Adapter system for cutting tooth

Abstract

A tooth system for a cutter head includes a tooth member comprising a cutting portion and a mounting portion with at least one curved surface, a holder comprising a receiving portion with a curved surface complementary to the at least one curved surface of the tooth member, the receiving portion for receiving the mounting portion of the tooth member. The mounting portion of the tooth member detachably engages the holder such that when engaged, the at least one curved surface of the tooth member and the receiving portion curved surface contact each other at a contact area.

Claims

1. A tooth system for a cutter head, the tooth system comprising; a tooth member comprising a cutting portion and a mounting portion with at least one curved surface, a holder comprising a receiving portion comprising a cavity with an opening at a front of the holder and extending longitudinally in the holder, the cavity with a curved surface complementary to the at least one curved surface of the tooth member, the cavity of the receiving portion for receiving the mounting portion of the tooth member through the opening and in a sliding rotational movement into and through the cavity for engagement of the tooth member with the holder, wherein the mounting portion of the tooth member detachably engages the holder such that when engaged, the at least one curved surface of the tooth member and the receiving portion curved surface contact each other at a contact area, the contact area comprising opposite curved surfaces which are parallel to each other, and wherein the cavity surrounds the mounting portion of the tooth and supports the tooth member such that any movement or rotation of the tooth member other than a movement for disengagement of the tooth member is prevented when engaged.

2. The tooth system according to claim 1, wherein the contact area comprises a single-curved portion.

3. The tooth system according to claim 2, wherein the mounting portion has a longitudinal axis and the contact area has an axis of curvature that extends perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis.

4. The tooth system according to claim 1, wherein the contact area has a radius r, the tooth member having a length l, wherein a ratio r/l is between 3 and 7.

5. The tooth system according to claim 4, wherein a ratio r/l is about 5.

6. The tooth system according to claim 1, wherein the opposite curved surfaces of the contact area have an identical or nearly identical radius r.

7. The tooth system according to claim 1, wherein the cutting portion extends transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tooth member.

8. The tooth system according to claim 1, wherein the cavity has a T-shaped cross section.

9. The tooth system according to claim 1, wherein the holder is undivided.

10. The tooth system according to claim 1, comprising stops for defining a mounting position of the tooth member with respect to the holder.

11. A cutter head comprising a tooth system according to claim 1.

12. A tooth member for a cutter head tooth system, the tooth member comprising a mounting portion with a curved lower surface extending the length of the tooth member in the longitudinal direction of the tooth member, and a cutting portion extending transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tooth member, the tooth member detachably connectable to a holder with a complementary curved surface in a receiving portion by sliding into the holder through an opening in a front of the holder extending longitudinally into the holder such that a cavity in the holder surrounds the mounting portion of the tooth member and supports the tooth member such that any movement or rotation of the tooth member other than a movement for disengagement of the tooth member is prevented when engaged.

13. A method of connecting a tooth to a holder of a tooth system for a cutter head, the method comprising; engaging a tooth mounting portion with at least one curved surface to a holder receiving portion comprising a cavity with an opening at a front of the holder and extending longitudinally in the holder, the cavity with a complementary curved surface to the at least one curved surface, the cavity to receive the tooth mounting portion through the opening and in a sliding rotational movement into and through the cavity for engagement of the tooth member with the holder, wherein the cavity surrounds the mounting portion and supports the tooth such that any movement or rotation of the tooth other than a movement for disengagement of the tooth is prevented when the tooth is secured to the holder, wherein the at least one curved surface and the complementary curved surface contact each other at a contact area when the tooth is secured to the holder, the contact area comprising opposite curved surfaces which are parallel to each other; and, using the tooth as part of a cutter head operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be further elucidated referring to a prior art tooth system and an embodiment shown in the schematic drawings wherein shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 in side view a prior art tooth system;

(3) FIG. 2 a perspective view of a tooth system according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 a side view of the tooth system of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 a side view of a tooth member of a tooth system of FIG. 2; and

(6) FIG. 5 a perspective view of a tooth member of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 shows in side view a prior art tooth system. A tooth member is held in a holder. The tooth only translates in the holder towards its mounting position. The tooth is shown in its mounting position.

(8) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a tooth system 1 according to the invention for use on a cutter head (not shown).

(9) The tooth system 1 comprises a tooth member 2. The tooth member 2 comprises a cutting portion 4 that engages the ground during cutting operations. The cutting portion 4 faces away from the cutter head. Here, the cutting portion 4 extends transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis 7 of the tooth member 2.

(10) The tooth member 2 comprises a mounting portion 5. During use of the tooth system 1, the mounting portion 5 faces towards the cutter head.

(11) The tooth system 1 comprises a holder 3 for connecting the tooth member 2 to the cutter head. Therefore the holder 3 comprises a receiving portion 11. The receiving portion 11 is configured for receiving the mounting portion 5 of the tooth member 2. The holder 3 itself is mounted with the cutting head in any suitable manner like e.g. by welding. In this case, the holder 3 is undivided.

(12) The mounting portion 5 of the tooth member 2 has at least one curved surface 6. The mounting portion 5 of the tooth member 2 has a longitudinal axis 7. The curved surface 6 of the mounting portion 5 has an axis of curvature that extends perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis 7. Here, the curved surface 6 has a radius r. The tooth member 2 has a length l of for example 30 cm. The ratio r/l is between 3 and 7.

(13) As is shown in FIG. 4, the length l of the tooth member mounting portion 5 is defined as the chord between the ends of the curved surface 6.

(14) The receiving portion 11 has a curved surface 12b. The receiving portion curved surface 12b is complementary to the at least one curved surface 6 of the tooth member 2.

(15) The mounting portion 5 of the tooth member 2 detachably engages the holder 3. When the mounting portion 5 of the tooth member 2 engages the holder 3, the at least one curved surface 6 of the tooth member 2 and the receiving portion curved surface 12b contact each other at a contact area. In other words the curved surface 6 of the tooth member 2 and the receiving portion curved surface 12b contact along an area that is referred to as contact area. Said in another way, when the tooth member 2 is in its mounting position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the overlap between the curved surface 6 of the tooth member 2 and the receiving portion curved surface 12b, determines the contact area. Here, the contact area is a single curved area.

(16) The holder 3 has two complementary curved surfaces 12a, 12b in a receiving portion 11. The two complementary curved surfaces 12a, 12b, in other words opposite curved surfaces 12a, 12b, have identical or nearly identical radii r. The two complementary curved surfaces 12a, 12b, extend parallel with respect to each other.

(17) The at least one curved surface 6 of the tooth member 2 and the receiving portion curved surface 6 are configured such that the tooth member 2 rotates upon engaging of the tooth member 2 with the holder 3.

(18) The tooth system 1 has stops 9, 10 for defining the mounting position of the tooth member 2 with respect to the holder 3.

(19) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a tooth member 2 for a cutter head tooth system 1 of FIGS. 2 and 3. The mounting portion 5 has two curved surfaces 6 and 6b. The two curved surfaces 6 and 6b extend opposite. The two curved surfaces 6 and 6b extend parallel. The two curved surfaces 6 and 6b make up a curved flange. The curved flange extends along the longitudinal axis 7 and has an axis of curvature transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis 7. The mounting portion 5 has additional contact surfaces 6a and 6c that extend transverse with respect to the curves surfaces 6 and 6b.

(20) The mounting portion 5 of the tooth member 2 has two complementary curved surfaces 6a, 6b. The two complementary curved surfaces 6a, 6b, in other words opposite curved surfaces 6a, 6b, have identical or nearly identical radii r. The two complementary curved surfaces 6a, 6b, extend parallel with respect to each other.

(21) The mounting portion 5 has a T-shaped cross section. As shown best in FIG. 2, the receiving portion 11 of the holder 3 comprises a cavity 13 with a complementary T-shaped cross section.

(22) When the tooth member 2 is in its mounting position, the contact surfaces 6, 6a, 6b and 6c engage the holder 3 in order to fixedly connect the tooth member 2 to the cutting head. The tooth member 2 is detachably connectable to the holder 3.

(23) During connecting a tooth member 2 to a holder 3 of a tooth system 1 for a cutter head, the method comprising; engaging a tooth mounting portion 5 with a curved surface 6 to a holder 3 receiving portion with a complementary curved surface to secure the tooth member 2 to the holder 3; and, using the tooth system 1 as part of a cutter head operation.

(24) As an option, the engaging a tooth mounting portion 5 to a holder receiving portion comprises slidably engaging with a rotating movement.

(25) It will also be obvious after the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person which are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and which are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.