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  Drive for a cutting or grinding machineUSPTO Application #: 20080085659Title: Drive for a cutting or grinding machine Abstract: The present invention provides a drive for a grinding or cutting machine. The drive comprises a body having a drive coupling for receiving at least one drive shaft in a manner so that the or each drive shaft is drivable by the drive. The drive also comprises a mount for mounting the body to a portion of the machine such as to a linkage arm of an earth grinding or cutting vehicle. The drive coupling is arranged to inter-fit with a portion of the or each drive shaft. (end of abstract)
Agent: Weingarten, Schurgin, Gagnebin & Lebovici LLP - Boston, MA, US Inventor: Troy Stratti USPTO Applicaton #: 20080085659 - Class: 451 26 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080085659. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention broadly relates to a drive for a grinding or cutting machine. The present invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a drive for a grinding or cutting head of a vehicle for grinding or cutting rock or earth formations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Various machines for cutting, grinding and fracturing hard earth formations and rock during excavations (e.g. trimming or planing floor faces, rock side faces, trenching and general building footing detailing) are known in the prior art. Such machines can be removably mounted on the free end of an articulated arm of a tracked or conventionally wheeled excavator and the like. [0003]Conventional grinding or cutting heads typically have a motor which is mounted separately from the tool on the excavator arm, and a gear train is used to transmit torque to the grinding wheels which are rotatably supported at a pedestal or housing bolted to a mounting base member at the linkage arm end remote from the drive. This arrangement considerably limits the grinding head positioning during operation. [0004]Australian patent no. 762584 discloses a grinding head that incorporates the drive. By incorporating the. drive into the head, there is no need for an additional gear train between the drive motor and the grinding drums when mounted and the grinding head with drive therefore offers improved flexibility. [0005]The present invention provides an improvement of the invention disclosed in Australian patent no. 762584. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006]The present invention provides in a first aspect a drive for a grinding or cutting machine comprising: [0007]a body having a drive coupling for receiving at least one drive shaft in a manner so that the or each drive shaft is drivable by the drive and [0008]a mount for mounting the body to a portion of the machine, [0009]wherein the drive coupling is arranged to inter-fit with a portion of the or each drive shaft. [0010]The coupling typically has a recess for receiving the portion of the or each drive shaft and typically comprises a clamping mechanism which is arranged to clamp and secure the or each drive shaft. [0011]In one specific embodiment of the present invention the coupling is arranged so that the position, at which the or each drive shaft is securable, is adjustable. In this case a length of a portion of the or each drive shaft that may extend from the body is adjustable. For example, the or each drive shaft may carry a cutting blade or a grinding drum and in this case the drive has the advantage of offering flexibility for positioning of the or each cutting blade or grinding drum relative to the body of the drive. [0012]In one specific embodiment of the present invention the drive has two opposite side portions and may in use carry at least one drive shaft with at least one cutting blade or grinding drum spaced from either side portion. For example the drive may in use carry a pair of cutting blades, one on either side of the drive, and such a "dual blade" drive may be used to form a trench. In this case both cutting blades may cut parallel cuts in rock or hard earth and the earth or rock between the cuts may be removed to form the trench. Using a conventional single blade, it is typically necessary cut a first cut, then move the drive with blade and cut a second cut, and then remove the rock or hard earth between the cuts to form the trench. The "dual blade" arrangement simplifies this procedure significantly. As both cuts are formed simultaneously, it is not necessarily to move the drive with blades to cut the second cut. Further, it is possible to start removing the hard earth or rock between the cuts to start forming the trench immediately after only a portion of the length of the cuts has been formed which also has a significant practical advantage. In addition, if the relative position of the blades is adjustable, the width of the trench is adjustable which is a further practical advantage. Alternatively, such a drive may be arranged to cut rock or stone such as sandstone in an economic manner as more than one cut may be cut simultaneously. [0013]The mount typically is arranged for mounting the drive to a linkage arm such as a linkage arm of an earth or rock cutting or grinding vehicle. [0014]Typically, the recess is an elongated hollow portion which has two openings. The hollow portion may extend through the body and may be a straight portion. Alternatively, the coupling may comprise two hollow portions each being arranged for receiving one drive shaft and which may be aligned. In either case, at least two drive shafts, which may carry blades or drums for cutting or grinding, may be fitted to the drive. For example, the drive shafts may be fitted from either side of the drive so that a dual cutting blade or grinding drum drive head is formed. The drive shafts may also comprise a plurality of cutting blades or grinding drums so that a cutting or grinding head can be formed having more than two cutting blades or grinding drums. If the recess extends through the body, one drive shaft may be received by the recess in a manner such that the drive shaft can carry one or more cutting blades or grinding drums at either ends of the drive shaft. [0015]The drive may comprise the or each drive shaft and in one specific embodiment of the present invention the drive comprises a first drive shaft that has a hollow shaft portion extending along an axis of the first drive shaft. In this embodiment, the hollow shaft portion is arranged to receive at least one second drive shaft for securing in the first drive shaft. The first shaft and the or each second drive shaft may each be arranged to carry at least one blade or drum, for example at an end-portion. [0016]The first drive shaft may in use be positioned in the or each hollow portion of the drive coupling and the or each second drive shaft may in use be positioned in the hollow shaft portion of the first drive shaft. For example, the hollow shaft portion of the first drive shaft may have two ends and two second drive shafts may be receivable by the first drive shaft, one from either end. [0017]In one embodiment one second drive shaft extends in use from a side of the body. Alternatively or additionally, a further second drive shaft may in use extend form an opposite side of the body. [0018]For example, one drive shaft carrying at least one blade or drum may be in use be secured in the drive coupling which may be arranged to adjust the position of the or each blade or drum relative to the drive. Alternatively, two drive shafts may in use be secured in the drive coupling, either from the same side or from opposite sides, and the drive coupling may be arranged to adjust the position of at least two of the blades or drums relative to each other. [0019]The second drive shaft may also have a hollow portion arranged to receive at least one further drive shaft that may carry a further cutting blade or grinding drum. [0020]In one specific embodiment the coupling comprises a shrink disk fitted to the body and having an aperture that is shrinkable so that a drive shaft may be secured in the aperture. The shrink disk has the particular advantage that is relatively easy to exchange and/or adjust the or each drive shaft. [0021]The shrink disk typically is arranged so that at least one second drive shaft is in use clamped in the first drive shaft and the shrink disk secures the first drive shaft in the coupling. Alternatively, the or each second drive shaft may be secured in the first drive shaft by means of bolts, splints or keyways. Continue reading... Full patent description for Drive for a cutting or grinding machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Drive for a cutting or grinding machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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