Measuring mechanism in a bore hole of a pointed cutting element
View Patent ↗In one aspect of the present invention, a method of excavation with pointed cutting elements, comprising the steps of providing a excavating assembly with at least one pointed cutting element, the pointed cutting element comprising a rounded apex that intersects a central axis, the pointed cutting element further has a characteristic of having its highest impact resistance to resultant forces aligned with the central axis; engaging the at least one pointed cutting element against a formation such that the formation applies a resultant force against the pointed cutting element; determining an angle of the resultant force; and modifying at least one excavating parameter to align the resultant force with the pointed cutting element's central axis.
1. A pointed cutting element, comprising:
a wear resistant tip at a forward end;
the wear resistant tip comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate;
a bore hole is formed between the forward end and a distal end of the element; and
a force measuring mechanism is disposed within the bore hole.
2. The element of claim 1 , wherein the bore hole extends laterally.
3. The element of claim 1 , wherein the bore hole extends from the forward end to the distal end.
4. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism is a strain gauge.
5. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism is a pre-tensioned strain bolt.
6. The element of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of bore holes is formed in the element, and the bore holes are substantially perpendicular to one another.
7. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism is mounted in the bore hole with an adhesive.
8. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism comprises an adhesive strip with components capable of measuring in a plurality of orthogonal directions.
9. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism is a load cell.
10. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism is capable of converting force measurements into electrical signals.
11. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism is in electrical communication with an excavating control system.
12. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism transmits signals to a pavement milling control system.
13. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism transmits signals to a mining control system.
14. The element of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism is adapted to measure forces in three different orthogonal directions.
15. The element of claim 1 , wherein the element further comprises a rounded apex that intersects a rounded apex of a central axis of the pointed element.
16. The element of claim 1 , wherein the pointed cutting element further has a characteristic of having its highest impact resistance to resultant forces aligned with its central axis.