Patent Publication Number: US-2017361445-A1

Title: Arrangement in impact unit

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to EP Patent Application No. 16174979.1, filed on Jun. 17, 2016, which the entirety thereof is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a body of an impact unit of a breaking hammer or rock drilling machine. The disclosure further relates to an impact unit and a method of forming a body of an impact unit. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Breaking hammers are used to break hard materials, such as rock, concrete, and the like. The breaking hammer includes an impact device for generating impact pulses to a breaking tool connectable to the breaking hammer. The breaking hammer includes a body inside which the percussion element of the impact device is located. The current arrangements in bodies of the impact units have shown to contain some disadvantages relating to their size and weight, for example. 
     SUMMARY 
     To overcome the above disadvantages, the present disclosure is directed to a body of an impact unit being an elongated hollow piece inside which is an inner space for arranging operable elements of the impact unit inside the body. The body includes two or more successive body parts, which are in an axial direction of the body. The body parts are provided with axial connecting surfaces for the mounting. One or more axial connecting joints are formed between the successive body parts. At the axial connecting joint axial connecting surfaces of the body parts to be connected are facing towards each other. The axial connecting surfaces are pressed towards each other by means of fastening screws. 
     Further, the connecting joint has fastening screws, which are slanted relative to the axial direction of the body. In other words, the body parts are fastened together by several slanted fastening screws longitudinal direction of which screws deviates from the axial direction of the body. 
     An advantage of the disclosed solution is that the slanting improves accessibility of the fastening screws, whereby mounting and tightening of the slanted fastening screws is easier and faster compared to conventional screws oriented parallel with the axial direction of the body. Further, the use of the slanted fastening screws allows arranging the fastening screws closer to side surfaces of the body parts. Hence, outer dimensions and weight of the successively connected body parts may be decreased. In conclusion, the disclosed solution facilitates use of several successive body parts with reasonable size and weight, and also facilitates fastening of the body parts together. 
     According to an embodiment, the body of an impact unit is designed and provided with means for receiving inside the body an impact device comprising an impact element such as a percussion piston. Inside the body may also be a control valve or corresponding control element, as well as a pressure accumulator. Further, the body may also receive a tool, a shank or an intermediate element for transmitting impact pulses and stress waves produced by means of the impact device. The mentioned elements of the impact device and the elements transmitting the impact pulses are operable elements, which are located inside the body of the impact unit. 
     According to an embodiment, the fastening screws of the axial connecting joint include first ends provided with turning heads and second end portions provided with threads. The fastening screws are slanted so that longitudinal axis of the fastenings screws are at the threaded second ends of the fastening screws closer to central axis of the body compared to their opposite first ends provided with turning heads. In other words, the turning head of the slanted fastening screw is at a greater transverse distance from the central axis than the thread end. Positioning of a tightening tool to the turning head is facilitated since the turning head is directed slightly away from side surfaces of the body part. Thus, accessibility of the turning head is improved. When the positioning of the tightening tool to the turning head is facilitated, dismounting and mounting of the body are facilitated and quickened during assembly, and also later when executing service and repair. 
     According to an embodiment, the elongated body of the impact unit includes a first end and a second end. An impact device is located mainly at the second end side of the body and a breaking tool connectable to the impact unit is located at the first end side of the body. The fastening screws of the axial connecting joint include first ends provided with turning heads. The turning heads of the fastening screws are facing towards the first end of the body. In other words, the turning heads are facing towards the tool side end of the body. 
     According to an embodiment, the turning heads of the fastening screws of the connecting joint are facing towards the second end of the body. Thus, in this embodiment the turning heads are facing towards an opposite direction relative to the previous embodiment. Typically, accessibility is better from the impact device side end. 
     According to an embodiment, the axial connecting joint includes one or more slanted first fastening screws and one or more slanted second fastening screws. Turning heads of the first and second fastening screws are facing towards opposing directions. Thus, the first fastening screws are facing towards the first end and the second fastening screws are facing towards the second end. This solution provides further possibilities for positioning the fastening screws. 
     According to an embodiment, the slanted fastening screws have an angle relative to normal of the connecting surfaces of the connecting joint. Magnitude of the angle of the slanted fastening screws is between 5-15°. 
     According to an embodiment, all the slanted fastenings screws of one axial connecting joint have the same angle relative to normal of the connecting surfaces of the connecting joint. 
     According to an embodiment, the axial connecting joint may include fastening screws with differing angles. This embodiment may be useful when space for one or more fastening screws of the connecting joint is limited. Then, one or more screws may be oriented in a slightly different angle than the other screws for improving accessibility. 
     According to an embodiment, the connecting joint includes flat support surfaces, which are located at screw holes of the slanted fastening screws. The flat support surfaces are located on opposite sides relative to axial connecting surface of the body part. The support surfaces are perpendicular relative to longitudinal axis of the fastening screws. Then, support surfaces of turning heads of the fastening screws are pressed against correspondingly orientated support surfaces when the fastening screws are tightened. In other words, the support surfaces facing towards each other at the fastening screws are flat and are slanted in accordance with the slanting angle of the fastening screws. This way, flat bottoms of the turning heads are pressed tightly against flat support surfaces at the connecting joint. Thanks to the flat support surface, formation of line-shaped contact area between the turning head and the support surface is avoided. 
     According to an embodiment, the fastening screws include turning heads provided with flat first support surfaces facing towards the connecting joint. The connecting joint includes a support flange on a side of the turning heads and the support flange is provided with openings through which the fastening screws pass. The support flange is provided with several flat second support surfaces at the screw openings. The flat second surfaces are facing towards the flat support surfaces on the bottom of the turning heads of the screws. The mating flat support surfaces located at the screw openings are perpendicular relative to longitudinal axis of the slanted fastening screws. In other words, the mating flat support surfaces are slanted relative to the central axis of the body. When the fastening screws are tightened, the slanted flat support surfaces are pressed properly against each other and size of a contact area between the turning head and the support flange large enough to transmit generated fastening forces. 
     According to an embodiment, the connecting joint includes a first support flange, which is located at one end of a body part and is provided with an annular first connecting surface facing towards another body part. The first support flange includes an annular supplementary surface on an opposite side of the first support flange relative to the connecting surface. The annular supplementary surface of the first support flange is slanted relative to a line perpendicular to an axial center line of the body. Further, the slanted annular supplementary surface is provided with several flat second support surfaces facing towards flat bottoms of the heads of the fastening screws. This kind of local flat second support surfaces may be machined by milling for example. 
     According to an embodiment, the connecting joint includes a first support flange, which is located at one end of a body part and is provided with an annular first connecting surface facing towards another body part. The support flange is provided with openings through which the fastening screws pass. Further, the first support flange is provided with recesses located at the screw holes. The recesses are dimensioned to receive screw heads of the fastening screws. Bottoms of the recesses are slanted in accordance to orientation of the slanted fastening screws. The recesses may be machined by a milling tool or a broaching drill easily and accurately. 
     According to an embodiment, inside the hollow body of an impact unit is an impact device for generating impact pulses in an impact direction. The impact device may include a percussion piston or corresponding mechanical and axially directed impact element, which is configured to be moved to and fro in the axial direction inside the connecting joint during the use of the impact unit. Further, the body is provided with coupling means at an impact end of the body for connecting a changeable tool to the impact device. The tool is located on the central axis of the body and is configured to receive the impact pulses generated by means of the impact device. 
     According to an embodiment, the body of the impact unit and the disclosed features of the connecting joints and connecting means are implemented in a breaking hammer. 
     According to an embodiment, the body of the impact unit and the disclosed features of the connecting joints and connecting means are implemented in a rock drilling machine. 
     According to an embodiment, the connecting joint includes only two hollow body parts connected to each other by means of the common fastening screws. 
     According to an embodiment, the connecting joint may include three or more body parts connected to each other by means of the common fastening screws. Thus, an intermediate flange, sealing flange or corresponding element may be arranged between two hollow main body parts. 
     According to an embodiment, the body includes three or more body parts and at least two connecting joints. 
     According to an embodiment, all fastening screws of the connecting joint are slanted. 
     According to an embodiment, at least one fastening flange of the connecting joint is round shaped. 
     According to an embodiment, at least one fastening flange of the connecting joint has a rectangular shape. 
     According to an embodiment, at least one body part may include a fastening flange provided with a round outer surface and an axial surface serving as the connecting surface. The fastening flange is further provided with several screw holes through which the fastening screws are mountable. The screw holes are located on a pitch diameter. Magnitude of the pitch diameter is less than product of the following formula  1 , 3  * magnitude of an outer diameter of the body part. The magnitude of the pitch diameter is examined at an intersection point between a bottom surface of a turning head of the fastening screw and a longitudinal axis of the fastening screw. Thanks to this embodiment, the fastening screws are located relatively close to outer side surfaces of the body part. 
     According to an embodiment, the connecting joint between the body parts may be without any separate sealing element. Further, no continuous fluid flow is lead between the connected body parts through the connecting joint at a portion defined by the inner spaces of the connecting joint. Moreover, a mechanical and axially directed component is configured to be moved to and fro in the axial direction inside the connecting joint during the use of the impact unit. 
     According to an embodiment, the disclosed connecting joint of the body is not rotated around the longitudinal axis during the operation of the impact unit. The bodies of breaking hammers and rock drilling machines are supported to their mounting structures preventing their rotation. 
     According to an embodiment, at least one connecting joint may include at least one axial channel between inner and outer surfaces of the coupled body parts. The inner surface is defined by a central axial hollow space of the body part. The axial channel may be a lubrication channel, for example. 
     According to an embodiment, the body includes a first end body part at the second end of the body. The first end body part serves as an end cover for the impact unit. 
     According to an embodiment at least one body part of at least one connecting joint of the body includes at least one pressure medium space. 
     According to an embodiment at least one body part of at least one connecting joint of the body includes a pressure accumulator. 
     According to an embodiment at least one body part of at least one connecting joint of the body includes a flushing housing. This embodiment relates to a rock drilling machine, which utilized flushing. 
     According to an embodiment, number of the fastening screws at each connecting joint is between 8-36. 
     According to an embodiment, diameter of the fastening bolts is between 12-36 mm. 
     According to an embodiment, the body has two or more connecting joints and the magnitude of the angle of the fastening screws is the same in all connecting joints. 
     According to an embodiment, the body has two or more connecting joints and the magnitude of the angle of the fastening screws is different in the connecting joints. 
     The axial connecting surface relates to a surface, which is perpendicular relative to the longitudinal direction of the body. In addition to a perpendicular flat surface portion, the axial connecting surface may have guide surfaces, such as a longitudinally protruding section provided with radial guide surfaces. 
     Let it be mentioned, that the mounting principles and means disclosed above are also suitable for other types of breaking hammers and impact units than those disclosed in this patent application. The percussion or impact device may differ from the one shown, for example. 
     The above-disclosed embodiments can be combined to form desired solutions provided with necessary features disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic and sectional side view of a breaking hammer, which is provided with an impact device arranged inside a longitudinal body. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic and sectional side view of an alternative body of a breaking hammer, 
         FIGS. 3-5  are schematic and sectional side views of some feasible axial connecting joints, 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic and partly sectional axial view of a body part provided with a support flange and flat support surfaces located at screw holes, 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic axial view of a rectangular support flange of a body part, 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of the rectangular flange shown in  FIG. 7 , and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of a fastening screw. 
     
    
    
     For the sake of clarity, the Figures show some embodiments of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the Figures, like reference numerals identify like elements. 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments depicted are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  discloses a basic structure of a breaking hammer  1 . The breaking hammer  1  includes a first end A, or front end, at a tool  2  side end, and a second end B, or rear end, at the opposite end. At the second end B may be mounting means for connecting the breaking hammer  1  to a boom of working machine. The breaking hammer  1  includes an elongated body  3 . The body  3  may be surrounded by means of a protective casing  4 . The body  3  is a hollow structure, whereby it is provided with an inner space for receiving an impact device ID inside the body  3 . The impact device ID may include a percussion piston  5  and a pressure accumulator  6 . The percussion piston  5  is arranged to move longitudinally C to and fro relative to the body  3  by directing pressurized fluid to working pressure spaces  7 ,  8  inside the body. Transverse fluid channels FC may open to inner surfaces defining the pressure spaces. An impact surface  9  of the percussion piston  5  is arranged to strike an upper end  10  of the breaking tool  2 . Thus, inside the body  3  are located operable elements of the impact unit for generating impact pulses to the tool  2 . 
     In  FIG. 1  the body  3  includes three body parts  11  instead of one single uniform body structure. A first main body part  11   a  is located at the first end A side of the body  3  and a second main body part  11   b  is connected to a rear end of the first main body part  11   a.  Further, an end body part  11   f  is connected to a rear end of the second body part  11   b.  The body parts  11   a,    11   b,    11   f  are arranged successively in axial direction of the body  3 . Between the first body part  11   a  and the second body part  11   b  is a first axial connecting joint  12   a  and between the second body part  11   b  and the end body part  11   f  is a rear axial connecting joint  12   e.  At the axial connecting joint  12   a  axial connecting surfaces AC of the first body part  11   a  and  11   b  are pressed against each other by means of several fastening screws  13 . At the rear axial connecting joint  12   e  connecting surfaces AC of the second body part  11   b  and the end body part  11   f  are pressed towards each other by means of fastening screws  13 . At the rear axial connecting joint  12   e  there may be an intermediate element  14  between the body parts  11   b  and  11   f.  Inside the end body part  11   f  may be a pressure accumulator for storing pressurized fluid to an inner space of the body part. The rear end of the percussion piston  5  may be located inside the end body part  11   f  and the front end of the piston  5  may extend to an inner space of the first body part  11   a.    
     As it is disclosed in  FIG. 1 , the fastening screws  13  are slanted relative to central axis D of the body  3 . The fastening screw  13  may include a turning head  15  at one end of the screw and a thread end  16  at an opposite end. In  FIG. 1  the fastenings screws  13  of both axial connecting joints  12   a  and  12   e  are oriented so that the turning heads  15  are facing towards the second end B, i.e. rear end of the breaking hammer  1 . Further, longitudinal axis  17  of the fastening screws  13  are at the turning heads  15  at a greater transverse direction from the central axis D than at the thread end  16 . The fastening screw  13  has a slanting angle S between the longitudinal axis  17  and normal line N of the axial connecting surface AC.  FIG. 1  further shows that slanting angle of the fastening screws  13  of the axial connecting joints  12   a  and  12   e  may be slightly different. 
     The percussion piston  5  extends over the axial connecting joints  12   a,    12   e  and moves in the axial direction relative to the axial connecting joints. Further, the first body part  11   a  may include one or more transverse connecting pins  19  for connecting the breaking tool  6  to the first body part  11   a.    
       FIG. 2  discloses a breaking hammer  1  provided with a body  3 , which includes six successively arranged body parts  11   a - 11   f.  Between the body parts are axial connection joints  12   a - 12   e  for connecting opposing axial connection surfaces AC of the body parts together. The axial connecting joints  12   a - 12   e  may include fastening screws  13   a,    13   b,  which are slanted relative to the central axis D of the body  3 . Turning heads  15  of first fastening screws  13   a  are facing towards the second end B of the body  3  and turning heads  15  of the second fastening screws  13   b  are facing towards the first end A of the body. Thus, the body  3  may include axial connecting joints having differently orientated slanted fastening screws  13   a,    13   b.  In the first axial connection joint  12   a  it is further illustrated by means of a broken line  20 , that there may be fastening screws having opposing orientation in one single axial connecting joint. Further, broken lines  21  indicate inner surfaces of the hollow body parts  11   a - 11   f.    
       FIG. 3  discloses in more detailed the rear axial connecting joint  12   e  of the body  3  disclosed in  FIG. 1 . The end body part  11   f  may have a pressure space  22 , and it may also serve as an end cover for the body  3 . The end body part  11   f  includes a support flange  23  provided with screw holes  24  for the fastening screws  13 . The support flange  23  further includes several recesses  25 , which are located at the screw holes  24  and are dimensioned to receive turning heads  15  of fastening screws  13 . Bottoms  26  of the recesses  25  are flat and they are orientated perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis  17  of the fastening screws  13 . Thereby, the bottoms  26  are slanted so that they match with bottom surfaces of the turning heads  15  of the slanted fastening screws  13 . The second body part  11   b  includes several threaded blind holes  27  for receiving the thread ends  16  of the fastening screws  13 . Naturally, the blind holes  27  must have the same slanting direction as the fastening screws  13  and the screw holes  24 . Further, the intermediate element  14  may be a substantially disc shaped piece and it may be provided with control surfaces  28  or edges on its inner surface side. The intermediate element  14  may also be provided with sealing elements, whereby axial connecting surfaces AC of the body parts  11   b  and  11   f  may be without any sealing means. 
       FIG. 4  discloses in more detailed the first axial connecting joint  12   a  of the body  3  disclosed in  FIG. 1 . The second body part  11   b  includes a support flange  29  provided with flat second support surfaces  31 . The support flange  29  includes several screw holes  24  through which slanted fastening screws  13   a  are arranged. Turning heads  15  of the fastening screws  13   a  are located on the side of the second body part  11   b  and the first body part is provided with threaded blind holes  27 . Longitudinal axis  17  of the fastening screws  13   a  are located at bottoms of the turning heads  15  at a first distance L 1  from the central axis D of the body, and at the thread end  16  at a shorter second distance L 2 . 
       FIG. 5  discloses an alternative connecting joint  12  to the one disclosed in  FIG. 4 . The basic structure and features correspond to the axial connection joint  12   a  disclosed in  FIG. 4 . However, the support flange  29  is part of the first body part  11   a  and the turning heads  15  of the fastening screws  13   b  are on the first end A side of the body. Centers of bottoms of the turning heads  15  are located at a greater first distance L 1  from the central axis D compared to the thread ends  16 . In other words, the first distance L 1  is examined at an intersection point between a bottom surface of the turning head  15  and a longitudinal axis  17  of the fastening screw  13 , and the second distance L 2  is examined at an intersection point between the longitudinal axis  17  and an outermost end of the fastening screw  13 . 
       FIG. 6  discloses a support flange  29 , which is located at a first end of a body part  11 . The support flange includes an annular supplementary surface  30 , which is slanted and is facing towards the second end of the body part  11 . On an opposite side of the supplementary surface side is an annular connecting surface facing towards another body part. The annular supplementary surface  30  is provided with several flat second support surfaces  31  at screw holes  24 . The flat second support surfaces  31  may extend from an outer circumference  32  of a body part  11  to an outer circumference  33  of the support flange  29 . As can be noted, the surfaces  30  and  31  may alternate on the support flange  29 . An alternative to the flat second support surfaces  31  is to form recesses  25  with flat bottoms at the screw holes  24 , as it is disclosed above in this patent application. The screw holes  24  are located on a pitch diameter  34 . Due to the slanted fastening screws, the pitch diameter  34  may be dimensioned to be relatively small compared to diameter of the outer circumference  32  of the body part  11 . This way, diameter of an outer circumference  33  of the support flange  29  may be relatively small. In  FIG. 6  the size of the support flange  29  is exaggerated in order to improve clarity.  FIG. 6  further discloses that the body part  11  may include one or more axial fluid channels  35  between an inner circumference  36  and the outer circumference  32 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  disclose a rectangular support flange  29  of a body part  11 . The support flange  29  includes two flat support surface portions  31   a  and  31   b,  which have differing orientation. The support surfaces  31   a  and  31   b  are slanted relative to the central axis D of the body. A division line  36  is formed between the differently slanted surfaces  31   a,    31   b  and it is located at the central axis D.  FIG. 8  shows that the slanted support surface  31   a  matches with a bottom of a turning head  15  of a slanted fastening screw  13 . Slanting angle of the surfaces  31   a,    31   b  are selected in accordance with a slanting angle S of the fastening screw  13 . 
       FIG. 9  further discloses a fastening screw  13  comprising a turning head  15  at a first end and threads  16  at a second end portion. At a bottom of the turning head  15  is a flat first support surface  40 , which may be pressed against a flat second support surface as it is disclosed above. 
     Further, an alternative solution relates to a body of an impact unit having one or more connecting joints in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the body. In other words, the connecting joint connects two body parts in another direction than in the axial direction of the body of the impact unit. This kind of connection joint may connect a body part of a pressure accumulator or a valve arrangement to the main body of the impact unit. The transverse connecting joint may have one or more slanted fastening screws in accordance to all the features disclosed in this patent application. This alternative solution is disclosed in  FIG. 2 , wherein the transversal body part  37 , the transversal connecting joint  38  between the body  3  and the transversal element  37  is shown together with the transversal slanted fastening screws  39 . 
     Although the present embodiment(s) has been described in relation to particular aspects thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred therefore, that the present embodiment(s) be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.