WO2013084219A1

WO2013084219A1 - Disk mill and method

Info

Publication number: WO2013084219A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/000385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ran Gur; Genady RABINOVICH
Original assignee: Ran Gur
Priority date: 2011-12-06
Filing date: 2012-11-29
Publication date: 2013-06-13
Also published as: EP2788139A1; EP2788139A4

Abstract

A disk mill is provided, comprising a cylinder having a plurality of cutting segments mounted on a periphery thereof. The cylinder is provided with a hub through which coolant enters the disk mill, the hub opens to a plenum branching to a plurality of curved channels. Each of the curved channels is provided with a funnel, capped by a corresponding one of the plurality of segments, so that each funnel terminates in a nozzle adjacent a rear face of the corresponding segments and opening to face a front face of a following one of the plurality of segments in a direction of rotation of the disk mill.

Description

DISK MILL AND METHOD

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application draws priority from a Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/630,170, filed Dec. 6, 2011, FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Disclosed is a disk mill, adapted to be used in cutting, or milling, trenches through solid materials. Such cutting may generally create considerable heat, and therefor coolant may be applied while cutting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Generally, a disk mill may be designed to be used to mill a channel through solid materials. When milling a channel, it is recognized that ample cooling is desirable. However, this must be balanced against spending too much coolant which may negatively impact the milled material and/or the work environment. [0004] As an example, USP 3,196,584 discloses, inter alia, "In a third modification..., a disk 42 is formed of a pair of circular plates 44 ... which are welded together. Radial grooves 48 and 50 in the opposing faces of the plates 44 and 46, respectively, extend from a central opening 52 in the disk 42 to the outer peripheral edge 54 of the disk: In cooperation with the opposite plate, the grooves 48 and 50 form radial passageways through the disk 42. Abrasive segments 56, such as diamond segments, are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the peripheral edge 54 of the disk 42 and the segments 56 are spaced apart to allow water and air to flow from the grooves 48 and 50 and through the space 58 between the segments."

[0005] It would be desirable to have an improved disk mill that offers good cooling while saving coolant. This may be attained by means of the subject matter of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In the following disclosure, aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

[0007] The present disclosure is broadly related to a disk mill intended to cut deep slots in materials. The disk mill comprises a cylinder rotatable about an axis of rotation Z with a direction of rotation DR. The cylinder comprises a plurality of cutting segments mounted upon and about the outer periphery thereof, and may be provided with coolant flowing through a generally centrally-disposed hub. The hub leads to a radially-extending plenum and the plenum branches away in a plurality of curved channels. Each one of the plurality of curved channels extends generally away from the plenum to merge with a funnel, each funnel being capped by a corresponding inner curved face of an associated segment so as to form a nozzle adjacent a rear face of the corresponding segment and opening to face a front face of a following one of the plurality of segments in the direction of rotation of the disk mill.

[0008] Optionally, each segment is of a generally block like shape

configured to curve so that the inner curved face thereof corresponds with the periphery. [0009] Possibly, the cylinder is monolithic.

[0010] Alternatively, the cylinder comprises a right and a left cover disks with a center disk interposed therebetween.

[0011] Further alternatively, the cylinder further comprises a right lid disk and a left lid disk sandwiching the right and left cover disks and the center disk interposed therebetween.

[0012] Possibly, each one of the plurality of curved channels is defined between a generally concave leading wall and a successive, generally convex trailing wall, and has a width dimension defined between its associated leading wall and trailing wall.

[0013] Furthermore, each one of the plurality of curved channels

converges in dimension its width dimension as it extends away from a position adjacent to the plenum, at which the width dimension is P, to a position adjacent to the nozzle, at which the width dimension is N, and wherein P is greater than N.

[0014] Potentially, either the right and/or the left cover disk comprises a plurality of curved conduits extending from an interior partition adjacent the hub towards an exterior partition in a direction away from the hub and curving in a direction away from the direction of rotation. [0015] Moreover, each curved channel branches away from the plenum to terminate at an end wall of a barrier extending generally laterally across the curved channels.

[0016] Furthermore, an intermediate plenum extends away from the barrier in a direction away from the end wall to terminate in a funnel adjacent to, and opening towards, the periphery. [0017] Potentially, each funnel is capped by an associated one of the plurality of segments, directing coolant flow along its inner curved face to discharge through a nozzle terminating the funnel and opening onto the outer periphery adjacent a rear face of the associated segment towards a front face of a following segment.

[0018] Possibly, when the cylinder is assembled, each of the curved conduits on either the right cover disk and/or the left cover disk creates a bypass across the barrier to facilitate coolant passage between the curved channel and its associated intermediate plenum and towards the associated funnel.

[0019] With respect to the associated method for cutting materials while providing sufficient cooling and saving on coolant, steps may be carried out, which may involve providing a disk mill comprising a cylinder having a plurality of cutting segments mounted upon a periphery thereof;

providing the cylinder with a hub through which coolant enters the disk mill, the hub opening to a plenum branching off or into a plurality of curved channels; and providing each one of the curved channels with a funnel, each funnel being capped by a corresponding one of the plurality of segments, so that each funnel terminates in a nozzle adjacent a rear face of the corresponding segment and opening to face a front face of a following one of the plurality of segments in the direction of rotation of the disk mill.

[0020] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Exemplary and/or illustrative embodiments of the present

disclosure will be presented herein below in the following figures, by way of example only. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized and/or roughly shown and/or omitted entirely, to show details of particular components, in a purpose that the present disclosure may become more fully understood from the

detailed description and the accompanying schematic figures, wherein:

[0022] Fig. 1 is a schematic left perspective view of a first embodiment of a disk mill constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention;

[0023] Fig. 2 is a schematic left side elevational view of the first disk mill shown in Fig. 1;

[0024] Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the first disk mill shown in

Fig. 1;

[0025] Fig. 4 is a schematic right perspective view of the first disk mill shown in Fig. I, with the right cover disk rendered as translucent;

[0026] Fig. 5 is a schematic detailed and enlarged right side elevational view of the first disk mill shown in Fig. 1, with the right cover disk rendered as translucent;

[0027] Fig. 6 is a schematic left perspective view of a second embodiment of a disk mill constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention;

[0028] Fig. 7 is a schematic left elevational view of the second disk mill shown in Fig. 6; [0029] Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of the second disk mill shown in Fig. 6;

[0030] Fig. 9 is a schematic partial 'exploded' left perspective view of a center disk, an interim right disk, and a right cover disk of the second disk mill shown in Fig. 6;

[0031] Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of the partial 'exploded'

perspective view of the second disk mill shown in Fig. 9;

[0032] Fig. 11 is a schematic leftside elevational view of the center disk, the right interim disk, and the right cover disk of the second disk mill shown in Fig. 9, with the right cover disk rendered as translucent; and

[0033] Fig. 12 is a schematic right side elevational view of the second disk mill shown in Fig. 9, with the right cover disk rendered as translucent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Attention is initially drawn to Figs. 1 to 5. A first embodiment of a disk mill 110 has been constructed to be used to mill a trough through solid materials. The first disk mill 110 may be configured as a generally flat cylinder 120 extending along a rotational axis Z about which the first disk mill 110 may revolve in the direction of rotation D_R. The cylinder 120 comprises a central hub 115 through which coolant inflow may be provided to the first disk mill 110. The cylinder 120 further comprises a

periphery 130 extending generally parallel to the rotational axis Z between a right outer face 140 (shown in Fig. 3) and a left outer face 150. A plurality of cutting segments 160 is provided about the outer periphery 130 of the flat cylinder 120 and may be attached thereto by any appropriate known and/or discovered means and/or method, such as, but not limited to, brazing and/or welding. [0035] Each segment 160 of the plurality of segments is of a generally blocklike shape configured to curve about the rotational axis Z so as to meet the periphery 130. Each segment 160 comprises a front face 170, a rear face 180, an inner curved face 190 and a generally opposing outer curved face 200, a right flank 210 (generally not shown on Figs. 1, 2, 4 and rendered as translucent in Fig. 5) and a generally opposing left flank 220. The front face 170 generally faces towards the direction of rotation D_R while the rear face 180 generally faces away therefrom.

[0036] Generally, the cylinder 120 of the first disk mill 110 may be monolithic in construction and/or may comprise a plurality of distinct disklike parts. References will be made to different parts of the cylinder according only to function, regardless whether they are descriptive names of a monolithic structure or distinct disk-like parts. As may be best seen in Fig. 3, the cylinder 120 comprises a right cover disk 230 whose outer face defines the right outer face 140, a left cover disk 240 whose outer face defines the left outer face 150, and a center disk 250 interposed

therebetween with its right center face 252 abuts an inner right face 232 of the right cover disk 230 and the left center face 254 abuts an inner left face 242 of the left cover disk 240.

[0037] As may be best appreciated from Fig. 4 and 5, the right and the left cover disks 230, 240 have been effectively rendered translucent or transparent so as to expose the inner structure of the disk mill 110. The center disk 250 comprises a plenum 260 disposed about the hub 115. The plenum 260 branches out to a plurality of generally curved channels 270. Each channel is defined between leading, generally concave leading wall 272 and a successive, generally convex trailing wall 274. Further, each of the channels 270 extends between the right center face 252 and the left center face 254 of the center disk 250. [0038] Each one of the plurality of curved channels 270 extends away from the plenum 260 in a direction generally opposite to the direction of rotation DR SO as to terminate in a funnel 280 adjacent to, and opening towards, the outer periphery 130. Each funnel 280 is capped by an associated inner curved face 190 of an associated one of the plurality of segments 160. The segment 160 directs coolant flow along its inner curved face 190 so as to discharge through a nozzle 290 opening to the

periphery 130 adjacent the rear face 180, directing coolant flow in a direction away from the direction of rotation D_R along the inner curved face 190 of the associated segment 160 and towards the front face 170 of the following segment 160.

[0039] Each one of the channels 270 has a width dimension defined between its associated leading wall 272 and trailing wall 274. Each one of the channels 270 converges in its width dimension as it extends away from a position adjacent to the plenum 260, at which the width dimension is P, to a position adjacent to the nozzle 290 at which the width dimension is N, P being greater than N and optionally considerably greater than N. Such convergence, together with the rotation of the disk mill in the direction of rotation D_R about the rotation axis Z may assist in drawing coolant through the plurality of channels 270 while accelerating the coolant to discharge it through nozzles 290, directing coolant generally rearwardly towards the front face 170 of the following segment 160.

[0040] Attention is now drawn to Figs. 6 to 13 where a second

embodiment of a disk mill constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention is disclosed. The second disk mill 1110 may have many features similar to those of the first disk mill 110. Similar features will be referred to by means of similar numerals, increased by 1000. The second disk mill 1110 is designed to be used to mill a trough through solid materials, leaving an angled, wider chamfer upon one or two banks of the trough (not shown). The second disk mill 1110 may be configured as a generally flat cylinder 1120 extending along a rotational axis Z about which the second disk mill 1110 may revolve in a direction of rotation D_R.

[0041] The cylinder 1120 comprises a central hub 1115 (see Fig. 11)

through which coolant may be provided to the second disk mill 1110. The cylinder 1120 further comprises an outer periphery 1130 extending generally parallel to the rotational axis Z between a right outer face 1140 (shown in Fig. 8) and a left outer face 1150. A plurality of cutting segments 1160 are disposed about the outer periphery 1130. The right and left outer faces 1140, 1150 extend generally radially inwardly to meet a right and a left step 1142, 1152 (see Fig. 8) which extend parallel to the rotational axis Z from the right and left outer faces 1140, 1150 so as to terminate at right and left external faces 1141, 1151, respectively. Each one of the right and the left steps 1142, 1152 carry a plurality of spaced-apart, beveled segments 1162. The plurality of cutting segments 1160 and/or the beveled segments 1162 may be attached thereto by any appropriate known and/or discovered means and/or method, such as, but not limited to, brazing and/or welding

[0042] Each segment 1160 of the plurality of cutting segments 1160 is of a generally block like shape configured to curve about the rotational axis Z so as to meet the outer periphery 1130. Each segment 1160 comprises a front segment face 1170, a generally opposing rear segment face 1180, an inner curved face 1190 and a generally opposing outer curved face 1200, a right segment flank 1210 (see Fig. 10) and a generally opposing left segment flank 1220. The front segment face 1170 generally faces towards the direction of rotation D_R while the rear segment face 1180 generally faces away therefrom. Similarly, each beveled segment 1162 comprises a front bevel face 1172 and a generally opposing rear bevel face 1182, wherein the front bevel face 1172 generally faces towards the direction of rotation D_R while the rear bevel face 1182 generally faces away therefrom. [0043] Generally, the cylinder 1120 of the second disk mill 1110 may be monolithic in construction and/or may comprise a plurality of distinct disklike parts. References will be made to different parts of the cylinder according only to function, regardless whether they are descriptive names of a monolithic structure or distinct disk-like parts. As may be best seen in Fig. 8, the cylinder 1120 comprises a right cover disk 1230 whose outer face defines the right outer face 1140, a left cover disk 1240 whose outer face defines the left outer face 1150, and a center disk 1250 interposed therebetween. Each of the right and the left steps 1142, 1152 forms a periphery of a generally cylindrical right and left lid disk 1235, 1245 whose outermost face is the right and left external face 1141, 1151, respectively.

[0044] As the second disk mill 1110 is essentially symmetric, Figs. 9 to 12 will only show the center, left cover, and left lid disks 1250, 1230, 1235, respectively. In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, the right cover disk 1230 and the right lid disk 1235 are effectively rendered as translucent or transparent. Additionally, only two segments 1160 and one bevel segment 1162 are shown. As may be best seen in Fig. 11, the center disk 1250 comprises a centrally-disposed plenum 1260 opening laterally to the hub 1115 through which coolant may be supplied to the second disk mill 1110. A plurality of curved channels 1270 branch away from the plenum 1260 in a direction generally opposite to the direction of rotation D_R so as to terminate at an end wall 1310, as can best be seen in Fig. 11, of a barrier 1300 extending generally laterally across the curved channels 1270. Extending away from the barrier 1300 in a direction away from the end wall 1310 is an intermediate plenum 1320 so as to terminate in a funnel 1280 adjacent to, and opening towards, the periphery 1130.

[0045] Each funnel 1280 is capped by an associated one of the plurality of segments 1160. The segment 1160 directs coolant flow along its inner curved face 1190 so as to discharge through a nozzle 1290 which terminates the funnel 1280 and opens onto the outer periphery 1130 adjacent the rear face 1180 of an associated segment 1160, thereby directing coolant flow in the direction away from the direction of rotation DR and generally tangential ly to the outer periphery 1130 and towards the front face 1170 of the following segment 1160.

[0046] As may be noticed in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, either the right and/or the left cover disk 1230, 1240 (Figs. 9 to 12 show only the right cover disk 1230 but the following applies to both cover disks) comprises a plurality of curved conduits 1330 extending from an interior partition 1340 towards an exterior partition 1350 in a direction away from the hub 1115 and curving in a direction away from the direction of rotation D_R. When the cylinder 1120 is assembled, each of the curved conduits 1330 on either the right cover disk 1230 and/or the left cover disk 1240 creates a bypass across the barrier 1300 so as to facilitate coolant passage between the curved channel 1270 and its associated intermediate plenum 1320 and towards the associated funnel 1280.

[0047] As the second disk mill 1110 revolves about the hub 1115 of the cylinder 1120, coolant may enter the cylinder 1120 through either and/or both sides of the hub 1115. From the hub 1115, coolant flows to fill the plenum 1260 and splits so as to flow away therefrom through the plurality of curved channels 1270 until the coolant, within each of the channels 1270, encounters the barrier 1300. As the direct flow path may be blocked by the barrier 1300, coolant flow may split so as to engulf the barrier 1300, bypassing the barrier 1300 through the associated conduits 1330 formed within the right and/or the left cover disk 1230, 1240 so as to reunite in the intermediate plenum 1320 formed upon the center disk 1250. From the intermediate plenum 1320, coolant flow is directed so as to sweep at least partially along the inner curved face 1190 of the associated segment 1160 and towards the front face 1170 of the following segment 1160.

[0048] Each of the channels 1270 converges in dimension as it extends away from a position adjacent to the plenum 1260, at which the width dimension is P, to a position adjacent to the nozzle 1290 at which the width dimension is N. Such convergence, together with the rotation of the disk mill in the direction of rotation D_R about the rotational axis Z assists in drawing coolant through the plurality of channels 1270 while accelerating the coolant to discharge it through the nozzles 1290.

[0049] All directional references (such as, but not limited to, upper, lower, upward, downward, right, left, rightward, leftward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counter-clockwise, tangential, axial and/or radial, or any other directional and/or similar references) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use unless specifically set forth in the claims. Similarly, joinder references (such as, but not limited to, attached, coupled, connect, accommodate and the like and their derivatives) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references may not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. [0050] In some instances, components are described with reference to "ends" having a particular characteristic and/or being connected with another part. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure is not limited to components which terminate

immediately beyond their points of connection with other parts. Thus, the term "end" should be interpreted broadly, in a manner that includes areas adjacent, rearward, forward of, or otherwise near the terminus of a particular element, link, component, part, member or the like. Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, "first", "second", "third", or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's understanding of the various embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another embodiment, variation and/or modification.

[0051] In methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. [0052] While an exemplary embodiment has been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such an embodiment is merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad present disclosure, and that this disclosure may not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications and/or adaptations may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is to be understood that individual features shown or described for the exemplary embodiment in the context of functional elements and such features may be replicated, or be omitted within the scope of the present disclosure and without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as may be defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A disk mill intended to cut deep slots in materials, the disk mil comprising a cylinder rotatable about an axis of rotation Z with a direction of rotation D_R, the cylinder comprising a plurality of cutting segments mounted on and about a periphery thereof extending generally parallelly to the rotational axis Z, the cylinder being provided with coolant flowing through a generally centrally disposed hub, the hub opening to a radially extending plenum, the plenum branching away in a plurality of curved channels, each of the plurality of curved channels extending generally away from the plenum to merge with a funnel, each funnel being capped by a corresponding inner curved face of an associated segment to form a nozzle adjacent a rear face of the corresponding segments and opening to face a front face of a following one of the plurality of segments in a direction of rotation of the disk mill.

2. The disk mill of claim 1, wherein each segment is of a generally block-like shape configured to curve so that the inner curved face thereof corresponds with the periphery.

3. The disk mill of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is monolithic.

4. The disk mill of claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises a right and a left cover disks with a center disk interposed therebetween.

5. The disk mill of claim 4, wherein the cylinder further comprises a right lid disk and a left lid disk sandwiching the right and left cover disks and the center disk interposed therebetween.

6. The disk mill of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of

curved channels is defined between a generally concave leading wall and a successive, generally convex trailing wall, and has a width dimension defined between its associated leading wall and trailing wall.

The disk mill of claim 6, wherein each one of the plurality of curved channels converges in dimension its width dimension as it extends away from a position adjacent to the plenum, at which the width dimension is P, to a position adjacent to the nozzle, at which the width dimension is N, and wherein P is greater than N.

The disk mill of claim 1, wherein either the right and/or the left cover disk comprises a plurality of curved conduits extending from an interior partition adjacent the hub towards an exterior partition in a direction away from the hub and curving in a direction away from the direction of rotation.

9. The disk mill of claim 8, wherein each curved channel branches away from the plenum to terminate at an end wall of a barrier extending generally laterally across the curved channels.

10. The disk mill of claim 9, wherein an intermediate plenum extends away from the barrier in a direction away from the end wall to terminate in a funnel adjacent to, and opening towards, the periphery.

11. The disk mill of claim 10, wherein each funnel is capped by an associated one of the plurality of segments, directing coolant flow along its inner curved face to discharge through a nozzle terminating the funnel and opening onto the outer periphery adjacent a rear face of the associated segment towards a front face of a following segment.

12. The disk mill of claim 11 , wherein when the cylinder is assembled, each of the curved conduits on either the right cover disk and/or the left cover disk creates a bypass across the barrier to facilitate coolant passage between the curved channel and its associated intermediate plenum and towards the associated funnel.