TETE DE COUPE POUR TARIERE A GLACE

ICE AUGER CUTTING HEAD

Abrégé anglais

An auger for drilling fishing holes in ice on a body of water has an elongated
shank
supporting a continuous helical flight and a plurality of partially helical
scoop-like members having
leading generally radial edges, ice cutting blades releasably fastened to the
members adjacent their
leading edges having outer portions that extend radially outward from outer
edges of the members
supporting the blades and serrated forward cutting edges, and a positioning
pin secured to the
lowermost end of the shank for drilling a positioning hole in the ice.

Revendications

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CLAIMS
1. An apparatus for making a fishing hole in ice on a body of water
comprising: an
auger having an elongated shank, a helical flight secured to the shank, said
helical flight having a
bottom leading edge and a vertical edge, a partially helical scoop-like first
member having a
generally radial trailing edge and a generally radial leading bottom edge,
means securing the trailing
edge to the bottom leading edge and vertical edge of the helical flight, an
ice cutting first blade,
means securing the ice cutting first blade to the helical scoop-like member
adjacent the leading
bottom edge of said member, a partially helical scoop-like second member
having a generally
vertically extending edge secured to the shank, an arcuate trailing edge
extended generally radially
outwardly and downwardly spaced from a lower portion of the helical flight,
and a generally radial
leading bottom edge, an ice cutting second blade, means securing the ice
cutting second blade to the
second member adjacent the bottom leading edge of the second member, and a
positioning point
secured to the lowermost end of the shank aligned with the longitudinal axis
of the shank for
drilling a positioning hole in the ice.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the ice cutting first blade has a forward
serrated
cutting edge.
3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the means securing the ice cutting first
blade to
the helical scoop-like first member includes releasable fasteners for
connecting the first blade to the
first member whereby the first blade can be removed from the first member for
sharpening or
replacement.
4. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the ice cutting first blade has an outer
portion
extended radially outward beyond the outermost edge of the helical flight
whereby the diameter of
the drilled hole in the ice is larger than the diameter of the helical flight.
5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein: the ice cutting first blade has a forward
serrated
cutting edge.

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6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the ice cutting second blade has a
forward
serrated cutting edge.
7. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the means securing the ice cutting second
blade
to the second member includes releasable fasteners for connecting the second
blade to the second
member whereby the second blade can be removed from the second member for
sharpening or
replacement.
8. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the ice cutting second blade has an outer
portion
extended radially outward beyond the outer edge of the second member.
9. The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein: the ice cutting second blade has a
forward
serrated cutting edge.
10. The apparatus of Claim 1 including: scoop-like third and fourth members
located
adjacent to and downwardly from the first and second members, means securing
the third and fourth
members to the shank, said third and fourth members having generally radial
leading edges, ice
cutting third and fourth blades located adjacent the leading edges thereof,
and means securing the
third and fourth blades to the third and fourth members.
11. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein: the third and fourth blades have outer
portions
that extend radially outward from the outer edges of the third and fourth
members.
12. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein: the means securing the third and fourth
blades
to their respective members includes releasable fasteners for connecting the
third and fourth blades
to their respective members whereby the third and fourth blades can be removed
form their
respective members for sharpening or replacement.
13. The apparatus of Claim 1 including: a scoop-like third member located
adjacent to
and downwardly from the first and second members, means securing the third
member to the shank,
said third member having a generally radial leading edge, an ice cutting third
blade located adjacent
the leading edge of the third member, and means securing the third blade to
the third member.

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14. The apparatus of Claim 13 wherein: the third blade has an outer portion
extended
radially outward from the outer edge of the third member.
15. The apparatus of Claim 13 wherein: the means securing the third blade to
the third
member includes releasable fasteners for connecting the third blade to the
third member whereby
the third blade can be removed from the third member for sharpening or
replacement.
16. An apparatus for making a fishing hole in ice on a body of water
comprising: an
auger having an elongated shank, a helical flight secured to the shank, said
helical flight having a
bottom leading edge and a vertical edge, a partially helical scoop-like first
member having a
generally radial trailing edge and a generally radial leading bottom edge,
means securing the trailing
edge to the bottom leading edge and vertical edge of the helical flight, an
ice cutting first blade,
means securing the ice cutting first blade to the helical scoop-like member
adjacent the leading
bottom edge of said member, a helical scoop-like second member having a
generally vertically
extending edge secured to the shank, an arcuate trailing edge extended
generally radially outwardly
and downwardly spaced from a lower portion of the helical flight, and a
generally radial leading
bottom edge, an ice cutting second blade, means securing the ice cutting
second blade to the second
member adjacent the bottom leading edge of the second member, a partially
helical scoop-like third
member having a generally vertically extending edge secured to the shank, a
trailing edge located
below the first member, and a generally radial leading bottom edge, an ice
cutting third blade,
means securing the third blade to the third member adjacent the bottom edge of
the third member, a
partially helical scoop-like fourth member having a generally vertically
extending edge secured to
the shank, a trailing edge located below the second member, and a generally
radial leading bottom
edge, an ice cutting fourth blade, means securing the fourth blade to the
fourth member adjacent the
bottom edge of the fourth member, and a positioning point secured to the
lowermost end of the
shank aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shank for drilling a
positioning hole in the ice.

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17. The apparatus of Claim 16 wherein: at least one of the first, second,
third and fourth
blades has a forward serrated cutting edge.
18. The apparatus of Claim 16 wherein: the means securing the first, second,
third and
fourth blades to their respective members includes releasable fasteners for
connecting the first,
second, third and fourth blades to their respective members whereby the first,
second, third and
fourth blades can be removed form their respective members for sharpening or
replacement.
19. The apparatus of Claim 16 wherein: the first, second, third and fourth
blades each
has an outer portion extended radially outward from the member connect to the
blade.
20. An apparatus for making a fishing hole in ice on a body of water
comprising: an
auger having an elongated shank, a helical flight secured to the shank, said
helical flight having a
bottom leading edge and a vertical edge, a partially helical scoop-like first
member having a
generally radial trailing edge and a generally radial leading bottom edge,
means securing the trailing
edge to the bottom leading edge and vertical edge of the helical flight, an
ice cutting first blade,
means securing the ice cutting first blade to the helical scoop-like member
adjacent the leading
bottom edge of said member, a partially helical scoop-like second member
having a generally
vertically extending edge secured to the shank, an arcuate trailing edge
extended generally radially
outwardly and downwardly spaced from a lower portion of the helical flight,
and a generally radial
leading bottom edge, an ice cutting second blade, means securing the ice
cutting second blade to the
second member adjacent the bottom leading edge of the second member, a
partially helical scoop-
like third member having a generally vertically extending edge secured to the
shank, a trailing edge
located below the first member, and a generally radial leading bottom edge, an
ice cutting third
blade, means securing the third blade to the third member adjacent the bottom
edge of the third
member, and a positioning point secured to the lowermost end of the shank
aligned with the
longitudinal axis of the shank for drilling a positioning hole in the ice.

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21. The apparatus of Claim 20 wherein: at least one of the first, second and
third blades
has a forward serrated cutting edge.
22. The apparatus of Claim 20 wherein: the means securing the first, second
and third
blades to their respective members includes releasable fasteners for
connecting the first, second and
third blades to their respective members whereby the first, second and third
blades can be removed
form their respective members for sharpening or replacement.
23. The apparatus of Claim 20 wherein: the first, second and third blades each
has an
outer portion extended radially outward from the member connected to the
blade.

Description

CA 02367329 2002-O1-09
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ICE AUGER CUTTING HEAD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to two embodiments of an ice auger cutting head
characterized
by flat sharp serrated replaceable cutting blades disposed at the lower end of
an upright drive shank
which has a spiral flighting or helical auger blade along a substantial
portion of its length. The
drive shank is rotated to cut down through a body of ice against which the
cutting head is advanced
for drilling holes through the ice for ice fishing.
PRIOR ART
Fabiano Patent No. 5,302,059 shows a drill bit having three (or more) flat
replaceable
to cutting edges equally spaced around the longitudinal axis at the end of the
bit. The purpose is said
to be to cut smaller chips which are easier to remove, enhancing the cooling
of the drill and
workpiece. However, the drill is for accurately cutting holes in metal. The
radial displacement of
each cutting edge from the axis is different.
Kortschage Patent No. 3,602,321 is directed to an ice auger intended to be
driven from a
t s power take-off of a snowmobile. The cutting edges appear to be the edges
of scoop-like elements at
the end of a single flight auger.
Taylor Patent No. 4,046,207 is directed to an earth auger and discloses the
concept of a
small diameter pilot hole followed by a series of stepped holes of increasing
diameter.
Hein Patent No. 3,175,630 is directed to a two-bladed double-flight earth
auger and
zo discloses the concept of the cutting edges being slightly beyond the edges
of the auger flights to
prevent binding of the auger as the hole deepens. This auger also has a lead
screw which would
make an initial small diameter hole.
Gilbert Patent No. 4,074,780 is also directed to an earth auger. It is a
single flight auger
having a single curved edge blade and a pilot element for making a small
diameter pilot hole.

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Altonen Patent No. 3,786,876 is directed to a single flight ice auger having
two replaceable
curved blades for cutting a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the
auger. Both blades are
supported on a single "attachment piece" at the end of the auger helix and
shank.
Grahl Patent No. 5,251,707 is directed to a one-piece propeller-like cutting
head having
opposed pairs of inner and outer blade edges. The inner blades would cut a
pilot hole to be enlarged
by the outer blades.
Caswell Patent No. 5,950,739 is directed to a single flight ice auger having
either one or two
replaceable cutting blades. The patent is primarily concerned with means for
flaring the bottom end
of the hole cut through the ice.
t o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first two stage embodiment of the ice auger cutting head has two
diametrically opposed
sharp flat serrated replaceable cutting blades tilted slightly upwardly and
having a radius slightly
greater than that of the helical auger. Each cutting blade'is supported at the
leading edge of a partial
helical dished concave scoop-like member secured to the shank of the auger and
communicating
is with the helical channel of the auger. The trailing edge of one of these
scoops is contiguous with
the bottommost edge of the auger blade. A second pair of upwardly tilted
smaller cutting blades is
positioned below the first pair of blades along a transverse axis which is
perpendicular to the
transverse axis of the first pair of blades. Each of the smaller blades has an
arcuate outer edge with
a radius substantially less than that of the other blades and the auger. Each
of the small blades is
2o supported at the leading edge of a partial helical dished concave scoop
each having a trailing edge
connected to the leading edge of one of the first scoops spaced inwardly from
the cutting edge of
the larger blade. The smaller blades serve to cut a pilot hole of lesser
diameter in the ice and the ice
chips are carried to the larger scoops. The smaller hole is then enlarged by
the larger blades and the
ice chips are carried to the surface of the frozen lake or river being.
fished.

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The second single stage embodiment of the ice auger cutting head has three
sharp flat
serrated replaceable cutting blades equally spaced about the vertical axis of
the auger. Each blade
tilts upwardly at a slight angle to its outer arcuate edge which has a radius
just slightly greater than
the radius of the helical auger blade. Each cutting blade is supported at the
leading edge of a partial
helical dished concave scoop-like member secured to the shank of the auger in
a 3-leaf clover
arrangement. The pitch of the partial helical scoop is substantially less than
that of the helical auger
blade. The trailing edge of the scoop opposite form the cutting blade
communicates directly with
the helical channel of the auger for elevating ice chips to the surface. The
trailing edge of one of
the scoops is contiguous with the bottommost edge of the helical auger blade.
1o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which
corresponding parts are
identified by the same numerals and in which:
Figure 1 is an elevational view of the lower end of an ice auger carrying one
embodiment of
a cutting head according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a similar elevational view rotated approximately a quarter turn
counter clockwise
from the view ofFigure l;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the cutting head;
Figure 4 is a perspective view from above the lower end of an ice auger
carrying the first
embodiment of the cutting head;
2o Figure 5 is a similar perspective view from below of the cutting head at
the lower end of an
auger;
Figure 6 is a further fragmentary elevational view of the lower end of an
auger, carrying the
first embodiment of the cutting head;
Figure 7 is an elevational view of the lower end of an auger carrying another
embodiment of
2s a cutting head according to the present invention.

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Figure 8 is a similar elevational view rotated clockwise approximately
120° from the view of
Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the cutting head of Figures 7 and 8;
Figure 10 is a perspective view from above of the lower end of an ice auger
carrying the
other embodiment of cutting head; and
Figure 11 is a similar perspective view from below of the cutting head at the
lower end of an
ice auger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 through 6, there
is shown one
two stage embodiment of the invention illustrating the lowermost end of an ice
auger comprising a
rigid tubular shaft or shank 10 which supports a single flight helical auger
blade 11 attached to the
shaft by brazing or welding or the like. Auger blade 11 serves both to lift
ice chips from the hole
being drilled and as a guide for the auger. A first partially helical blade-
supporting scoop-like
member 12 has a generally radial trailing edge 13 welded or otherwise rigidly
secured to the bottom
leading edge 14 of helical auger blade 11 and an adjacent intersecting
downwardly extending
vertical edge 15 welded or otherwise secured to shaft 10. The scoop-like
member 12 is partially
helical in the sense that its outermost arcuate edge 16 forms a continuation
of the helical auger
blade. The generally radially leading bottommost edge of the scoop-like member
12 supports a
2o serrated ice cutting blade 17, preferably removably, secured to the scoop-
like member, as by means
of screws 18, for sharpening or replacement. The cutting edge 19 of the blade
17 extends generally
radia(ly. The outermost arcuate edge 20 of blade 17 extends a small fraction
of an inch beyond the
outermost edge of the scoop-like member 12 so that the diameter of the drilled
hole is slightly larger
than the diameter of auger blade 1 I to prevent binding of the auger in the
hole and to permit easy
2s removal of the auger.

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A second partially helical blade-supporting scoop-like member 21 has a
generally vertically
extending edge 22 welded or otherwise secured to the auger shaft l0 and an
intersecting arcuate
trailing edge 23 extending generally radially outwardly and extending
downwardly spaced from the
next adjacent auger flight. The generally radial leading bottommost edge of
the scoop-like member
21 supports a serrated ice cutting blade 24, preferably movably secured to the
scoop-like member
21, as by means of screws 25. The cutting edge 26 of the blade 24 extends
generally radially and
the arcuate outer edge 27 of the blade extends slightly beyond the outermost
edge of member 21.
Blades 17 and 24 are disposed with their cutting edges 19 and 26,
respectively, extending upwardly
from the shaft 10 to the outer arcuate edges of the respective scoop-like
members 12 and 21 at an
angle of about 15 to 20 degrees from a transverse plane through the auger
perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis. Both scoop-like members 12 and 21 communicate directly with
the spiral space
defined by the auger flight on diametrically opposite side of the auger for
transport of ice chips to
the ice surface. The scoop-like members 12 and 21 desirably have a narrow flat
lip around at least
part of the circumference.
t 5 A pair of third and fourth blade supporting scoop-like members 28 and 29
are located
adjacent to but downwardly from the first and second scoop-like members. The
third and fourth
scoop-like members 28 and 29 are similar to but smaller than second scoop-like
member 12. Each
has a generally radial trailing edge 30 and 31, respectively, welded or
otherwise secured to the
generally radial leading edges 32 and 33 of the first and second scoop-like
members 12 and 21. A
2o pair of smaller cutting blades 34 and 35 are secured to the leading edges
of the third and fourth
scoop-like members, preferably removably secured as by screws 36. The cutting
edges 37 and 38
of the blades extend generally radially and are disposed at an upward angle of
about I 5 to 20
degrees. Arcuate outer edges 39 and 40 extend between the leading and trailing
radial edges of the
scoop-like members.

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Blades 34 and 35 are disposed along an axis generally perpendicular to that of
blades 12 and
21. The distance between the outermost edges of blades 34 and 35 is preferably
about 50 to 65% of
the distance between the outermost edges of blades 12 and 21. Blades 34 and 35
thus cut a pilot
hole of smaller diameter to be enlarged by blades 12 and 21. Third and fourth
scoop-like members
s 28 and 29 communicate with the first and second members, respectively, for
transport of ice chips
first to the latter members and then to the spiral space defined by the auger
flight. The third and
fourth scoop-like members are desirably formed in one piece welded or
otherwise secured to the
bottommost end of shaft 10, as well as to members 12 and 21. A sharp locating
pin or positioning
point 41 is desirably secured to the lowermost end of shaft 10 aligned with
the longitudinal axis of
1o the auger to ftx the auger at the location on the ice surface where a hole
is to be drilled.
Referring to Figures 7 through 11 there is shown a further single stage
embodiment of the
invention illustrating the lowermost end ~of a similar ice auger likewise
comprising a rigid tubular
shaft or shank 10 supporting a single flight helical auger blade 11 attached
to the shaft by brazing or
welding or the like. The first of three similar blade supporting partially
helical scoop-like members
15 60 has a generally radial straight trailing edge 61 welded or otherwise
rigidly secured to the straight
bottom leading edge 14 of the helical auger blade 11 and an adjacent
intersecting downwardly
extending generally vertical edge 62 welded or otherwise secured to shaft 10.
The scoop-like
member 60 is partially helical in the sense that its outer arcuate edge 63
forms a continuation of the
helical auger blade. The generally radial leading bottommost edge 64 of the
scoop-like member 60
2o supports a serrated ice cutting blade 65, preferably removably secured to
the scoop-like member, as
by means of screws 66, for sharpening or replacement. The cutting edge 67 of
blade 65 extends
generally radially. The outermost arcuate edge 68 or blade 65 extends a small
fraction of an inch
beyond the outermost edge 63 of the scoop-like member 60 so that the diameter
of the drilled hole
is slightly larger than the diameter of auger blade 11 to prevent binding of
the auger in the hole and
25 to permit easy removal of the auger.

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_7.
Second and third blade supporting scoop-like members 70 and 71 are spaced
approximately
equally about the longitudinal axis of the auger on opposite sides of member
60 in a three leaf
clover pattern. Scoop-like members 70 and 71 each have a generally vertically
extending edge 72
and 73, respectively, welded or otherwise secured to shaft 10, and generally
arcuate intersecting
trailing edges 74 and 75, respectively, extending downwardly from the next
adjacent auger flight.
The generally radially extending bottommost leading edges 75 and 77 of the
respective scoop-like
members 70 and 71 support serrated ice cutting blades 78 and 79, respectively.
Blades 78 and 79
are likewise preferably removable for sharpening or replacement and are
removably secured, as by
means of screws 80. The respective cutting edges 81 and 82 of blades 78 and 79
extend generally
to radially and the respective arcuate outer edges 83 and 84 of the blades
likewise extend slightly
beyond the outermost edges of the blade supporting members. Blades 65, 78 and
79 are each
disposed with their respective cutting edges 67, 74 and 75 extending outwardly
and upwardly from
the shaft 10 to the outer edges of the respective scoop-like blade supports
60, 70 and 71 at an angle
of about I 5 to 20 degrees from a transverse plane through the auger
perpendicular to the
t5 longitudinal axis. The scoop-like blade supports 60, 70 and 71 communicate
with the spiral space
defined by the auger blade for transport of ice chips, to the ice surface. The
scoop-like members 60,
70 and 71 desirably have a narrow flat- outwardly positioning point 41 is
desirably secured to the
lowermost end of shaft 10 aligned with the longitudinal axis of the auger to
fix the auger at the
location on the ice surface where a hole is to be drilled.
20 Ice augers equipped with cutting heads according to the present invention
are operated in the
conventional manner. A downward force is applied to the top of the auger and
the auger is rotated,
either manually or power driven. The auger is positioned by driving the
positioning point 41 into
the ice surface at the desired location and the drilling the hole. After the
ice sheet has been
penetrated the auger is withdrawn and the hole is ready for fishing.

Dessin représentatif