Adapter and wear tool comprising same

Abstract

An adapter is provided for presenting a diamond composite, such as a TSDC, which is bonded therein by a metal matrix composite material. The adapter body is suitable to be received in a complimentary mount formed on a wear face of a wear tool. The approach described allows for machining of individual adapters to provide a precise fit within the wear tool mount without the need for challenging machining of the diamond composite or overcoming the difficulties in precisely bonding multiple diamond composites into their complimentary mounts.

1 . An adapter for presenting a diamond composite, the adapter comprising:
 (a) a body defining a recess; and   (b) a diamond composite bonded within the recess by a metal matrix composite material, wherein the adapter body is configured to be directly received within a complimentary mount formed on a wear face of a wear tool.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the diamond composite is bonded to a surface of the recess via the metal matrix composite material. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the metal matrix composite material forms a layer between the diamond composite and the surface of the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the adapter body is configured to be releasably received in the complimentary mount of the wear tool. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter of  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the adapter body is configured to be received in the complimentary mount of the wear tool by machining an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the metal matrix composite material forms a bonding layer between the diamond composite and the recess. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter of  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the adapter body is formed from steel. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  any one of the preceding claims , wherein at least one of (i) to (iv) following is the case:
 (i) the adapter body is configured to be in direct contact with a wall of the complimentary mount once it is received within the complimentary mount;   (ii) the adapter body is configured to abut against a wall of the complimentary mount once it is received within the complimentary mount;   (iii) the adapter body is configured to be frictionally engaged with a wall of the complimentary mount once it is received within the complimentary mount; and   (iv) the diamond composite presents an outward facing region having at least one angular face.   
     
     
         9 . A wear tool comprising:
 (a) a tool body comprising at least one mount disposed on the tool body; and   (b) an adapter comprising a body defining a recess and a diamond composite bonded within the recess by a metal matrix composite material, wherein the adapter body is directly received within the at least one mount.   
     
     
         10 . The wear tool of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one mount of the tool body is complimentary to the adapter body. 
     
     
         11 . The wear tool of  claim 9 or claim 10 , wherein the tool body comprises a plurality of mounts each of which has received such an adapter. 
     
     
         12 . The wear tool of any one of  claim 9 to claim 11 , wherein the adapter body is fittingly engaged with the mount in which it is received. 
     
     
         13 . The wear tool of  claim 12 , wherein the fitting engagement is an interference fit. 
     
     
         14 . The wear tool of any one of  claim 9 to claim 13 , wherein the adapter body is received within the mount such that the diamond composite extends beyond a wear face of the wear tool in which the mount is disposed. 
     
     
         15 . The wear tool of any one of  claim 9 to claim 14 , wherein the wear tool is a wear tool having a wear face which presents, or is adapted to present, a plurality of mounts for receiving the adapters and bonded diamond composites of any one of  claim 1 to claim 8 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of preparing a wear tool including the steps of:
 (a) providing an adapter comprising a body defining a recess, and a diamond composite bonded within the recess by a metal matrix composite material;   (b) providing a tool including a tool body comprising at least one mount, which is complimentary to the adapter body, disposed on the tool body; and   (c) locating the adapter body directly within the at least one mount of the tool body, to thereby prepare the wear tool.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the adapter is located within the at least one mount of the tool body in an interference fit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the locating is a press fit step to provide an interference fit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of any one of  claim 16 to claim 18 , further comprising the step (bi) of modifying the adapter body to the tool body at least one mount prior to step (c). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the modifying is a machining of the adapter body. 
     
     
         21 . The method of any one of  claim 16 to claim 20 , wherein the tool body comprises a plurality of mounts. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a separate adapter is located within each of a plurality of the mounts of the tool body. 
     
     
         23 . A method of breaking rock including the steps of:
 (a) providing a wear tool including a tool body comprising at least one mount disposed within the tool body and an adapter directly received within the at least one mount, the adapter comprising a body defining a recess and a diamond composite bonded within the recess with a matrix metal composite material; and   (b) contacting the rock with the wear tool, to thereby break the rock.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the wear tool is as defined in any one of  claim 9 to claim 15 .