Abstract: A cutter assembly includes a disc subassembly rotatably mounted on a shaft with bearing assemblies, and end retainers. The disc subassembly includes a first hub member having a tubular portion that houses the bearing assemblies and an outer flange portion, a second hub member that slidably engages the tubular portion, and an annular cutter ring, preferably formed from a tool steel, and optionally formed in a plurality of segments. The first and second hub members define a channel that receives and clampingly engages a rectangular inner base portion of the cutter ring. The clamping force is provided by a plurality of bolts that join the first and second hub members, while the flange portion of the first hub member remains separated from the second hub member by a gap (S). In an embodiment the cutter ring includes a carbide core.

Abstract: A blade, which is useful on a tool that impinges earth strata, that has a blade body with a leading surface. The blade body has a first portion defining at least a part of the leading surface and a second portion. The first portion is made of a first material composition and the second portion is made of a second material composition.

Abstract: A blade assembly including a shank and a bit head. The shank includes elements for mounting the bit head. The bit head includes one or more disk-shaped bit members, which rotate during a drilling/boring operation and which have an outer rim thereof working as an actual cutting face in drilling/boring. The rotary bit member included in the bit head is disposed at an angle of less than 45° relative to a drilled surface.

Abstract: A cutter for a tunnel boring machine is equipped with a cutter body (1) with a slanting surface (2), a cylindrical contact surface (12) and a preferably tapered threaded portion with specially designed threads (6), a clamping ring (4) with threads adapted to the cutter body's threads with a slanting surface (5) with a groove (13) with a spring (14). The cutter has an undivided (3) or divided cutter ring (with segments 3a, 3b) with a cross section with slanting lateral surfaces (7, 8) in the foot and a cylindrical contact surface (11). The diameter of the cutter ring's cylindrical contact surface (11) has a clearance tolerance relative to the diameter of the cylindrical contact surface (12) of the cutter body.

Abstract: A tunnel boring including a rotatable head is disclosed. The head has a cutting face transverse to a head axis of rotation. A plurality of cutters are mounted in the face each on an associated one of a plurality of hubs. The hubs mounted for rotation about a respective hub axes. Each such respective hub axis is in an imaginary plane intersecting another imaginary plane including the head axis. Each of the cutters has a cutting edge symmetrical about another imaginary plane which is skewed with respect to the respective hub axis of the associated hub.

Abstract: The invention provides an excavation bit, which is constructed from either a single or double carrier. If two carriers are present the carriers are contra-rotating. By the off setting of the axes of rotation of single or dual carriers from a longitudinal axis of the bit, and by driving to carriers to rotate, a ground engaging thrust is produced, as well as the rotation of the excavation bit in the ground as a consequence of the rotation of the carriers, and not vice versa as is the case with prior art. By the invention, there can result sufficient thrust on the bit, by the rotation of the carriers, so that the need to apply thrust down the bore via the drill rod is reduced or eliminated. As a result of the invention the number and or size of the ground engaging tools are not a function of the bore diameter to be drilled. Thus as the excavation bit is scaled up for larger diameter bores more ground engaging tools and or an increase in their size is not required.

Abstract: The invention provides an excavation bit, which is constructed from either a single or double carrier. If two carriers are present the carriers are contra-rotating. By the off setting of the axes of rotation of single or dual carriers from a longitudinal axis of the bit, and by driving to carriers to rotate, a ground engaging thrust is produced, as well as the rotation of the excavation bit in the ground as a consequence of the rotation of the carriers, and not vice versa as is the case with prior art. By the invention, there can result sufficient thrust on the bit, by the rotation of the carriers, so that the need to apply thrust down the bore via the drill rod is reduced or eliminated. As a result of the invention the number and or size of the ground engaging tools are not a function of the bore diameter to be drilled. Thus as the excavation bit is scaled up for larger diameter bores more ground engaging tools and or an increase in their size is not required.

Abstract: A directing blade for a directional boring machine includes a blade body which extends along a longitudinal axis from an attachment end to a free end. The free end has a plurality of cutting teeth disposed in a non-symmetrical pattern relative to the longitudinal axis. The teeth are progressively spaced from a center portion of the leading end alternating from a first side to a second side of the body of the duckbill blade.

Abstract: The invention provides an excavation bit (10) which is constructed from either a single or double carrier. If two carriers (14 and 15) are present, the carriers (14, 15) are contra-rotating. By the off setting of the axes of rotation (17 and 18) of single or dual carriers from a longitudinal axis (22) of the bit (10) and by driving the carriers to rotate, a ground engaging thrust is produced, as well as the rotation of the excavation bit (10) in the ground as a consequence of the rotation of the carriers, and not vice versa as in the case with prior art. By the invention, there can result sufficient thrust on the bit (10) by the rotation of the carriers (14 and 15) so that the need to apply thrust down the bore via the drill rod is reduced or eliminated. As a result of the invention, the number and/or size of the ground engaging tools (25) are not a function of the bore diameter to be drilled.

Abstract: A cutter for a tunnel boring machine with cutter ring in two or more ring segments with a dovetail base, clamped to the cutter hub by a segmented clamping ring. The ring segments have a wedge shaped cross section, and are mounted in a groove. The segments are fastened to the hub by bolts. To facilitate loosening of the ring segments, the segments have a curvature different from that of the groove, so that an elastic force will be accumulated in the ring segments when they are mounted and the bolts are tightened. The curvature of the ring segments is either smaller or greater than that of the groove.

Abstract: A drill bit for use in drilling a well bore comprises a main drill body adapted to be rotated about a substantially vertically disposed axis of rotation and having therein a duct extending longitudinally along such axis, for supplying a drill fluid under pressure to the well bore. At least one generally circular, rotatable cutting discs are mounted on the outside of the main drill body at equally spaced locations, with the cutting discs each having cutting elements disposed in a ring-shaped array. Each of the cutting discs has an axis of rotation disposed at an acute angle to the vertical centerline about which the main drill body rotates. The axis of rotation of each cutting disc is slightly offset laterally in a rearward direction from the centerline of the main drill body, thus to cause the entire bit to be placed in a non-equilibrium position with the rotation of the main body enabling the cutting disc to be positioned to be particularly effective and aggressive in cutting the well bore.

Abstract: A drill bit for use in drilling a well bore in accordance with this invention comprises a main drill body adapted to be rotated about a substantially vertically disposed axis of rotation and having therein a duct extending longitudinally along such axis, for supplying a drill fluid under pressure to the well bore. Three generally circular, rotatable cutting discs are mounted on the outside of the main drill body at equally spaced locations, with the cutting discs each having cutting elements disposed in a ring-shaped array. Each of the cutting discs has an axis of rotation disposed at an acute angle to the vertical centerline about which the main drill body rotates. Importantly, the axis of rotation of each cutting disc is slightly offset from the centerline of the main drill body, thus to cause the cutting discs to be positioned to be particularly effective and aggressive in cutting the well bore.

Abstract: An earth boring auger having a shaft and helical flights thereon and a plurality of disc cutters mounted below the flights and behind the leading edge thereof to engage the formation before it is engaged by the flights.

Abstract: An earth boring auger having a shaft and helical flights thereon and a plurality of disc cutters mounted below the flights to engage the formation before it is engaged by the flights.

Abstract: A cutter with replaceable cutting elements is adapted to be mounted upon the rotary head of an earth boring machine or upon the body of an earth boring bit. The cutter is used in conjunction with an earth boring machine that functions to form circular kerfs in the formation being bored to fracture rock between a proximate pair of kerfs in a manner to cause fragments of the formation to be separated from the formation being bored. At least one annular cutting ring is mounted on the periphery of the cutter body for contacting the formations and forming a kerf therein. The cutting ring is in the form of a pair of substantially semicircular disk elements that fit upon the periphery of the cutter body. A corresponding pair of semicircular locking elements with taper surfaces are positioned in overlapping relation to the disk elements. The locking elements are securely bolted to the cutter body and insure that the disk elements remain in the proper position for the earth boring operation.