Expandable tool with at least one blade that locks in place through a wedging effect
First Claim
1. An expandable tool for an earth boring system, comprising;
- a mandrel comprising a tubular body with an outer surface;
a sleeve is positioned around the outer surface and comprises a blade disposed in a slot formed in the thickness of the sleeve;
the sleeve is also configured to slide axially along a length of the tubular body;
the blade comprises an interior slide groove located on an interior blade surface and an exterior slide groove located on an exterior blade surface;
a sleeve protrusion of the sleeve is configured to extend into the interior slide groove, a mandrel protrusion of the outer surface of the mandrel is configured to extend into the exterior slide groove;
the blade is configured to shift laterally out of the slot as the sleeve slides axially;
wherein the interior and exterior slide grooves are oriented at different angles and as the sleeve slides axially along the length of the mandrel, the slide grooves lock the blade in a pre-determined position through a wedging effect.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a mandrel with a sleeve positioned around the outer surface and a blade disposed in a slot formed in the sleeve. The sleeve is also configured to slide along the tubular body. The blade comprises an interior slide groove located on an interior surface and an exterior slide groove located on an exterior surface. A sleeve protrusion is configured to extend into the interior slide groove, while a mandrel protrusion is configured to extend into the exterior slide groove. The blade is configured to shift laterally out of the slot as the sleeve slides axially, wherein the interior and exterior slide grooves are oriented at different angles and as the sleeve slides axially along the length of the mandrel, the slide grooves lock the blade in a pre-determined position through a wedging effect.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An expandable tool for an earth boring system, comprising;
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a mandrel comprising a tubular body with an outer surface; a sleeve is positioned around the outer surface and comprises a blade disposed in a slot formed in the thickness of the sleeve; the sleeve is also configured to slide axially along a length of the tubular body; the blade comprises an interior slide groove located on an interior blade surface and an exterior slide groove located on an exterior blade surface; a sleeve protrusion of the sleeve is configured to extend into the interior slide groove, a mandrel protrusion of the outer surface of the mandrel is configured to extend into the exterior slide groove; the blade is configured to shift laterally out of the slot as the sleeve slides axially; wherein the interior and exterior slide grooves are oriented at different angles and as the sleeve slides axially along the length of the mandrel, the slide grooves lock the blade in a pre-determined position through a wedging effect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification