Patent Publication Number: US-10329909-B2

Title: Edge cutting element for rotatable cutting drum

Description:
This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/US2015/059977, filed Nov. 10, 2015, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/077,579, filed Nov. 10, 2014, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a replaceable cutting apparatus for mounting reducing elements used by excavation machines such as surface excavation machines. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Relatively hard materials are often processed for mining and construction. The variety of materials include rock, concrete, asphalt, coal, and a variety of other types of mineral-based materials. A number of different methods for reducing the size of these hard materials have been developed. One traditional material size reduction method has been to drill relatively small holes in the material which are then packed with an explosive that is ignited, resulting in a rapid and cost effective method of size reduction. However, there are a variety of disadvantages to this technique, including the inherent risk of injuries, the production of undesirable noise, vibrations, and dust, and the fact that this process is difficult to utilize in situations where space is limited or where there is a potential risk of causing other gases to ignite. 
     Due to the above-described disadvantages associated with blasting techniques, alternative methods have been developed for reducing large surface areas of relatively hard materials. One alternative has been the use of reducing machines having rotary reducing components that move rigid and specialized reducing elements through paths of travel. The reducing components can include rotating cutting drums that move the reducing elements through circular paths of travel. Such drums are typically attached to corresponding machines with a mechanism that allows the position and orientation of the drum to be controlled, so as to bring the reducing elements into contact with the material being reduced. 
     An example machine of the type described above is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,360. The disclosed machine is a surface excavation machine used for applications such as surface mining, demolishing roads, terrain leveling, and prepping sites for new construction or reconstruction by removing one or more layers of material. Surface excavation machines of this type provide an economical alternative to blasting and hammering and provide the advantage of generating a consistent output material after a single pass. 
     On some rotating cutting drums, certain cutting patterns, created by particular arrangements of the reducing elements along the surface of the drum, are used to achieve different cutting results. This is done for a variety of reasons, for instance to counter dust production and to achieve smoother cutting operation of the rotating cutting drum. See U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0255649 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,350. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the following disclosure, the above and other issues are addressed by the following. 
     During some types of surface mining, consecutive mining passes are made on the same large surface. Therefore, for each pass, one side of the rotating cutting drum is cutting a new ditch while the opposite side passes through previously cut material. The side of the rotating cutting drum that cuts the new ditch is subjected to a high digging force, while the side of the rotating cutting drum that passes through the previously cut material is subjected to a high abrasion force. Because of these high forces, the rotating cutting drum, and parts attached to it, tend to wear over time and can be very costly to, replace. Therefore, there is a need to protect the rotating cutting drum, specifically the edges thereof, to minimize such wear. 
     According to an example aspect, the disclosure is directed to a cutting element that includes an arcuate base having a forward end, a rearward end, and an elongate axis; the arcuate base further having an outer radial surface and a first and second side, the first and second sides being parallel to the elongate axis. The cutting element also includes three tooth holders being mounted to the outer radial surface of the arcuate base, the tooth holders being configured to receive cutting teeth. Further, the cutting element includes a cutting tooth mounted in each tooth holder, wherein there is a leading tooth adjacent the forward end of the arcuate base, a trailing tooth adjacent the rearward end of the arcuate base, and an intermediate tooth disposed between the leading tooth and the trailing tooth. Each of the cutting teeth defines a respective tooth central axis, each tooth being mounted in a given tooth holder so as to be rotatable about the tooth central axis thereof. The tooth central axis of the leading tooth is configured to point at least partially in a first axial direction toward the first side of the arcuate base, at least partially in a first tangential direction toward the forward end of the arcuate base, and at least partially in a first radial direction away from the outer radial surface. The tooth central axis of the trailing tooth is configured point at least partially in a second axial direction toward the second side of the arcuate base, at least partially in a second tangential direction toward the forward end of the arcuate base, and at least partially in a second radial direction away from the outer radial surface. The tooth central axis of the intermediate tooth is configured to point at least partially in a third axial direction between the first axial direction and the second axial direction, at least partially in a third tangential direction between the first tangential direction and the second tangential direction, and at least partially in a third radial direction away from the outer radial surface. 
     According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a cutting element including an arcuate base having a first side, a second side, an outer radial surface, and an inner radial surface, the inner radial surface being configured to be mounted to a cutting drum. The cutting element also includes a plurality of tooth holders being mounted to the outer radial surface of the arcuate base, the tooth holders being configured to receive cutting teeth. Additionally, the cutting element includes a cutting tooth mounted in each tooth holder, wherein there is at least one leading tooth, and at least one trailing tooth. Each of the cutting teeth is configured to cut through a dissimilar cutting plane, wherein each dissimilar cutting plane is parallel to one another. 
     According to yet another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a cutting arrangement for a cutting drum that includes a plurality of edge cutting elements defining a cutting edge, the cutting edge being adjacent a side edge of the cutting drum, each edge cutting element including an arcuate base having a first side surface, a second side surface, an outer radial surface, and an inner radial surface, the inner radial surface being configured to be mounted to a cutting drum. The edge cutting element also includes three cutting tooth holders mounted to the outer radial surface of the arcuate base, the tooth holders being configured to receive cutting teeth. Also, the edge cutting element includes a respective cutting tooth mounted in each tooth holder, wherein there is a leading tooth, a trailing tooth and an intermediate tooth. Each of the cutting teeth is configured to cut through a dissimilar cutting plane, wherein each dissimilar cutting plane is parallel to one another. Each leading tooth of each edge cutting element overhangs the side edge of the cutting drum, and the plurality of edge cutting elements are arranged to cut a repeating pattern about every 45 degrees of rotation of the cutting drum. 
     According to yet another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a cutting element that includes an arcuate base having a first side surface, a second side surface, an outer radial surface, and an inner radial surface, the inner radial surface being configured to be mounted to a cutting drum. The cutting element further including three cutting tooth holders being mounted to the outer radial surface of the arcuate base, the tooth holders being configured to receive cutting teeth. The cutting element also including a respective cutting tooth mounted in each tooth holder, wherein there is a leading tooth, a trailing tooth and an intermediate tooth. Each of the cutting teeth is configured to cut through a dissimilar cutting plane, wherein each dissimilar cutting plane is parallel to one another and wherein the dissimilar cutting planes are equidistantly spaced apart; 
     According to yet another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a cutting arrangement that includes a cutting drum, the cutting drum having two side edges, a middle portion, and a rotational cutting direction. The cutting arrangement also includes a plurality of edge cutting elements defining a cutting edge, the cutting edge being adjacent a side edge of the cutting drum, each edge cutting element including an arcuate base having a first side, a second side, an outer radial surface, and an inner radial surface, the inner radial surface being configured to be mounted to the cutting drum. Each edge cutting element includes a plurality of tooth holders mounted to the outer radial surface of the arcuate base, the tooth holders being configured to receive cutting teeth, and a cutting tooth mounted in each tooth holder, wherein there is a leading tooth, a trailing tooth and an intermediate tooth. Each of the cutting teeth defines a respective tooth central axis, each tooth being mounted in a given tooth holder so as to be rotatable about the tooth central axis thereof. The tooth central axis of the leading tooth is configured to point at least partially in a first axial direction away from the middle of the cutting drum and at least partially in the rotational cutting direction of the cutting drum. The tooth central axis of the trailing tooth is configured to point at least partially in a second axial direction toward the middle of the cutting drum and at least partially in the rotational cutting direction of the cutting drum. The tooth central axis of the intermediate tooth is configured to point at least partially in a third axial direction between the first axial direction and the second axial direction and at least partially in the rotational cutting direction of the cutting drum. 
     According to yet another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a cutting element including an arcuate base having a forward end, a rearward end, and an outer radial surface; the arcuate base further defining a length, the length being bisected by a vertical reference plane that runs along the length. The cutting element also includes three tooth holders being mounted to the outer radial surface of the arcuate base, the tooth holders being configured to receive respective cutting teeth. Further, the cutting element includes a cutting tooth mounted in each tooth holder, wherein there is a leading tooth adjacent the forward end of the arcuate base, a trailing tooth adjacent the rearward end of the arcuate base, and an at least one intermediate tooth disposed between the leading tooth and the trailing tooth, with each of the cutting teeth having a tooth tip. The tooth tip of the leading tooth defines a first tooth tip location, the first tooth tip location being offset in a first direction from the vertical reference plane. The tooth tip of the trailing tooth defines a second tooth tip location, the second tooth tip location being offset in a second direction from the vertical reference plane, the second direction being opposite from the first direction. The tooth tip of the at least one intermediate tooth defines a third tooth tip location relative to the vertical reference plan, the third tooth tip location being between the first and second tooth tip locations. 
     A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. These aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a rotatable cutting drum of a surface excavation machine, in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the rotatable cutting drum shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a right side view of the rotatable cutting drum shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic drawing of the right edge region of the rotatable cutting drum of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic drawing of a portion of the right edge region of the rotatable cutting drum of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the edge cutting element, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the edge cutting element shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of the edge cutting element shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of the edge cutting element shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     The present disclosure describes, generally, an edge cutting system for a rotatable cutting drum. The edge cutting system disclosed herein is configured to reduce wear on the edges of the rotating cutting drum and to clear material that lies beyond the edge of the rotating cutting drum. Additionally, the edge cutting system is configured to provide an efficient cutting pattern. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a rotatable cutting drum  10 . The rotatable cutting drum  10  has a first edge  12 , a second edge  14 , and a center portion  16 . The rotatable cutting drum  10  can be rotatable about a central axis  18  and have a rotatable cutting direction A. Further, the rotatable cutting drum  10  can be equipped with a plurality of edge cutting elements  20  and a plurality of interior cutting elements  22  secured to the rotatable cutting drum&#39;s surface  11 . The plurality of individually replaceable edge cutting elements  20  and the plurality of interior cutting elements  22  are configured to, together, break down material when the drum is rotated in a mining, or like activity, operation. Additionally, the edge cutting elements  20  and the interior cutting elements  22  together create a specific cutting pattern as the rotatable cutting drum  10  is rotated. 
       FIG. 3  shows a right side view of the rotatable cutting drum  10 . In the depicted embodiment, a series of eight edge cutting elements  20  are secured to the rotatable cutting drum&#39;s surface  11  at the second edge  14 . In other embodiments, depending on the dimensions of the rotatable cutting drum and the edge cutting elements, the rotatable cutting drum can include more or less edge cutting elements. As shown, the rotatable cutting drum  10  has a circular cross-section having 360 degrees about an axis of rotation. In some embodiments, each edge cutting element  20  can be configured and otherwise arranged on the surface  11  of the rotatable cutting drum  10  so that each edge cutting element  20  occupies B degrees about the axis of rotation. In some embodiments, each edge cutting element  20  can occupy about 45 degrees about the axis of rotation of the rotatable cutting drum  10 . 
     Each edge cutting element  20  can comprise an arcuate base  26 . The arcuate base  26  may be made of steel or other like wear resistant material. The edge cutting elements  20  can also include a series of tooth holders  28  secured to an outer radial surface  34  of the arcuate base  26 . Within each tooth holder  28 , a tooth  30  can be secured. In some embodiments, the tooth  30  can be rotatable within each tooth holder  28 . In other embodiments, each tooth  30  can be secured within each tooth holder  28  so as not to rotate. Each tooth  30  can also be configured to have a tooth tip  32 . Further, in some embodiments, each tooth  30  can be oriented so that its corresponding tooth tip  32  faces at least partially in the rotatable cutting direction A. 
       FIG. 4  shows a portion of the front side of the rotatable cutting drum  10 , specifically a portion near the second edge  14 . As shown, the interior cutting elements  22  can be arranged in a specific pattern, for example a spiral or series of spirals, around the rotatable cutting drum  10 . The interior element that is positioned near the second edge  14 , generally adjacent the series of edge cutting elements  20 , is the closest interior cutting element  24 . The edge cutting elements  20  can also be configured to cut in a specific pattern. In the depicted embodiment, line C represents the cutting pattern that each edge cutting element  20  takes, wherein a series of the cutting patterns C create an edge cutting pattern. The cutting pattern C can be a line that connects each tooth tip  32  on each edge cutting element  20 . One advantage of the depicted edge cutting pattern C is that, during rotation of the rotatable cutting drum  10  in the cutting direction A, the cutting pattern progresses in a direction from the second edge  14  of the rotatable cutting drum  10  towards the center portion  16  of the rotatable cutting drum  10  allowing for improved clearing of material. This improved clearing of material for each edge cutting element  20  can reduce wear on following edge cutting elements  20 . Additionally, the depicted cutting pattern C creates a sweeping motion, thereby moving material from the second edge  14  of the rotatable cutting drum  10 , in a direction towards the center portion  16  of the rotatable cutting drum  10 . While only the second side  14  of the rotatable cutting drum  10  is depicted, the first side  12  can be a mirror image of the arrangement shown on the second side  14 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of the rotatable cutting drum depicted in  FIG. 1 . The view specifically shows a portion of the second edge  14  and a portion of the rotatable cutting drum  10 . Additionally, some, but not all, interior cutting elements  22  are depicted, along with the closest interior cutting element  24 . As shown, the tooth tips  32  of each cutting element  20  can be substantially equidistantly spaced at a distance D measured in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable cutting drum  10 . In some embodiments, the spacing D may differ across the cutting element by between about 0% and about 20%. In other embodiments, the spacing D may differ across the cutting element by about 10%. In other embodiments still, the spacing D may differ across the cutting element by between about 0% and about 5%. In some embodiments, the distance D can vary across the cutting element. Further, in some embodiments, the edge cutting element  20  can have one or more tooth tips  32  overhanging the outer edge  13  of the rotatable cutting drum  10 . Also, in some embodiments, a tooth tip  33  of the closest interior cutting element  24  can be spaced at the same distance D away from the closest edge cutting element tooth tip  32 . In some embodiments, the spacing D may be chosen to be between about 2.00 inches and about 4.00 inches. In other embodiments, the spacing D can be about 3.77 inches. 
     The spacing D can affect the cutting pattern C, in addition to the overall edge cutting pattern. In some embodiments, the edge cutting pattern, the pattern created by a series of individual cutting patterns C, can have a series of minor offsets D between tooth tips  32  followed by a major offset, the major offset can be equal to two times the distance D between tooth tips (hereinafter 2D). The major offset 2D can occur when the edge cutting pattern transitions between cutting elements  20 . The major offset 2D is the spacing that separates the final tooth  32  on one cutting element  20  and the first tooth  32  on an immediately following cutting element  20 . In other embodiments where the edge cutting element has four teeth, the major offset distance see can be equal to three times the distance D. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show isometric and side views of the edge cutting element  20 , respectively. The depicted edge cutting element  20  is configured to be secured to the surface of the second edge  14  of the rotatable cutting drum  10 . An edge cutting element secured to the first edge  12  can be a mirror image of the edge cutting element  20  secured to the second edge  14 . The edge cutting element  20  can have an elongate axis  27 , a forward end  40  and a rearward end  42 . The arcuate base  26  of the edge cutting element  20  further defines a first side  46  and a second side  47 . In some embodiments, the arcuate base  26  can include an inner radial surface  36  that can be arc shaped so to be mounted to a surface of a rotatable cutting drum. Further, the arcuate base  26  of the edge cutting element  20  can include an outer radial surface  34  including a plurality of discrete mounting surfaces  38   a ,  38   b ,  38   c , all angled relative to one another. In some embodiments, the edge cutting element  20  can have a leading tooth mounting surface  38   a , adjacent the forward end  40  of the arcuate base  26 , a trailing tooth mounting surface  38   c , adjacent the rearward end  42  of the arcuate base  26 , and an intermediate tooth mounting surface  38   b , positioned between the leading tooth mounting surface  38   a  and the trailing tooth mounting surface  38   c . The mounting surfaces  38   a ,  38   b ,  38   c  can each define a separate mounting plane. The plane defined by leading tooth mounting surface  38   a  can be orientated to face at least partially in a direction toward the first side  46  of the arcuate base  26 . The plane defined by trailing tooth mounting surface  38   c  can be orientated to face at least partially in a direction toward the second side  47  of the arcuate base  26 . The plane defined by second mounting tooth surface  38   b  can face a direction perpendicular to an elongate axis  27  of the arcuate base  26 . 
     Each mounting surface  38   a ,  38   b ,  38   c  can be configured to hold a tooth holder  28  (e.g.  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c ), each tooth holder  28  being configured to secure a respective tooth  30  (e.g.  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ) within each corresponding tooth holder  28 . In some embodiments, the edge cutting element  20  can have a leading tooth  30   a , an intermediate tooth  30   b  and a trailing tooth  30   c . The leading tooth  30   a  can be adjacent the forward end  40  of the edge cutting element  20 , the trailing tooth  30   c  can be adjacent the rearward end  42 , and the intermediate tooth  30   b  can be positioned between the leading tooth  30   a  and the trailing tooth  30   c . In some embodiments, the edge cutting element  20  can include a plurality of intermediate teeth  30   b.    
     Each tooth  30  can be configured to have a tooth tip  32  (e.g.  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ). In some embodiments, the tooth tip  32  may be made of a material that is more wear resistant than the rest of the tooth (for example, made of a more wear resistant steel, made of a different alloy the rest of the tooth, or provided with a hardfacing layer etc.). In some embodiments, the tooth tip  32  of each tooth  30  can face at least partially in a direction toward the forward end  40  of the edge cutting element  20 . Each of the cutting teeth  30  can define a respective tooth central axis  48   a ,  48   b ,  48   c . In some embodiments, each tooth  30  can be mounted in a respective tooth holder  28  so as to be rotatable about the tooth central axis thereof. 
     In some embodiments, the arcuate base  26  can include a plurality of fastener holes  44 . The fastener holes  44  can be used to secure external wear elements to further protect the arcuate base  26  of the edge cutting element  20  from extensive wear. 
       FIG. 8  shows a top view of the edge cutting element  20 . The edge cutting element  20 , specifically the arcuate base  26 , can have a length and a width. In some embodiments, a vertical reference plane VP can bisect the width of the arcuate base  26 , running along the length of the arcuate base  26  along the elongate axis  27 . In some embodiments, the leading tooth tip  32   a  may be offset from the vertical reference plane VP in a first direction. In the depicted embodiment, the first direction can be in a direction toward the first side  46  of the arcuate base  26 . Also, in some embodiments, the trailing tooth tip  32   c  may be offset from the vertical reference plane VP in a second direction, opposite of the first direction. In the depicted embodiment, the second direction can be in a direction toward the second side  47  of the arcuate base  26 . The intermediate tooth tip  32   b  can be at a location between the leading and trailing tooth tips  32   a ,  32   c  relative to the vertical reference plan VP. 
     As shown, the tooth central axis  48   a  can be a leading tooth central axis. The leading tooth central axis  48   a  can be configured to point at least partially in an axial direction toward the first side  46  of the arcuate base  26 , at least partially in a tangential direction toward the forward end  40  of the arcuate base  26 , and at least partially in a radial direction away from the outer radial surface  34 . 
     The tooth central axis  48   c  can be a trailing tooth central axis. The trailing tooth central axis  48   c  can be configured point at least partially in an axial direction toward the second side  47  of the arcuate base  26 , at least partially in a tangential direction toward the forward end  40  of the arcuate base  26 , and at least partially in a radial direction away from the outer radial surface  34 . 
     Further, the tooth central axis  48   b  can be an intermediate tooth central axis. The intermediate tooth central axis  48  can be configured to point at least partially in an axial direction between the axial direction of the leading tooth central axis  48   a  and the axial direction of the trailing tooth central axis  48   c , at least partially in a tangential direction between the tangential direction of the leading tooth central axis  48   a  and the tangential direction of the trailing tooth central axis  48   c , and at least partially in a radial direction away from the outer radial surface  34 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a front view of the edge cutting element  20 . The teeth  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  of the edge cutting element  20  can be orientated in a way on the arcuate base  26  so that each tooth  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  has a dissimilar cutting plane  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c . Each dissimilar cutting plane  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c  may be parallel to one another and to the first side  46  and to the second side  47  of the arcuate base  26 . In some embodiments, the dissimilar cutting planes  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c  are substantially equidistantly spaced apart at the distance D. In the depicted embodiment, the leading tooth tip  32   a  can overhang the first side  46  of the arcuate base  26  and the trailing tooth tip  32   c  can overhang the second side  47  of the arcuate base  26 . 
     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the inventive aspects. Since many embodiments of the disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects, the inventive aspects resides in the claims hereinafter appended.