WO2006081538A1

WO2006081538A1 - Tungsten carbide tool

Info

Publication number: WO2006081538A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/003162
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jon Ritter; Rebecca D. Ritter
Original assignee: Jon Ritter; Ritter Rebecca D
Priority date: 2005-01-27
Filing date: 2006-01-27
Publication date: 2006-08-03
Also published as: EP1855837A4; CA2598661A1; EP1855837A1

Abstract

A tool that is designed to cut very hard material using a reciprocating saw. The tool is a rasp made of tungsten carbide that not only cuts into masonry work and other hard materials, but also is capable of not breaking or bending while being used. It is specially heat treated, and also is capable of sanding or smoothing the cut while the cut is being made.

Description

ΪN THE APFOUATltM ^"O^'F JONATHAN AND REBECCA RITTER FOR A TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TOOL

Field of the Invention

The present invention is a device that is designed to fit a reciprocating tool. Background of the Invention

Reciprocating tools are used to move an attachment to and fro. The standard reciprocating saw blade cannot cut objects that are very hard without the blade being dulled extremely quickly. Moreover, standard reciprocating tool attachments cannot contort and return to a desired form easily.

There exist blades for cutting wood, and there are those blades that exist for cutting steel. However, there is a need for a blade that is capable of cutting concrete, mortar, DUROC type material or even some of the harder plastics used in construction. Further, there is a need for such blade to be automated. Tungsten carbide has been used for many different applications; however, when cutting with a reciprocating tool, the speed and the stresses call for a refinement of tungsten carbide technology.

Further, there exist reciprocating tool attachments, but none that easily change shape to access various areas, and then are capable of returning to their original shape.

In the industry, a circular blade with a diamond tip is used for cutting concrete, mortar, DUROC type material or even some of the harder plastics used in construction. However, the diamond tip blades are very expensive; circular saws cannot penetrate the concrete, mortar, DUROC type material or even some of the harder plastics used in construction deeply; circular saws are not terribly maneuverable - they are intended for cutting in a straight line. Thus, there is a need for a blade that is automated, and also capable of cutting concrete, mortarrDUROC type material or even some of the harder plastics used in construction, and also maneuverable.

Further, when a cut is made into concrete, mortar, DUROC type material or even some of the harder plastics used in construction, there it is desirable to smooth the surface of the cut while the cut is being made, rather than having to smooth in a separate pass or step.

Also, there is a need to cut concrete, mortar, DUROC type material or even some of the harder plastics used in construction faster than a diamond-tipped circular blade.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a rasp made of Tungsten Carbide that is configured to fit onto a conventional reciprocating tool. Tungsten Carbide is an extremely hard, fine gray powder whose composition is WC. It is used in tools, dies, wear-resistant machine parts, and abrasives. The present invention is able to cut through some of the hardest material available to contractors, such as concrete, mortar, and hard plastics.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides memory plastic as a base material as opposed to steel.

It is an object of the present invention to combine tungsten carbide with a reciprocating tool so that the tool may be able to cut through most any hard construction material.

It is a second object of the present invention to allow a user to sand and smooth the cut being made with the actual tungsten carbide attachment to the reciprocating tool itself. It is a third object of the present invention to allow for a tungsten carbide tool that is fully automated by being attached to a reciprocating tool.

It is a final object to allow a regular homeowner to use the tool to cut through heavy material using a conventional reciprocating tool. It would be a softer cut with the present invention, and would obviate the need for sandpaper. The main body of the present invention fits into a reciprocating tool that has tungsten carbide or a similar substance that is sufficiently hard to be able to cut through a hard material; to have that substance housed on the attachment for the reciprocating tool. Conventionally, reciprocating tools are used with a saw insert wherein the insert has a blade on one end, or teeth, which will be moved to and fro, mimicking the manual motion done by a user with a standard saw.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Figures

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an environmental view of the present invention. "Fϊgύre^"2 is also an environmental view of the present invention in an alternative embodiment.

Detailed Description

As shown in Figure 1, the first step is to make sure that the key 10 is continuous with the actual paddle 40 or material that will be the tool. It should be one continuous piece. Next, the tungsten carbide 31 or similarly hard material is adhered to the paddle 40. To do so, 1095 steel is heated to 2000 degrees and the tungsten carbide at that temperature is braised to the key 10 - it is considered a paddle 40 when the key 10 is lengthened. After that process, the metal is annealed, making it very soft. "Annealing" a metal is to subject it to a process of heating and slow cooling in order to toughen the metal and reduce brittleness. Conventional methods are used to braise the tungsten carbide 31 or similarly hard substance to the paddle 40. The tungsten carbide 31 used in the present invention ranges from 24 grit (very rough) to 220 grit (very fine). The tool can be used to cut masonry block, tile, and concrete. Tungsten carbide grit applies to 1095 or 4140 steel alloy key 10. It is similar to the key used to insert into a conventional saw. Preferably, the key 10 is lengthened to ten inches in length (although it can be any length). The key 10 is treated so that it is sufficiently hard to withstand the pressure when the device is used. This requires the key 10 be re-heated back up to a 44-48 RCH rockwell hardness (1600 degree area). If it's much above or below that range, then the key 10 will break or bend. The key 10 is then oil quenched. Oil quenching is done to do'o'HtJ as 'b|)posed""tό Mfef -cooling, which is too sudden and would cause the metal of the key 10 to become brittle.

Preferably, the tungsten carbide 31 can be attached to paper strips 32 and then attached to the paddle 40 via hook and loop method 33. Figure 1 shows the preferable embodiment of the present invention. This method allows the sand paper to be thrown away. However, as it is attached to paper, the tungsten carbide does not last as long as when it is attached directly to the metal of the key 10. The tungsten carbide adheres to the paper via conventional technology. The strips of paper would be preferably via loop- type fasteners or any conventional technology. The loop-type fasteners are adhered to the paddle 10. In other words, one hook and loop-type fastening surface 33 is wrapped around and adhered to the paddle 40. A corresponding fastener is adhered to the paper^* 32 via conventional means. The key 10 is the segment that attaches to the reciprocating tool; bare steel 20 and tungsten carbide 31 on removable paper strips 32 comprise the paddle 40. The benefit of this embodiment is as the tungsten carbide 31 is gradually worn down from use, rather than buying a new key 10 and paddle 40 with tungsten carbide 31, all the user would have to do is buy a replacement tungsten carbide 31 paper 32 with hook and loop fasteners 33.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the paddle 41 is made of bare steel 21 and tungsten carbide 31, which is not removable from the paddle 41.

Tungsten Carbide grits will cut ready mix, which is one of the hardest substances that a contractor might desire to cut. Use 80 to 120 grit for tile; for DUROC type material, use 36 to 40 grit. It should be understood that the smaller the grit, the harder the material that can be cut. It should also be understood that although a larger grit will cut riiatay"0'f"tn'S^'f)W¹sticδ;ⁱ'"a"sϊήHller grit is preferable in order to have a smooth finish. When the grit is changed, the heating temperature (as noted above) will vary so that as the grit size increases, the temperature requirement must go up to achieve the correct consistency and hardness. Because there are certain stress areas coming into contact with surfaces, the present invention is super-hardened so that it won't snap or break.

Instead of the metal, another embodiment for the paddle 40 / 41 could be memory plastic so that it is malleable for working with any surface that requires a non-planar surface to interact with it. In this embodiment, memory plastic would form the paddle and be melted to form around the key 10 to make one continuous piece. The Tungsten carbide 31 can also be glued directly to memory plastic. It is anticipated that this embodiment would not be able to withstand the pressures as the other embodiment. The nature of memory plastic is that it can be bent and return to its original form as opposed to a steel key which is not as flexible.

A final embodiment is the memory plastic paddle 41 with hook and loop type fasteners, with the Tungsten carbide on the paper that mates with the hook and loop fastener.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invέϊϊtibrf. Pάfϊnef ,"siήcέ^m'hΗMέ^'fbli!&"modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An attachment for a reciprocating tool, comprising:

A key;

A paddle in communication with said key;

Tungsten carbide in communication with said paddle.

2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said paddle and said key are formed together as one piece of material.

3. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said key and said paddle are the products of 44-48 rockwell hardness steel.

4. The attachment of claim 3 wherein said key and said paddle are products of oil quenching.

5. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said Tungsten carbide in communication with said paddle is the product of braising at 2000 degrees Celsius.

6. The attachment of claim 1 further comprising a first piece of hook and loop fastener material in communication with said paddle.

7. The attachment of claim 1 further comprising a piece of paper in communication with said tungsten carbide.

8. The attachment of claim 7 further comprising a second piece of hook and loop fastener material in communication with said piece of paper.

9. The attachment of claim 8 further comprising a first piece of hook and loop fastener material in communication with said paddle and in communication with said second piece of hook and loop fastener material.

Ϊ0^ι>. fήe^"at'facnmenf of cϊaϊm'l wherein said paddle is memory plastic.

11. The attachment of claim 10 wherein said tungsten carbide is pressed into said paddle.

12. The attachment of claim 10 further comprising a first piece of hook and loop fastener material in communication with said paddle.

13. The attachment of claim 10 further comprising a piece of paper in communication with said tungsten carbide.

14. The attachment of claim 13 further comprising a second piece of hook and loop fastener material in communication with said piece of paper.