Inventors:
Lewis A. Scott - Lake Oswego OR
Francis E. Hoffman - Gresham OR
Kenneth R. Bolkan - Estacada OR
Assignee:
Blount, Inc. - Portland OR
International Classification:
B28D 108
Abstract:
A chain saw for cutting aggregate materials including a saw chain of interconnected center links and side link paris composed of heat-treated steel. Certain pairs of the side links support diamond impregnated matrix cutting blocks that are laser welded to the side links in a process where the laser beam is focused and orbited along the juncture to avoid stress risers in the steel material of the supporting side links. Drawing down of the zone adjacent the weld also is controlled to avoid stress risers. The guide bar is provided with a pattern of enclosed channels for directing water to the guide bar groove at spaced positions on the periphery of the guide bar edge for flushing away the aggregate dust generated by the cutting process. The channels are angularly directed toward the guide bar nose and have incrementally increased cross sections on progressing toward the guide bar nose to enhance the flushing operation. To reduce adhesvie wearing of the bearing surfaces, as between the saw chain components and as between the saw chain and guide bar, the guide bar rails, the rivet holes, and depending center link tang portions of the saw chain are hard-surfaced.