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US 8,746,118 B2Granted
Chain link sharpening method and apparatus
AssigneeBlount, Inc.
InventorsChris Seigneur, Mike Goettel, Michael Patterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments provide various components of a chain saw, including saw chain elements, sprockets, and other fixtures, that may facilitate sharpening of cutter links during operation. In various embodiments, the components may increase stability during sharpening, provide nose mounted sharpening fixtures, and/or facilitate the resizing and/or reshaping of a sharpening element.
Claims26
A cutting chain, comprising:
- a cutter link including a cutter portion adapted to be sharpened on an upper edge to form a cutting edge, the cutter link further including a first depth gauge leading the cutter portion;
- and
- a non-cutting link, coupled to the cutter link, including a stabilizer trailing the cutter portion, wherein the stabilizer, depth gauge, and the cutter portion are adapted to, during operation, simultaneously engage a sharpening element as the cutter link traverses a nose of a guide bar.
A cutting chain, comprising:
- a cutter link including a cutter portion adapted to be sharpened on an upper edge to form a cutting edge and a first depth gauge positioned in front of the cutting edge of the cutter portion;
- a non-cutting link, coupled to the cutter link, including a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer, depth gauge, and the cutter portion are adapted to, during operation, simultaneously engage a sharpening element;
- and
- a conditioning link including an upper surface configured to carry a conditioning material, wherein the conditioning link is positioned in the chain to cause the conditioning material to engage the sharpening element in order to condition the sharpening element.
1 more element
A utility chain, comprising:
- a conditioning link including:
- a first link plate having a portion upstanding that defines a first plane and an upper surface bent out of the first plane, wherein the upper surface includes a geometrical configuration that allows for a desired portion of the upper surface to engage a sharpening element;
- and
- an abrasive conditioning material adhered to the upper surface of the first link plate and conforming to the geometrical configuration of the surface and is disposed to condition a sharpening element;
- and
- a cutter link coupled to the conditioning link and including a cutting edge configured to be sharpened by the sharpening element.
3 more elements
A cutting system comprising:
- a cutting chain having a cutter link including a cutter element and a depth gauge leading the cutter element, and a non-cutting link including a stabilizer trailing the cutter element, wherein the chain is configured to engage a guide bar and a chainsaw drive sprocket;
- a sharpening element disposed proximal to the cutting chain;
- an actuator coupled to the sharpening element and adapted to selectively urge the sharpening element into contact with the cutting chain, wherein when the cutter element is in contact with the sharpening element and the cutter link is traversing the chainsaw drive sprocket, the depth gauge and the stabilizer are simultaneously in contact with the sharpening element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.