# US 2022/0016796 A1 · Split blade housing with expansion sleeve assembly for power operated rotary knife > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0016796 A1 - Document ID: US20220016796A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/387,607 - Filed: 2021-07-28 - Published: 2022-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-02 - Assignees: Bettcher Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Bettcher Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Bernard J. Esarey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220016796A1 ## CPC - B26B 25/002: {Motor-driven knives with a rotating annular blade} - A22B 5/165: {Ring knives specially adapted for skinning (motor driven tools with annular blades B26B25/002)} - A22C 17/0006: {Cutting or shaping meat} - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) - A22B: SLAUGHTERING - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) ## Abstract A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and an expansion sleeve assembly. The split blade housing including an annular blade support section and a mounting section extending from the blade support section. The mounting section includes a split extending through the mounting section and includes a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the split, the first body portion including a slot extending axially through the first body portion and movable between blade supporting and blade changing positions. The expansion sleeve assembly extends through the slot and includes a split sleeve changeable between first and second circumferences. The expansion sleeve assembly further including a fastener extends through the split sleeve and, when engaged with the split sleeve, maintains the split sleeve in the first circumference and secures the first body portion in the blade supporting position. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife, the blade housing assembly comprising: a split blade housing including: an annular blade support section including an inner wall; a mounting section extending from the blade support section; and a split extending through the mounting section and the inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall, the mounting section including a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the split, the first body portion including a slot extending axially through the first body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a passageway, a width of the passageway being smaller than a diameter of the second end portion, the first body portion being movable with respect to the second body portion between a first blade supporting position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a first value and a second blade changing position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a second value, the second value being greater than the first value; and an expansion sleeve assembly extending through the slot, the expansion sleeve assembly being stationary with respect to the first body portion and including: a split sleeve having a central opening and a split extending between first and second ends of the split sleeve, a circumference of the split sleeve changeable between a first condition having a first circumference and a second condition having a second circumference, the first circumference of the split sleeve being greater than the second circumference; and the split sleeve is received in the second end portion of the slot to secure the first body portion in the second blade changing position, the split sleeve being in the first condition. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein the width of the passageway of the slot of the first body portion of the mounting section of the split blade housing is smaller than a diameter of the first end portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein the split sleeve is received in the first end portion of the slot to secure the first body portion in the first blade supporting position, the split sleeve being in the first condition. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein the expansion sleeve assembly further includes a fastener having an enlarged head and a shaft extending from the head, the shaft extending through the central opening of the split sleeve, the fastener movable between an engagement position and a disengagement position, in the engagement position of the fastener, the enlarged head of the fastener engaging the split sleeve to maintain the split sleeve in one of the first and second end portions of the slot and secure the first body portion in one of the first blade supporting position and the second blade changing position. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein in the second condition of the split sleeve, the second circumference is sized to pass through the passageway of the slot of the first body portion. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The blade housing assembly of claim 30 wherein movement of the first body portion with respect to the second body portion between the first blade supporting position and the second blade changing position causes radial compression of the split sleeve from the first circumference to the second circumference as the split sleeve passes through the passageway of the slot. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein the split sleeve of the expansion sleeve assembly includes first and second opposing surfaces defining the split of the split sleeve, the first and second opposing surfaces overlapping in an axial direction of the split sleeve. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein the inner wall of the blade support section is coincident with an inner wall of the mounting section, and the split extending through the mounting section includes a post-receiving opening intermediate and spaced from an outer wall of the mounting section and the inner wall of the mounting section. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein the second body portion includes an opening extending axially through the second body portion, and a fastener extends through the opening. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) The blade housing assembly of claim 26 wherein the annular blade support section of the blade housing is centered about a blade housing center line, and a direction of the split through the mounting section at the inner wall of the blade support section is offset from the blade housing center line. ### Claim 36 A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife, the blade housing assembly comprising: a split blade housing including: an annular blade support section including an inner wall; a mounting section extending from the blade support section; and a split extending through the mounting section and the inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall, the mounting section including a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the split, the first body portion including a slot extending axially through the first body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a passageway, a width of the passageway being smaller than a diameter of the first end portion, the first body portion being movable with respect to the second body portion between a first blade supporting position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a first value and a second blade changing position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a second value, the second value being greater than the first value; and an expansion sleeve assembly extending through the slot, the expansion sleeve assembly being stationary with respect to the first body portion and including: a split sleeve having a central opening and a split extending between first and second ends of the split sleeve, a circumference of the split sleeve changeable between a first condition having a first circumference and a second condition having a second circumference, the first circumference of the split sleeve being greater than the second circumference; and the split sleeve is received in the first end portion of the slot to secure the first body portion in the first blade supporting position, the split sleeve being in the first condition. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The blade housing assembly of claim 36 wherein the width of the passageway of the slot of the first body portion of the mounting section of the split blade housing is smaller than a diameter of the second end portion. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The blade housing assembly of claim 36 wherein the split sleeve is received in the second end portion of the slot to secure the first body portion in the second blade changing position, the split sleeve being in the second condition. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The blade housing assembly of claim 36 wherein the expansion sleeve assembly further includes a fastener having an enlarged head and a shaft extending from the head, the shaft extending through the central opening of the split sleeve, the fastener movable between an engagement position and a disengagement position, in the engagement position of the fastener, the enlarged head of the fastener engaging the split sleeve to maintain the split sleeve in one of the first and second end portions of the slot and secure the first body portion in one of the first blade supporting position and the second blade changing position. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The blade housing assembly of claim 36 wherein in the second condition of the split sleeve, the second circumference is sized to pass through the passageway of the slot of the first body portion. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The blade housing assembly of claim 40 wherein movement of the first body portion with respect to the second body portion between the first blade supporting position and the second blade changing position causes radial compression of the split sleeve from the first circumference to the second circumference as the split sleeve passes through the passageway of the slot. ### Claim 42 A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife, the blade housing assembly comprising: a split blade housing including: an annular blade support section including an inner wall; a mounting section extending from the blade support section; and a split extending through the mounting section and the inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall, the mounting section including a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the split, the first body portion including a slot extending axially into the first body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a passageway, a width of the passageway being smaller than a diameter of at least one of the first and second end portions, the first body portion being movable with respect to the second body portion between a first blade supporting position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a first value and a second blade changing position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a second value, the second value being greater than the first value; and an expansion sleeve assembly extending into the slot, the expansion sleeve assembly being stationary with respect to the first body portion and including: a split sleeve having a central opening and a split extending between first and second ends of the split sleeve, a circumference of the split sleeve changeable between a first condition having a first circumference and a second condition having a second circumference, the first circumference of the split sleeve being greater than the second circumference, the split sleeve being in the first condition in at least one of the first and second end portions. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The blade housing assembly of claim 42 wherein the width of the passageway of the slot of the first body portion of the mounting section of the split blade housing is smaller than a diameter of the first end portion and further wherein the split sleeve is received in the first end portion of the slot to secure the first body portion in the first blade supporting position, the split sleeve being in the first condition. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The blade housing assembly of claim 42 wherein the width of the passageway of the slot of the first body portion of the mounting section of the split blade housing is smaller than a diameter of the second end portion and further wherein the split sleeve is received in the second end portion of the slot to secure the first body portion in the second blade changing position, the split sleeve being in the first condition. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The blade housing assembly of claim 42 wherein in the second condition of the split sleeve, the second circumference is sized to pass through the passageway of the slot of the first body portion and further wherein movement of the first body portion with respect to the second body portion between the first blade supporting position and the second blade changing position causes radial compression of the split sleeve from the first circumference to the second circumference as the split sleeve passes through the passageway of the slot.