WO2009151949A1

WO2009151949A1 - Cutting tool with nozzle for spraying water on a cutter bit

Info

Publication number: WO2009151949A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/045211
Authority: WO
Inventors: William P. Sulosky
Original assignee: Sulosky William P
Priority date: 2008-06-13
Filing date: 2009-05-27
Publication date: 2009-12-17
Also published as: WO2009151949A4

Abstract

A cutting tool for a rotary cutting drum includes a holder block and a sleeve configured to receive a cutter bit, the sleeve including a spray nozzle for spraying water on the cutter bit. The holder block and sleeve each includes a flow passage that is in registration with the other flow passage or opens onto an annular flow interface to flow water through the holder block and to the spray nozzle.

Description

Cutting Tool with Nozzle for Spraying Water on a Cutter Bit Field of the Invention

The invention relates to cutting tools used with drum- type cutters and the like, and in particular to a cutting tool with a nozzle for spraying water on a cutter bit. Background of the Invention

Drum-type cutters are used in mining coal and other cutting operations. The cutter includes cutting tools mounted on a drum that rotates on a horizontal axis. Each cutting tool includes a holder block that holds a cutter bit and a spray nozzle that sprays water onto the cutter bit during cutting operations.

Emmerich US Patent 4,678,238 and Stehney US Patent 7,097,257 each disclose a cutting tool that includes a holder block and a sleeve for holding the cutter bit. The sleeve has an enlarged flange and a shank extending from the flange. A hole extends through the flange and shank to receive the cutter bit. The shank is received in a hole or bore in the holder block. A retainer or interference fit between the shank and the holder block resists rotation of the sleeve in the holding block.

The sleeve flange has a rearwardly facing shoulder that faces and is supported against the holder block when the sleeve shank is received in the holder block. An annular flow interface between the flange shoulder and the holder block flows water to a nozzle carried in the flange. A second, outer annular interface between the sleeve flange and the holder block carries an 0-ring that forms a seal. The nozzle sprays water towards the cutting bit.

In operation, localized wear of the radially outer portion of the sleeve flange occurs. The wear reaches the outer annular interface, causing the seal to fail with resulting water leakage. The sleeve must be replaced.

Thus there is a need for an improved cutting tool that avoids the problem of shortened sleeve life caused by flange wear as described above. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The improved cutting tool of the present invention avoids the leakage problem with flange wear by eliminating the annular flow interface between the flange shoulder and the holder block. Eliminating the annular flow interface eliminates the outer annular 0-ring between the sleeve flange and the holder block. Wear of the radially outer portion of the sleeve flange will not cause an outer annual 0-ring seal to fail, thereby extending the useful life of the sleeve.

A first embodiment cutting tool in accordance with the present invention includesa holder block and a sleeve. The holder block includes a first hole and a first flow passage. The sleeve includes a shank, an enlarged flange at an end of the shank, a spray nozzle bore in the flange, a second hole for receiving a cutter bit, and a second flow passage fluidly connected to the nozzle bore. The sleeve shank is received in the first hole of the holder block, the sleeve and the holder block having peripheral surfaces facing one another. The first flow passage opening is in the peripheral surface of the holder block, and the second flow passage opening is in the peripheral surface of the sleeve.

The first and second flow passage openings are in registration with one another to flow water through the first flow passage and to the spray nozzle bore.

In a preferred form of the first embodiment cutting tool the first and second flow passage openings are located on respective facing surfaces of the holder block and sleeve flange. Wear of the sleeve flange during use must essentially reach the flow connection itself, extending the useful life of the sleeve.

In a second form of the first embodiment cutting tool the first and second flow passage openings are located on respective facing surfaces of the holder block hole wall and the sleeve shank. Wear of the sleeve flange during use does not reach the shank, extending the useful life of the sleeve.

The first embodiment cutting tool has the flow passage openings in registration with one another so that water discharged from the first flow passage opening flows directly into the second flow passage through the second flow passage opening. The registration of the first and second flow passage openings eliminates the need for the outer annular 0- ring found in the Emmerich and Stehney cutting tools.

Because the flow passage openings must be positioned in registration, the first embodiment cutting tool requires that the sleeve and the holder block be maintained in a specific relative angular alignment with respect to the shank axis.

A second embodiment cutting tool in accordance with the present invention has a sleeve that can be inserted and held in the holder block in numerous positions. The cutting tool includes a holder block, a sleeve configured to receive a cutter bit, and an annular interface between the sleeve and the holder block. The holder block includes a hole wall defining a hole to receive the sleeve, and a first flow passage in the holder block. The sleeve includes shank disposed in the holder block hole when the sleeve is held in the holder block, an enlarged flange an end of the shank, a spray nozzle in the flange, and a second flow passage connected to the spray nozzle. The annular interface is between the shank and the hole wall, and is spaced from the flange. The first and second flow openings both open into the annular interface.

Wear of the sleeve flange during use does not reach the annular groove, thereby extending the useful life of the sleeve.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying 6 drawing sheets illustrating four embodiments of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, the same or similar elements are labeled with the same reference numbers. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a first embodiment cutting tool in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the holder block of the cutting tool shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the holder block taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2 ;

Figure 4 is a top view of the sleeve of the cutting tool shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the sleeve taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 1 of a second embodiment cutting tool in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 1 of a third embodiment cutting tool in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 1 of a third embodiment cutting tool in accordance with the present invention, the cutting tool holding a cutter bit. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment cutting tool 10 in accordance with the present invention. The cutting tool 10 includes a holder block 12 and a sleeve 14. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the holder block 12, and Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the sleeve 14.

The holder block 12 includes a hole or bore defined by a hole or bore wall 13 that receives the sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 includes a hole or bore defined by a hole or bore wall 15 that receives and holds a conventional cutter bit (not shown) . The sleeve 14 has an enlarged flange 16 and a shank 18 extending from the flange along a longitudinal axis 19, the shank 18 received in the holder block hole 13. An interference fit between the hole wall 13 and the sleeve shank 18 retains the sleeve 14 in the holder block 12 in a conventional manner.

The sleeve flange 16 has a rearwardly facing shoulder 20 that faces and is supported against an annular face or surface 22 of the holder block 12. The annular surface 22 and the hole wall 13 together define a peripheral surface 17 of the holder block 12 that faces the sleeve 14.

The illustrated cutting tool 10 is intended for mounting on a drum (not shown) and so the holder block 12 has a curved mounting surface 21 that conforms to the outer radius of the drum.

The holder block 12 includes a water channel 24, and the sleeve includes a water channel 26. The inlet end of the water channel 24 is connected to a manifold 25 open to the mounting surface 21. Manifold 25 connects to a water conduit from the drum cutter in a conventional manner. The discharge end of the water channel 24 opens in the face 22. The inlet end of the sleeve water channel 26 is in registration with the discharge end of the holder block water channel 24 when the sleeve shank 18 is received in the holder block hole 13 as shown in Figure 1.

A counterbore 27 is located at the inlet end of the water channel 26 that receives an 0-ring (not shown) that seals the connection between the water channel 24 and the water channel 26. In other embodiments the 0-ring can be received in a counterbore located at the discharge end of the water channel 24, or received in counterbores formed in both channels 24, 26.

The water channel 26 is formed as a blind bore that extends inwardly into the sleeve 14 parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank 18. The water channel 26 is fluidly connected to a spray nozzle bore 28 in the sleeve flange by a water channel 30 that extends from the water channel 26 to the nozzle bore 28. Water channel 30 is generally parallel with the sleeve shoulder 20 and is contained entirely within the interior of the sleeve flange 14.

Water channel 30 is formed by two blind bores 32, 34 that intersect with one another to fluidly connect the water channel 26 and the nozzle bore 28. The bore 32 extends into the sleeve and intersects the fluid channel 26. The bore 34 extends into the sleeve and intersects the nozzle bore 28. The open ends of the bores 32, 34 are subsequently plugged and closed to form the water channel 30 (Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the sleeve prior to plugging the ends of the bores 32, 34) .

In the illustrated embodiment the open ends of the bores 32, 34 are counterbored and the counterbores are filled with plug-weld to close the ends. The counterbores allow for a deeper plug-weld and a reasonable amount of abrasive wear on the sleeve's outer diameter while still maintaining the integrity of the water system. The counterbores, however, can be eliminated in other possible embodiments. The holder block 12 and the sleeve 14 include structure that functions to align assembly of the holder block 12 and the sleeve 14 so that the water channels 24, 26 are in registration with one another after assembly. Cooperating bore 36 in the holder block 12 and sleeve flange bore 38 receive a pin or roll-pin (not shown) that positions the holder block 12 and the sleeve 14 in proper angular alignment. The pin or roll pin can be made of stainless steel or other suitable material, and can remain in place in the cutting tool 10 after assembly.

In other possible embodiments, either bore 36 or bore 38 can be a threaded bore to receive a threaded bolt or stud instead of a pin. The bolt or stud can extend into a notch or indentation formed in the periphery of the other member.

Other structures that function to ensure correct registration of the holder block 12 and the sleeve 14 are known and can be readily adapted for use in the present invention. For example, the holder block hole 13 and the sleeve shank 18 could have non-circular cross-sections.

During a cutting operation, water flows through the water channel 24, directly into the water channel 26, to the nozzle bore 28, and sprays out of a spray nozzle (not shown) threaded in the nozzle bore 28. The wear of the sleeve flange during use does not reach an annular sealing ring surrounding the flow connection between water channels 24 and 26, but instead must essentially reach the flow connection itself. The useful life of the sleeve is extended. Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment cutting tool 110. The cutting tool 110 is similar to the cutting tool 10 and so only the differences will be described.

The water channel 24 in the holder block 12 has a discharge end that opens in the hole wall 15. The sleeve water channel 26 has an inlet end that is in registration with the discharge end of the holder block water channel 24 when the sleeve shank 18 is received in the holder block hole 13.

The sleeve water channel 26 is formed as a blind bore that extends radially inwardly into the sleeve shank 18. The water channel 26 is fluidly connected to a spray nozzle bore 28 in the sleeve flange by a water channel 30 that extends from the water channel 26 to the nozzle bore 28. Water channel 30 is formed by two blind bores 32, 34 that intersect with one another to fluidly connect the water channel 26 and the nozzle bore 28. The bore 32 extends through the sleeve shank 18 and intersects the fluid channel 26. The bore 34 extends into the sleeve flange 16 and intersects the spray nozzle bore 28. The open ends of the bores 32, 34 are subsequently plugged and closed to form the water channel 30 (Figure 6 illustrates the sleeve 14 prior to plugging the ends of the bores 32, 34) .

During a cutting operation, water flows through the water channel 24, directly into the water channel 26, to the nozzle bore 28, and sprays out of a spray nozzle (not shown) threaded in the nozzle bore 28. The interference fit between the holder bore wall 13 and the sleeve shank 18 fluidly seals the flow connection between the water channels 24 and 26. An 0- ring can also be used to seal the connection between the water channels 24 and 26 in other embodiments. Wear of the sleeve flange during use is away from the sleeve shank 18 and does not cause leakage. The useful life of the sleeve is extended.

To simplify construction, the spray nozzle bore 28 of the cutting tool 110 is located on the opposite side of the sleeve flange 20 as the spray nozzle bore 28 of the cutting tool 10. The spray nozzle 28 of the cutting tool 110 can be in the same location as shown for cutting tool 10 by extending the flow channels through the sleeve flange 20 in a similar manner as in the first embodiment sleeve 14.

The block holder and sleeve of the first two embodiment cutting tools 10 and 110 must be assembled with the water channels 24, 26 in registration. Figure 7 illustrates a third embodiment cutting tool 210 in which the sleeve 14 can be inserted in different positions in the holder block 12.

As shown in Figure 7, the holder block 12 includes an annular groove 36 formed in the holder block bore wall 13. In other embodiments the groove 36 can be formed entirely in the sleeve shank 18 or portions of the groove 36 can be cooperatively formed in both the holder block wall 13 and the sleeve shank 18.

The holder block water channel 24 opens into the annular groove 36. The sleeve water channel 26 is similar to the water channel 26 of the cutting tool 110 but is located on the opposite side of the sleeve shank 18, and the inlet opening of the water channel 26 faces the groove 36. The water channel 26 is fluidly connected to a spray nozzle bore 28 in the sleeve flange by a water channel 30 that extends from the water channel 26 to the nozzle bore 28 in a manner similar to the previous embodiment cutting tool 110.

During a cutting operation, water flows through the water channel 24, into the groove 36, and into the water channel 26 before being discharged through the nozzle bore 28 as previously described. The interference fit between the holder bore wall 13 and the sleeve shank 18 fluidly seals the groove 36. However, annular 0-rings on both sides of the groove 36 can be used to seal the groove 36 in other embodiments. Wear of the sleeve flange during use is away from the sleeve shank 18 and does not cause leakage. The useful life of the sleeve is extended.

Figure 8 illustrates a fourth embodiment cutting tool 310 holding a cutter bit 40. Cutting tool 310 is otherwise identical to the cutting tool 210 except that the sleeve flow channel 32 extending through the sleeve shank 18 is formed from separate blind bores 32a, 32b, and 32c (Figure 9 illustrates the sleeve 14 prior to plugging the ends of the bores 32a, 32b, 32c) . The bores 32a and 32c extend inwardly into the sleeve 14 from axially opposite ends of the sleeve 14.

The illustrated cutting tools 10, 110, 210, and 310 have a stepped sleeve shank 18 and corresponding stepped holder block wall 13. A hydraulic flow channel 42, see Figure 9, opens into the wall 13 at a tapered portion of the wall 13. When removing the sleeve 14 from the holder 12, the flow channel 42 enables high-pressure water to apply force against a corresponding tapered portion of the sleeve shank 18, overcoming the interference fit and urging the sleeve 14 out of the holder block 12. Annular sealing rings 44 along the sleeve shank 18 maintain water pressure and hydraulic force as the sleeve 14 moves out of the holder block 12. This construction is conventional and so will not be described in further detail. The present invention can also be used with sleeves having an essentially constant diameter shank (such as those shown in the Emmerich and Stehney patents previously referenced) and can be used with sleeves that are retained in the holding blocks with retainers or other mechanical connections .

While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that these are capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising: a holder block and a sleeve,- the holder block comprising a first hole and a first flow passage,- the sleeve comprising a shank, an enlarged flange at an end of the shank, a nozzle bore in the flange, a second hole for receiving a cutter bit, and a second flow passage fluidly connected to the spray nozzle bore,- the sleeve shank received in the first hole of the holder block, the sleeve and the holder block each comprising a peripheral surface facing the other of the sleeve and the holder block; the first flow passage opening in the peripheral surface of the holder block, the second flow passage opening in the peripheral surface of the sleeve, the first and second flow passage openings in registration with one another to flow water through the first flow passage and to the spray nozzle bore.

2. The assembly of claim 1 comprising an annular sealing ring sealing the junction of the first and second flow passage openings.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the sealing ring is disposed in a counterbore formed in at least one of the first and second flow passage openings.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second flow passage opening is in the sleeve shank.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the second flow passage opening is spaced away from the sleeve flange.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the shank extends from the flange in an axial direction and the second flow passage comprises a first passage portion extending inwardly into the sleeve shank from the second flow passage opening and a second passage portion extending axially through the sleeve shank to the sleeve flange.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the second flow passage comprises a third passage portion extending from the first passage portion to the nozzle bore, the third portion entirely within the sleeve flange.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the second flow passage extends along a straight line.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second flow passage opening is in the flange shoulder.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the second flow passage comprises a first flow passage portion extending from the second flow passage opening into the sleeve flange and a second flow passage portion extending from the first flow passage portion to the nozzle bore, the second flow passage portion transverse to the first flow passage portion.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the second flow passage portion extends along a non- linear path from the first flow passage portion to the nozzle bore.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the second flow passage opening is spaced away from the sleeve shank.

13. An assembly comprising: a sleeve, a holder block, and an annular fluid interface; the holder block comprising a hole wall and a first flow passage, the hole wall defining a first hole in the holder block; the sleeve comprising a shank, an enlarged flange at an end of the shank, a nozzle bore in the flange, a second hole extending through the flange for receiving a cutter bit, and a second flow passage extending to the nozzle bore,- the annular fluid interface surrounding the shank and spaced from the flange, the annular fluid interface between the holder hole wall and an outer surface of the shank; each of the first and second flow passages having an opening facing the annular fluid interface to flow water through the first flow passage, through the fluid interface and to the second flow passage, and to the nozzle bore.

14 The assembly of claim 13 wherein the fluid interface comprises a groove formed entirely in one of: the shank and the holder block bore wall.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the annular fluid interface comprises a groove formed partially in both of: the shank and the holder block bore wall.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the shank extends from the flange in an axial direction and the second flow passage comprises a first passage portion extending inwardly into the sleeve shank from the second flow passage opening and a second passage portion extending axially through the sleeve shank to the sleeve flange.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the second flow passage comprises a third passage portion extending from the first passage portion to the nozzle bore, the third portion entirely within the sleeve flange.

18. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the second flow passage extends along a straight line.