Grinding member for buttons on rock drill bit

Abstract

The present invention provides a grinding member ( 2 ) or connection to a drive connection member ( 3 ) to form a grinding cup for grinding the hard metal inserts or working tips of drill bits (percussive or rotary), tunnel boring machine cutters (TBM) and raised bore machine cutters (RBM) to restore them to substantially their original profile, said grinding member having: a. a grinding section ( 4 ) having top ( 8 ) and bottom surfaces ( 10 ), a centrally disposed convex recess ( 7 ) formed in the bottom surface of said grinding section having the desired profile to be ground; b. a support section ( 9 ) adjacent the top surface ( 8 ) of said grinding section; c. means ( 13 ) to connect the grinding member to the drive connection member wherein the grinding member can be disconnected from the drive connection member when it becomes worn.

1 . A grinding member for connection to a drive connection member for grinding the hard metal inserts or working tips of drill bits (percussive or rotary), tunnel boring machine cutters (TBM) and raised bore machine cutters (RBM) to restore them to substantially their original profile, said grinding member having (a) a grinding section having top and bottom surfaces, a centrally disposed convex recess formed in the bottom surface of said grinding section having the desired profile to be ground; (b) a support section adjacent the top surface of said grinding section; and (c) means to connect the grinding member to the drive connection member wherein the grinding member can be disconnected from the drive connection member when it becomes worn.  
   
   
       2 . A drive connection member according to  claim 1  having a first section adapted for connection to said grinding member and a second section adapted to detachably connect to the output drive shaft of a grinding machine.  
   
   
       3 . A grinding cup for grinding the hard metal inserts or working tips of drill bits (percussive or rotary), tunnel boring machine cutters (TBM) and raised bore machine cutters (RBM) to restore them to substantially their original profile, comprising a separate grinding member for connection to a drive connection member, said grinding member having (a) a grinding section having top and bottom surfaces, a centrally disposed convex recess formed in the bottom surface of said grinding section having the desired profile to be ground; (b) a support section adjacent the top surface of said grinding section; and (c) means to connect the grinding member to a separate drive connection member wherein the grinding member can be disconnected from the drive connection member when it becomes worn and wherein said drive connection member has a first section adapted for connection to said grinding member and a second section adapted to detachably connect to the output drive shaft of a grinding machine.  
   
   
       4 . A grinding member according to  claim 1  wherein the means to connect the grinding member to the drive connection member drive has a longitudinally extending stub and wherein the first section of said drive connection member has an outer wall that defines a recess adapted to receive said stub on the grinding member.  
   
   
       5 . A drive connection member according to  claim 2  wherein the second section has engagement surfaces sized and shaped to substantially match contact areas on the output drive shaft of the grinding machine or any adapter connecting said drive connection member to the output drive shaft of a grinding machine.  
   
   
       6 . A drive connection member according to  claim 2  wherein said second section consists of a drive section and a support section.  
   
   
       7 . A drive connection member according to  claim 6  wherein said drive section consists of cam means sized to engage with a diametrically extending slot in said output drive shaft, said cam means having an upper surface, opposite side walls and end walls; and wherein said support section comprises a hollow vertical upright stem centrally located on the upper surface of the cam means.  
   
   
       8 . A drive connection member according to  claim 2  wherein said drive section consists of a centrally disposed cavity shaped and sized to permit the drive connection member to be detachably connected directly or indirectly by an adapter to the output drive shaft of the grinding machine and rotated during the grinding operation wherein an end portion of the output drive shaft or adapter is adapted to fit within the corresponding sized centrally disposed cavity and driveably engage within said cavity, said cavity having a drive section and one or more support sections.  
   
   
       9 . A drive connection member according to  claim 2  wherein the drive connection member is aligned with and connected to the output drive shaft by a threaded connection.  
   
   
       10 . A drive connection member according to  claim 6  wherein non-metallic materials are used on the contact surfaces between the drive connection member and the grinding member.  
   
   
       11 . A drive connection member according to  claim 2  wherein non-metallic materials are used on the contact surfaces between the drive connection member and the output drive shaft.  
   
   
       12 . A grinding member according to  claim 1  wherein non-metallic materials are used on the contact surfaces between the drive connection member and the grinding member.  
   
   
       13 . A grinding cup according to  claim 3  wherein the means to connect the grinding member to the drive connection member drive has a longitudinally extending stub and wherein the first section of said drive connection member has an outer wall that defines a recess adapted to receive said stub on the grinding member.  
   
   
       14 . A grinding cup according to  claim 13  wherein the second section of said drive connection member has engagement surfaces sized and shaped to substantially match contact areas on the output drive shaft of the grinding machine or any adapter connecting said drive connection member to the output drive shaft of a grinding machine.  
   
   
       15 . A grinding cup according to  claim 13  wherein said second section of the drive connection member consists of a drive section and a support section.  
   
   
       16 . A grinding cup according to  claim 15  wherein said drive section of the drive connection member consists of cam means sized to engage with a diametrically extending slot in said output drive shaft, said cam means having an upper surface, opposite side walls and end walls; and said wherein said support section comprises a hollow vertical upright stem centrally located on the upper surface of the cam means.  
   
   
       17 . A grinding cup according to  claim 15  wherein said drive section of the drive connection member consists of a centrally disposed cavity shaped and sized to permit the drive connection member to be detachably connected directly or indirectly by an adapter to the output drive shaft of the grinding machine and rotated during the grinding operation wherein an end portion of the output drive shaft or adapter is adapted to fit within the corresponding sized centrally disposed cavity and driveably engage within said cavity, said cavity having a drive section and one or more support sections.  
   
   
       18 . A grinding cup according to  claim 3  wherein non-metallic materials are used on the contact surfaces between the drive connection member and the grinding member.  
   
   
       19 . A grinding cup according to  claim 3  wherein non-metallic materials are used on the contact surfaces between the drive connection member and the output drive shaft.  
   
   
       20 . A grinding cup according to  claim 3  wherein the drive connection member and grinding member are connected to provide alignment between the convex recess in the grinding section of the grinding member and the first and second sections of the drive connection member.  
   
   
       21 . A drive connection member according to  claim 2  wherein the drive connection member is manufactured from materials not compatible with the manufacturing process of the grinding member.  
   
   
       22 . A drive connection member according to  claim 21  wherein the drive connection member is manufactured from non-metallic materials.