Down-the-hole hammer with adjustable air consumption valve
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorKoushik Kabiraj
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A down-the-hole hammer includes a barrel having a longitudinal axis and defining a proximal chamber and a distal chamber, a piston slidable within the barrel between the proximal chamber and the distal chamber, a control tube having a slot, a check valve member rotationally fixed to the control tube, and an air distributor having a plurality of sets of ports. Each set of ports includes a proximal port and a distal port longitudinally spaced apart from one another. The control tube is indexable between a plurality of rotational positions by rotating the check calve member to adjust which of the sets of ports of the air distributor is aligned with the slot of the control tube.
Claims20
A down-the-hole hammer comprising:
- a barrel having a longitudinal axis and defining a proximal chamber and a distal chamber;
- a piston slidable within the barrel between the proximal chamber and the distal chamber;
- a control tube having a slot;
- a check valve member rotationally fixed to the control tube;
- an air distributor having a plurality of sets of ports, each set of ports comprising a proximal port and a distal port longitudinally spaced apart from one another;
- and
- a flow control valve comprising a valve member slidable within the barrel along the longitudinal axis to control airflow through the piston,
- wherein the control tube is indexable between a plurality of rotational positions by rotating the check valve member to adjust which of the sets of ports of the air distributor is aligned with the slot of the control tube,
- wherein, in a first position of the valve member, the valve member allows air flow from a proximal end of the barrel through the piston and into the distal chamber, and
- wherein, in a second position of the valve member, the valve member allows air flow around the valve member and into the proximal chamber.
A down-the-hole hammer comprising:
- a control tube having a slot;
- a check valve member rotationally fixed to the control tube;
- and
- an air distributor having a plurality of sets of ports, each set of ports comprising a proximal port and a distal port longitudinally spaced apart from one another,
- wherein the control tube is indexable between a plurality of rotational positions by rotating the check valve member to adjust which of the sets of ports of the air distributor is aligned with the slot of the control tube such that the proximal port and the distal port of one of the sets of ports are in fluid communication with the slot.
A down-the-hole hammer comprising:
- a control tube having a slot;
- a check valve member rotationally fixed to the control tube;
- and
- an air distributor having a plurality of sets of ports, each set of ports comprising a proximal port and a distal port,
- wherein the control tube is movable between a plurality of positions to adjust which of the sets of ports of the air distributor is aligned with the slot of the control tube such that the slot extends between the proximal port and distal port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.