U.S. patent application number 10/690168 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for cutting tool assembly having attached spray nozzle housing.
Invention is credited to Keller, Donald E..
Application Number | 20050082898 10/690168 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34521571 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050082898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keller, Donald E. |
April 21, 2005 |
Cutting tool assembly having attached spray nozzle housing
Abstract
A cutting tool assembly (10) includes a support block (12) and a
replaceable spray nozzle housing that can be manually installed
onto a support block positioned on a drum in the field. Wherein the
support block includes a fluid passage communicating water from a
water supply to a fluid passage within the spray nozzle housing.
The spray nozzle housing is connected to the support block by
welding. The weld joint between the spray nozzle housing and
support block forms a liquid tight seal. The spray nozzle housing
is oriented on the support block so that water spray from the spray
nozzle outlet is directed toward the tip of the cutting tool.
Inventors: |
Keller, Donald E.; (Bedford,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kevin P. Weldon
Kennametal Inc.
P. O. Box 231
Latrobe
PA
15650
US
|
Family ID: |
34521571 |
Appl. No.: |
10/690168 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
299/81.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21C 35/187
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
299/081.1 |
International
Class: |
E21C 025/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cutting tool assembly comprising: a support block to be
secured to a moving element of a mining machine, comprising: a
protection sleeve fixed into said support block; a replaceable
spray nozzle housing welded onto said support block; a block fluid
passage located in said support block wherein said replaceable
nozzle housing is in fluid communication with said block fluid
passage.
2. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
block fluid passage has an upstream portion and downstream
portion.
3. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
support block has a first outer surface and a second outer surface
and the block passage communicates fluid between said first outer
surface and said second outer surface.
4. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 3, wherein said
replaceable nozzle housing is fixed to said first outer
surface.
5. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
upstream portion and said downstream portion are substantially
straight so as to permit a drill to be inserted into said first
fluid passage for cleaning.
6. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 1, further
comprising: a cutting tool, said cutting tool extends through said
protective sleeve.
7. A block for a cutting tool assembly, said block comprising: a
support block to be secured to a moving element of a mining
machine; and a spray nozzle housing, wherein said spray nozzle
housing is welded to said support block.
8. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
support block has a first outer surface and a second outer surface,
wherein a block fluid passage communicates fluid between an inlet
in a first outer surface and an outlet in a second outer
surface.
9. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 8, wherein said
block fluid passage has an upstream portion and downstream
portion.
10. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 9, wherein said
upstream portion and said downstream portion are substantially
straight so as to permit a drill to be inserted into said block
fluid passage for cleaning.
11. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 8, wherein said
spray housing nozzle includes a fluid passage open end in
communication with the support block fluid outlet.
12. The cutting tool assembly according claim 11 wherein said open
end has a cross-sectional area at least twice as great as the
cross-sectional area of the block outlet.
13. The cutting tool assembly according to claim 7 wherein said
spray nozzle housing has a bottom surface that cooperates together
with a fist outer surface of the support block to form contact
surfaces.
14. A method of making a cutting bit support block having a spray
nozzle comprising the steps of: providing a cutter bit support
block with a block fluid passage having an outlet opening wherein
the support block is either cast or cold-formed from a heat
treatable weldable steel; providing a spray nozzle housing with a
fluid passage having an open end; connecting the spray nozzle
housing to the support block.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the support block has a block
fluid passage with an inlet for connection to a water supply and a
support block outlet at the opposite end of said block fluid
passage; said spray nozzle housing having a recess chamber; wherein
said connecting includes aligning an open end of said recess
chamber with said support block outlet.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein said connecting comprises
welding said spray housing nozzle to said support block.
17. A generally cylindrical spray nozzle housing comprising: a
generally circular forward face having an outlet; and a bottom
surface, wherein said bottom surface has an elongated recess
chamber.
18. The generally cylindrical spray nozzle housing according to
claim 17 wherein said bottom surface is generally flat.
19. The generally cylindrical spray nozzle housing according to
claim 17, wherein said generally cylindrical spray nozzle has a
central longitudinal axis, said generally flat bottom surface is
oriented at an angle between from 2.degree. to about 20.degree..
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a cutting tool assembly having a
replaceable spray nozzle housing.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Cutting tool assemblies for such applications as mining or
road milling typically comprise a cutting tool, sometimes referred
to as a cutting pick, rotatably mounted within a support block. The
support block in turn is mounted onto a drum, chain or other body,
typically by welding, which in turn is driven by a suitable drive
means. A number of such support blocks carrying cutting tools are
mounted onto said drum to continually mine and remove material such
as coal, rock, concrete, asphalt or concrete. The material in the
earth strata being mined or removed by the cutting tool is
pulverized by the cutting picks as each tip is rotated about the
drum or chain into contact with the earth strata. The material
being pulverized by the impact of the pick explodes in all
directions. Some of the pulverized material collides against the
support block and other cutting tool structure. The continual
collision of pulverized material against the support block during
operation causes abrasion and wear of the support block and any
other components mounted on or near the support block.
[0003] It is also known to equip a cutting tool assembly with a
spray nozzle for spraying fluid onto a cutting tool so as to reduce
the potential for ignition of gases encountered during cutting or
mining activities, such as coal mining. These spray nozzles mounted
on cutting tool support blocks are also beneficial in suppressing
dust particles that otherwise would be stirred up into the
atmosphere during the operation of the cutting tool. U.S. Pat. No.
5,392,870, Chapham et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,048, Parrott,
both disclose a water spray nozzle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,870,
Chapham et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,048, Parrott, are both
incorporated by reference in their entirety into the instant
specification. The discharge nozzles in both Parrott and Chapham
are formed in the support block. Damage to the discharge nozzle
outlet can either result in enlarging the opening or alternatively
can plug the outlet close. If the opening is enlarged then water
flows out of the nozzle at a greater rate, wasting water and
causing an undesirable pressure loss in the drum manifold water
passages that supply other spray nozzles. On the other hand a
potential fire hazard/explosion arises if a discharge nozzle
becomes plugged and dust particles are stirred up into the
atmosphere during the operation of the cutting tool.
[0004] The support block maintains its usefulness in holding the
cutting pick after the discharge nozzle is damaged. Despite this
the support block and cutting tool assembly must be removed from
the drum and a new support block with a new spray nozzle is
attached to the drum. Support blocks are expensive themselves and
attaching a new one to a drum is time consuming and disruptive of
the mining operation. Typically a replacement support block must be
welded onto the drum or chain back at the workshop with precision
instruments and tools, significantly hampering the efficiency of
the mining operation.
[0005] Rothkegal's U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,173 discloses a cutting tool
assembly having a holder body and a separate replaceable nozzle
housing that is releasably secured by screws to the holder body.
The screws on such prior art designs are often loosened on account
of the vibrations caused by high-speed rotation of the drum during
operation. The nozzle housings becoming damaged and/or lost
requiring the mining drum to be shutdown for maintenance. In other
instances the screws or bolt heads used to fasten the nozzle
housing to the holder body become damaged precluding removal of the
screw or bolt and the nozzle housing.
[0006] Siebenhofer et al.'s U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,069 discloses a
cutting tool assembly including a spray nozzle in a bore of the
support block adjacent to the cutting tool. When the support block
is sufficiently worn away, it can no longer house the nozzle.
Additionally the water passages disposed in Siebenhofer et al.'s
support block for providing water to the nozzle are configured such
that they cannot be drilled out once the pick support box is welded
to a drum. As a result, when the passages become blocked, such as
by calcium deposits, the cutting tool assembly is no longer useful
for cutting operations that require a functioning spray nozzle.
[0007] The spray nozzle housing is intended to spray water adjacent
the cutting tool during the useful life of the other structure of
the support block. It would be advantageous to have a support block
that can be easily fixed by having a spray nozzle housing that is
easily replaced. It would be advantageous to have a support block
with a spray nozzle wherein the spray nozzle can be manually fixed,
with a leak-free joint, to the support block in the field.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a new and
improved cutting tool assembly having a support block and a
replaceable spray nozzle housing mounted to the support block,
wherein the spray nozzle housing is simple in design and relatively
economical to manufacture.
[0009] In one illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cutting
tool assembly comprises a support block having a first cylindrical
bore for receiving a cutting tool. The support block also has a
replaceable unitary spray nozzle housing, the nozzle housing is
generally cylindrical with a flat bottom surface for mounting onto
the support block. The nozzle housing has a nozzle outlet formed in
a generally circular forward face of the nozzle housing. The spray
nozzle housing has a nozzle fluid passage therein for communicating
fluid from the inlet in the bottom surface to the nozzle
outlet.
[0010] The cutting tool assembly in the illustrated embodiment
comprises a support block having first and second outer surfaces
and a block fluid passage. The block fluid passage communicates
fluid between the first and second outer surface portions of the
support block. The replaceable spray nozzle housing is attached to
the support block so that the nozzle fluid passage is in fluid
communication with the support block fluid passage. The support
block passage comprises of two passage portions both having
straight-line axes.
[0011] Advantageously, with such straight-line block fluid passage
portion configurations the support block fluid passage can be
easily manufactured. The straight-line passage portion
configurations also permit ease in cleaning debris such as calcium
from the block fluid passages so as to ensure maximum fluid flow
therethrough.
[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a design for manufacturing wear reducing components, which are easy
to manufacture, install, and which are cost effective for their
intended purposes.
[0013] While one embodiment of the new and improved cutting tool
assembly is illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not
be construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various
modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing
from the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of a cutting tool assembly showing one
embodiment of the invention including a support block, a
replaceable spray nozzle housing, a sleeve and a cutting tool.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the support block of the
cutting tool assembly of FIG. 1 with the cutting tool and sleeve
removed taken along lines 2-2 shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the support block of
FIG. 1 with the cutting tool and sleeve removed taken perpendicular
to the view shown in FIG. 2 along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4a is a side view of the replaceable spray nozzle
housing.
[0018] FIG. 4b is a bottom view of the replaceable spray nozzle
housing.
[0019] FIG. 4c is a front view of the replaceable spray nozzle
housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] FIG. 1 a cutting tool assembly 10 according to the invention
for use in mining and cutting operations. The cutting tool assembly
10 includes a support block 12, a replaceable spray nozzle housing
14 connected to the support block 12, a protective tool sleeve 16
that is also removably connected to the support block 12, and a
cutting tool 18 disposed within the tool sleeve 16.
[0021] The support block 12 is adapted to be connected to a
rotatable drum (not shown) in any suitable manner, such as by
welding, so that the cutting tool 18 may be driven into material
sought to be removed or mined. The support block 12 has an exterior
that includes first and second outer surface portions 20 and 22,
respectively. The first outer surface portion 20 remains exposed
during use, while the second outer surface portion 22 is concealed
when attached to the housing.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the support block 12 includes a block
fluid passageway 26 having an upstream portion 24 and downstream
portion 28. Both portions 24 and 28 are substantially straight; the
upstream portion of the block fluid passageway 24 has an inlet
opening 25 in the second outer surface 22 where the upstream
portion 24 of the passageway intersects the second outer surface.
The downstream portion 28 intersects with the first outer surface,
where the downstream portion 28 intersects the outer surface
portion it forms an outlet opening 27. The upstream portion 24
intersects the downstream portion 28 at sidewall chamber 23. The
sidewall chamber 23 is manufactured by drilling a hole into a
sidewall of the first outer surface portion 20. The downstream
portion 28 and upstream portion 24 of the block fluid passageway
are then manufactured by drilling a hole from the sidewall chamber
23 to second outer surface 22 and the first outer surface 24
respectively. Next a plug 21 is inserted into the drilled out
section of the sidewall and fixed thereto in a liquid tight fashion
by any fastening means well known in the art. The upstream portion
and downstream portion can be cleaned of debris without removing
the support block from the drum. The plug is first removed during
maintenance and next a drill is inserted into both the upstream
portion and the downstream portion to clean out any debris, such as
calcium deposits, that may be clogging the block passage.
[0023] The first outer surface of the support block in the
illustrated embodiment includes an upper portion and lower portion,
the support block 12 illustrated in the embodiment of the invention
is generally cannon shaped having an upper barrel portion and lower
base portion as well-known in the art. It should be appreciated
that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment and
that it is contemplated that the support block alternatively could
have other shapes and geometries.
[0024] The spray nozzle housing 14, as shown in FIGS. 4a-4c, is
generally cylindrical and has a central longitudinal axis. The
spray nozzle housing 14 has a flat bottom surface 30 oriented at an
angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the spray
nozzle housing. The central axis of the spray nozzle housing is
oriented so that the water spray from the nozzle outlet 34 is
projected in the direction of the cutting tool tip. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 4a the angle the bottom surface of the
spray nozzle makes with the central longitudinal axis is about
5.degree. degrees. In the alternative and depending upon the
specific application, the bottom surface may be oriented at an
angle within a range of between about 4.degree. degrees to about
6.degree. degrees. In other instances the angle may be present in a
range between about 2.degree. degrees to about 20.degree. degrees.
The spray housing has a main fluid chamber 35 that is in
communication with a spray outlet 34. Fluid flows from a main
chamber inlet passage 38 into the main chamber 35, the inlet
passage 38 is in communication with an elongated fluid recess
chamber 36. The elongated recess chamber 36 is formed in the flat
bottom surface 30 of the spray housing. The elongated recess forms
an inlet that is in fluid commutation with the outlet opening 27 of
the support block fluid passage.
[0025] The spray nozzle housing 14 is welded to the first outer
surface 20; the cross-hatching shown in FIG. 1 represents the weld
joint. The spray nozzle housing is assembled to the support block
20 by conventional welding methods as are well known in the art.
The spray nozzle housing is oriented on the first outer surface 20
of the support block so as to place the spray nozzle housing in
fluid communication with the block fluid passage 26 in the support
block. The disclosed embodiment includes an elongated recess
chamber 32 having an elongated open end inlet that allows for ease
in proper alignment of the spray nozzle housing 14 into position so
that the outlet opening 27 on the top of the first outer surface 20
of the support block is placed in proper fluid communication with
the spray nozzle housing fluid passage. The elongated recess
chamber 32 in the bottom surface 30 of the spray nozzle housing
allows for greater tolerance in positioning the spray nozzle
housing 14 into alignment with the support block outlet 27 as
opposed to the precise alignment which would otherwise be necessary
if the supply opening into the spray nozzle housing 14 had a
cross-sectional area of the outlet opening 27. Although it is not
critical for welding purposes that the cross-sectional area of the
open end of the recess chamber 32 as best shown in FIG. 4b is at
least twice the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening 27 on
the top of the support block, such a relationship makes it easier
to adequately position the spray nozzle housing manually prior to
welding. Applicant also contemplates that the cross-sectional area
of the open end of the recess chamber 32 alternatively is at least
three times the cross-sectional area of the block outlet 27
opening. Applicant further contemplates that the cross-sectional
area of the outlet opening is at least four times the
cross-sectional area of the block outlet opening. The elongated
recess chamber 36 allows a welder to manually replace spray nozzles
in either the field or the workshop.
[0026] The shape and geometries of the spray nozzle housing and/or
nozzle outlet is not intended to be limited to the disclosed
embodiment wherein the spray nozzle housing is generally
cylindrical. The applicant contemplates different spray nozzle
housings having different shapes and/or sizes that may vary in
accordance with different applications, manufacturing costs and/or
other considerations. It is contemplated that the spray nozzle
housing and support block may have a plurality of different shapes
and geometries so long as the cooperating contact surfaces between
the spray nozzle housing and first surface of the support block are
adapted to form enough contact with each other or to permit the
spray nozzle housing and support block to be securely welded
together in a leak-free manner. It should be appreciated that the
first outer surface 22 of the support block and the bottom surface
30 of the spray nozzle housing may be configured to have any
cooperating shape or geometry which are well known in the industry
to form a suitable liquid tight seal therebetween. It is
contemplated that in an alternative embodiment that the bottom
surface of the spray nozzle housing might not be flat but may have
for instance have a curvature corresponding to the radius of
curvature of the barrel portion of the support block.
[0027] The support block and spray nozzle housing of the
application are made from any heat treatable, weldable alloy steel,
including SAE 4130,15B37, 4140, 8720, 8740, 8637h or other
well-known steels used in the construction/mining industries. In
one embodiment the spray nozzle housing is manufactured from heat
treated 4140 steel and the support block is manufactured from
heat-treated 8637h steel.
[0028] The spray nozzle housing can be applied to the steel alloy
support block by a metallic electro-welding electrode out in the
field. During such welding operations the weld is applied to the
spray nozzle housing so as to not overheat either the spray nozzle
housing and/or support block. The size of the spray nozzle housing
is relatively small in comparison to the support block resulting in
a greater rate of heat dissipation from the spray nozzle housing
relative to the support block, such cooling rate variation can
cause thermal stress fractures in the weld joint. Accordingly as
well known in the art the weld joint is applied by initially
forming a liquid tight weld dam about the fluid connection between
the support block and spray nozzle housing. Weld is next applied,
without overheating the joint, about the initial weld dam to
further strengthen the joint. Throughout the welding process the
relative temperature of the spray nozzle housing and support block
are controlled as well known in the art so that thermal stress
fractures do not occur.
[0029] In the prior art seal means such as O-ring seals were
required in the support block to form a liquid tight passage
between a liquid supply source and a spray nozzle housing on the
support block. See the seal rings on the protective sleeve in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,678,238 to Emmerich. By welding the spray nozzle housing
14 onto the support block and welding the plug 21 to the support
block, no seal rings on the support block or protective sleeve are
necessary, and the protective sleeve can be designed solely for the
purpose of reducing wear on the support block.
[0030] To assemble the cutting tool assembly 10, the support block
12 is welded to a rotatable drum (not shown) so that the support
block fluid passage is in fluid communication with a fluid supply
passage (not shown) within the drum. The weld sufficiently seals
the support block 12 to the drum in a liquid tight manner. The
protection sleeve 16 is then inserted in the barrel bore 11 of the
support body. The cutting tool 18 is then inserted into the tool
sleeve 16 and secured to the tool sleeve 16 in any suitable manner
such as a retainer ring. Next, the spray nozzle housing 14 is
positioned so that the fluid recess chamber 36 is in communication
with the outlet opening 27 of the support block fluid passage and
then welded into position.
[0031] In operation of the cutting tool assembly 10, a supply
manifold in the drum communicates water to inlet 25. Inlet 25
communicates with the upstream portion 24 next into sidewall
chamber 23 and then the downstream portion 28 of the support block
fluid passage. The water exits the support block at the support
block outlet opening 27, flows into the recess chamber 36 through
the spray nozzle housing and exists the spray nozzle outlet 34 and
toward the tip of the cutting tool 18. The water from the spray
nozzle outlet reduces the potential for ignition of gases such as
methane encountered during cutting or mining activities. The water
spray additionally suppresses dust during mining and also helps to
lubricate the joint between the cutting tool and sleeve for better
rotation of the cutting tool.
[0032] While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated
and described, it is not intended that this embodiment illustrates
and describes all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the
words used in the specification are words of description rather
than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *