Abstract: The present disclosure provides a Grinding apparatus for grinding working tips of hard metal inserts of rock drill bits, comprising: a grinding machine, means for holding a rock drill bit to be ground and a support system, the support system, the grinding machine equipped with a spindle assembly having an output drive shaft having a longitudinal axis, one of a plurality of grinding tools of different sizes and profiles detachably connected to the output drive shaft for grinding different sizes and profiles of working tips; and having a control system having a programmable operator control panel capable of directly or indirectly monitoring and adjusting one or more operational parameters, a programmable control card provided having a circuit board containing a central processor, an RFID reader provided within operator control panel together with a touch screen display wherein when the free end of a grinding cup equipped with an RFID tag in accordance with present invention is inserted into the RFID reader a pr

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a grinding cup for detachable connection to the output drive shaft of a grinding machine for grinding buttons on drill bits or cutters. The grinding cup has top and bottom surfaces and consists of a lower grinding section and an upper body section co-axial with the grinding section to form a grinding cup with a centrally disposed recess formed in the bottom surface of the grinding section having the desired profile for the button to be ground. The improvement of the present invention is characterized by the upper body section having a centrally disposed upright drive section sized and shaped to fit within a co-axial recess in a free end of the output drive shaft. The upright drive section has a first support section extending from a top surface of the upper body section and a co-axial drive section on the upright drive section extending from a top surface of the first support section to a free end of the upper drive section.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts of rock drill bits, said grinding apparatus having said grinding machine equipped with a grinding cup driven by a motor to rotate about its longitudinal axis wherein the support system comprises an arm or lever system to control vertical movement of the grinding machine and means to provide grinding pressure, wherein the means to provide grinding pressure may be a linear actuator and load cell assembly pivotally connected to the arm or lever system.

Abstract: A grinding cup for detachable connection to the output drive shaft of a grinding machine for grinding buttons on drill bits or cutters, said grinding cup having top and bottom surfaces and consisting of a lower grinding section and an upper body section with a centrally disposed recess formed in the bottom surface of the grinding section; said body section having a centrally disposed upright drive section formed on the top surface of the grinding cup, said drive section shaped and sized to both driveably engage within a corresponding recess at end of the output drive shaft and provide axial and radial support and retaining means for detachably connecting the grinding cup to the output drive shaft wherein said drive section has a non-circular cross section and is tapered from the top surface of the grinding cup to the free end of the drive section.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts of rock drill bits, said grinding apparatus having said grinding machine equipped with a grinding cup driven by a motor to rotate about its longitudinal axis wherein the support system comprises an arm or lever system to control vertical movement of the grinding machine and means to provide grinding pressure, wherein the means to provide grinding pressure may be a linear actuator and load cell assembly pivotally connected to the arm or lever system.

Abstract: A locking means for a bit holder fixture for use with grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts of rock drill bits is provided. The locking means has a macro adjustment for quick positioning of a pressure plate against the body of the bit(s) and a micro adjustment to lock the bit(s) in place by applying pressure against the skirt or shank of the drill bit(s).

Abstract: A locking means for a bit holder fixture for use with grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts of rock drill bits is provided. The locking means has a macro adjustment for quick positioning of a pressure plate against the body of the bit(s) and a micro adjustment to lock the bit(s) in place by applying pressure against the skirt or shank of the drill bit(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides a grinding member or connection to a drive connection member 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 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; 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a grinding member or connection to a drive connection member 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 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; 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts of rock drill bits, said grinding apparatus having a grinding machine carried on an support system that provides a feed pressure for said grinding machine during grinding, said grinding machine equipped with a grinding pin driven by motor to rotate about its longitudinal axis wherein the grinding cup is rotated at variable speeds and the support system provides a variable feed pressure.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts or working tips of drill bits (percussive or rotary), tunnel boring machine cutters (TMB) and raised bore machine cutters (RBM), said grinding apparatus having means for holding one or more bits to be ground and a grinding machine carried by an arm or lever system that permits movement of the grinding machine relative to the longitudinal axis of the button of the bit to be ground wherein means are provided to assist with aligning the grinding machine with the longitudinal axis of the button to be ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates to grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts of rock drill bits, said grinding apparatus having a grinding machine carried on an support system that provides a feed pressure for said grinding machine during grinding, said grinding machine equipped with a grinding pin driven by motor to rotate about its longitudinal axis wherein the grinding cup is rotated at variable speeds and the support system provides a variable feed pressure.

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.

Abstract: Abstract A grinding apparatus for grinding the hard metal inserts or working tips of drill bits (percussive or rotary), tunnel boring machine cutters (TMB) and raised bore machine cutters (RBM), said grinding apparatus having means for holding one or more bits to be ground and a grinding machine carried by an arm or lever system that permits movement of the grinding machine relative to the longitudinal axis of the button of the bit to be ground wherein means are provided to assist with aligning the grinding machine with the longitudinal axis of the button to be ground.