Cutting rate control for an ice drill

Abstract

A cutting head includes a main body that is attachable to an ice drill shaft at a top side. The main body includes a bottom side that has a bottom peripheral surface. The cutting head includes at least one cutting edge that is disposed on the main body. The cutting edge is configured to perform a cutting operation at the bottom side of the main body. The cutting head includes a cutting rate control pad that is disposed on the bottom side of the main body. The cutting rate control pad extends away from the bottom peripheral surface.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cutting head for an ice drill comprising:
 a main body attachable to an ice drill shaft at a top side, the main body including a bottom side having a bottom peripheral surface;   at least one cutting edge disposed on the main body, the cutting edge being configured to perform a cutting operation at the bottom side of the main body; and   a cutting rate control pad disposed on the bottom side of the main body, wherein the cutting rate control pad extends away from the bottom peripheral surface.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge is spaced away at a first distance, in a direction away from the bottom side of the main body, from an ice interfacing surface of the cutting rate control pad, the ice interfacing surface being configured to contact an ice surface during a drilling operation. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting head of  claim 2 , wherein the first distance is between about 0.180 inches and about 0.220 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting rate control pad is removable from the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting rate control pad is integrally formed with the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cutting rate control pads disposed on the bottom side of the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cutting edges disposed on the main body. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge is a removable blade attached to the main body. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge is angled upwardly away from the bottom side of the main body, and wherein the cutting edge extends below the bottom side of the main body. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a pair of wings extending outwardly from a center body, the pair of wings each including cutting edges disposed thereon and cutting rate control pads disposed on bottom surfaces thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein the main body has a generally circular profile, and wherein the cutting rate control pad is disposed on the bottom peripheral surface at a position between about 70 degrees and about 110 degrees away from the cutting edge. 
     
     
         12 . The cutting head of  claim 1 , wherein, when the main body is rotated, the cutting edge executes a circular cutting pattern at the bottom side of the main body. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting head of  claim 1  attached to an ice drill, the ice drill including a motor. 
     
     
         14 . An ice drill comprising:
 a motor;   a drive shaft attached to the motor at a first end;   an auger assembly attached to the drive shaft;   a cutting head attached to a second end of the drive shaft, the cutting head including:
 a main body having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side including a bottom peripheral surface; 
 at least one cutting edge disposed on the main body, the cutting edge being configured to perform a cutting operation at the bottom side of the main body; and 
 a cutting rate control pad disposed on the bottom side of the main body, wherein the cutting rate control pad extends away from the bottom peripheral surface. 
   
     
     
         15 . The ice drill of  claim 14 , wherein the cutting edge is spaced away at a first distance, in a direction away from the bottom side of the main body, from an ice interfacing surface of the cutting rate control pad, the ice interfacing surface being configured to contact an ice surface during a drilling operation. 
     
     
         16 . The ice drill of  claim 15 , wherein the first distance is between about 0.125 inches and 0.025 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The ice drill of  claim 15 , wherein the cutting rate control pad is removable from the main body. 
     
     
         18 . The ice drill of  claim 14 , wherein the motor is an electric motor. 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling a cutting rate of an ice drill comprising:
 providing a motor attached to a cutting head, the cutting head including:
 a main body having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side including a bottom peripheral surface; 
 at least one cutting edge disposed on the main body, the cutting edge being configured to perform a cutting operation at the bottom side of the main body; and 
 a cutting rate control pad disposed on the bottom side of the main body, wherein the cutting rate control pad extends away from the bottom peripheral surface; 
   rotating the cutting head using the motor; and   cutting a hole in an ice surface using the cutting head.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising contacting the ice surface with the cutting rate control pad when cutting the hole in the ice surface.