Brick cutting apparatuses and methods
View Patent ↗This document discusses, among other things, apparatuses and methods for cutting a brick including a base configured to selectively support the brick. An actuating assembly is movable along a cutting line. The actuating assembly is movable by a cutting distance at least equal to a height of the brick. A shear blade is removably attached to the actuating assembly. The shear blade is movable with the actuating assembly along the cutting line. The shear blade is configured to shear the brick along the cutting line when moved toward the base through the brick.
1. An apparatus for cutting a brick, the apparatus comprising:
a base configured to selectively support the brick;
an arm pivotably attached to the base, the arm being pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the base;
an actuating assembly attached to the arm and movable along a cutting line of direction relative to the brick, the actuating assembly movable by a cutting distance at least equal to a height of the brick, wherein the arm is pivotable with respect to the base to one or more configurations between a first configuration in which the cutting line is perpendicular to the base and a second configuration in which the cutting line is substantially parallel to the base; and
a shear blade removably attached to the actuating assembly, the shear blade movable with the actuating assembly along the cutting line, the shear blade configured to shear the brick along the cutting line when moved toward the base through the brick.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuating assembly is manually powered to move along the cutting line.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , comprising a mechanical advantage device configured to increase force exerted by the shear blade on the brick during cutting, the force being sufficient to shear the brick.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical advantage device includes a reduction gearbox.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical advantage device includes a lever arm.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shear blade includes a substantially straight cutting edge.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shear blade includes an angled cutting edge.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shear blade includes a curved cutting edge.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shear blade includes a cutting edge having a first shape, and wherein the shear blade is configured to be removed from the actuating assembly and replaced with a second shear blade including a cutting edge having a second shape.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuating assembly is selectively pivotable with respect to the base.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the actuating assembly is selectively pivotable about an axis substantially normal to the base.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an angle of the cutting line is selectively adjustable with respect to the base.
13. A method of cutting a polymeric brick, comprising:
positioning the polymeric brick with respect to a cutting apparatus to align a portion of the polymeric brick to be cut with a cutting line of direction of the cutting apparatus relative to the polymeric brick, wherein the cutting apparatus includes an arm pivotably coupled with a base, the arm including a shear blade movable along the cutting line, the polymeric brick being positioned on the base of the cutting apparatus;
adjusting an angle of the cutting line including pivoting the arm of the cutting apparatus with respect to the base, the angle of the cutting line being adjustable to one or more configurations between a first configuration in which the cutting line is perpendicular to the base and a second configuration in which the cutting line is substantially parallel to the base; and
actuating the shear blade of the cutting apparatus to move along the cutting line and shear the polymeric brick substantially along the cutting line, wherein actuating the shear blade includes actuating a mechanical advantage device to provide sufficient force to press the shear blade through the polymeric brick.
14. The method of claim 13 , comprising fixedly attaching the shear blade to the cutting apparatus.
15. The method of claim 14 , comprising removing the shear blade and replacing with a different shear blade having a profile different than a profile of the removed shear blade.
16. The method of claim 13 , comprising selectively pivoting the shear blade with respect to the polymeric brick to adjust the cutting line with respect to the polymeric brick.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein actuating the shear blade includes rotating a lever arm.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein actuating the shear blade includes moving the shear blade by a cutting distance at least equal to a height of the polymeric brick.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein actuating the shear blade includes manually actuating the shear blade.
20. A method of cutting a brick, comprising:
fixedly attaching a first shear blade to a manual cutting apparatus, the first shear blade including a first blade profile;
positioning the brick with respect to the cutting apparatus to align a portion of the brick to be cut with a cutting line of direction of the cutting apparatus relative to the brick, wherein the cutting apparatus includes an arm pivotably coupled with a base, the arm including the first shear blade movable along the cutting line, the brick being positioned on the base of the cutting apparatus;
adjusting an angle of the cutting line including pivoting the arm of the cutting apparatus with respect to the base, the angle of the cutting line being adjustable to one or more configurations between a first configuration in which the cutting line is perpendicular to the base and a second configuration in which the cutting line is substantially parallel to the base;
manually actuating the first shear blade of the cutting apparatus to move along the cutting line and shear the brick substantially along the cutting line to cut the brick in a pattern corresponding to the first blade profile;
removing the first shear blade;
fixedly attaching a second shear blade to the cutting apparatus, the second shear blade including a second blade profile different from the first blade profile; and
manually actuating the second shear blade of the cutting apparatus to move along the cutting line and shear the brick substantially along the cutting line to cut the brick in a pattern corresponding to the second blade profile.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein manually actuating the first and second shear blades includes actuating of a mechanical advantage device to provide sufficient force to press the first and second shear blades through the brick.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein manually actuating the first and second shear blades includes rotating a lever arm.