AU2018299418A1

AU2018299418A1 - Mining pick

Info

Publication number: AU2018299418A1
Application number: AU2018299418A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Myles Aaron Wylie
Original assignee: Innovative Engineering Products Pty Ltd; Innovative Eng Products Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Innovative Engineering Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-11
Filing date: 2018-07-11
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Also published as: WO2019010527A1

Abstract

A mining pick (1000) comprising a body (1100) defining a cutting element support portion (1150) configured for supporting a cutting element (1400). The mining pick (1000) also comprises a sacrificial member (1200) mounted on mounting formations (1300) formed at a distal end of the body (1100). The sacrificial member (1200) is composed of a thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the body (1100) about the mounting formations (1300) promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the body thereby reducing the heat of the abraded material.

Description

MINING PICK

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a mining pick and method of manufacture therefor, and in particular to a mining pick for use on a rotary rotating cutting head.

[2] The invention has been developed primarily for use in/with a rotary cutting head used on long wall or continuous mining machines in coal mines, or on tunnel boring machines, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of Invention

[3] Industry standard cutting picks are available in a variety of types such as conical, radial and forward attack picks. These are typically composed of a steel, or other high tensile metal body with at least one or more tip-receiving recesses in a working face of the body. The tip receiving recesses may be machined or cast into the body. Each of the tip receiving recesses typically has at least one tungsten carbide tip attached within the recesses.

[4] The tungsten carbide tip is typically used in operation to impact with and abrade on rocks surfaces. Due to the aggressive engagement between the cutting pick and rock being excavated, the tungsten carbide tip can wear rapidly. Cutting picks may require regular replacement, especially when cutting through hard rock and strata.

[5] When the tungsten carbide tip has broken off or worn away the high tensile steel body of the cutting pick is disadvantageously exposed to the rock. The friction between the steel and rock can generate sparks and a wear flat surface will propagate on the trailing edge of the steel body. It is the applicant’s understanding that the wear flat surface may deposit a frictional “hot streak” that contains fragments of hot steel particles, which is smeared onto the rock surface with sufficient thermal potential to ignite a flammable gas atmosphere. It is further understood by the applicant that the presence of such a hot streak is at least a factor in the generation of ignition events, particularly in the coal mining industry.

[6] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

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Summary of Invention

[7] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a mining pick comprising:

an elongate cutter head adapted to locate a cutter element designed to cut a mined surface;

one or more recesses located in the cutter head adjacent the cutter element;

a plurality of inserts located in respective of said recesses, said inserts composed of a highly thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the cutter head about said recesses promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head thereby reducing the heat of the abraded material, said recesses designed to be partly closed to retain the corresponding insert within the respective recess.

[8] Preferably the cutter head at a distal end includes a cutter recess at a longitudinal axis of said cutter head, each of said one or more recesses being in the form of a plurality of blind holes formed around a peripheral surface of the cutter head and each of said holes:

i) located adjacent the cutter element and formed radially inward of the cutter head toward the longitudinal axis, and ii) oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point when compared to an open end of the blind hole measured to the imaginary point.

[9] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a mining pick comprising:

an elongate cutter head at a distal end including a cutter recess at a longitudinal axis of said cutter head, the cutter recess adapted to locate a cutter element designed to cut a mined surface, the cutter head including a plurality of blind holes formed around a peripheral surface of the cutter head and each of said blind holes:

i) located adjacent the cutter element and formed radially inward of the cutter head toward the longitudinal axis, and ii) oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary

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PCT/AU2018/050711 point when compared to an open end of the blind hole measured to the imaginary point;

a plurality of inserts located in respective of the blind holes, said inserts composed of a highly thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the cutter head about the open end of the blind holes promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head thereby reducing the heat of the abraded material.

[10] Preferably each of the blind holes is at its open end designed to be partly closed for retention of the corresponding insert within the respective blind hole.

[11 ] Preferably the plurality of blind holes are arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis and substantially equally spaced circumferentially around the peripheral surface of the cutter head.

[12] Preferably the sufficiently acute angle of the blind holes is equal to or less than around 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

[13] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a mining pick, said method comprising steps of:

forming an elongate cutter head adapted to locate a cutter element designed to cut a mined surface;

forming a plurality of recesses in the cutter head adjacent the cutter element;

locating a plurality of inserts in respective of the plurality of recesses, said inserts composed of a highly thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the cutter head about the recesses promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head thereby reducing the heat of the abraded material;

partly closing each of the recesses to retain the corresponding insert within the respective recess.

[14] Preferably the step of partly closing each of the recesses involves plastically deforming a surrounding region of the recess.

[15] Preferably the step of forming a plurality of recesses involves forming a plurality of blind holes formed around a peripheral surface of the cutter head, each of said holes:

i) located adjacent the cutter element and formed radially inward of the cutter head toward the longitudinal axis, and

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PCT/AU2018/050711 ii) oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point when compared to an open end of the blind hole measured to the imaginary point.

[16] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a mining pick, said method comprising the steps of:

forming an elongate cutter head at a distal end including a cutter recess at a longitudinal axis of said cutter head, the cutter recess adapted to locate a cutter element designed to cut a mined surface;

forming a plurality of blind holes around a peripheral surface of the cutter head, each of said holes:

i) located adjacent the cutter element and formed radially inward of the cutter head toward the longitudinal axis, and ii) oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point when compared to an open end of the blind hole measured to the imaginary point;

locating a plurality of inserts in respective of the plurality of blind holes, said inserts composed of a highly thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the cutter head about the open end of the blind holes promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head reducing the heat of the abraded material.

[17] Preferably the method of manufacturing a mining pick includes the step of partly closing the open end to each of the blind holes to retain the corresponding insert within the respective blind hole.

[18] Preferably the sufficiently acute angle of the blind holes is formed either equal to or less than around 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

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[19] Preferably the step of locating the inserts in the blind holes involves applying a predetermined pressing force to the inserts, said pressing force being effective in plastically deforming the inserts to retain them in their respective blind holes.

[20] According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a mining pick, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of blind holes around a peripheral surface of the cutter head; applying a predetermined pressing force to a plurality of inserts located in respective of the plurality of blind holes, said pressing force being effective in plastically deform the inserts which are thus retained in their respective blind holes, said inserts composed of a highly thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the cutter head about the open end of the blind holes promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head reducing the heat of the abraded material.

[21] Preferably the step of forming the plurality of blind holes involves drilling each of the blind holes wherein they are:

[22] Preferably the step of applying a predetermined pressing force to the inserts involves simultaneous application of said pressing force to all of the plurality of inserts. Alternatively the inserts are individually pressed within respective of the blind holes by separate application of the pressing force to plastically deform each of the inserts for retention.

[23] According to a sixth aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a method of manufacture of a mining pick, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mining pick comprising a body and mounting formations configured for mounting a sacrificial member;

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PCT/AU2018/050711 providing a sacrificial member configured as an endless formation and composed of highly thermally conductive material; and pressing the endless formation over the body of the mining pick while deforming the endless formation in an elastically deformable manner, to thereby mount the endless formation in the mounting formations.

[24] In one embodiment, the method of manufacture further comprises the steps of: providing an cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face;

and mounting the cutting element to the body.

[25] In one embodiment, the body comprises one or more selected from a recess and an aperture for receiving the cutting element, and the step of mounting the cutting element to the body comprises the step of mounting the cutting element within said one selected from a recess and an aperture.

[26] In one embodiment, the method of manufacture further comprises the step of: providing a fitting mask at least part of the body and configured for facilitating the pressing of the endless formation over the body of the mining pick.

[27] In one embodiment, the method of manufacture further comprises the step of:

crimping one or more selected from the sacrificial member and the mounting formations to thereby secure the sacrificial member within the mounting formation.

[28] In one embodiment, the step of crimping said one or more selected from the sacrificial member and the mounting formation to thereby secure the sacrificial member to the body comprises the step of:

introducing a zone of engineered weakness into the mounting formations.

[29] According to a seventh aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a method of manufacture of a mining pick, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mining pick comprising a body and at least one mounting formation configured for mounting a sacrificial member;

providing a sacrificial member configured composed of highly thermally conductive material;

locating the sacrificial member adjacent the mounting formations; and crimping one or more selected from the sacrificial member and the mounting formation to thereby secure the sacrificial member to the body.

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[30] In one embodiment, the sacrificial member is configured as an endless formation and the method further comprises the step of:

pressing the sacrificial member over the body of the mining pick while deforming the sacrificial member in an elastically deformable manner, to thereby mount the sacrificial member in the mounting formations.

[31] In one embodiment, the method of manufacture further comprises the step of:

providing a fitting mask at least part of the body and configured for facilitating the pressing of the sacrificial member over the body of the mining pick.

[32] In one embodiment, the step of crimping said one or more selected from the sacrificial member and the mounting formation to thereby secure the sacrificial member to the body comprises the step of:

introducing a zone of engineered weakness into the mounting formations.

[33] According to an eighth aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a method of manufacture of a mining pick, the method comprising the step of:

providing a mining pick comprising a body and at least one mounting formation configured for receiving a sacrificial member; and casting a sacrificial member composed of highly thermally conductive material into said at least one mounting formation by pouring molten material into said at least one mounting formation.

[34] in one embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of providing a moulding form for engagement with the body; and engaging the moulding form with the body to thereby present a recess for receiving molten material.

[35] in one embodiment, the body comprises one or more selected from a recess and an aperture for receiving a cutting element, and the step of casting a sacrificial member further comprises the step of:

securing a cutting element within said one or more selected from a recess and an aperture with said molten material.

[36] In one embodiment, the step of casting a sacrificial member further comprises the step of introducing a zone of engineered weakness into the at least one mounting formation to thereby cause premature failure of the at least one mounting formation in operation.

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[37] According to a ninth aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a method of manufacture of a mining pick, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sacrificial member composed of highly thermally conductive material; locating the sacrificial member on the mounting formations; and hardface welding the body to thereby secure the sacrificial member in place.

[38] In one embodiment, the sacrificial member is configured as an endless formation.

[39] In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of pressing the endless formation over the body of the mining pick while deforming the endless formation in an elastically deformable manner, to thereby mount the endless formation in the mounting formations.

[40] In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of crimping the mounting formations.

[41] In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of introducing a zone of engineered weakness into one or more selected from the body, the hard face welding and the sacrificial member.

[42] According to a tenth aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a mining pick manufactured by a method described above.

[43] According to an eleventh aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a mining pick for use in a rotating cutting head together with a cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face in operation, the mining pick comprising:

a body configured for being mounted in a rotating cutting head of a miner;

a sacrificial member composed of thermally conductive material;

mounting formations configured for deforming in operation when the cutting element has been substantially worn, to thereby present the sacrificial member in an exposed position to enable the sacrificial member to be abraded by the mining face in operation.

[44] In one embodiment, the mining pick further comprises a cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face in operation.

[45] In one embodiment, the mounting formations are configured for mounting the sacrificial member in an orientation whereby the sacrificial member extends substantially

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PCT/AU2018/050711 transversely to the direction of force applied by the mining face to the cutting element in operation.

[46] In one embodiment, the mounting formations are crimped to thereby secure the sacrificial member in position.

[47] In one embodiment, the mounting formations are configured to crimp the sacrificial member in place.

[48] In one embodiment, the crimping of the mounting formations introduce zones of engineered weakness in the mounting formations.

[49] According to a twelfth aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a mining pick for use in a rotating cutting head together with a cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face in operation, the mining pick comprising:

a body configured for being mounted in a rotating cutting head of a miner;

a sacrificial member configured as an endless formation, the sacrificial member composed of highly thermally conductive material; and mounting formations configured for mounting the endless formation.

[50] In one embodiment, the mining pick further comprises a cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face in operation.

[51] In one embodiment, the sacrificial member is one or more selected from annular and toroidal in configuration.

[52] In one embodiment, the mounting formations are recesses.

[53] In one embodiment, the mounting formations are configured for mounting the sacrificial member to extend around the cutting element.

[54] According to thirteenth aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a mining pick for use in a rotating cutting head together with a cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face in operation, the mining pick comprising:

a body configured for being mounted in a rotating cutting head of a miner; a sacrificial member composed of highly thermally conductive material;

mounting formations configured for mounting the sacrificial member in operation to present the sacrificial member in an alignment substantially transverse to the direction of relative movement of the cutting face in operation,

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[55] In one embodiment, the mining pick further comprises a cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face in operation.

[56] According to a fourteenth aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a mining pick for use in a rotating cutting head, the mining pick comprising:

a body configured for being mounted in a rotating cutting head of a miner; and a sacrificial member composed of highly thermally conductive material; wherein the sacrificial member is secure it in position on the body by hardface welding.

[57] In one embodiment, the mining pick further comprises a cutting element adapted for cutting and/or abrading a cutting face in operation.

[58] In one embodiment, the body defines mounting formations configured to complement the shape of the sacrificial member.

[59] In one embodiment, the mining pick comprises:

a. a body configured for being mounted in a rotating cutting head of a miner;

b. a sacrificial member composed of thermally conductive material;

c. mounting formations configured for deforming in operation when the cutting element has been substantially worn, to thereby present the sacrificial member in an exposed position to enable the sacrificial member to be abraded by the mining face in operation.

[60] In one embodiment, the sacrificial member or highly thermally conductive material of the inserts is composed of any one or more selected from:

a.	copper;
b.	graphene;
c.	polycrystalline diamond;
d.	tungsten carbide;
e.	vanadium;
f.	Silicon;
g-	boron;
h.	zinc;
i.	manganese;
j-	tin;
k.	iron;

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l. silver;

m. cubic boron nitride;

n. refractory metal bonded diamond;

o. silicon bonded diamond;

p. layered diamond;

q. infiltrated diamond;

r. thermally stable diamond;

s. natural diamond;

t. vapour deposited diamond;

u. physically deposited diamond;

v. diamond impregnated matrix;

w. diamond impregnated carbide;

x. cement metal carbide;

y. chromium;

z. titanium aa. or any combinations or alloys thereof.

[61] This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

[62] To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[63] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a mining pick;

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Figure 2a shows a side view of the body of the mining pick of figure 1;

Figure 2b shows a close up side view of the body of the mining pick of figure 1 shown in Figure

2a;

Figure 3a shows a side view of the body of the mining pick of figure 1;

Figure 3b shows a cross section A-A of Figure 3a;

Figure 4a shows a side view of the body of the mining pick of figure 1;

Figure 4b shows a close up side view of section C-C of Figure 4a;

Figure 5 shows a top front perspective view of second embodiment of a body of a mining pick showing crimped mounting formations;

Figure 6a shows a side view of the body of a mining pick shown in Figure 5;

Figure 6b shows a close up crass section of a mining pick body shown in figure 6a;

Figure 7 shows a side view of a mining pick body of figure 5;

Figure 8 shows a top front perspective view of third embodiment of a body of a mining pick showing hardface welded mounting formations;

Figure 9a shows a side view of the body of the mining pick of figure 8;

Figure 9b shows a close up side view of section B-B of Figure 9a;

Figure 10a shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of a mining pick;

Figure 10b shows a side cross sectional view of section A-A of figure 10a;

Figure 11 a shows a side view of the mining pick of figure 10a;

Figure 11b shows a cross section side view of section B-B of figure 11a;

Figure 12a shows a side view of a body of the mining pick of figure 11 a with deformed mounting formations;

Figure 12b shows a cross sectional side view of a mining pick body of figure 12a;

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Figure 13a shows a side view of a fifth embodiment of a mining pick having a sacrificial member cast in place;

Figure 13b shows a cross sectional side view of section A-A of figure 13a;

Figure 14 shows an endless formation mounted on a body of a mining pick, with force being applied to the end of the body to deform the end;

Figure 15 shows a side view of a mining pick with a sacrificial member having an endless configuration being pressed over a frustoconically configured narrower end of the body;

Figure 16 shows a cross sectional view of a conventional conical cutting pick with a cap type carbide tip;

Figure 17 shows a cross sectional view of a conventional conical cutting pick with an insert type carbide tip;

Figure 18 shows a cross sectional view of a conical cutting pick with a cap type carbide tip and a series of blind holes according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 19 shows a cross sectional view of a conical cutting pick with an insert type carbide tip and a series of blind holes according to a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 20 shows a cross sectional view of a conical cutting pick with a hybrid type carbide tip and one of a series of blind holes according to yet a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 21 shows a cross sectional view of a comparative conical cutting pick with blind holes drilled perpendicular to the steel body.

Description of embodiments

[64] With reference to the above drawings, in which similar features are generally indicated by similar numerals, a mining pick according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 1000.

Apparatus

[65] In one embodiment now described, there is provided a mining pick 1000 for use in a rotating cutting head. The mining pick 1000 comprises a body 1100. The body 1100 is preferably configured for being mounted in a recess or aperture in a rotating cutting head of a miner, such as a long wall miner, continuous minor or similar, or configured for being

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PCT/AU2018/050711 mounted in a recess or aperture in a mining pick holder, which in turn is receivable within a recess or aperture in a rotating cutting head of a miner. To this end, the body 1100 comprises a receivable portion 1140 that is receivable within said recess, and a shoulder portion 1130 that abuts against the mouth of the recess when the receivable portion 1140 is received fully within the recess. The body 1100 further defines a cutting element support portion 1150 configured for supporting a cutting element 1400 in operation. The material of the body 1100 is typically composed of high tensile strength material such as steel.

[66] The mining pick 1000 further comprises a sacrificial member 1200. The sacrificial member 1200 is preferably mounted on mounting formations 1300. The sacrificial member 1200 is composed of a thermally conductive material such as copper, brass, or any other suitable material that has coefficient of thermal conduction significantly higher than that of the material of the body 1100 and/or the rock being excavated. Examples of such highly thermally conductive material include copper; Polycrystalline diamond; tungsten carbide; vanadium; Silicon; boron; Zinc; manganese; tin; iron; silver; cubic boron nitride; refractory metal bonded diamond; silicon bonded diamond; layered diamond; infiltrated diamond; thermally stable diamond; natural diamond; vapour deposited diamond; physically deposited diamond; diamond impregnated matrix; diamond impregnated carbide; cement metal carbide; chromium; titanium; graphene or any combinations or alloys thereof.

[67] The mining pick 1000 further comprises a cutting element 1400. The cutting element 1400 is preferably composed of an abrasion resistant material such as tungsten carbide or the like. The cutting element 1400 is also preferably received into a recess 1120 in the body 1100. The cutting element 1400 is impacted against minerals such as rock and/or coal to be mined in a cutting face (rock) as the rotating cutting head is rotated and advances through the cutting face. In operation, the cutting element 1400 is typically expected to wear down due to the constant abrasion against the cutting face. Once the cutting elements 1400 have been worn down in operation, the body 1100 starts becoming worn by impact against the cutting face. Abrasion of the body 1100 against the cutting face results in small portions of metal from the body 1100 being removed from the body 1100 and deposited onto the cutting face as hot streaks at elevated temperatures due to the friction between the cutting face and the body 1100. It is the belief of the applicant that the presence of such hot streaks on the cutting face may be incendiary, and result in an ignition event, especially where a potentially explosive gases and/or combustible dust (such as coal dust) is present.

[68] The body 1100 further defines mounting formations 1300 on which the sacrificial member 1200 is mounted or mountable. The mounting formations 1300 are configured for

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PCT/AU2018/050711 deforming in operation once the body 1100 is being worn by engagement with the cutting face. When the mounting formations 1300 deform, they are configured to present the sacrificial member 1200 in an exposed position to enable the sacrificial member to be abraded by the cutting face.

[69] As the sacrificial member 1200 is abraded by its exposure to the cutting face, this will result in the deposition of abraded portions of the sacrificial member 1200 on the cutting face alongside abraded portions of the body 1100. The applicant has obtained strong scientific evidence that the relatively high thermal conductivity of the material of the sacrificial member 1200 becoming fractionally amalgamated with the abraded material from the body 1100 will reduce the thermal intensity and thermal duration and thermal intensity of the hot streaks, thereby cooling the hot streaks and reducing the potential for creating an ignition event.

[70] In a preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that the mounting formations 1300 will be configured for mounting the sacrificial member 1200 in an orientation whereby the sacrificial member 1200 extends substantially transversely to the direction of movement of the cutting face relative to the mining pick 1000. In this way, the abrasion of the sacrificial member 1200 is increased when the cutting element 1300 is substantially worn away in operation, and an increased amount of material from the sacrificial member 1200 is deposited on the cutting face alongside and within the hot streaks.

[71 ] Ina preferred embodiment as shown in figures 1, and 8, the sacrificial member 1200 is preferably configured as an endless formation. Examples of endless formations include annular formations, toroidal formations, or the like. It is envisaged that the sacrificial member 1200 can be configured as an endless formation without any breaks in it (for example where the sacrificial member has been cast in an annular or toroidal in configuration as shown in figure 15), or as a broken endless formation, such as a circular ring having two ends that are located adjacent each other.

[72] It is further envisaged that in some preferred embodiments as shown in figures 5, 6a, 6b and 7, the mounting formations 1300 can be crimped to thereby secure the sacrificial member 1200 in position mounted on the body 1100. Where the mounting formations 1300 have been crimped, for example by application of a sharp edge to the mounting formations, this may result in a crimp 1324. In such embodiments, it is envisaged that the crimping of the mounting formations 1300 can introduce zones of engineered weakness 1310 in the mounting formations, so that when they are engaged with the cutting face to introduce

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PCT/AU2018/050711 stresses in the mounting formations 1300, the mounting formations 1300 will fail, thereby passing the stresses created from engagement with the cutting face onto the sacrificial member 1200, and presenting the sacrificial member 1200 for engagement with the cutting face as described above.

[73] In the embodiments shown in figures 2a and 2b, the mounting formations 1300 are depicted as being an annular recess that extends around the cutting element 1400. However, it is envisaged that the mounting formations may be any other suitably engineered formations.

[74] In another embodiment shown in figures 8, 9a and 9b, the sacrificial member 1200 is secured in position on the body 1100 by hardface welding that produces a securing lip 1322 that extends over a portion of the sacrificial member 1200.

Method of manufacture

[75] In the embodiments shown in figures 8, 9a and 9b, it is envisaged that during manufacture, the sacrificial member 1200 will initially be mounted on mounting formations 1300 that are configured to complement the shape of the sacrificial member and to engage the sacrificial member to hold it in the correct position, and then hardface welding 1320 applied to the body 1100 to generate the securing lip 1322. The generation of the securing lip 1322 can create thermal stresses in the body, and introduce zones of engineered weakness 1310 that cause the securing lip 1300 to move when it is engaged with the cutting face in operation, applying stress to the sacrificial member and causing the sacrificial member 1200 to be compressed and extend outwardly of the mounting formations 1300, for more effective engagement by the cutting face.

[76] In another embodiment shown in figure 14, during manufacture of the mining pick, the body 1100 is initially provided with mounting formations 1300 on which a sacrificial member 1200 in the form of an endless formation (whether it be broken or unbroken) can be located by passing the sacrificial member 1200 over a narrow end 1110 of the body 1100 that is suitably configured for allowing the sacrificial member 1200 to slide over it. Once the sacrificial member 1200 is mounted on the mounting formations 1300, the narrower and 1110 of the body 1100 can be plastically deformed, for example by forging or other application of force (shown as reference numeral F in the figures), to create a securing lip 1322 that secures the sacrificial member 1200 in place.

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[77] In yet another embodiment as shown in figure 15, it is envisaged that the narrower end 1110 of the body 1100 can be tapered, for example as a cone, a frusto-conical shape or part thereof. A sacrificial member 1200 is then provided configured as an unbroken endless formation, and the sacrificial member 1200 is pressed over the narrower and 1110 by exerting a force (shown as reference numeral F in the figures) on the sacrificial member 1200, causing the sacrificial member 1200 to deform elastically. On encountering mounting formations 1300, preferably in the form of a recess extending substantially around the perimeter of the body 1100, the resilience of the sacrificial member 1200 will cause it to fit into position on the mounting formations 1300. It is envisaged that the narrower end 1110 of the body 1100 can then be plastically deformed to create a securing lip 1322 to further ensure that the sacrificial member 1200 is secured in position on the body 1100. However, this need not necessarily be the case.

[78] It is envisaged that in alternative embodiments (not shown), a fitting mask can be provided that is preferably frustoconical in configuration and configured for being fitted over the narrow end 1110 of the body 1100, where the body 1100 is not suitably shaped for allowing the endless sacrificial member 1200 to be pressed over the narrower end 1110. The sacrificial member 1200 can then be pressed over the fitting mask in the same way that it could be pressed over the body 1100.

[79] It is further envisaged that any one of the steps described in the methods discussed above can be used in combination with any of the other steps.

[80] It is envisaged that a cutting element 1400 can be provided for mounting to the body 1100 either before or after the sacrificial member 1200 is secured to the body 1100.

[81] In another aspect, the invention is also envisaged as encompassing a mining pick manufactured by any of the methods described above.

[82] Figures 16 and 17 illustrate conventional mining picks 1 and 2 having different carbide tip arrangements. The pick 1 of figure 16 includes a cap-type carbide tip 3 whereas the pick 2 of figure 17 includes an insert-type carbide tip 4. The cap-type carbide tip 3 has a shallow recess 5 in its steel body 6 and the insert-type carbide tip 4 has a deeper recess 7 in its steel body 8.

[83] Figures 18 to 20 illustrate mining or cutting picks 100 and 10 according to other embodiments of the present invention. The cutting pick 100 of figure 18 is of a cap-type carbide tip construction including a cap-type carbide tip 102 fitting within a relatively shallow

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PCT/AU2018/050711 recess 104 of the body 106. The mining pick 10 of figure 19 is of an insert-type carbide tip construction including an insert- type carbide tip 12 fitted within a deeper recess 14 in the body 16. In each of these alternative embodiments the cutter element or carbide tip 12/102 is located within a corresponding cutter recess 14/104 at a distal end of the elongate cutter head or body 16/106. The mining or cutting pick of figure 20 is a hybrid-type tip construction being a combination of the cap-type and insert type tips. For ease of reference and to avoid repetition, like components of this hybrid-type tip 10' have been designated with the same reference numerals, such as the recess 14'.

[84] As best illustrated in figure 20, in each of these embodiments the cutter head 16' includes a plurality of blind holes such as 18a' formed around a peripheral surface of the cutter head 16' adjacent the cutter elements or carbide tips 12'. Each of the plurality of blind holes such as 18a' is:

1. formed radially inward of the cutter head 16' toward its longitudinal axis 11'; and

2. oriented at a sufficiently acute angle 19' relative to the longitudinal axis 11' of the cutter head 16' wherein a blind end of the blind hole 18a' is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis 11' to an imaginary peripheral point 13' at a maximum diameter of the cutter head 16/106, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point (shown as measured distance 15') when compared to an open end of the blind hole 18a/108a measured to the imaginary point (shown as measured distance 17').

[85] In the embodiments of figures 18 and 19 it will also be seen that a blind end of the blind hole such as 18a and 108a is more distant from the cutter recess 14 and 104 compared to an open end of the blind hole 18a/108a.

[86] In these embodiments the blind holes such as 18a or 108a are drilled or otherwise formed at an acute angle of around 30 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head 16 or 106. The blind holes such as 18a or 108a are configured to contain inserts (not shown) composed of a highly thermally conductive material. In a similar manner to the preceding embodiments the inserts on abrasion of the cutter head such as 16 at its distal end and about the open end of the blind holes such as 18a promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head 16 thereby reducing the heat of the abraded material. In these alternative embodiments the acute angle at which the blind holes such as 18a or 108a are oriented does not significantly affect the structural integrity of

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PCT/AU2018/050711 the cutting pick 10 or 100 due to the direction of the rock engagement forces applied to the pick 10 or 100 during cutting.

[87] In the embodiment of figure 20, the number of blind holes such as 18a' may be reduced where for example the total number of holes is reduced from 8 in the preceding embodiments to 7 or less in this embodiment having the mushroom-style tip. It is understood that by reducing the number of holes 18a' it assists in maintaining the structural integrity of the pick 10' by a combination of:

1. minimising or reducing the removal of material from the cutter head 16' adjacent the recess 14';

2. exposing a reduced number of the holes 18a' and their associated inserts to rock engagement forces which occupy a segment only of the head 16' at any one time as it rotates.

[88] It will be understood that the number and size of the blind holes such as 18a' may vary and remain within the scope of the present invention. For example, reducing the number of blind holes may permit an increase in their size (depth and/or diameter) whilst maintaining the structural integrity of the cutting pick.

[89] Figure 21 shows for comparative purposes blind holes such as 9a or 9b drilled in a traditional mining pick 2 of the insert-type carbide tip construction. The blind holes 9a/b are drilled perpendicular to the surface of the pick body 8 as this would for a machinist or fabricator ordinarily be the orientation at which the blind holes 9a/b would be machined in the pick body 8. This comparative design would significantly weaken the pick 2 because the blind holes 9a/b are removing steel from directly underneath the carbide recess 7. Unlike the embodiments of the invention, this comparative design would require additional steel (not shown) to be incorporated around the circumference of the pick body 8 to compensate for the loss of structural integrity from the blind holes 9a/b. Additional steel around the circumference of the pick 2 can be a disadvantage with regards to frictional ignition of methane gas and coal dust generation in underground coal mines.

[90] In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a mining pick including the blind holes such as the alternative embodiments of figures 18 and

19. In the context of the mining pick 10 of figure 19 the general steps involved in manufacture are as follows:

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1. an elongate cutter head 16 is formed having a cutter recess 14 at its distal end, the cutter recess 14 adapted to locate a cutter element 12 designed to cut a mine surface;

2. forming a plurality of blind holes such as 18a/b around a peripheral surface of the cutter head 16;

3. applying a predetermined pressing force to a plurality of inserts (not shown) located in respective of the plurality of blind holes such as 18a/b, the pressing force being effective in plastically deforming the inserts which are thus retained in their respective blind holes 18a/b.

[91] In this embodiment each of the blind holes is drilled or otherwise formed within the cutter head 16 wherein each of the holes 18a/b is:

1. formed radially inward of the cutter head 16 toward its longitudinal axis; and

2. oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole 18a is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head 16, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point when compared to an open end of the blind hole 18a measured to the imaginary point.

[92] In this example each of the blind holes such as 18a/b is drilled at an acute angle of around 30 degrees to the longitudinal axis. It will be understood that this angle at which the blind holes are formed may vary provided the structural integrity of mining pick 10 is not compromised in the context of the preceding embodiment.

[93] In this embodiment the step of applying the predetermined pressing force to the inserts involves simultaneous application of the pressing force to all of the inserts. This may be achieved using a specialised tool (not shown) in the form of a shroud which simultaneously presses the inserts into the blind holes causing plastic deformation of the high thermally conductive material, such as copper, in a single pressing action. This means only one pressing event is required for insertion of the inserts for a single mining pick.

[94] In one embodiment the high thermally conductive material from which the inserts are composed is of a soft malleable metal such as copper. In this case the preferred steps in inserting the copper inserts into the blind holes is as follows:

1. each of the copper inserts is cut at its required length, typically determined so that without plastic deformation it slightly protrudes from the blind hole;

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2. application of a pressing force is applied to all or individual of the inserts around the cutter head or pick, for example using a shroud for uniform application of pressure to all of the inserts;

3. the pressing force is sufficiently high to plastically deform the inserts for lodgement or retention within the blind holes where for example approximately 10 tonnes may be applied to the copper inserts in uniformly pressing them all simultaneously into the blind holes.

[95] The inserts may initially be inserted into the blind holes with a clearance fit between the blind hole and its corresponding insert, for example, 6.5mm hole diameter and %” (6.35mm) insert diameter. The application of the predetermined pressing force to the inserts results in plastic deformation of the insert to fill all voids which previously existed for the clearance fit. It will be understood that in alternative embodiments the inserts may be pressed into the blind holes in a transition or interference fit which is sufficient to provide retention of the inserts within the holes. These variations are intended to be within the scope of this aspect of the present invention.

Interpretation

Markush Groups

[96] In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognise that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

Chronological sequence

[97] For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be carried out in chronological order in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence.

Embodiments:

[98] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but

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PCT/AU2018/050711 may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[99] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[100] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[101] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[102] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

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[103] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as forward, rearward, radially, peripherally, upwardly, downwardly, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

[104] As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.

[105] As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

Comprising and Including

[106] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[107] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[108] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[109] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

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Industrial Applicability

[110] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the mining and tunnelling industries.

Claims

1. A mining pick comprising:

one or more recesses located in the cutter head adjacent the cutter element;

2. A mining pick as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutter head at a distal end includes a cutter recess at a longitudinal axis of said cutter head, each of said one or more recesses being in the form of a plurality of blind holes formed around a peripheral surface of the cutter head and each of said holes:

located adjacent the cutter element and formed radially inward of the cutter head toward the longitudinal axis, and oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point when compared to an open end of the blind hole measured to the imaginary point.

3. A mining pick comprising:

an elongate cutter head at a distal end including a cutter recess at a longitudinal axis of said cutter head, the cutter recess adapted to locate a cutter element designed to cut a mined surface, the cutter head including a plurality of blind holes formed around a peripheral surface of the cutter head and each of said holes:

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PCT/AU2018/050711 a plurality of inserts located in respective of the blind holes, said inserts composed of a highly thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the cutter head about the open end of the blind holes promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head thereby reducing the heat of the abraded material.

4. A mining pick as claimed in claim 3 wherein the entry to each of the blind holes is at its open end designed to be partly closed for retention of the corresponding insert within the respective blind hole.

5. A mining pick as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the plurality of blind holes are arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis and substantially equally spaced circumferentially around the peripheral surface of the cutter head.

6. A mining pick as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the sufficiently acute angle of the blind holes is equal to or less than around 45 degrees.

7. A method of manufacturing a mining pick, said method comprising the steps of: forming an elongate cutter head adapted to locate a cutter element designed to cut a mined surface;

forming a plurality of recesses in the cutter head adjacent the cutter element;

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the step of partly closing each of the recesses involves plastically deforming a surrounding region of the recess.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the step of partly closing each of the recesses involves hardface welding the cutter head about a surrounding region of the recesses to secure each of the inserts in place.

10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the step of forming a plurality of recesses involves forming a plurality of blind holes formed around a peripheral surface of the cutter head, each of said holes:

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PCT/AU2018/050711 located adjacent the cutter element and formed radially inward of the cutter head toward the longitudinal axis, and oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point when compared to an open end of the blind hole measured to the imaginary point.

11. A method of manufacturing a mining pick, said method comprising the steps of:

locating a plurality of inserts in respective of the plurality of blind holes, said inserts composed of a highly thermally conductive material which on abrasion of the cutter head about the open end of the blind holes promotes amalgamation of the highly thermally conductive material with abraded material of the cutter head reducing the heat of the abraded material

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 also comprising the step of partly closing the open end to each of the blind holes to retain the corresponding insert within the respective blind hole.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the sufficiently acute angle of the blind holes is equal to or less than around 45 degrees.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the step of locating the inserts in the blind holes involves applying a predetermined pressing force to the inserts, said

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PCT/AU2018/050711 pressing force being effective in plastically deforming the inserts to retain them in their respective blind holes.

15. A method of manufacturing a mining pick, said method comprising the steps of:

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of forming the plurality of blind holes involves drilling each of the blind holes wherein they are:

i. located adjacent the cutter element and formed radially inward of the cutter head toward the longitudinal axis, and ii. oriented at a sufficiently acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head wherein a blind end of the blind hole is, when measured in a plane of the longitudinal axis to an imaginary peripheral point at a maximum diameter of the cutter head, substantially an equal distance from or closer to the imaginary point when compared to an open end of the blind hole measured to the imaginary point.

17. A method as claimed in either of claims 15 or 16 wherein the step of applying a predetermined pressing force to the inserts involves simultaneous application of said pressing force to all of the plurality of inserts.

18. A method as claimed in either of claims 15 or 16 wherein the inserts are individually pressed within respective of the blind holes by separate application of the pressing force to plastically deform each of the inserts for retention.