BERNARD, André (811 rue du Moulin, St-Jean-Chrysostome, Québec J6Z 2Z2, CA)
| WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A tip for mounting to a saw tooth, wherein the tip comprising: a body having a first and second adjacent surfaces which intersect to define a cutting edge, and a coupling portion opposite the first surface for penetrating a receiving portion of the tooth during a welding process; the coupling portion having at least two coupling surfaces for contacting with the receiving portion of the tooth. 2. A tip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body has a generally doghouse shaped. 3. A tip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion includes at least one coupling element. 4. A tip as recited in claim 3, wherein the coupling element extends substantially along the coupling portion in a direction defined by the two side surfaces. 5. A tip as recited in claim 3, wherein the coupling element is a groove or a protrusion. 6. A tip as recited in claim 3, wherein the coupling element has a cross-section shape selected from the group consisting of a rectangle, a semi-circle and a triangle. 7. A tip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is generally convex. 8. A tip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is generally concave. 9. A tip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises first and second side surfaces, each extending from the second surface along the coupling portion. 10. A tip as recited in claim 9, wherein the coupling portion includes first and second coupling surfaces, each extending from a respective side surface therealong so as to define an obtuse angle therewith. 11. A tip as recited in claim 10, further comprising a third coupling surface adjacent both first and second coupling surfaces therebetween. 12. A tip as recited in claim 10, further comprising third and fourth coupling surfaces, each positioned between a respective side surface and a respective one of the first and second coupling surfaces. 13. A tip as recited in claim 9, wherein the coupling portion includes first and second coupling surfaces, each extending from a respective side surface therealong so as to define an acute angle therewith. 14. A tip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces define an acute angle. 15. A tip as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second adjacent surfaces is flat. 16. A tip as recited in claim 1 , which is made of a stellite™ alloy. 17. A tip as in claim 1 , which is made of a powder metallurgy material or a metal alloy. 18. A tip as in claim 1, which is mounted to the tooth by resistance welding. |
Saw Tooth Tip
BACKGROUND
[0001] It is well-known in the art of saw blade to provide the teeth of the blade with added tips made of a wear-resistant material to increase their longevity and performance.
[0002] The tip is made out of a rough block or body and can then be pre-defined before being assembled to the blade or sculpted directly onto the blade after assembly. In any case, the tip includes a flat surface from which the tip is attached to the blade by brazing.
[0003] A problem with these conventional tips and their method of assembly onto a blade's teeth is that it is often difficult to correctly position the tip during its assembly.
[0004] Another problem is the limited area offered by the contacting surface between the tip and the tooth for the filler material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the appended drawings:
[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a saw tooth tip according to a first embodiment;
[0007] Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the tip from Figure 1 before installation on a saw tooth; [0008] Figure 3 is back perspective view of the tip from Figure 1 mounted to the saw tooth;
[0009] Figure 4 is a side elevation of the saw tooth tip from Figure 1 mounted to the saw tooth;
[0010] Figure 5 is a top plan view taken along line 5-5 on Figure 4;
[0011] Figure 6 is a plan view taken along line 6-6 on Figure 4;
[0012] Figure 7 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a second embodiment;
[0013] Figure 8 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a third embodiment;
[0014] Figure 9 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a fourth embodiment;
[0015] Figure 10 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a fifth embodiment;
[0016] Figure 11 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a sixth embodiment;
[0017] Figure 12 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a seventh embodiment; [0018] Figure 13 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a eighth embodiment;
[0019] Figure 14 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a ninth embodiment;
[0020] Figure 15 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to a tenth embodiment; and
[0021] Figure 16 is a plan view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a saw tooth including a tip according to an eleventh embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals, and in order not to weigh down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure.
[0023] According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a tip for mounting to a saw tooth wherein the tip comprising:
[0024] a body having first and second adjacent surfaces which intersect to define a cutting edge, and a coupling portion opposite the first side surface for penetrating a receiving portion of the tooth during a welding process; the coupling portion having at least two coupling surfaces for contacting with the receiving portion of the tooth. [0025] The expression "saw" is to be construed herein broadly as to include circular saws, band-saws, rip saws, and any cutting tools provided with teeth.
[0026] The expression "surface" is also to be construed in its broadest sense as meaning an area delimited by edges. The area can be flat, convex, concave or irregular.
[0027] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction with the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one", but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one", and "one or more than one". Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a second or more.
[0028] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words
"comprising" (and any form of comprising, such as "comprise" and "comprises"), "having" (and any form of having, such as "have" and "has"), "including" (and any form of including, such as "include" and "includes") or "containing" (and any form of containing, such as "contain" and "contains"), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, un-recited elements.
[0029] A tip 10 for a saw tooth 12 according to a first embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.
[0030] The tip 10 is in the form of a generally doghouse shaped body made of stellite™ alloy and having opposite top and bottom surfaces 14 and 16, two side surfaces 18 extending longitudinally between the top and bottom portions 14 and 16, a front surface 20, which defines the cutting surface and which is adjacent both side surfaces 18 therebetween, and a multi-surface coupling portion 22 positioned opposite the front surface 20.
[0031] The top and cutting surfaces 14 and 20 intersect to define a cutting edge 24.
[0032] The two side surfaces 18 and the front surface 20 extend perpendicularly from the bottom surface 16. The front cutting surface 20 is longer than the coupling portion 22, yielding an acute angle α between the front cutting surface 20 and the top surface 14. Even though according to the first embodiment this angle α is 60 degrees, it can be different depending for example on the type of saw. Of course, the angle α is adapted to the mounting position of the tip 10 on the tooth 12 so as to yield a desired cutting angle. According to the first embodiment, the cutting angle corresponds to the angle α since the tip 10 is mounted to the tooth 12 so that the top surface 14 is parallel to the cutting direction of the saw (not shown).
[0033] The coupling portion 22 is positioned between the top and bottom surfaces 14 and 16, opposite the cutting surface 20 and between the two side surfaces.
[0034] The coupling portion 22 includes first and second coupling surfaces 26-28 each, each positioned adjacent a respective side surface 18 so as to extend along the shorter side thereof in a direction opposite the cutting surface 20. The body 10 is flattened at the intersection of the first and second coupling surfaces 26 and 28 so as to define a third narrow coupling surface 30 extending along the coupling portion 22 along the length of the body 10. [0035] Each of the first and second coupling surfaces 26 and 28 defines an obtuse angle with a respective side surface 18, yielding the doghouse shaped for the body 10.
[0036] The tip 10 is attached to the tooth portion 12 of a blade (not shown) by any well-known welding process, such as resistance welding. According to the first embodiment, a spot welding process is used to attach the tip 10 to the tooth portion 12 of the blade. An automatic system may be used to correctly bring into contact and position the tip 10 relatively to the tooth 12 during the welding process (see Figures 2 to 4 for example).
[0037] The portion of the tooth which receives the tip will be referred to herein as the receiving portion of the tooth. It is however to be noted that this receiving portion needs not to be prepared so as to be provided with a particular geometry to receive the tip 10 thereon.
[0038] According to the first embodiment, the tooth 12 and the blade are made of steel. According to another embodiment, and depending for example on the application, the blade and/or teeth 12 are made of another hard metal or alloy.
[0039] Even though the tip 10 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 as having a generally doghouse shaped cross section, it can have other shapes and sizes as will be described hereinbelow with reference to further embodiments.
[0040] Figure 7 illustrates a tip 32 according to a second embodiment; the tip being illustrated mounted to a saw blade tooth 12. [0041] Since the tip 32 is very similar to the tip 10, and for concision purposes, only the differences between these two tips 32 and 10, which concern the coupling portion 34, will be described herein.
[0042] The coupling portion 34 includes first and second intersecting coupling surfaces 36-38 each positioned adjacent a respective side surface 18 so as to extend therefrom in a direction opposite the cutting surface 20 so as to define an obtuse angle with the respective side surface 18. The first coupling surface 36 is narrower than the second coupling surface 38, causing the two surfaces 36-38 to intersect nearer one of the two side surfaces 18. The coupling portion 34 is therefore asymmetrical.
[0043] A tip 40 for a saw blade tooth 12 according to a third embodiment will now be described with reference to Figure 8. Since the tip 40 is very similar to the tip 10, and for concision purposes, only the differences between these two tips 40 and 10, which concern the coupling portion 42 thereof, will be described herein.
[0044] The coupling portion 42 includes first and second coupling surfaces 44 and 46 each extending from a respective side surface 18 generally parallel the cutting surface 20. A symmetrical triangular shaped elongated protrusion 48 extends along the coupling portion 42 in the middle thereof between the first and second coupling surfaces 44 and 46 defining third and fourth coupling surfaces 50 and 52.
[0045] A tip 54 for a saw blade tooth 12 according to a fourth embodiment will now be described with reference to Figure 9. Since the tip 54 is very similar to the tip 10, and for concision purposes, only the differences between these two tips 54 and 10 will be described herein. The differences between the tips 54 and 10 concern the coupling surface 56. [0046] While the coupling surfaces 22, 34 and 42 are convex; the coupling portion 56 is concave. However, as will now become more apparent to a person skilled in the art, the coupling surfaces 22, 34, 42 and 56 are all greater than a hypothetical plane surface extending between the two side surfaces 18 parallel the cutting surface 20.
[0047] Returning to Figure 9, the coupling surface 56 includes first and second coupling surfaces 58 and 60, each extending from a respective side surface 18 towards each other so as to intersect at equal distance from both side surfaces 18, yielding a symmetrical tip 54. The first and second coupling surfaces each defines an acute angle with the respective side surface 18, resulting in the general concave shape of the coupling portion 56.
[0048] A tip 62 for a saw blade tooth 12 according to a fifth embodiment will now be described with reference to Figure 10. Since the tip 62 is very similar to the tip 10, and for concision purposes, only the differences between the tips 62 and 10 will be described herein.
[0049] The tip 62 includes both adjacent acute longitudinal protrusion 64 and groove 66.
[0050] Figure 11 illustrates a tip 68 for a saw blade tooth according to a sixth embodiment. Since the tip 68 is very similar to the tip 10, and for concision purposes, only the differences between the tips 68 and 10 will be described herein.
[0051] The coupling portion 70 of the tip 68 includes first and second shoulder portions 72 each positioned adjacent a respective side surface 18 generally parallel to the cutting surface 20, and two slanted surfaces 74 together defining a symmetrical V-shaped portion which protrudes between the two shoulder portions 72. The two shoulder portions 72 and two slanted surfaces 74 define respectively first, second, third and fourth coupling surfaces.
[0052] Figures 12 to 16 show respectively a seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh embodiment of a tip 76-104 for a saw blade tooth 12.
[0053] Since the tips 76-104 are very similar to the tip 40, and for concision purposes, only the differences between each of these five tips 76-104 and the tip 40 will be described herein. All differences between these five tips 76-104 and the tip 40 concern their coupling portion.
[0054] The coupling portion 78 of the tip 76 illustrated in Figure 12 includes a longitudinal semi-circular protrusion 80, defining a first coupling surface 82, symmetrically positioned between two flat surfaces 84, each extending from a respective side surface 18 so as to be generally parallel with the cutting surface 20.
[0055] The coupling portion 88 of the tip 86 illustrated in Figure 13 is identical to the coupling portion 78 of the tip 76 with the difference that the longitudinal semi-circular protrusion is replaced by a semi-circular groove 90.
[0056] The coupling portion 94 of the tip 92 illustrated in Figure 14 is identical to the coupling portion 78 of the tip 76 with the difference that the longitudinal semi-circular protrusion 80 is replaced by a longitudinal rectangular protrusion 96.
[0057] Similarly, the coupling portion 100 of the tip 98 illustrated in
Figure 15 is identical to the coupling portion 94 of the tip 92 with the difference that the longitudinal rectangular protrusion is replaced by a rectangular groove 90.
[0058] Finally, Figure 16 shows a tip 104 for a saw blade tooth 12 similar to the tip 40 of Figure 8, with as a difference that the coupling portion 106 includes two longitudinal triangular shaped linear protrusions 108 which extend along the coupling portion 106, yielding seven (7) coupling surfaces.
[0059] Even though the two protrusions 108 are symmetrically positioned along the width of the coupling portion, their number, size and position may differ to those illustrated. For example, more than two similar or smaller longitudinal protrusion may be provided along the coupling portion. The configuration and size of adjacent protrusions may also differ. Moreover, as described hereinabove with reference to Figure 10, the coupling surface may be provided with a plurality of successive grooves, flat surfaces and protrusions in any order and combination.
[0060] According to a further embodiment (not shown), the coupling portion includes at least one groove, a protrusion or a combination thereof, which do not extend along the length of the coupling portion.
[0061] Also, even though all illustrated surfaces are flat, the coupling portion or any other portion of the tooth may include irregular surfaces.
[0062] According to a further embodiment (not shown), any one or both of the bottom and top surfaces includes a plurality of surfaces.
[0063] Even though the tips according to the previously described embodiments have been described as being made of stellite™ alloy, other hard wear-resistant materials can be used including: powder metallurgy materials metal alloys, steel or stellite™ amalgamated with pcd (polycrystalin diamond) etc.
[0064] A coupling portion provided with at least two coupling surfaces allows easing the penetration of the tip compared to a tip from the prior art which is provided with a single flat coupling surface.
[0065] Also, increasing the number of coupling surfaces allows increasing the overall contact surface between the tip and the tooth during welding.
[0066] Indeed, providing a groove, a protrusion, a combination thereof or any other coupling element on the coupling portion contributes to increasing the contact surface during welding compared with a conventional tip of a similar size provided with a single surface.
[0067] Centering of the tip is also made easier when it is provided with a coupling portion that includes edges compared with a tip provided with a single coupling surface.
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