Concave Blade Cutter for Large-Diameter Member Truncation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for truncating elongated structural members, such as those in oil platforms and bridges, are hazardous, time-consuming, and environmentally impactful, and existing cutters do not efficiently handle large diameters or diverse materials.

Innovation Solution

A cutter with an end gate that allows selection among multiple cutting edges, featuring concave-shaped blades, enabling truncation of elongated members up to 95% of their outside diameter, with a smaller and lighter device footprint, using opposing beveled blades and a pivotable end gate for efficient cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional thermal cutting tools, wire saws, or explosives are used to truncate elongated members, then the truncation can be performed, but the process is dangerous, time-consuming, costly, and causes significant environmental impact including airborne or seaborne fine particulate matter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impact and safety hazardsVSAvoidtruncation speed and efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional thermal cutting tools, wire saws, and explosives with a mechanical cutter system that uses opposing concave-shaped blades to physically sever elongated members. This mechanical approach eliminates the harmful emissions and safety hazards associated with thermal and explosive methods while maintaining high truncation efficiency through the coordinated action of the cutting edges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutter is designed with multiple cutting edges on the end gate, allowing selection among at least two cutting edges. This segmentation of cutting functions enables the device to handle various diameters and material types efficiently, improving productivity across different application scenarios while maintaining safe and clean operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cutter is designed to handle larger diameter elongated members, then the适用范围 is expanded, but the device size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of diameters and materialsVSAvoidcutter weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The end gate is designed to be pivotable, allowing the cutter to adapt its configuration dynamically. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the cutter to handle a wide range of diameters without requiring multiple fixed-size devices, thereby avoiding the weight penalty of carrying multiple cutters or an overly large cutter designed for maximum diameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cutter incorporates multiple cutting edges on the end gate that can be selected based on the specific application requirements. This multi-functionality allows a single cutter design to handle various diameters and material types, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing weight through the efficient use of shared structural components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the cutter uses opposing concave-shaped blades with multiple cutting edges, then the cutting efficiency and versatility improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidcutter structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple cutting edges are integrated onto a single end gate component, merging what could be separate cutting tools into one unified structure. This consolidation maintains high cutting efficiency and versatility while reducing overall device complexity compared to using multiple independent cutters or a more complex multi-component system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having multiple separate cutters or a complex mechanism to change cutting edges, the invention inverts the approach by having a single end gate with multiple cutting edges that can be selected by pivoting. This inverted design simplifies the structure while maintaining the ability to handle various cutting requirements efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11813773B2Apparatus and methods for truncating elongated members

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 TRUDEAU LEON

AI summary

A cutting tool for truncating elongated structural members has a frame with a pair of parallel siderails connected at a first end by a support plate and at a second end by a removable end gate, the frame having an open center adapted to receive the structural member therethrough. The truncating is performed by a fixed penetrating cutting edge on an end gate and a driven penetrating blade slidably disposed within the frame to advance towards the end gate. The end gate has two integral penetrating cutting edges pointing in opposite directions. The driven penetrating blade and the fixed penetrating cutting edge may have concave cutting edges relative to one another and configured to be adjacent to one another along the travel of the driven penetrating blade. Alternately, an end gate second cutting edge may be directed to the opening within the frame and have a piercing V-shaped cutting edge.