Rotary cutting blade having a laser hardened cutting edge and a method for making the same with a laser
AssigneeFisher Barton, Inc.
InventorsDarrel L. Turner, Richard L. Wilkey, Jeffrey O. Russell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary cutting blade including an elongated body made of steel and having opposite ends, a leading edge extending from each opposite end, an upper surface, a lower surface and a cutting surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces along a portion of the leading edge, and a laser hardened portion extending from an opposite end of the body along the lower surface and the leading edge, the laser hardened portion having a thickness extending toward the upper surface and to the cutting edge.
Claims23
A rotary cutting blade comprising
- an elongated body made of steel and having opposite ends, a leading edge extending from one of the opposite ends, an upper surface, a lower surfaces, and a cutting surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces along a portion of the leading edge, and a laser hardened portion extending from the one opposite end of the body along the lower surface and along the leading edge, the laser hardened portion having a thickness extending toward the upper surface and to the cutting surface, wherein the cutting surface and the lower surface intersect to define a cutting edge, and wherein the laser hardened portion has an increased thickness adjacent the cutting edge.
A rotary cutting blade comprising an elongated body made of steel and having an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one cutting surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein a portion of the body is heat treated, and wherein a portion of the heat treated portion is laser hardened, the laser hardened portion extending along the lower surface and having a thickness extending toward the upper surface and to the cutting surface.
A method of manufacturing a steel rotary cutting blade having a laser hardened cutting surface, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a steel work piece;
- (b) fabricating the work piece into a cutting blade having a cutting surface, the fabricating step including heat treating a portion of the work piece;
- and
- (c) exposing a portion of the heat treated portion to a beam of laser radiation whereby a portion of the cutting surface is laser hardened.
A method of hardening a portion of a steel work piece, the method comprising:
- (a) fabricating a work piece, the fabricating step including heat treating a portion of the work piece;
- (b) providing a beam of laser radiation;
- and
- (c) exposing a portion of the heat treated portion of the work piece to the laser beam to quickly heat the portion of the work piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.