Dredger Cutter Head Tool Holder Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutter heads for dredgers require extensive and labor-intensive processes for replacing tool holders, often involving welding, which necessitates removal of the cutter head from the dredger and requires skilled personnel, limiting efficiency and increasing downtime.

Innovation Solution

A cutter head design featuring a conically configured adapter chamber with a threaded joint or cottered mechanism for mounting tool holders, allowing for tool holder replacement without welding, thereby simplifying the process and reducing the need for qualified staff.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tool holders are mounted using welding, then structural integrity is ensured, but replacement requires skilled personnel and extensive time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidreplacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tool holder assembly is segmented into separable components: the tool holder body and the mounting element. This allows the tool holder to be quickly detached and replaced without welding, while the adapter chamber with threaded joints maintains structural integrity. The segmentation enables rapid maintenance while preserving overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An adapter chamber acts as an intermediary element between the cutter head and the tool holder. This adapter chamber contains threaded joints that provide a reliable mechanical connection without requiring welding. The intermediary structure enables both quick replacement and maintains structural integrity through precision-threaded connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If welding is used to mount tool holders, then strong attachment is achieved, but the process requires skilled personnel and specialized equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidease of replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The welding process (thermal/mechanical system) is replaced with a mechanical fastening system using threaded joints and mounting elements. This substitution maintains attachment strength through precision threading while dramatically simplifying the replacement process, allowing unskilled personnel to perform maintenance using basic tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection method parameters are changed from thermal welding parameters to mechanical threading parameters. The adapter chamber is designed with specific thread dimensions and mounting element geometries that provide sufficient attachment strength while enabling tool-free or simple tool-based installation and removal by non-specialized personnel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional welding methods are used, then tool holders are securely fixed, but cutter head removal is necessary for replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing reliabilityVSAvoidreplacement efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tool holder mounting system is segmented into the adapter chamber (integrated in cutter head) and the tool holder with mounting element. This segmentation allows the tool holder to be independently removed from the adapter chamber without removing the entire cutter head, maintaining fixing reliability through the threaded connection while dramatically improving replacement efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter chamber is pre-configured with threaded joints and the tool holder is pre-equipped with corresponding mounting elements during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation enables quick field replacement without requiring complex assembly procedures or cutter head removal, while the precision-threaded design ensures reliable fixing during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2855782B1Tool and tool holder for a dredger
Publication Date: 2018.11.28 COMBI WEAR PARTS AB
  • EP2855782B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2855782B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2855782B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a cutter head for a dredger, in which the cutter head is constructed with at least one blade and at least one adapter chamber is arranged in the blade for assembly of a tool holder in the blade, in which the adapter chamber is a cavity- configured in the blade and having an opening and an assembly recess. The invention is further constituted by a blade for a cutter head. The invention is further constituted by a tool holder for assembly on a cutter head for a dredger. The invention is further constituted by a tool arrangement for a dredger. The invention is further constituted by a method for assembly of a tool older in a cutter head for a dredger. The invention is further constituted by a production method for a blade for a cutter head for a dredger.