fashion in the embodiment shown here. As an alternative to a monolithic design, the outer insertion element  15  may be designed as a separate part and subsequently connected to the annular portion  13 . The cutting elements  14  are disposed in an annular fashion around the annular portion  13  in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation  22  and each comprise an outer edge  31  and an inner edge  32 . The outer edges  31  of the cutting elements  14  form an outer circle having an outer diameter D a  and the inner edges  42  form an inner circle having an inner diameter D i . The outer insertion element  15  has an outer diameter d 1,a  and an inner diameter d 1,i .  FIG. 2B  shows a slit-shaped clearance  26  in the outer insertion element  15  in an enlarged view. The slit-shaped clearance  26  comprises a transverse slit  33  disposed perpendicular to the axis of rotation  22  and a connector slit  34  disposed parallel to the axis of rotation  22 . The connector slit  34  connects the transverse slit  33  to an upper edge  35  of the outer insertion element  15 , which has an open design on the upper edge  35  in the region of the connector slit  34 . The pin elements  25  of the drill shaft portion  12  are inserted into the slit-shaped clearance  26  via the connector slit  34  and, by a rotation around the axis of rotation  22 , displaced into the transverse slit  33 . The transmission of torque from the pin elements  25  onto the outer insertion element  15  occurs in the transverse slit  33 . 
         [0037]    The outer insertion element  15  has a length l 1  parallel to the axis of rotation  22  and a width b 1  ( FIG. 3 ) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22 . The transverse slit  33  has a width B perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22  and a height H parallel to the longitudinal axis  22 . The connector slit  34  has a width b perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22  and a height h parallel to the longitudinal axis  22 . The width b of the connector slit  34  is greater than the pin diameter of the pin elements  25 , such that the pin elements  25  may be easily inserted into the connector slit  34 . Here, the insertion of the pin elements  25  may be facilitated by an inclined insertion surface  36  on the upper edge  35 . The height h of the connector slit  34  is selected in such a way that the cutting portion  11  is sufficiently able to withstand tensile forces during the removal of a jammed drill bit. If the height h is selected to be too low, the risk is incurred of a deformation of the outer insertion element  15 . 
         [0038]    The transverse slit  33  has a lower distance A 1,u  from the annular portion  13  parallel to the longitudinal axis  22  and an upper distance from the upper edge  35 , with the upper distance corresponding to the height h of the connector slit  34 . The lower distance A 1,u  from the annular portion  13  is selected in such a way that the cutting portion  11  is sufficiently able to withstand tensile forces exerted by a drill stand. If the lower distance A 1,u  is selected to be too low, the risk is incurred of a deformation of the outer insertion element  15 . 
         [0039]    The transverse slit  33  comprises a catching region  37 , a locking region  38 , and a transitional region  39 . The catching region  37  and the locking region  38  are disposed on opposite sides of the connector slit  34  relative to the rotational direction  21  of the cutting portion  11 , with the catching and locking regions  37 ,  38  being connected via the transitional region  39  to the connector slit  34 . The catching region  37  is connected to the connector slit  34  on the side of the connector slit  34  facing the rotational direction  21  and the locking region  38  is connected to the connector slit  34  on the side of the connector slit  34  facing away from the rotational direction  21 . The transmission of torque from the drill shaft portion  12  onto the cutting portion  11  occurs via the pin elements  25  and the catching region  37 . The locking region  38  reduces the risk of the plug-and-twist connection  24  between the drill shaft portion  12  and the cutting portion  11  being inadvertently opened during the removal of a jammed drill bit from the substrate. 
         [0040]    The catching region  37  has a width B 1  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22 ; the height of the catching region  37  corresponds to the height H of the transverse slit  33 . The locking region  38  has a width B 2  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22 ; the height of the locking region  38  corresponds to the height H of the transverse slit  33 . The widths B 1 , B 2  of the catching region  37  and the locking region  38  are selected in such a way that the pin elements  25  are held in the transverse slit if tensile force is exerted and do not break out. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows the cutting portion  11  in the longitudinal section along the section plane A-A in  FIG. 1A . The cutting portion  11  comprises the annular portion  13 , the cutting elements  14 , and the outer insertion element  15 . 
         [0042]    The cutting elements  14  are comprised of a matrix zone  41  and a neutral zone  42 , with the matrix zone  41  being composed of a powder material to which cutting particles have been added and with the neutral zone  42  being composed of a weldable powder material with no cutting particles. The two-part structure of the cutting elements  14  is necessary in order to be able to weld the cutting elements  14  to the annular portion  13 . The annular portion  13  is located flush against the inner edge  32  of the cutting element  14  and has a rebound  43  relative to the outer edge  31  of the cutting element  14 . 
         [0043]    The annular portion  13  comprises a guide portion  44  and a core removal portion  45  on its inner side. The core removal portion  45  has an inner diameter that reduces in the direction of the cutting elements  14 ; the oblique surface of the core removal portion  45  supports the removal of the drill core. The guide portion  44  rests flush against the cutting element  14  and, during drilling, forms a guide for the cutting elements  14 ; the guide portion  44  has a length m parallel to the axis of rotation  22 . As an alternative to the guide on the inside of the drill bit  10 , the guide portion may be disposed on the outside or on the outside and inside. The length m of the guide portion  44  is less than 4 mm. A guide portion that is less than 4 mm does not interfere with the supply of a cooling and rinsing medium, or at least does not do so to a substantial degree. 
         [0044]    The outer insertion element  15  comprises an outer jacket surface  46 , and inner jacket surface  47 , and a face  48 . An annular limit stop shoulder  49  is located at the transition from the annular portion  13  to the outer insertion element  15 . In the cutting portion  11  shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer insertion element  15  additionally comprises an oblique outer surface  50  whose diameter increases in the direction of the cutting elements  14 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  shows an additional drill bit  60  comprising a cutting portion  61  according to the invention that is connectable via a removable plug-and-twist connection to a drill shaft portion  72 . The drill bit  60  differs from the drill bit  10  in that an additional positive connection is provided in the axial direction that hinders an unintentional removal of the cutting portion  61  from the drill shaft portion  62 . 
         [0046]    In addition to the outer insertion element  15  and the slit-shaped clearances  26 , the cutting portion  61  also comprises a first connector unit  63 , and the drill shaft portion  62  comprises a second connector unit  64  in addition to the inner insertion element  17  and the pin elements  25 . The first connector unit  63  comprises a groove  65  disposed on the inside  47  of the outer insertion element  15 . The second connector unit  64  comprises a nose  66  disposed on the inner insertion element  17  and extending radially outward. In the connected state of the drill bit  60 , the nose  66  and the groove  65  form a positive connection in the axial direction, i.e., in the drilling direction  23 , between the cutting portion  61  and the drill shaft portion  62 . The cutting portion  61  is secured by means of the nose  66  and the groove  65  against the drill shaft portion  62  being pulled off of the cutting portion  61 . 
         [0047]    The nose  66  is disposed in the axial direction between the pin elements  25  and the drill shaft  16 . In order to remove the drill shaft portion  62  from the cutting portion  61 , a force is exerted on the face of the outer insertion element  15  with the aid of a tool. By the effects of said force, the elastic section of the outer insertion element  15  is deflected and the positive connection between the nose  66  and the groove  65  can be opened. The groove  65  is embodied in an annular fashion and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation  22 . A groove with an annular design that is disposed in the axial direction on the level of the slit-shaped clearance is  26  reinforces the elastic effect of the sections of the outer insertion element  15  between the slit-shaped clearances  26 . 
         [0048]    The retaining force withstood by the nose  66  and the groove  65  can be adapted using the geometry of the nose  66  and the groove  65 . Locking the nose  66  into the groove  65  should be as comfortable as possible for the operator; an oblique surface facilitates locking in. The radial height of the nose  66 , i.e., its height in the radial direction, the contact surface between the nose  66  and the inner insertion element  17 , and the angle of incline, for example, are suitable as geometric parameters for the adjustment of the retaining force.