Rotary shearing wheel with individually replaceable cutting segments

A rotary shearing wheel comprising,

• an annular member of a first radius having a central axis of rotation and opposed first and second side faces separated by a circumferential rim, the circumferential rim having an outer radial extent equal to the first radius, the first side face having an axially outward extending support shoulder with a radial outward extent less than the circumferential rim and a mounting region between the support shoulder and the circumferential rim, and
• a first set of a predetermined number of at least five tool members removably mounted to the mounting region of the first side face in successive abutting relation, each tool member having a portion extending beyond the circumferential rim, the tool members each having opposed inner and outer major surfaces separated by opposed leading and trailing edges, the leading and trailing edges separating and intersecting a radially outward facing planar upper surface and a radially inward facing lower surface, the inner major surface contacting the first side face with the outer major surface generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the lower surface contacting the support shoulder, the leading and trailing edges of successively abutting tool members mounted with the leading edge of one tool member abutting the trailing edge of an adjacent tool member in an offset manner with each abutment forming a single radially extending tooth, the number of teeth extending about the annular member equalling the predetermined number of tool members.

Resharpenable rotary shearing apparatus of the type having at least two shearing wheels, including a first wheel on a first shaft and a second wheel mounted on a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, the first and second shafts being spaced apart such that the first and second wheels have thicknesses bringing said wheels into a material shearing relation, the improvement comprising,

• a pair of adjacent wheels, each having an annular member with a side face, the side face having an axially outward extending support shoulder and a mounting region to which a plurality of tool members are removably mounted in successive abutting relation, each tool member having a portion extending beyond a radius of the annular member, and contacting the support shoulder, each tool member further having an inner major surface joined to the mounting region and an outer major surface in material shearing cooperative engagement with a tool member of an adjacent wheel, each tool member also having opposed leading and trailing edges each of which abuts the opposing edge of an adjacent tool member when the tool members are mounted to the mounting region, the leading edge of one tool member extending radially outward beyond the abutting trailing edge of the adjacent tool member, each abutment between adjacent tool members forming a single radially extending tooth, and
• shim means for adjusting the spacing between each tool member and an adjacent wheel, maintaining a material shearing thickness between the adjacent wheels, the shim means being disposed between the tool member and the mounting region of the annular member.