# US 2018/0216460 A1 · Cutting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0216460 A1 - Document ID: US20180216460A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/516,647 - Filed: 2015-10-02 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-06 - Assignees: Sandvik Intelectual Property AB - Applicants: Sandvik Intelectual Property AB - Inventors: Bernhard EBNER; Christoph HABERER; Georg SCHERZ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180216460A1 ## CPC - E21C 35/06: Equipment for positioning the whole machine in relation to its sub-structure - C01B 33/035: by decomposition or reduction of gaseous or vaporised silicon compounds in the presence of heated filaments of silicon, carbon or a refractory metal, e.g. tantalum or tungsten, or in the presence of heated silicon rods on which the formed silicon is deposited, a silicon rod being obtained, e.g. Siemens process - E21C 25/06: Machines slitting solely by one or more cutting rods or cutting drums which rotate, move through the seam, and may or may not reciprocate - E21C 25/18: Saws; Discs; Wheels - E21C 27/24: by milling means acting on the full working face {, i.e. the rotary axis of the tool carrier being substantially parallel to the working face (similar machines for tunneling E21D9/1026)} - E21C 29/22: by wheels, endless tracks or the like {(propulsion using fixed racks along which the machine is running E21C29/02)} - E21C 35/20: General features of equipment for removal of chippings, e.g. for loading on conveyor - E21D 9/1013: {on a tool-carrier supported by a movable boom} - E21D 9/1026: {the tool-carrier being rotated about a transverse axis} - E21D 9/1033: {by a transversely extending boom being pivotable about a longitudinal axis} - E21D 9/1093: {Devices for supporting, advancing or orientating the machine or the tool-carrier (measuring devices for guiding machines E21D9/003; anchoring in the borehole E21B4/18)} - E21D 9/12: Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoil; Working or loading platforms (underground transport E21F13/00) - E21D 9/126: {Loading devices or installations (loading platforms E21D9/122; soil-shifting machines E02F3/00)} - E21D 20/003: {Machines for drilling anchor holes and setting anchor bolts} - E21D 23/08: Advancing mechanisms (E21D23/16 takes precedence) - F15B 11/16: with two or more servomotors - F16H 57/023: Mounting or installation of gears or shafts in the gearboxes, e.g. methods or means for assembly - F16H 2057/0235: {specially adapted to allow easy accessibility and repair} - E21C: MINING OR QUARRYING - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - E21D: SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS (soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; drilling or cutting machines for mining or quarrying E21C; safety devices, transport, rescue, ventilation or drainage E21F) - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A cutting apparatus suitable for creating tunnels and subterranean roadways includes independently pivoting supports that each carry a respective independently pivoting arm and a rotatable cutting head. Each cutting head via the supports and arms, is configured to slew laterally outward in a sideways direction and to pivot in a vertical upward and downward direction. The supports and arms are mounted on a linear moving sled carried by a main frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cutting apparatus suitable for creating tunnels or subterranean roadways and the like comprising: at least one arm pivotally mounted to the apparatus and adapted to pivot in an upward and downward direction; at least one arm actuator to actuate pivoting movement of the at least one arm, wherein the actuator includes a drive motor unit and a drive train coupled to the drive motor unit, the drive motor unit and drive train being configured for selective operation in one of: a first operating mode in which a first pivoting velocity and a first torque are transmitted to the at least one arm, or a second operating mode in which a second velocity and a second torque are transmitted to the at least one arm, the first velocity being lower than the second velocity and the first torque being higher than the second torque. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive motor unit includes a first drive motor and a second drive motor, the first drive motor applying torque to the drive train in the first operating mode, and the second drive motor applying torque to the drive train in the second operating mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cutting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drive train includes an auger drive and a planetary drive coupled to the auger drive in series. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cutting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the planetary drive includes a first stage planetary drive, the drive train including at least a second stage planetary drive coupled in series to the first stage planetary drive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cutting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second stage planetary drive is a Wolfrom type drive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cutting apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a third stage planetary drive coupled in series to the second stage planetary drive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The cutting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the auger drive includes an auger, the first drive motor being coupled to the auger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The cutting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the planetary drive includes a first hollow wheel, the second drive motor being coupled to the first hollow gear wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The cutting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first brake configured to prevent any torque transmission from the first drive motor to the arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cutting apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a second brake configured to prevent any torque transmission from the second drive motor to the arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The cutting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the drive train includes a second hollow wheel and a third hollow wheel, both associated with the second stage planetary drive, wherein the second and third hollow wheels have an identical gear module, and the number of teeth of the second hollow wheel differs from the number of teeth of the third hollow wheel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cutting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the difference in teeth is in the two-digit range or less. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the first operating mode, a gear transmission ratio of the drive train is in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 and/or in the second operating mode, the gear transmission ratio of the drive train is in the range of 500 to 2,000. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The cutting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second drive motors are hydraulic motors and/or identical motors. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable cutting head mounted at the at least one arm, the cutting head being rotatable about a head axis orientated to extend substantially transverse to an arm pivot axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus of of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm is a first arm, and further comprising a second arm pivotally mounted to the apparatus, the first and second arm being arranged to pivot independently of one another in an upward and downward direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus of of claim 1, further comprising: a main frame having generally upward, downward and side facing regions; a first and second support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame via respective first and second support axes aligned generally upright relative to the upward and downward facing regions such that each first and second support is configured to pivot laterally in a sideways direction relative to the side facing regions; and at least one first and second support actuator arranged to respectively actuate independently movement of each of the first and second supports relative to the main frame, wherein the first and second arms are each pivotally mounted to the respective first and second supports via a respective arm pivot axis aligned in a direction extending transverse including perpendicular to each support pivot axis to enable the first and second arms to pivot independently of one another and to pivot relative to each of the respective first and second supports in an upward and downward direction relative to the upward and downward facing regions, the at least one first and second arm actuators being arranged to actuate independently the pivoting movement of the first and second arms relative to each of the respective first and second support. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The cutting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the difference in teeth is between 1 and 5. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The cutting apparatus of claim 16, further comprising at least first and second arm actuator arranged to actuate independently the pivoting movement of each of the first and second arms. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The cutting apparatus of claim 16, wherein a rotatable cutting head is mounted at each of the first and second arms, each head being rotatable about a head axis orientated to extend substantially transverse to each respective arm pivot axis.