US 11,891,859 B2
HDD reamer having removable cutting teeth
Jacob Richard Smith, Altoona, IA (US)
Assigned to Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Filed by Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,436.
Application 18/153,436 is a continuation of application No. 17/533,763, filed on Nov. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,578,537.
Application 17/533,763 is a continuation of application No. 17/287,752, granted, now 11,180,960, issued on Nov. 23, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2020/040453, filed on Jul. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/870,373, filed on Jul. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0243217 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 10/26 (2006.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); E21B 10/567 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 10/26 (2013.01) [E21B 7/046 (2013.01); E21B 10/567 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
14. A reamer for use with a drill string and a horizontal directional drill for reaming an underground passage, the reamer comprising:
a shaft portion defining a central axis and having a first end;
a plurality of cutter tooth mounting locations provided along a curved path that increases in radius with increasing axial distance from the first end, each of the plurality of cutter tooth mounting locations including an outer tooth base surface and an additional tooth base surface facing at least partially toward a tangential cutting direction, wherein the plurality of cutter tooth mounting locations are radially outward of the shaft portion and either monolithically formed with the shaft portion or permanently affixed to the shaft portion; and
a plurality of cutter teeth individually and removably secured to the plurality of cutter tooth mounting locations along the curved path at different axial positions with respect to the central axis, wherein each one of the plurality of cutter teeth includes a body and at least one cutting insert manufactured separately from the body and joined therewith,
wherein each one of the plurality of cutter teeth is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of cutter tooth mounting locations by a removable fastener extending at least partially through the cutter tooth and at least partially through the respective one of the plurality of cutter tooth mounting locations.