Rotary cutterhead for an earth boring machine

Abstract

The main frame of the cutterhead comprises a plurality of radial spoke beams which are interconnected between a box-like hub structure and an annular box beam by which the cutterhead is mounted for rotation. Cutter mounting wells are defined by and between side wall portions of the radial spoke beams. The mined material passes rearwardly through the cutterhead via openings between adjacent radial spoke beams and open spaces in the cutter mounting wells. Cutter mounts span laterally between the side plate members and laterally brace the radial spoke beams in addition to mounting the cutters. The radial spoke beams curve rearwardly at their outer ends and connect to the annular box beam at a location spaced enough rearwardly from the front portions of the spoke beams that a room is defined within the cutterhead. Roller type cutters are installed onto and removed from the cutterhead frame from the rear side of the cutterhead.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A main frame for a rotary cutterhead of an earth boring machine, said main frame comprising: an annular box beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto an earth boring machine, for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a box-like hub structure comprising peripheral wall means defining a center space;   a plurality of radial spoke beams having inner ends which are integrally connected to the peripheral wall means of the hub structure and outer ends which are integrally connected to the annular box beam, each said radial spoke beam comprising a pair of spaced apart side plate members;   roller cutter mounts within said radial spoke beams comprising wall members which extend transversely of the radial spoke means and are integrally connected at their ends to the spaced apart side plate members, to also function as structural brace members for the radial spoke beams;   wherein the cutter mounts are adapted for installation and removal of roller cutters from the rear side of the cutterhead, and   wherein said main frame is configured to provide an interior space for a workman which is large enough to provide room for installation and removal of roller cutters from behind the cutterhead.   
     
     
       2. A main frame according to claim 1, wherein each radial spoke beam extends rearwardly as it extends radially outwardly from the hub structure to the annular box beam. 
     
     
       3. A main frame according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall means of the hub structure comprises six walls interconnected to give the hub structure a generally hexahedral form, and wherein the main frame comprises six radial spoke beams, with the inner ends of the radial spoke beams being connected to the hub structure generally at the corner regions where the walls of the hub structure meet each other. 
     
     
       4. A rotary cutterhead for an earth boring machine, comprising: a main frame comprising: an annular hollow box beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto an earth boring machine, for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a box-like hub structure comprising peripheral wall means defining a center space; and   a plurality of radial spoke beams having inner ends which are integrally connected to the peripheral wall means of the hub structure and outer ends which are integrally connected to the annular box beam, each said radial spoke beam comprising a pair of spaced apart side plate members defining spaces between them;     a center cutter assembly comprising a plurality of roller cutters and means mounting said roller cutters within the center space of the hub structure, with peripheral portions thereof projecting forwardly from the cutterhead main frame;   a plurality of roller cutters radially outwardly of said center cutter assembly and means for mounting them within the spaces between the side plate members, with peripheral portions thereof projecting forwardly from the cutterhead main frame;   wherein the means for mounting the roller cutters between the side plate members comprises wall members which extend transversely of the radial spoke means and are integrally connected at their ends to the spaced apart side plate members, to also function as structural brace members for the radial spoke beams;   wherein the means for mounting the roller cutters between the side plate members provide for installation and removal of the roller cutters from the rear side of the cutterhead; and   wherein said main frame is configured to provide an interior space for a workman which is large enough to provide room for installation and removal of the roller cutters from behind the cutterhead.   
     
     
       5. A rotary cutterhead according to claim 4, comprising roller gauge cutters generally at the periphery of the cutterhead, and wherein in the regions of the gauge cutters the side plate members of the radial spoke beams curve rearwardly generally over the interior space, and wherein such regions the means mounting the gauge cutters between the side plate members defines installation and removal paths which extend generally vertically in regions forwardly of the annular box beam. 
     
     
       6. A rotary cutterhead according to claim 4, wherein spaces exist between the radial spoke beams through which mined material may pass axially through the cutterhead. 
     
     
       7. A rotary cutterhead according to claim 4, wherein each radial spoke beam extends rearwardly as it extends radially outwardly from the hub structure to the annular box beam. 
     
     
       8. A rotary cutterhead according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall means of the hub structure comprises six walls interconnected to give the hub structure a generally hexahedral form, and wherein the main frame comprises six radial spoke beams, with the inner ends of the radial spoke beams being connected to the hub structure generally at the corner regions where the walls of the hub structure meet each other. 
     
     
       9. A rotary cutterhead for an earth boring machine, comprising: a main frame comprising: an annular beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto an earth boring machine, for rotation about an axis of rotation; and   a plurality of radial spoke beams, each comprising a pair of spaced apart side plate members defining spaces between them, said side plate members extending generally vertically at the front of the cutterhead and at their radially outer ends curving rearwardly;     a plurality of roller cutters and cutter mount means for mounting them within the spaces between the side plate members, with peripheral portions thereof projecting forwardly of the main frame, said roller cutters including a gauge cutter mounted between the generally rearwardly extending radially outer end portions of the side plate members of at least some of said radial spoke beams, said cutter mount means providing for installation and removal of the roller cutters from the rear side of the cutterhead, and wherein said main frame is configured to provide an interior space in the cutterhead that is large enough to provide room for installation and removal of said roller cutters from behind the cutterhead; and   wherein the cutter mount means for the gauge cutters define installation and removal paths which extend generally vertically in a region of such interior space that is located forwardly of the annular beam.   
     
     
       10. A rotary cutterhead according to claim 9, wherein said cutter mounts also function as transverse structural braces for the radial spoke beams. 
     
     
       11. A main frame for a rotary cutterhead of an earth boring machine, said main frame comprising: an annular box beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto an earth boring machine, for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a box-like hub structure comprising peripheral wall means defining a center space;   a plurality of radial spoke beams having inner ends which are integrally connected to the peripheral wall means of the hub structure and outer ends which are integrally connected to the annular box beam, each said radial spoke beam comprising a pair of spaced apart side plate members; and   wherein each radial spoke beam extends rearwardly of the hub structure as it extends radially outwardly from the hub structure to the annular box beam.   
     
     
       12. An earth boring machine, comprising: a cutterhead support including a relatively large central passageway;   bearing means on said cutterhead support surrounding said passageway;   a rotary cutterhead comprising: an annular box beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto said bearing, for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a box-like hub structure comprising peripheral wall means defining a center space; and   a plurality of radial spoke beams having inner ends which are integrally connected to the peripheral wall means of the hub structure and outer ends which are integrally connected to the annular box beam, each said radial spoke beam comprising a pair of spaced apart side plate members defining spaces between them;     a center cutter assembly comprising a plurality of roller cutters and center cutter mount means for detachably mounting said roller cutters within the center space of the hub structure, with peripheral portions thereof projecting forwardly from the cutterhead main frame, and providing for installation and removal of the roller cutters from behind the cutterhead; and   wherein spaces exist between the spoke beams through which mined material may pass axially through the cutterhead;   a plurality of roller cutters spaced radially outwardly of said center cutter assembly and cutter mount means for detachably mounting them within the spaces between the side plate members, with peripheral portions thereof projecting forwardly from the cutterhead main frame, and providing for installation and removal of the roller cutters from behind the cutterhead; and   mined material receiving collector means supported within said passageway, for movement between a forward position in which it is located partially within the inner space of the cutterhead, in a position to receive the mined material, and a retracted rearward position in which it is spaced far enough rearwardly from the center cutter assembly to provide sufficient room for installation and removal of the center cutter assembly into and out from the center space of the box-like hub structure.   
     
     
       13. A rotary cutterhead according to claim 12, comprising roller gauge cutters generally at the periphery of the cutterhead, and wherein in the regions of the gauge cutters the side plate members of the radial spoke beams curve rearwardly generally over the interior space, and wherein such regions the means mounting the gauge cutters between the side plate members defines installation and removal paths which extend generally vertically in regions forwardly of the annular box beam. .Iadd. 14. A main frame for a rotary cutterhead of an earth boring machine, said main frame comprising: an annular beam having mounting means by which the cutterhead is mounted onto the earth boring machine for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a central hub structure disposed forwardly of the annular beam; and   a plurality of radial spoke beams having inner ends integrally connected to the hub structure, intermediate portions extending rearwardly and radially outwardly from the hub structure to the annular beam and outer ends which are integrally connected to the annular beam thereby to form the main frame in a generally dome shape to define an open interior space within the main frame, each of the radial spoke beams having side portions defining an elongate opening extending substantially along the entire length of the beam and rearwardly entirely through the beam in the direction along the rotational axis of the cutterhead. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The main frame according to claim 14, wherein the annual beam is constructed in the form of a hollow box beam. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The main frame according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the hub structure is formed in a box-like shape having peripheral wall portions defining a central opening. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. The main frame according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the side portions of each of the radial spoke beams includes a pair of spaced apart side plate members. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. A main frame for a rotary cutterhead of an earth boring machine, said main frame comprising:   an annular beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto the earth boring machine for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a central hub structure disposed forwardly of the annular beam;   a plurality of radial spoke beams having inner ends integrally connected to the hub structure, intermediate portions extending rearwardly and radially outwardly from the hub structure to the annular beam and outer ends which are integrally connected to the annular beam thereby to form the main frame in a generally dome shape, each of the radial spoke beams having side portions defining an elongate opening extending through and substantially along the entire length of the beam; and   roller cutter mounts having members which extend transversely across the spoke beam elongate openings to intersect transverse portions of the beams to brace the beams. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. A rotary cutterhead for an earth boring machine, comprising:   a main frame having an annular beam by which the cutterhead is mounted on an earth boring machine for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a central hub structure disposed forwardly of the annular beam and including a central opening; and   a plurality of radial spoke beams having inner ends which are integrally connected to the hub structure and outer ends which are integrally connected to the annular beam, each of the radial spoke beams including side portions defining an elongate opening extending through and along substantially the entire length of the radial spoke beam;     roller cutter mounts within the radial spoke beams, the cutter mounts having members which extend transversely of the radial spoke beams to span across the radial spoke beam openings to form cutter compartments and to reinforce the radial spoke beams;   wherein the cutter mounts are adapted for installation and removal of roller cutters from the rear side of the cutterhead; and   wherein the main frame is configured to provide an interior space for a workman which is large enough to provide room for installation and removal of the roller cutters from behind the cutterhead. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. The rotary cutterhead according to claim 19, wherein the annular beam is formed generally in the shape of a hollow torus. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. The rotary cutterhead according to claim 19, wherein the side portions of each of the radial spoke beams includes a pair of spaced apart side plate members, the side plate members curving rearwardly as they extend radially outwardly from the hub structure to the annular beam. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. A rotary cutterhead according to claim 19, wherein   the roller cutter mounts mount roller gauge cutters at the periphery of the cutterhead;   the radial spoke beams in the regions of the gauge cutters curve rearwardly generally over the interior space of the main frame as they extend radially outwardly from the hub structure to the annular beam to form the cutterhead in a generally dome shape; and   the roller cutter mounts which mount the gauge cutters define generally vertical installation and removal paths at locations forwardly of the annular beam. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. The rotary cutterhead according to claim 19, further comprising a center cutter assembly having a plurality of roller cutters, and means for mounting the roller cutters within the center opening of the hub structure, with peripheral portions of the roller cutters projecting forwardly of the cutterhead main frame. .Iaddend.