U.S. patent application number 13/338345 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-04 for radial and conical tools with compression band retainer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sandvik Intellectual Property AB. The applicant listed for this patent is Scott Leeth Carter, Kenneth Monyak, Daniel Mouthaan. Invention is credited to Scott Leeth Carter, Kenneth Monyak, Daniel Mouthaan.
Application Number | 20130169022 13/338345 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47263363 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130169022 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Monyak; Kenneth ; et
al. |
July 4, 2013 |
RADIAL AND CONICAL TOOLS WITH COMPRESSION BAND RETAINER
Abstract
Tool bit for non-rotatable mounting in a bore of a holder has a
cutting head, a shoulder and a shank arranged axially along an axis
of the tool bit. A groove is disposed circumferentially about a
portion of the shank, and a compression band seated therein. Two or
more grooves on the shank can include a non-metallic compression
band and an optional o-ring. The compression bands/o-ring protrude
past the outermost surface of the shank and, when the tool bit is
positioned in a bore of a holder or sleeve, cause an outermost
surface of the shank to be in non-contact with an inner diameter
surface of the mounting bore and seal the space between the shank
and the inner diameter surface of the bore to help prevent moisture
and dust encountered during operation from getting between the tool
and the holder.
Inventors: |
Monyak; Kenneth; (Abingdon,
VA) ; Mouthaan; Daniel; (Williamsburg, MI) ;
Carter; Scott Leeth; (Clare, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Monyak; Kenneth
Mouthaan; Daniel
Carter; Scott Leeth |
Abingdon
Williamsburg
Clare |
VA
MI
MI |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sandvik Intellectual Property
AB
Sandviken
SE
|
Family ID: |
47263363 |
Appl. No.: |
13/338345 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
299/79.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21C 35/197
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
299/79.1 |
International
Class: |
E21C 35/18 20060101
E21C035/18 |
Claims
1. A tool bit for non-rotatable mounting in a bore of a holder, the
tool bit comprising: a cutting head at a front end with a cutting
tip; a shank at a rear end; a shoulder at a transition between the
front end and the shank; a groove disposed circumferentially about
a portion of the shank; and a compression band seated in the
groove, wherein the cutting head, shoulder and shank are arranged
axially along an axis of the tool bit, wherein an outermost surface
of the shank is located, in a direction normal from the axis, at a
first radial distance, wherein at least a portion of an outermost
surface of the compression band is located, in a direction normal
from the axis, at a second radial distance, and wherein the second
radial distance is greater than the first radial distance.
2. The tool bit of claim 1, wherein the tool bit includes two
grooves, a first groove disposed circumferentially about a first
portion of the shank and a second groove disposed circumferentially
about a second portion of the shank, the first portion of the shank
positioned axially rearward from the second portion of the
shank.
3. The tool bit of claim 2, wherein a compression band is seated in
each of the two grooves.
4. The tool bit of claim 2, wherein a compression band is seated in
a first of the two grooves and an o-ring is seated in a second of
the two grooves.
5. The tool bit of claim 1, wherein the compression band is
non-metallic.
6. The tool bit of claim 1, wherein the compression band is formed
from a compliant and resistant material.
7. The tool bit of claim 6, wherein the compliant and resistant
material consists essentially of nylon with embedded glass
fibers.
8. The tool bit of claim 7, wherein the embedded glass fibers are
present at from 10 to 50 vol %.
9. The tool bit of claim 1, wherein the tool bit is a conical tool
bit or a radial tool bit.
10. An assembly comprising: a holder having a first bore extending
rearwardly from a forwardly oriented front face; and a tool bit
non-rotatably mounted in the first bore of the holder, the tool bit
including a cutting head at a front end with a cutting tip, a shank
at a rear end, a shoulder at a transition between the front end and
the shank, a groove disposed circumferentially about a portion of
the shank, and a compression band seated in the groove, wherein the
cutting head, shoulder and shank are arranged axially along an axis
of the tool bit, wherein an outermost surface of the shank is
located, in a direction normal from the axis, at a first radial
distance, wherein at least a portion of an outermost surface of the
compression band is located, in a direction normal from the axis,
at a second radial distance, and wherein the second radial distance
is greater than the first radial distance.
11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the
outermost surface of the shank is in non-contact with an inner
diameter surface of the first bore.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein a majority of the length of
the shank is in non-contact with an inner diameter surface of the
first bore.
13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the tool bit includes two
grooves, a first groove disposed circumferentially about a first
portion of the shank and a second groove disposed circumferentially
about a second portion of the shank, the first portion of the shank
positioned axially rearward from the second portion of the
shank.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein a compression band is seated
in each of the two grooves.
15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein an outermost surface of the
shank is in non-contact with an inner diameter surface of the first
bore along a majority of the length of the shank.
16. The assembly of claim 14, including a space between the shank
and the inner diameter surface of the bore, the space located
axially between the compression band seated in the first groove and
the compression band seated in the second groove.
17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein a compression band is seated
in a first of the two grooves and an o-ring is seated in a second
of the two grooves.
18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein an outermost surface of the
shank is in non-contact with an inner diameter surface of the first
bore along a majority of the length of the shank.
19. The assembly of claim 17, including a space between the shank
and the inner diameter surface of the bore, the space located
axially between the compression band seated in the first groove and
the o-ring seated in the second groove.
20. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the compression band is
non-metallic.
21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the compliant and resistant
material consists essentially of nylon with embedded glass fibers.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tool for cutting
geological formations or other hard materials. More specifically,
the present disclosure relates to a tool bit including a
compression band arrangement for retaining the tool bit in a
holder. The tool bit is generally of the non-rotating type and can
be either a radial tool bit or a conical tool bit. The disclosure
relates to the tool bit per se, as well as to the combination of
the tool bit and a holder and to the apparatus with such a tool
bit.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the discussion that follows, reference is made to certain
structures and/or methods. However, the following references should
not be construed as an admission that these structures and/or
methods constitute prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the
right to demonstrate that such structures and/or methods do not
qualify as prior art against the present invention.
[0003] Road milling, stump cutting, mining, foundation drilling and
trenching are examples of activities and equipment that generally
cut earth and rock with cemented carbide tipped tool bits. The tool
bits generally utilized in these activities and on this type of
equipment are either a radial design or a conical design. The
shanks of such tool bits typically are inserted into a bore in a
holder, such as a block and sleeve assembly or a bore in a moving
or rotating element of the equipment, either directly or with an
intermediate sleeve. Examples of blocks and/or block and sleeve
assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,257; U.S. Pat. No.
7,234,782; U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,964; DE 4 204 542; DE 196 30 653;
and DE 198 21 147, the entire contents of each are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0004] Different designs of tools function differently. For
example, conical tool bits are characterized in that they can
rotate to self sharpen the cemented carbide tip. However, even
though conical designs may have a conical shank, some conical
designs do not rotate, particularly if the tool bit has a radial
tip or a super hard tip that does not require sharpening and
therefore no rotation is required. Also for example, radial designs
are characterized in that they generally are not required to
rotate.
[0005] Because the shanks of conical tool bits typically are
circular in radial cross-section, the bore in which the shank is
inserted is also conical. Radial tool bits generally utilize shanks
having polygonal or non-circular radial cross-sections and utilize
a correspondingly shaped bore, e.g., a rectangular or square hole,
in the holder to retain the tool bit and prevent rotation. See for
example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0194176, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0006] As between the two, the conical bore is relatively easy to
form in the body of the holder while the bore for the radial tool
bit has a geometry that is relatively more difficult to form. The
most common method of forming the bore for the shank of a radial
tool bit is a broaching operation, which is slow and time
consuming. This makes these types of holders relatively more
expensive to produce.
[0007] The shank of the tool bit can be retained mechanically in
the holder. However, because the shank of the tool bit typically
must be pressed into the bore of the holder, tight tolerance
machining and grinding is used to maintain the proper interference
fit between the shank and the inner diameter of the bore.
Alternatively, the shank may have a metal spring retainer, but such
retainers can lose resilience or become brittle and crack or break.
Further, dust, debris, corrosion, and rust between the steel
components may become a problem, increasing the forces necessary to
remove the shank from the bore of the holder block. In some cases,
the shank and bore surfaces can become "frozen," for example due to
the rust and corrosion, and they must then be torched off.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a mechanism to
retain a tool bit in a holder that both secures the tool bit during
use and is readily removable when necessary for maintenance and/or
replacement.
SUMMARY
[0009] This disclosure describes a compression band arrangement for
retaining a non-rotating radial or conical tool bit in a bore of a
holder for cutting geological formations or other hard materials,
such as utilized in road milling, stump cutting, mining, foundation
drilling and trenching equipment. The compression bands are
retained in grooves in the shank of the tool bit. The compression
bands create an annular space between the shank of the tool bit and
the bore of the block, and retain the tool bit in the holder by
being resiliently compressed between the shank of the tool bit and
the inner diameter of the bore. Additionally, the compression
sleeves seal the annular space to prevent intrusion of water,
moisture, dust, debris, and the like, so as to inhibit the
formation of rust and to prevent binding of the tool bit to the
holder.
[0010] An exemplary embodiment of tool bit for non-rotatable
mounting in a bore of a holder comprises a cutting head at a front
end with a cutting tip, a shank at a rear end, a shoulder at a
transition between the front end and the shank, a groove disposed
circumferentially about a portion of the shank, and a compression
band seated in the groove, wherein the cutting head, shoulder and
shank are arranged axially along an axis of the tool bit, wherein
an outermost surface of the shank is located, in a direction normal
from the axis, at a first radial distance, wherein at least a
portion of an outermost surface of the compression band is located,
in a direction normal from the axis, at a second radial distance,
and wherein the second radial distance is greater than the first
radial distance.
[0011] An exemplary embodiment of an assembly comprises a holder
having a first bore extending rearwardly from a forwardly oriented
front face, and a tool bit non-rotatably mounted in the first bore
of the holder, the tool bit including a cutting head at a front end
with a cutting tip, a shank at a rear end, a shoulder at a
transition between the front end and the shank, a groove disposed
circumferentially about a portion of the shank, and a compression
band seated in the groove, wherein the cutting head, shoulder and
shank are arranged axially along an axis of the tool bit, wherein
an outermost surface of the shank is located, in a direction normal
from the axis, at a first radial distance, wherein at least a
portion of an outermost surface of the compression band is located,
in a direction normal from the axis, at a second radial distance,
and wherein the second radial distance is greater than the first
radial distance.
[0012] In another exemplary embodiment, a mining machine includes a
rotatable member and one or more blocks mounted on the rotatable
member, each block including a tool bit for non-rotatable mounting
in a bore of a holder comprises a cutting head at a front end with
a cutting tip, a shank at a rear end, a shoulder at a transition
between the front end and the shank, a groove disposed
circumferentially about a portion of the shank, and a compression
band seated in the groove, wherein the cutting head, shoulder and
shank are arranged axially along an axis of the tool bit, wherein
an outermost surface of the shank is located, in a direction normal
from the axis, at a first radial distance, wherein at least a
portion of an outermost surface of the compression band is located,
in a direction normal from the axis, at a second radial distance,
and wherein the second radial distance is greater than the first
radial distance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0013] The following detailed description of preferred embodiments
can be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which
like numerals designate like elements and in which:
[0014] FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate the exemplary tool bit with one or
two grooves, respectively, and without compression bands.
[0015] FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate the exemplary tool bit with one or
two grooves, respectively, in cross-sectional view and with the
compression band(s).
[0016] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an exemplary embodiment of a tool bit of
radial design.
[0017] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a conical tool
having a shank with compression bands positioned in holder.
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a radial tool having a
shank with compression bands positioned in a holder.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a side elevation illustrating a tool bit with a
single compression band and an optional o-ring arranged along the
shank.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] An exemplary embodiment of a tool bit with at least one,
alternatively two or more, compression bands arranged along a
length of the shank of the tool bit is schematically illustrated
(with and without the compression bands) in FIGS. 1-4. FIGS. 1 and
3 illustrate an exemplary tool bit with one or two grooves,
respectively, and without compression bands; FIGS. 2 and 4
illustrate another exemplary tool bit with one or two grooves,
respectively, in cross-sectional view and with compression band(s).
The illustrated tool bits 100 have a cutting head 102 at a front
end 104 with a cutting tip 106, a shank 108 at a rear end 110 and a
shoulder 112 at a transition between the front end 104 and the
shank 108. The cutting head 102, shoulder 112 and shank 108 are
arranged axially along an axis 114 of the tool bit 100. The shank
108 has an outermost surface 116 which is located, in a direction
normal from the axis 114, at a first radial distance R1.
[0021] One or more grooves 120 are disposed circumferentially about
a portion of the shank 108. For example, when there are two
grooves, a first groove 120a is disposed circumferentially about a
first portion of the shank 108 and a second groove 120b is disposed
circumferentially about a second portion of the shank 108 and the
first portion of the shank 108 is positioned axially rearward from
the second portion of the shank 108.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a compression band 130 is seated
in the groove(s) 120, 120a, 120b. At least a portion of an
outermost surface 132 of the compression band 130 is located, in a
direction normal from the axis 114, a second radial distance R2.
The second radial distance R2 is greater than the first radial
distance R1. The compression band 130 can be positioned in a
respective one of the grooves 120, 120a, 120b by, for example,
sliding the compression band 130 up the shank 108 from the rear end
122, in which case the compression band 130 radially expands to be
movable over the non-grooved portions of the shank 108 and then
radially contracts to sit in the groove 120, 120a, 120b.
Alternatively, the compression band 130 can have a slit forming two
ends which allows the compression band 130 to be opened and placed
around the shank 108 at any desired intermediate position along the
axial length, including directly into a groove 120, 120a, 120b.
[0023] The tool bits shown in FIGS. 1-4 are of a conical design,
but the features related to the grooves and the compression bands
disclosed and described in connection with FIGS. 1-4 can be equally
incorporated into a tool bit of radial design. For example, FIGS. 5
and 6 show an exemplary embodiment of a tool bit of radial design.
The radial tool bit 140 shown has a cutting head 142, a shank 144
with a substantially circular radial cross-section, grooves 150 for
the compression bands, and, when installed, compression bands 160.
The cutting head 142 and shank 144 are arranged axially along an
axis 146 of the radial tool bit 140. In FIGS. 5 and 6, compression
bands 160 are seated in each of the grooves 150 and the grooves 150
are not directly shown. The manner in which the compression bands
160 can be seated in the grooves 150 can be consistent with that
described herein for the tool bit of conical design. Where a tool
bit of radial design has a shank with a non-circular radial
cross-section, the compression band can be formed to accommodate
that shape and thereby be positioned within the grooves in
substantially the same way as that described above with respect to
the tool bit of conical design. In the example illustrated in FIGS.
4 and 5, two compression bands 160 are included, but one
compression band, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, or more
than two compression bands, can alternatively be utilized.
[0024] The shank 108, 144 with the compression bands 130, 160 is
adapted to fit into a bore of a holder, either directly or with an
intermediate hollow sleeve. An example of a sleeve includes that
disclosed and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/338,318 entitled "Bit Sleeve With Compression Band Retainers"
filed concurrently herewith, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference. Sleeves with compression bands
can also be utilized. The holder can be a block mounted on a
rotatable element of a machine for mining, excavating, tunneling,
road planing and/or construction (not shown), such as an Alpine
Miner mining machine available from Sandvik AB, or can be a bore
incorporated directly into such a rotatable element, such as in the
stump grinder disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,414, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0025] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a conical tool 200
having a shank 202 with compression bands 204 positioned in a
holder 206. The holder 206 can be of any suitable form. In the
illustrated example, the holder 206 includes a holder block having
a first bore 210 extending rearwardly from a forwardly oriented
front face and an intermediate sleeve 208 that is positioned in the
bore 210 of the holder 206. The shank 202 of the conical tool 200
is directly mounted in the bore 212 of this intermediate sleeve
208.
[0026] FIG. 7B is a magnified view of the shank 202 of the conical
tool 200 illustrating compression bands 204 and the position of the
compression bands 204 and the outermost surface 214 of the shank
202 relative to the inner diameter surface 220 of the bore 212. As
described herein, there is a difference A between the second radial
distance R2 associated with the outermost surface of the
compression band 204 and the first radial distance R1 associated
with the outermost surface 214 of the shank 202 (e.g., R2 is
greater than R1). This difference A results in at least a portion
of the outermost surface 214 of the shank 202, or alternatively a
majority of the length of the shank 202 or further alternatively
all of the length of the shank 202, not being in contact with the
inner diameter surface 220 of the bore 212. In preferred
embodiments where two compression bands 204 are used, the portion
of the shank 202 not in contact with the inner diameter surface 220
includes the portion of the shank 202 between the two compression
bands 204. This produces a space 230 between the shank 202 and the
inner diameter surface 220 of the bore 212.
[0027] As in the example illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the holder
can be mounted on a rotatable element of a machine for mining,
excavating, tunneling, road planing and/or construction (not
shown). Alternatively, the holder is a bore incorporated directly
into a rotatable element of a machine for mining, excavating,
tunneling, road planing and/or construction (not shown).
[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a radial tool 300 having a
shank 302 with compression bands 310 positioned in a bore 320
incorporated directly into a rotatable element 322. Similarly to
what is illustrated in FIG. 7B, FIG. 8 illustrates, in a magnified
view, the position of the compression bands 310 and the outermost
surface 304 of the shank 302 relative to the inner diameter surface
324 of the bore 320. The difference A between the second radial
distance R2 associated with the outermost surface of the
compression band and the first radial distance R1 associated with
the outermost surface of the shank (e.g., R2 is greater than R1)
results in at least a portion of the outermost surface 304 of the
shank 302, or alternatively a majority of the length of the shank
302 or further alternatively all of the length of the shank 302,
not being in contact with the inner diameter surface 324 of the
bore 320. In preferred embodiments where two compression bands 310
are used, the portion of the shank 302 not in contact with the
inner diameter surface 324 includes the portion of the shank 302
between the two compression bands 310. This produces a space 330
between the shank 302 and the inner diameter surface 324 of the
bore 320.
[0029] In exemplary embodiments, the compression bands are fitted
into grooves on the shank. One compression band is typically
located on the bottom (rear) of the tool and mates with a straight
bore section on the holder. The other compression band is located
on the top of the shank and also mates with the bore of the holder.
When one compression band is used, it can be at either the bottom
or the top location.
[0030] A tool bit with one or more compression bands as disclosed
herein is advantageous. For example, a tool bit with compression
bands does not rely on rectangular holes to prevent rotation. The
tool can have a shank with a cylindrical shape which fits into a
substantially round bore. Therefore the bore can be easily
drilled.
[0031] Also for example, the compression bands seal the space
between the shank of the tool bit and the bore, preventing any
water, moisture, dust or debris from entering that space. The
compression band towards the front end of the tool bit seals the
forward end of the space and the compression band seals the other,
rearward end of the space. Sealing the space in the holder between
the shank and the bore helps to prevent the major portion of
moisture and dust encountered during operation from getting between
the tool and the holder. This will help to prevent the surfaces
from rusting and freezing together. In addition, because of the
space created by the difference in radial distances, the metallic
materials of the shank and of the bore do not rust together.
[0032] Further for example, the compression bands reduce wear on
the holder (or intermediate sleeve) bore by absorbing vibration and
keeping the tool shank away from the bore surface.
[0033] An additional example is that the compliance of the
compression bands means the fit-up tolerance between the shank
dimensions and the bore dimensions can be wider than with a typical
interference press fit. This reduces manufacturing costs and
reduces scrap.
[0034] Furthermore, the material of the compression bands make the
tool bit easier to install and remove, while providing a secure
fit. Accordingly, there are reduced or no separate or loose pieces
to be concerned about. Separate pieces, such as nuts or retainers,
often get lost or damaged.
[0035] An exemplary embodiment of a compression band is
non-metallic and is formed of a compliant and resistant material.
For example, a preferred embodiment of a non-metallic, compliant
and resilient material consists essentially of nylon with embedded
glass fibers, the glass fibers present at from 10 to 50 vol %,
alternatively at about 30 vol %. Suitable nylon composite material
is glass-filled nylon 66 available as Ertalon 66.RTM.-GF30
available from, for example, Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products.
Another suitable nylon composite material is glass reinforced nylon
available as MolyGard wear rings from Zatkoff Seals & Packings
of Farmington Hills, Mich.
[0036] The material of construction of the compression bands
enables the bit sleeve to be installed into and removed from the
bore with relative ease (i.e., without binding or seizing) while
providing a secure fit that prevents the bit sleeve from walking
out of the bore as a result of the vibration imparted by the tool
bit. For example, one and preferably both compression bands are
made from a resilient abrasion-resistant material that is not
susceptible to corrosion or rust, for example, a nylon composite
material. In one variation, the compression bands are made from a
nylon composite material including glass in the composite.
[0037] Further, the resilience or compliance of the compression
bands enables the fit tolerance between the body and the bore to be
wider than is typically required for a compression fit, which
reduces manufacturing costs and scrap. Also, because the
compression bands are retained in the grooves on the body, there
are no separate parts that can be potentially lost or damaged.
[0038] The compression band maintains a space between most of the
shank outermost surface and the inner diameter surface of the bore,
thereby allowing none or only a small contact area between the
surface of the shank and the bore. The small contact area
substantially prevents the tool bit from locking together with the
bore of the holder (or intermediate sleeve).
[0039] When mounted in the bore, the compression bands have a
friction inducing contact with the inner surface of the bore. This
friction provides a force that counteracts rotational forces of the
tool bit when in operation. The value of this force is proportional
to the area of the contact and the compressive force resulting from
any differential in the radial size of the space in which the
compression band is located and the thickness of the compression
band itself. Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment, the rear
groove (and the rear compression band) can have a length in the
axial direction of the tool bit that is about twice as large as the
length in the axial direction of the front groove (and the front
compression band). Consequently, the rear compression band provides
more compressive force to retain the tool bit in the bore than the
front compression band , while the front compression band serves to
prevent the front portion of the shank from becoming locked against
the bore.
[0040] Although presently contemplated as preferably having two
grooves located on the shank, each of which has a compression band,
the inventors contemplate that a single compression band can be
utilized if it provides sufficient friction in contact with the
inner surface of the bore of the holder to overcome the centrifugal
and other forces generated when the tool bit is in use and thereby
to prevent rotation of the tool bit relative to the bore of the
holder. Accordingly, an optional o-ring can also be included. The
o-ring can assist in sealing one end of the shank, as discussed
herein with respect to the compression bands. FIG. 9 is a side
elevation illustrating a tool bit 400 with a single compression
band 402 and an optional o-ring 404 arranged along the shank 406.
However, the use of an o-ring is not limited to embodiments using a
single compression band. Further, although shown in FIG. 9 with
respect to a radial tool bit, a similar use and arrangement of
o-ring and compression band can be incorporated into conical tool
bits.
[0041] Although the present invention has been described in
connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, deletions,
modifications, and substitutions not specifically described may be
made without department from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *