Backreamer for a tunneling apparatus
First Claim
1. A backreamer including a distal end configured for connection to product and a proximal end configured for attachment to a distal end of a drill string, the backreamer comprising:
- a backreaming cutter having a cutting side that faces toward the proximal end of the backreamer;
a proximal assembly that extends between the proximal end of the backreamer and the backreaming cutter, the proximal assembly defining a vacuum passage for removing material cut by the backreaming cutter;
a drive stem for transferring torque to the backreaming cutter for rotating the backreaming cutter, the drive stem being rotatably supported within the proximal assembly such that the drive stem and the backreaming cutter are rotatable relative to the proximal assembly; and
a distal assembly that extends between the backreaming cutter and the distal end of the backreamer, the distal assembly including a vacuum blocking plate positioned distally with respect to the backreaming cutter, the backreaming cutter and the drive stem being rotatable relative to the vacuum blocking plate, wherein a distal side of the backreaming cutter is configured to scrape material from a proximal face of the vacuum blocking plate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A backreamer includes a distal end configured for connection to product and a proximal end configured for attachment to a distal end of a drill string. The backreamer includes a backreaming cutter having a cutting side that faces toward the proximal end of the backreamer. The backreamer also includes a proximal assembly that extends between the proximal end of the backreamer and the backreaming cutter. The proximal assembly defines a vacuum passage for removing material cut by the backreaming cutter. The backreamer further includes a drive stem for transferring torque to the backreaming cutter for rotating the backreaming cutter. The drive stem is rotatably supported within the proximal assembly such that the drive stem and the backreaming cutter are rotatable relative to the proximal assembly. The backreamer additionally includes a distal assembly that extends between the backreaming cutter and the distal end of the backreamer. The distal assembly includes a vacuum blocking plate positioned distally with respect to the backreaming cutter. The backreaming cutter and the drive stem are rotatable relative to the vacuum blocking plate.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A backreamer including a distal end configured for connection to product and a proximal end configured for attachment to a distal end of a drill string, the backreamer comprising:
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a backreaming cutter having a cutting side that faces toward the proximal end of the backreamer; a proximal assembly that extends between the proximal end of the backreamer and the backreaming cutter, the proximal assembly defining a vacuum passage for removing material cut by the backreaming cutter; a drive stem for transferring torque to the backreaming cutter for rotating the backreaming cutter, the drive stem being rotatably supported within the proximal assembly such that the drive stem and the backreaming cutter are rotatable relative to the proximal assembly; and a distal assembly that extends between the backreaming cutter and the distal end of the backreamer, the distal assembly including a vacuum blocking plate positioned distally with respect to the backreaming cutter, the backreaming cutter and the drive stem being rotatable relative to the vacuum blocking plate, wherein a distal side of the backreaming cutter is configured to scrape material from a proximal face of the vacuum blocking plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A backreamer including a distal end configured for connection to product and a proximal end configured for attachment to a distal end of a drill string, the backreamer comprising:
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a backreaming cutter having a plurality of cutting bars that project generally radially outwardly from a central axis of the back reamer, the cutting bars having proximal cutting sides that face toward the proximal end of the backreamer; a proximal assembly that extends between the proximal end of the backreamer and the backreaming cutter, the proximal assembly defining a vacuum passage for removing material cut by the backreaming cutter, the proximal assembly including an end plate positioned at the proximal end of the backreamer, a plate stack positioned adjacent to the backreaming cutter and an outer shell that extends from the end plate to the plate stack, the plate stack defining at least a portion of the vacuum passage; a drive stem for transferring torque to the backreaming cutter for rotating the backreaming cutter, the drive stem being rotatably supported within the proximal assembly such that the drive stem and the backreaming cutter are rotatable relative to the proximal assembly; and a distal assembly that extends between the backreaming cutter and the distal end of the backreamer, the distal assembly including a central shaft coupled to a distal end of the drive stem, a distal housing mounted over the central shaft, and a distal assembly bearing positioned between the distal housing and the central shaft for allowing the central shaft to rotate relative to the distal housing, the distal assembly further including a vacuum blocking plate attached to the distal housing and positioned distally with respect to the backreaming cutter, the backreaming cutter, the central shaft and the drive stem being rotatable relative to the vacuum blocking plate and the distal housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for backreaming comprising:
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backreaming a bore in a distal to proximal direction with a backreaming cutter; vacuuming backreaming cuttings proximally from the bore as the bore is backreamed; blocking vacuum with a vacuum blocking plate positioned distally with respect to the backreaming cutter rotating the backreaming cutter relative to the vacuum blocking plate during backreaming; and scraping material from a proximal face of the vacuum blocking plate with the backreaming cutter during backreaming. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A backreamer including a distal end configured for connection to product and a proximal end configured for attachment to a distal end of a drill string, the backreamer comprising:
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a backreaming cutter having a cutting side that faces toward the proximal end of the backreamer; a proximal assembly that extends between the proximal end of the backreamer and the backreaming cutter, the proximal assembly defining a vacuum passage for removing material cut by the backreaming cutter; a drive stem for transferring torque to the backreaming cutter for rotating the backreaming cutter, the drive stem being rotatably supported within the proximal assembly such that the drive stem and the backreaming cutter are rotatable relative to the proximal assembly, wherein the backreaming cutter includes a plurality of cutting bars that project generally radially outwardly from a central axis defined by the drive stem; and a distal assembly that extends between the backreaming cutter and the distal end of the backreamer, the distal assembly including a vacuum blocking plate positioned distally with respect to the backreaming cutter, the backreaming cutter and the drive stem being rotatable relative to the vacuum blocking plate. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification