Cutting assembly

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a cutting assembly comprising a circular disk cutter (18). A plurality of cutting elements (22) and a corresponding quantity of tool holders (24) are arranged around a circumferential surface of the disk cutter. Each tool holder is at least partially laterally offset with respect to the circular body.

1 . A cutting assembly for a rock excavation machine comprising:
 a base unit,   one or more moveable support arms extending from the base unit,   a drive spindle rotatably mounted to the or each moveable support arm,   a disk cutter fixed about the drive spindle such that rotation of the drive spindle causes a corresponding rotation of the disk cutter,   the disk cutter comprising a cutter body, a plurality of cutting elements and a corresponding quantity of tool holders, one for each cutting element, the cutting elements and tool holders being arranged around a circumferential surface of the cutter body,   in which each tool holder is at least partially laterally offset with respect to the cutter body.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , in which successive tool holders around the circumferential surface are laterally offset in alternating first and second directions. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , each tool holder comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion meeting at an intersection. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the distal portion is laterally offset with respect to the proximal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , in which each cutting element is mounted in the distal portion of the tool holder. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising hard-facing material on or near each tool holder. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the hard-facing material is different to material of each cutting element. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the hard-facing material is located on a leading face of each tool holder. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the hard-facing material is located on a trailing face of each tool holder. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the hard-facing material is located on or in the circumferential surface of the circular body. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each cutting element has a strike tip having a conical or pyramidal profile. 
     
     
         12 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each cutting element has a strike tip having a hemi-spherical profile. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each cutting element has a strike tip having a ballistic profile. 
     
     
         14 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , in which each cutting element has a truncated strike tip with a planar apex. 
     
     
         15 . The cutting assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each cutting element is a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC).