Charles S Landram

US Patent:

6412377, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

May 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/568619

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Blaedel - Dublin CA
Pete J. Davis - Pleasanton CA
Charles S. Landram - Livermore CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B26D 154

US Classification:

83 22, 83169, 83820, 83821, 384 12

Abstract:

A saw having a self-pumped hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing for retaining the saw blade in a centered position in the saw kerf (width of cut made by the saw). The hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing utilizes pockets or grooves incorporated into the sides of the blade. The saw kerf in the workpiece provides the guide or bearing stator surface. Both sides of the blade entrain cutting fluid as the blade enters the kerf in the workpiece, and the trapped fluid provides pressure between the blade and the workpiece as an inverse function of the gap between the blade surface and the workpiece surface. If the blade wanders from the center of the kerf, then one gap will increase and one gap will decrease and the consequent pressure difference between the two sides of the blade will cause the blade to re-center itself in the kerf. Saws using the hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing have particular application in slicing slabs from boules of single crystal materials, for example, as well as for cutting other difficult to saw materials such as ceramics, glass, and brittle composite materials.

US Patent:

60822392, Jul 4, 2000

Filed:

Jul 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/684164

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Blaedel - Dublin CA
Pete J. Davis - Pleasanton CA
Charles S. Landram - Livermore CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B26D 154
B27B 529
B27B 1310

US Classification:

83820

Abstract:

A saw having a self-pumped hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing for retaining the saw blade in a centered position in the saw kerf (width of cut made by the saw). The hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing utilizes pockets or grooves incorporated into the sides of the blade. The saw kerf in the workpiece provides the guide or bearing stator surface. Both sides of the blade entrain cutting fluid as the blade enters the kerf in the workpiece, and the trapped fluid provides pressure between the blade and the workpiece as an inverse function of the gap between the blade surface and the workpiece surface. If the blade wanders from the center of the kerf, then one gap will increase and one gap will decrease and the consequent pressure difference between the two sides of the blade will cause the blade to re-center itself in the kerf. Saws using the hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing have particular application in slicing slabs from boules of single crystal materials, for example, as well as for cutting other difficult to saw materials such as ceramics, glass, and brittle composite materials.