Abstract
A chisel cutter for use with a saw chain, the chisel cutter having a heel having a coupling aperture, a toe having a coupling aperture, a gullet, a depth gauge, a side plate, and top plate; wherein the side plate forms a blade of a first length on the end proximal to the depth gauge, wherein after the first length of the blade, the top plate and side plate form a cutting corner, the top plate having an angled chisel extending therefrom; and wherein the depth gauge and the blade are in the same plane.
Claims
1. A saw chain tooth, comprising: a heel having a heel coupling aperture, a toe having a toe coupling aperture, a gullet formed between a depth gauge and a side plate, the side plate forming a cutting corner; wherein the depth gauge and the cutting corner are in the same vertical geometric plane.
2. The saw chain tooth of claim 1, wherein the cutting corner comprises a serrated edge.
3. A saw chain tooth, comprising: a heel having a heel coupling aperture, a toe having a toe coupling aperture, a gullet formed between a depth gauge and a side plate, and a top plate; wherein the side plate and the top plate form a cutting corner, the top plate having an angled chisel extending rearwardly from the cutting corner, and wherein the depth gauge and the cutting corner are in the same plane.
4. The saw chain tooth of claim 3, wherein the angled chisel is serrated.
5. A saw chain tooth, comprising: a heel having a coupling aperture, a toe having a coupling aperture, a gullet formed between a depth gauge and a side plate, and top plate; wherein the side plate forms a blade of a first length on an end proximal to the depth gauge, the top plate and side plate form a cutting corner with the top plate having an angled chisel extending from the cutting corner; and wherein the depth gauge and the blade are in the same vertical plane.
6. The saw chain tooth of claim 5, wherein the angled chisel extends rearwardly from the cutting corner, forming an obtuse angle between the blade and the top plate.
7. The saw chain tooth of claim 5, wherein the angled chisel extends forwardly from the cutting corner, forming an acute angle between the blade and the top plate.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scoring cutter;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chisel cutter;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a chisel cutter with a serrated chisel;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a chisel cutter with a side-plate-forming blade and a serrated chisel;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a chisel cutter with a side-plate-forming blade and an acute-angled cutting corner;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a saw chain;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a saw chain;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a saw chain;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a saw chain;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a saw chain cutting a kerf in wood;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional end elevation view of a scoring blade a kerf in wood;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional end elevation view of a saw chain cutting a kerf in wood;
[0023] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional end elevation view of a saw chain cutting a kerf in wood; and
[0024] FIG. 14 is a detailed cutaway view of a saw chain cutting a kerf in wood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not to be considered limiting in scope. Any reference herein to the invention is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to one embodiment, an embodiment, various embodiments, and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase in one embodiment, or in an embodiment, do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
[0026] Reference to the drawings is done throughout the disclosure using various numbers. The numbers used are for the convenience of the drafter only and the absence of numbers in an apparent sequence should not be considered limiting and does not imply that additional parts of that particular embodiment exist. Numbering patterns from one embodiment to the other need not imply that each embodiment has similar parts, although it may.
[0027] Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad, ordinary, and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article a is intended to include one or more items. When used herein to join a list of items, the term or denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. For exemplary methods or processes, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive.
[0028] It should be understood that the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence, arrangement, or with any particular graphics or interface. Indeed, the steps of the disclosed processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
[0029] The term coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, coupled may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
[0030] The terms comprising, including, having, and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as open terms (e.g., the term including should be interpreted as including, but not limited to, the term having should be interpreted as having at least, the term includes should be interpreted as includes, but is not limited to, etc.).
[0031] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a saw chain tooth 100 (also referred to as a scoring tooth) comprises a heel 102 having a heel coupling aperture 104, a toe 106 having a toe coupling aperture 108, a gullet 110 formed between a depth gauge 112 and a side plate 114, the side plate 114 forming a cutting corner 116. The depth gauge 112 and the cutting corner 116 are in the same vertical geometric plane so that the depth gauge 112 enters a scoring groove formed by the cutting corner 116, the scoring groove located within the kerf. Because the cutting corner 116 and the depth gauge 112 are in the same vertical plane, the depth gauge gauges from the scoring groove within the kerf, rather than the kerf itself. Gauging from the scoring groove is an improvement over the art, as it allows a chisel blade to more effectively create a kerf
[0032] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a saw chain tooth 200 (also referred to as a chisel tooth) comprises a heel 202 having a heel coupling aperture 204, a toe 206 having a toe coupling aperture 208, a gullet 210, a depth gauge 212, a side plate 214, and top plate 216. The side plate 214 and the top plate 216 form a cutting corner 218. The top plate 216 has an angled chisel 220 extending rearwardly from the cutting corner 218 at about a 45-degree angle (although numerous angles may be used). The depth gauge 212 and the cutting corner 218 are in the same vertical geometric plane, which allows the top plate 216 to more effectively remove wood and debris, creating the kerf faster and more efficiently than prior art teeth whose depth gauges gauge from the middle of the kerf instead. As shown in FIG. 3, a saw chain tooth 300 comprises a heel 302 having a heel coupling aperture 304, a toe 306 having a toe coupling aperture 308, a gullet 310, a depth gauge 312, a side plate 314, and top plate 316. The side plate 314 and the top plate 316 form a cutting corner 318. The top plate 316 has an angled, serrated chisel 320 extending rearwardly from the cutting corner 318 at about a 45-degree angle. As prior embodiments, the depth gauge 312 and the cutting corner 318 are in the same vertical geometric plane, which allows the top plate 416 to remove more wood and debris from the kerf. Further, the serrated chisel 320 allows for more efficient creation of the kerf in wood because of the serrations, which create varying impact points and thereby allow for easier penetration of the woodinstead of a solid chisel impacting at once. This is an improvement over the prior art, as saw chain teeth in the art are not serrated.
[0033] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a saw chain tooth 400 comprises a heel 402 having a heel coupling aperture 404, a toe 406 having a toe coupling aperture 408, a gullet 410, a depth gauge 412, a side plate 414, and top plate 416. The side plate 414 forms a blade 418 of a first length on the end proximal to the depth gauge 412, wherein after the first length of the blade 418, the top plate 416 and side plate 414 form a cutting corner 420. The top plate 416 has an angled chisel 422 extending rearwardly (away from the depth gauge) from the cutting corner 420, creating an obtuse angle between the angled chisel 422 and the blade 418. The blade 418 enters the scoring groove within the kerf and is capable of cutting a deeper scoring groove, as gauged by the depth gauge 412. Despite the top plate 416 removing wood and debris from the kerf, the scoring groove is never completely removed due to the depth gauge 412 (as best seen in FIGS. 11-13). In other words, the angled chisel 422 is not able to clear wood as deep as the scoring groove within the kerf. However, the scoring groove is made deeper with the passing of each saw chain tooth 400 in the chain, and because the depth gauge 412 gauges from the scoring groove, the angled chisel 422 is able to remove significantly more wood and debris from the kerf. In other words, the depth gauge of the subsequent saw chain tooth enters the scoring groove created by the previous saw chain tooth.
[0034] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a saw chain tooth 500 comprises a heel 502 having a heel coupling aperture 504, a toe 506 having a toe coupling aperture 508, a gullet 510, a depth gauge 512, a side plate 514, and top plate 516. The side plate 514 forms a blade 518 of a first length on the end proximal to the depth gauge 512, wherein after the first length of the blade 518, the top plate 516 and side plate 514 form a cutting corner 520. The top plate 516 has an angled chisel 522 extending forwardly (toward the depth gauge 512) from the cutting corner 520, wherein the angle (i.e., the cutting corner 520) created by the angled chisel 522 and the blade 518 is an acute angle. The acute angle of the cutting corner 520 compensates for the forces on the blade 518. In other words, as the blade 518 impacts the wood, the blade 518, and tooth 500 in general, is biased in a first direction. As the acute-angled cutting corner 520 impacts the wood, it biases the tooth 500 in a second, opposite direction, to help keep the tooth 500 cutting straight.
[0035] FIGS. 6-7 illustrate a saw chain 600 comprising a plurality of saw chain teeth. In one non-limiting example, as shown, the saw chain 600 may comprise scoring teeth 100 and chisel teeth 400. The scoring teeth 100 and the chisel teeth 400 are coupled using coupling links 602 and drive links 604, which are well-known in the art. As shown, a scoring tooth 100 is on each side of the chain 600. Each scoring tooth cuts a scoring groove in the wood. A chisel tooth 400 is also located on each side of the chain 600. As best shown in FIGS. 10-13, the depth gauge 412 of each chisel tooth 400 enters the scoring groove cut by the scoring teeth 100, with the top plate 416 removing the wood between the two scoring grooves, which creates the kerf in the wood. However, the top plate is not able to cut to the full depth of the scoring grooves due to the depth gauge of the chisel tooth 400 within the scoring groove. However, because the depth gauge enters the scoring groove, the wood is more easily removed between the two scoring grooves by the top plate 416. For example, as shown in FIGS. 11-14, a first scoring tooth 100 creates (or deepens) a first scoring groove 702 and a second scoring tooth 100 creates (or deepens) a second scoring groove 704, which forms a peak 706 of wood interposed between the two scoring grooves 702, 704. The depth gauge 412 of the chisel tooth 400 then enters the scoring groove and the top plate 416, which forms the angled chisel 422, then removes the majority of the peak 706 of wood. It is noted that the entire peak 706 is not removed and that scoring grooves 702, 704 remain even after the chisel tooth 400 has passed through the kerf. While FIG. 13 illustrates the angled chisel 422 as being parallel with the horizon, it will be appreciated that it may be angled as well.
[0036] Referring back to FIGS. 8-9, a saw chain may comprise scoring teeth 100 and chisel teeth 300. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that any combination of teeth may be used on a chain, which may include scoring teeth, chisel teeth, or any combination of scoring teeth and chisel teeth.
[0037] Exemplary embodiments are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages herein.
