Cutting blade assembly
A cutting blade assembly establishes a bidirectional and/or multifaceted scissor-type cutting action to efficiently and effectively process various types of debris encountered by the cutting blade assembly. The assembly includes a cutting plate and a cutting hub configured for relative rotation. A cutting slot is formed in the cutting plate and intersects the axial face to define a cutting edge at the intersection of the cutting slot and the axial face. The cutting hub has a cutting arm positioned adjacent to the axial face. When the cutting plate and the cutting hub undergo relative rotation, the cutting arm passes adjacent to the cutting edge to perform a scissor-type cutting action.
1. A cutting blade assembly operably coupleable to a fluid pump, the cutting blade assembly comprising:
a cutting plate having an axial face and an opening defining a radial face that is skewed relative to the axial face;
a first series of cutting slots formed in the cutting plate and circumferentially spaced about the opening, each of the first series of cutting slots intersecting the axial face and the radial face, and defines a respective first axial cutting edge at the intersection of each of the first series of cutting slots and the axial face, wherein each of the first series of cutting slots establishes fluid communication with the opening in the cutting plate;
a second series of cutting slots formed in the cutting plate and circumferentially spaced between adjacent ones of the first series of cutting slots, each of the second series of cutting slots intersecting the axial face to define a respective second axial cutting edge at the intersection of each of the second series of cutting slots and the axial face; and
a cutting hub positioned in the opening and having a cutting arm adjacent to the axial face, wherein the cutting arm defines an arcuate front surface and a leading edge;
wherein when the cutting plate and the cutting hub undergo relative rotation, the leading edge of the cutting arm passes adjacent to the first axial cutting edges of the first series of cutting slots and the second axial cutting edges of the second series of cutting slots so that the relative rotation of the cutting plate and the cutting hub defines a scissor-type cutting action between the leading edge and both the first axial cutting edges and the second axial cutting edges.
2. The cutting blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first series of cutting slots defines a base surface that is skewed axially inward from the axial face toward the opening in the cutting plate.
3. The cutting blade assembly of claim 2 , wherein the base surface includes a landing portion proximate the opening in the cutting plate that is parallel with the axial face.
4. The cutting blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first series of cutting slots is circumferentially angled so that the first cutting edge is undercut relative to the axial face.
5. The cutting blade assembly of claim 4 , wherein an inner portion of each of the first series of cutting slots is perpendicular to the axial face.
6. The cutting blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second series of cutting slots is skewed relative to a ray extending from a central point of the cutting plate.
7. The cutting blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the second series of cutting slots defines a base surface that is skewed inward form the axial face to define a pocket in the cutting plate.
8. The cutting blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the scissor-type cutting action between the leading edge and both the first axial cutting edges and the second axial cutting edges establishes a respective zone of cutting engagement that progresses radially outward relative to the opening during the relative rotation.
9. The cutting blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cutting hub includes a central portion from which the cutting arm extends radially outward.
10. The cutting blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the central portion is dome shaped.
11. The cutting blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the central portion includes at least one serration adjacent to the axial face of the cutting plate so that the relative rotation of the cutting plate and the cutting hub defines a scissor-type cutting action between the serration and the first axial cutting edges.
12. The cutting blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein a second cutting arm and a third cutting arm extend radially outward from the central portion.
13. The cutting blade assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cutting arm, the second cutting arm, and the third cutting arm are circumferentially spaced about the central portion.
14. The cutting blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein a rear surface of the cutting arm defines an undercut.
15. The cutting blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radial face is perpendicular to the axial face.