Cutting apparatus and method
AssigneeBisso Marine, LLC
InventorsWilliam A. Bisso, IV, Tjerko Jurgens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of bushings are coupled to one another via a series of bolts to provide an interlocking, articulating cutter. The bolts have a cylindrical end and a convex end. The convex ends are seated inside a concave socket coupled to the bushings. The cylindrical ends are coupled to a convex nut seated inside another concave socket coupled to an adjacent bushing. The convex ends of the bolts are configured to articulate inside the seat of the concave sockets. A washer may be placed between the bushings to provide a desired amount of flexibility and/or rigidity. The outer surface of the bushing comprises a cutting structure, such as a milled or clad cutting structure.
Claims18
A cutting apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of bushings, a cutting surface on an outer surface of each bushing, each bushing having a bore therethrough;
- a concave interior socket coupled to both ends of the bore of each of the plurality of bushings;
- and
- a bolt joining adjacent bushings, the bolt having a convex shouldered end and a cylindrical end, the convex shouldered end being seated inside the concave interior socket while the cylindrical end of the bolt is coupled to a convex nut, the convex nut being seated inside the concave interior socket of the adjacent bushing,
- wherein the plurality of bushings are configured to articulate in relation to one another.
A cutting apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of bushings, a cutting surface on an outer surface of each bushing, each bushing having a bore therethrough;
- a concave interior socket coupled to each end of the bore;
- and
- a bolt joining adjacent bushings, the bolt having a convex shouldered end seated inside the concave interior socket of the adjacent bushings, wherein the plurality of bushings are configured to articulate in relation to one another plural washers placed between more than two but less than all of the plurality of bushings, said washers comprise a combination of rigid and flexible washers.
A method for cutting a structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) bringing a cutting apparatus into contact with the structure, the cutting apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of bushings, a cutting surface on an outer surface of each bushing, each bushing having a bore therethrough, a concave interior socket coupled to each end of the bore;
- and a bolt joining adjacent bushings, the bolt extending into a portion of the bore of the adjacent bushings the bolt having a convex shouldered end and a cylindrical end, the convex shouldered end being seated inside the concave interior socket while the cylindrical end of the bolt is coupled to a convex nut, the convex nut being seated inside the concave interior socket of the adjacent bushing;
- (b) actuating the cutting apparatus along the structure;
- and
- (c) cutting the structure using the cutting apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.