Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7240593?dq=552685
Timestamp: 2013-12-22 03:44:58
Document Index: 589024814

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 40', 'art 42', 'art 40', 'art 52', 'art 54', 'art 60', 'art 40', 'art 94', 'arts 102', 'arts 110', 'art 102', 'art 112', 'art 110', 'art 60', 'art 42']

Patent US7240593 - Miniature cutting insert holder - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA holder (20) for a cutting insert (12), which includes a head (22) with a pocket (24) for holding the cutting insert and a bar device (26) for supporting the head, allows the use of a removable head for a miniature head and bar device that fits into a small hole in a workpiece, and allows rapid and...http://www.google.com/patents/US7240593?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7240593 - Miniature cutting insert holderAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7240593 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/109,512Publication dateJul 10, 2007Filing dateApr 19, 2005Priority dateApr 19, 2005Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20060230890Publication number109512, 11109512, US 7240593 B2, US 7240593B2, US-B2-7240593, US7240593 B2, US7240593B2InventorsRoger LittleOriginal AssigneeRoger LittleExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (26), Referenced by (10), Classifications (19), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMiniature cutting insert holderUS 7240593 B2Abstract A holder (20) for a cutting insert (12), which includes a head (22) with a pocket (24) for holding the cutting insert and a bar device (26) for supporting the head, allows the use of a removable head for a miniature head and bar device that fits into a small hole in a workpiece, and allows rapid and easy replacement of the head. The head has a front part (42) of small height for holding the cutting insert and has a taller rear part (40) of the same height as the bar device. The head rear part has a screw-receiving hole (56) that extends at a downward-rearward incline (A) into a corresponding threaded hole (62) at the front of the bar device. The head and bar device respectively have a recess (70) and a projection (74) that lie around the screw-receiving holes and that align the head and bar device. A coolant passageway system (92) in the bar device provides coolant for both right and left hand heads.
1. Apparatus for machining a workpiece, which includes a holder having an axis extending in front and rear directions and having a holder front mating end, and a head with a rear mating end fixed to said holder front mating end, said head forming a pocket and including a cutting insert mounted in said pocket, said holder front mating end and said head rear mating end are constructed with one having a projection and the other having a recess that closely receives the projection, to accurately locate the head and the cutting insert thereon with respect to the holder, said holder front mating end and said head rear mating end having aligned screw-receiving holes with one of said holes being threaded and including a screw that extends at least partially through said holes to fasten said head to said holder, wherein:
said projection and recess each having interfitting surfaces that form a projection and recess with perimeters that lie outside said screw-receiving holes and that precisely align said head to said holder;
as seen in views taken along said axis, said projection and said recess each has a pair of vertical parallel opposite sides with portions lying on opposite sides of the corresponding screw hole and with said screw holes each lying directly between locations on said vertical parallel opposite sides, said parallel opposite sides being spaced apart at a constant distance so said projection can be inserted into said recess by movement of one towards the other along said axis.
said recess is larger than said screw hole and said recess extends in a closed curve around said screw hole, as viewed along said axis, with the closed curve lying within and spaced from an outside surface of the part that forms the recess and with the projection fitting closely in the recess to avoid both vertical and horizontal relative movement of the holder with respect to the load.
said parallel opposite sides are horizontally spaced apart by a predetermined distance (E) and said recess has a height greater than said predetermined distance;
said holder and head are parts that each has at least one coolant passage with a coolant passage end lying between an outside surface of the part and one of said pair of vertical parallel sides, as seen in a view along said axis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Small holes drilled into a workpiece can be machined to form a precision finished surface on the hole walls, by rotating the workpiece on a lathe while a cutting insert is advanced within the hole. The cutting insert is mounted in a pocket of a holder head. It is often desirable to detachably mount the holder head on a holder bar device so the head can be replaced. In prior systems, holder heads on bar devices of ⅝th inch and larger diameters are held by a multiple screw/multiple serration system. In that system, precision mounting of the head on the bar device is achieved by miniature screws and multiple serrations on each part that interfit. For bar diameters of under ⅝th inch the cost to manufacture a screw and serration configuration makes such system impractical. In prior art systems for bar diameters under ⅝th inch the holder device is simply brazed to the bar device in a one piece construction.
It would be desirable if a machining apparatus were available that could be practically built on smaller shanks such as those of ⅜ths inch diameter, and that was of simpler and lower cost construction. If the holder head could be easily replaced on the bar device, a holder head could be used that had an insert-holding pocket that could receive a particular type of cutting insert, and a damaged head could be replaced on a holder device without removal from the machine tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a cutting insert holder is provided, of the type that has a head with a pocket that holds the cutting insert, wherein the head is easily detachable from a bar device in a construction that is of low cost and that allows the holder to fit into a small workpiece hole. The head has a front part that holds the cutting insert and that is of small height, and has a rear part that is of a greater height about equal to that of the bar device. A screw extends through a hole in the head rear part and through a threaded hole in the front of the bar device, to hold the head securely on the bar device. A recess and projection are provided, one on the rear of the head and the other on the front of the bar device, to precisely locate the head on the bar device. The screw extends within the recess and projection, so widely-spaced locating surfaces are provided on the recess and projection.
The screw-receiving holes in the head and bar device, preferably extend at a downward-rearward incline. The front surface of the head rear part preferably extends at a downward-forward incline, and the screw has a tapered head that fits into a tapered end of the inclined hole in the head rear part.
The bar device includes a rigid bar of tungsten carbide and a carbon steel mount brazed to the front end of the bar. A coolant bore extends through the middle of the bar along its axis. The mount forms a passage system that allows the coolant to flow to either side of the mount. The head has a coolant passage at the same side of the head in which the insert-holding pocket lies. This allows coolant to be directed parallel to the axis, but at the cutting insert.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial rear isometric view of a cutting apparatus of the invention, shown with a front portion lying in a hole of workpiece, the workpiece being shown in phantom lines.
FIG. 2 is a left side elevation view of the cutting apparatus of FIG. 1, with portions shown in hidden lines.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cutting apparatus of FIG. 2 FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevation view, with a portion shown in section, of the cutting apparatus of FIG. 2, with only a portion of the bar being shown.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the head and mount of FIG. 3, and shows in phantom lines a head with a left hand cutting insert.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a cutting apparatus 10 of the present invention, which includes a cutting insert 12 that has been advanced forwardly F so it lies in a hole 14 of a workpiece 16. The workpiece is mounted on a lathe spindle that turns the workpiece. The insert is held by a holder 20 that includes a head 22 with a pocket 24 that receives the cutting insert. The holder also includes a bar device 26 formed by a shank or bar 30 and a mount 32 that forms a front part of the bar device and that is fixed to the front end of the bar. The head 22 is detachably mounted on the mount 32. In the prior art, the smallest practical cutting apparatus with detachable head could fit only into a hole of ⅝th inch or greater diameter. A smaller cutting apparatus could be made by fixing the head to the bar device by brazing, but then the head is not detachable from the bar device.
FIG. 2 shows that the head 22 has a rear part 40 with a height in a vertical direction V that is about the same as the height of the bar device 26. The head also has a head front part 42 of about half the height of the rear part. This results in the upper surface 46 of the head front part lying at about the proper height for the top of the insert 12. The rod 30, mount 32, and rear part 40 of the head all have a cross-section of primarily cylindrical shape (closer to a cylinder than square) of the same height, at least for smaller sizes such as to fit in holes of under one inch diameter.
In accordance with the present invention, the head 22, shown in FIG. 4, is detachably fastened to the mount 32 by a head screw 50. The head screw extends at a downward D and rearward R incline as seen in a side view, and lies on the centerline or axis 51 of the head and of the bar device as seen in a top view. The particular incline angle A is 30� from the horizontal. The head screw has a screw head, or screw front part 52, and a screw shank 53. The screw shank has a shank front part 54 that lies in a screw-receiving hole 56 in the head. The screw has a threaded shank rear part 60 that lies in threadable engagement with a threaded screw-receiving hole 62 in the mount. The two screw-receiving holes 56, 62 can be considered to be a screw-receiving orifice 68. The rear part 40 of the head has a front surface 64 that extends from the top 65 of the head rear part and that is inclined at an angle of more than 10� from the vertical with angle B being 60� from the horizontal. As a result, the screw centerline 66 extends at about a right angle to the inclined surface 64. The circumference of the screw head 52 is tapered, preferably with a small taper angle C, and the front of the screw-receiving hole is similarly tapered. Applicant uses conical surfaces with a taper angle C of less than that of the most common taper angle of 82.5� for such �finishing� screws. The small taper angle C which is preferably less than 70� and which is shown as 60� results is the rear end of the screw head 52 having a smaller diameter to fit into the small space available for it on the inclined surface 64.
The head 22 is precisely located on the mount 32 by a recess 70 in the rear mating end 72 of the head that closely receives a projection 74 at the front mating end 75 of the mount of the holder. It can be seen that the interfitting surfaces 77, 79 of the recess and projection extend parallel to the axis 51 as seen in sectional views such as FIGS. 4 and 6 that are perpendicular to each other and that are perpendicular to the axis. The head and holder have exposed outside surfaces 63, 65 at their engaging ends, and the projection and recess lie inside those outside surfaces. FIG. 5 shows that the recess, whose recess walls are indicated at 80, is of larger lateral L, or horizontal width E and larger vertical height G than the screw-receiving hole 62 in the mount (and than the screw-receiving hole in the head). The recess lies on a closed curve and all parts of the recess lie closer to the axis 51 than the distance from the outside surface 81 of the bar device to the axis. The head screw has a shank diameter H that is more than one-fourth the width or diameter J of the cylindrical mount and of the head rear end, so the screw can withstand large forces encountered in machining. The fact that the locating surfaces of the recess and projection 70, 74 have greater widths and heights than such a large diameter head screw, results in the ability to provide precision locating of the head on the mount.
The projection 74 shown in FIG. 5 has long vertical surfaces 82, 84 on opposite sides of the screw-receiving hole, which fit closely between vertical walls of the recess, with a clearance between them no more than about one mil (one mil equals one-thousandth of an inch) (�about� means no more than 1.5 mil). This assures high precision in horizontal locating of the head on the mount. The projection has 45� inclined top and bottom surfaces 76 that locate the head on the mount with moderate precision (clearance of about 3 mils) because precision locating in the vertical direction is not as important as precision locating in the horizontal direction.
The recess and projection each have a length K (FIG. 4) along the axis 51 that is about one-eighth the height of the head rear part. Such small length of less than 25% of the bar device height G is desirable to assure that high torque encountered in machining is not applied to the projection walls to bend them.
The bar or shank 30 is usually constructed of tungsten carbide to assure high rigidity. The mount 32 is constructed of carbon steel which can be machined far more easily than tungsten carbide. The head is also constructed of carbon steel. The bar 30 is formed with a coolant bore 90 that preferably extends along the bar axis 51. Applicant uses the mount to direct the coolant around the screw holes and around the locating recess and projection, and also to better distribute coolant to where it is needed. As shown in FIG. 6, the mount has a passageway system 92 which includes a middle part 94 lying on the axis 51, a pair of sidewardly-extending passage parts 102, 104 that extend from the middle part, and a pair of longitudinally-extending parts 110,112 that extend primarily parallel to the axis. These parts of the passage system are drilled in the mount, with a plug of material(not shown) at 114 to close passage part 102. The head rear end has one opening 116, which is aligned with the leftward passage part 112. The head rear part has a coolant conduit 120 that extends forwardly from the opening 116 and that has a front end 122 that lies directly behind the cutting insert and that directs coolant along the upper surface of the head front part to the upper surface of the cutting insert 12. This efficiently uses the coolant because the coolant is directed at the location where cutting occurs. If a head is used with a pocket and cutting insert located on the right side of the head then such head will have a passage aligned with the right side passage part 110.
Applicant's head can be removed and a new one installed, in much less time than for prior detachable heads. This allows a machinist to remove a cutting insert that has a worn or broken cutting edge, by replacing the head with another one containing a cutting insert with a fresh cutting edge. The small insert screw 130 (FIG. 3) that holds the cutting insert to the head is often inconvenient to reach, and the small screw is commonly fumbled when removing and reinstalling it. As a result, such screws often drop into a space where they cannot be recovered. It is much easier to replace the entire head because the head screw 50 that holds the head in place is much larger (e.g. the head screw 50 may be of 3 mm diameter while the insert screw 130 is of about 1.5 mm diameter). Removal of the entire head allows the machinist to check the pocket that holds the cutting insert for possible deformation, and allows removal of the cutting insert to reinstall it with a new cutting edge in position to cut or to replace it, in a convenient location where there is light and a fumbled small screw will drop onto a table top.
The shank 53 (FIG. 6) of the head screw lies on the axis 51 of the holder 20, but extends at a downward-rearward incline. The threaded shank rear part 60 (FIG. 4) of the head screw, threadably engages the threaded hole 62 in the mount both above and below the axis 51 for optimum fastening. It would be desirable if the head screw extended along the axis 51, but the head front part 42 is in the way. The inclined head screw is a good compromise. FIG. 6 also shows, in phantom lines, a head 22A with a pocket 24A for holding a left hand cutting insert 12A, and with a coolant conduit front end 122A for directing coolant at the cutting edge of the left hand cutting insert.
Although terms such as �top�, �down�, etc. have been used to describe the invention as it is illustrated, it should be understood that the holder can be used in any orientation.
Thus, the invention provides a machining apparatus of the type wherein the head is detachable from the bar device, which can be manufactured in smaller sizes than previously, which allows detachment and reattachment more rapidly and with greater ease, which provides a stronger connection and one that assure greater head-locating precision, and which provides better coolant direction. The head is attached to the bar device by a head screw that extends into a rear head part and that extends at an incline into the front part of the bar device. A screw-receiving orifice is shown which extends at a rearward-downward incline and with the screw head bearing against the head rear part. However, it is possible to use an upward-rearward incline and/or have the screw head bear against the mount. The head and bar device form a mating recess and projection that both lie around the screw and that precisely locate the head on the bar device. The rear part of the head preferably has an inclined surface that extends at a downward-forward incline, and the screw has a tapered head that lies in a front end of the screw-receiving hole in the head. The bar device directs coolant along two laterally-spaced passage parts, and the head has a conduit that directs coolant from a passage part at one side of the head to a location at the top of the cutting insert.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3289273 *Apr 1, 1964Dec 6, 1966Artaud Gerard PCutting tool assemblyUS3686729 *May 5, 1971Aug 29, 1972Warner Swasey CoCutoff or grooving tool and holder thereforUS4118138 *Jun 13, 1977Oct 3, 1978Triangle Grinding, Inc.Cutting toolUS4226560 *Dec 26, 1978Oct 7, 1980Fansteel Inc.Toolholder anvil seat for indexable insertsUS4332513 *Jul 24, 1980Jun 1, 1982General Electric CompanyFace grooving toolUS4509886 *Nov 25, 1983Apr 9, 1985Lindsay Harold WCutting tool with cutting inserts having positioning keywaysUS4606680 *Sep 14, 1983Aug 19, 1986Georg StrieglReamer core drill with cutting bitsUS4692070Aug 26, 1986Sep 8, 1987Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaCutting toolUS4850255 *Feb 26, 1988Jul 25, 1989Tornos-Bechler Sa, Fabrique De Machines MoutierTool-holder mounting for machine toolsUS5004379Jan 23, 1990Apr 2, 1991Little Roger WThreading insertUS5112163 *Sep 20, 1991May 12, 1992Thomas VeilleuxVariable tool bit holderUS5388487 *Jul 2, 1993Feb 14, 1995Sandvik AbHydraulic tool holder with coolant jetsUS5555784 *Nov 24, 1992Sep 17, 1996Komet Praezisionswerkzeuge Robert Breuning GmbhLathe toolUS5688080 *Mar 27, 1996Nov 18, 1997Sandvik AbTool shaft with detachable blade having wedge groove contacting a movable wedgeUS5709508 *Oct 20, 1995Jan 20, 1998Iscar, Ltd.Cutting tool assembly having an exchangeable adaptor with offset through bore axesUS5769577 *Jul 20, 1994Jun 23, 1998Lawrence O. BoddyRemovable spinning tool assemblyUS5833403 *Sep 11, 1996Nov 10, 1998Iscar Ltd.Cutting tool assembly having an exchangeable adaptorUS6146060 *Jun 30, 1998Nov 14, 2000Seco Tools AbTool coupling and method for coupling two tool partsUS6146061 *Jul 14, 1999Nov 14, 2000Sandvik AktiebolagCutting insert and tool holder thereforUS6312199 *Apr 27, 1998Nov 6, 2001Sandvik AktiebolagCutting toolUS6312201 *Nov 15, 1999Nov 6, 2001Mitsubishi Materials CorporationInterference fit type cutting toolUS6880437 *Feb 28, 2001Apr 19, 2005Sandvik AbTool for oblique mounting surfaces between holder and tool partUS6960049 *Jun 24, 2003Nov 1, 2005Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Insert, holder and cutting toolUS6974281 *Aug 28, 2002Dec 13, 2005Sandvik AbTool for chip removing machiningUS7001114 *Jul 1, 2003Feb 21, 2006Seco Tools AbDevice for chip removing machiningUS20030185638 *Feb 28, 2001Oct 2, 2003Sjoeoe StureTool with oblique mounting surfaces between holder and toolpart* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8042437 *Oct 5, 2007Oct 25, 2011Ceratizit Austria Gesellschaft M.B.HTool structureUS8469638 *Dec 30, 2011Jun 25, 2013Iscar, Ltd.Cutting tool and cutting insert thereforUS8479622 *Mar 31, 2010Jul 9, 2013Iscar, Ltd.Cutting tool assembly and tool holder thereforUS8573901 *Dec 14, 2007Nov 5, 2013Kennametal Inc.Assembly for rotating a cutting insert during a turning operation and inserts used thereinUS20080232909 *Dec 14, 2007Sep 25, 2008Kennametal Inc.Assembly For Rotating A Cutting Insert During A Turning Operation And Inserts Used ThereinUS20090311055 *Oct 4, 2007Dec 17, 2009Vincenzo GalotaMilling tool and method, in particular for milling composite materialsUS20100254774 *Mar 31, 2010Oct 7, 2010Iscar, Ltd.Cutting Tool Assembly and Tool Holder ThereforUS20110262232 *Apr 23, 2010Oct 27, 2011Chin-Chiu ChenLathe blade assemblyUS20120201616 *Dec 30, 2011Aug 9, 2012Iscar Ltd.Cutting Tool and Cutting Insert ThereforWO2013156993A1Mar 21, 2013Oct 24, 2013Iscar Ltd.Cutting tool assembly with removable tool head* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification82/1.11, 407/101, 407/11, 82/158, 407/102International ClassificationB23B29/02Cooperative ClassificationB23B29/043, B23B27/10, B23B31/11, B23B2270/20, B23B2231/24, B23B29/046, B23B27/1614, B23B2231/0204European ClassificationB23B27/16C, B23B29/04C, B23B27/10, B23B31/11, B23B29/04BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 13, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google