Abstract:
An expanding tool comprising: an outer cone for radially expanding a portion of a cutting head, wherein the portion has a cutting edge for machining a workpiece. Furthermore, the description shows a rotatable cutting tool for machining a workpiece, wherein the cutting tool comprises: a cutting head with a recess, wherein the recess has a portion which is formed as an inner cone.

Description:
AREA OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an expanding tool, a rotatable cutting tool and a cutting system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Known in prior art are expanding tools that can be incorporated into a cutting tool, so as to be able to expand or widen portions of the cutting tool. This is intended to enable a fine adjustment of the cutting edge geometry. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The expanding tool should here be easy to operate by the operating team, which can be ensured, for example, by powering the expanding tool with adjusting means, which in particular are situated in proximity to the cutting edges. 
         [0004]    Therefore, an object is to provide an expanding tool, a cutting tool and a cutting system that can make it easy to operate the expanding tool inside a cutting tool or cutting system. 
         [0005]    Provided as the first embodiment of the invention is an expanding tool comprising an outer cone for radially expanding a portion of a cutting head, wherein the portion exhibits a cutting edge for machining a work piece. 
         [0006]    Using an expanding tool that can be incorporated into the recess of a cutting tool makes it possible to expand the cutting tool, with the objective of being able to adjust the radial distance of the cutting edges of the cutting tool in a highly precise manner. 
         [0007]    Provided as a second embodiment of the invention is a rotatable cutting tool for machining a work piece, wherein the cutting tool comprises a cutting head with a recess, wherein the recess exhibits a portion designed as an inner cone. In particular, the cutting tool can be a reamer or stepped reamer. 
         [0008]    The cutting head can exhibit one or however many cutting edges desired, wherein the cutting edges can consist of PKD or CBN, and be soldered onto or into the cutting head. In an alternative embodiment, the cutting edges can be designed as removable disks. 
         [0009]    According to the invention, the expanding tool can exhibit an outer cone that can at least partially abut against an inner cone of a cutting head. The cutting head can be expanded by pressing the expanding tool into the recess, making it possible to adjust the cutting edge geometry in a highly precise manner. 
         [0010]    Provided as a third embodiment of the invention is a cutting system for machining a work piece, wherein the cutting system encompasses an expanding tool according to one of claim  1  or  2 , and a rotatable cutting tool according to one of claims  3  to  5 . 
         [0011]    Exemplary embodiments are described in the dependent claims. 
         [0012]    Provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is an expanding tool, wherein the expanding tool encompasses a male thread. 
         [0013]    This male thread can be used to engage the expanding tool and move it in an axial direction, for example, making it possible to adjust the penetration depth of the expanding tool into the cutting tool. 
         [0014]    Provided in another exemplary embodiment is a cutting tool, wherein the cutting tool encompasses a worm gear with a worm wheel and worm, wherein the worm gear exhibits a female thread. 
         [0015]    The worm gear arrangement can be used to displace the expanding tool, wherein an ease of use for the expanding tool can be ensured by virtue of the fact that the worm gear can be driven, e.g., by means of a socket wrench, in direct proximity to the cutting portion of the cutting tool. 
         [0016]    Provided according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a cutting tool, wherein the worm gear is mounted inside the cutting tool by means of at least one roller bearing. 
         [0017]    Provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is a cutting system, wherein the outer cone at least sectionally abuts against the inner cone. 
         [0018]    Provided in another embodiment according to the invention is a cutting system, wherein the radial distance between the cutting edge and the longitudinal axis of the cutting tool can be varied by moving the expanding tool in the direction of the longitudinal axis. 
         [0019]    Provided in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a cutting system, wherein the female thread is designed so that it can engage the male thread. 
         [0020]    Provided in an exemplary embodiment of the invention is a cutting system, wherein the expanding tool can be made to move in the longitudinal direction of the cutting tool by rotating the worm wheel. 
         [0021]    It may be regarded as one idea of the invention to provide a cutting system by means of which the radial distance between a cutting edge and the longitudinal axis of a cutting tool can be adjusted in a highly precise manner. According to the invention, the outer cone is introduced into a centrally arranged recess of a cutting tool, for example, wherein the outer cone can be pressed into the recess to a depth at which the desired radial distance has been set. 
         [0022]    Of course, the individual features can be combined with each other, which can in part also yield advantageous effects going beyond the sum of individual effects. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Additional details and advantages of the invention become evident based on the exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings. Shown on: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a rotatable cutting tool; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the rotatable cutting tool from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is another rotatable cutting tool with an expanding tool; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an expanding tool; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another expanding tool; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is another rotatable cutting tool, embodied as a stepped reamer; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a cutting edge carrier ring; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a cutting head with coolant supply; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a cutting system; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a stepped reamer; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a cutting head; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is an expanding tool; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is another expanding tool; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  is another expanding tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a rotatable cutting tool with a cutting head  104 , wherein the cutting head  104  can exhibit cutting edges, which can be designed as cutting inserts  105 , and T-slots  101 . The cutting edges or cutting inserts  105  can consist of PKD or CBN, and be soldered onto or into the cutting head  104 . In an alternative embodiment, the cutting edges or cutting inserts  105  can be designed as removable disks. The rotatable cutting tool is provided with a hollow shank taper  103  to enable coupling to a motor spindle. The cutting tool exhibits a mesh  107 , into which a socket wrench can engage, for example, wherein a worm  106  can be driven, e.g., by turning the socket wrench. For example, the worm  106  can exhibit a hexagon socket, so that a torque can be conveyed to the worm  106  via the socket wrench. The cutting tool can be designed as a reamer. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a rotatable cutting tool with a cutting head  201 , wherein the cutting head  201  can exhibit cutting edges that can be shaped into cutting inserts  202 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows a cutting system with an expanding tool  306 , which can exhibit a portion with an outer cone  305  and a cylindrical portion  307 . The expanding tool  306  is further provided with a projection, on which a male thread  304  can be arranged. The cutting system also encompasses a cutting tool  308  with a cutting head  301 , which can encompass a hollow shank taper  303 . According to the invention, the expanding tool  306  can be introduced toward the right into a recess of the cutting head  301 . The male thread  304  of the expanding tool  306  can here be engaged by a female thread, wherein the female thread can be accommodated on a worm wheel, for example. The worm wheel can further be driven by a worm  309 . As a result, the expanding tool  306  can be moved further to the right, for example coming into contact with an inner cone of the cutting head  301 , as a result of which the outer cone  305  can abut against the inner cone, for example. If the expanding tool  306  is moved even further to the right, the cutting head can be expanded, making it possible to alter the radial distance between the cutting inserts  311  of the cutting head  301  and the longitudinal axis  310 . In an alternative embodiment, the male thread  304  can be designed as a differential thread. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  shows an expanding tool with a projection, which can exhibit a male thread  401 , a cylindrical section  403  and an outer cone  403 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an expanding tool with a male thread  501 , a cylindrical section  502  and an outer cone  503 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows a stepped reamer with a first cutting head  601  and a second cutting head  602 , wherein the stepped reamer can exhibit a hollow shank taper  603  for coupling to a motor spindle. The first cutting head  601  can exhibit a recess for accommodating an expanding tool, so that the radial distance between the cutting edges  604  and the longitudinal axis  605  of the stepped reamer can be adjusted. In an alternative embodiment, the first cutting head  601  can be used as an expanding tool for the second cutting head  602 , so that the radial distance between the cutting inserts of the second cutting head  602  and the longitudinal axis  605  can be adjusted. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  shows a cutting edge carrier ring with a recess  702  for accommodating a cutting head. The cutting edge carrier ring exhibits cutting inserts  701 . The cutting head to be accommodated can serve as an expanding tool, so that the radial distance between the cutting inserts  701  and the longitudinal axis  703  can be adjusted. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  shows a cutting head with T-slots  801 , cutting inserts  803  and a cooling channel  802  to supply the cutting insert  803  with coolant and/or lubricant. The cutting head further exhibits a recess  804 , which can have a front portion that can be conical. For example, an expanding tool can be inserted into this recess  804  in order to expand the cutting head. 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  shows a cutting system with a cutting head  919  and an expanding tool  918 , wherein the expanding tool  918  is inserted into a recess of the cutting head  919 . The expanding tool  918  can here exhibit an outer cone  916 , which can abut against an inner cone  917  of the recess in the cutting head  919 . The expanding tool  918  can further exhibit a male thread  911 , whose teeth can engage into teeth of a female thread  910 . The female thread  910  can be arranged on a worm wheel  909 , wherein the worm wheel  909  can be part of a worm gear. The worm gear can encompass the worm wheel  909  with teeth  908 ,  912  and a worm  905 , wherein the teeth of the worm  905  can engage into the teeth  908 ,  912  of the worm wheel. The worm gear can be mounted inside the cutting head  919  by way of roller bearings  904 ,  907 ,  913 ,  914 , wherein the roller bearings  904 ,  907 ,  913 ,  914  can be designed as ball bearings. For example, the worm  905  can exhibit a hexagon socket (Allen)  906 , a recess, a cross recess, a Torx, a square box, or some other intermeshing option. For example, a socket wrench can be inserted into the mesh  906  of the worm  905 , wherein the worm  905 , and hence also to the worm wheel  909 , can be rotated or made to rotate by turning the socket wrench. As a result, the expanding tool  918  can be removed toward the left or inserted toward the right, wherein the outer cone  916  of the expanding tool  918  can be pressed against the inner cone  917 , making it possible to enlarge the radial distance  920  between the cutting insert  915  and the longitudinal axis  921 . The edge  922  of the worm wheel  909  can be used as a stop for the cylindrical section  903  of the expanding tool  918 , so as to prevent an overexpansion of the cutting head  919  and a potential breakage. The edge  923  of the worm wheel  909  can be used as a stop for the projection of the expanding tool  918  with its male thread  911 . Given the arrangement of a worm gear with its worm wheel  909  and the worm  905 , no torque is transmitted to the expanding tool  918 . For this reason, the expanding tool  918  can also not end up rotating around its longitudinal axis  921 . This eliminates the need for a locking device to prevent rotation. 
         [0047]    In an alternative embodiment in which additional circumstances make it possible to transmit a torque to the expanding tool  918 , a locking device can be situated on the cutting system by virtue of the fact that a pin projects into the recess of the cutting head  919 , and can be guided into a groove arranged on the expanding tool  918 . This makes it possible to prevent the expanding tool  918  from rotating around its own longitudinal axis  921 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 10  shows a stepped reamer with first cutting inserts  1008  and second cutting inserts  1009 . The radial distance between the first cutting inserts  1008  and the longitudinal axis of the cutting head  1007  can be adjusted with the expanding tool  1010 , wherein the expanding tool  1010  can be moved to the left or right by means of a worm gear having a worm wheel  1006  and a worm  1004 . If the expanding tool  1010  is moved to the right, the cutting inserts  1008  can be pressed further radially outward. Aside from an outer cone  1002  and a cylindrical section  1003 , the expanding tool  1010  can exhibit another cutting head  1001  with additional cutting inserts  1009 , so that a two-step reamer can be realized, for example. In an alternative embodiment, another expanding tool with even more reamers can be inserted into the additional reamer, thereby enabling a 3-step reamer. In further alternative embodiments, reamers with as many steps as desired can be provided. 
         [0049]      FIG. 11  shows a longitudinal section of the cutting head  1001  on  FIG. 10 , wherein the cutting head exhibits a recess  1103  that can encompass an inner cone  1101  and a cylindrical section with a female thread  1102 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  shows an expanding tool  1201  with an outer cone  1204  and a cylindrical section with a male thread  1203 , wherein the expanding tool  1201  can be inserted into the recess  1103  of the cutting head on  FIG. 11 . The male thread  1203  of the expanding tool  1201  can be screwed into the female thread  1102  of the cutting head on  FIG. 11 , so that the outer cone  1204  can come to lie against the inner cone  1101 . The cutting head can be expanded by further screwing the expanding tool  1201  into the recess  1103  of the cutting head on  FIG. 11 . The expanding tool  1201  can exhibit a mesh, e.g., for a socket wrench, so that the expanding tool  1201  can be screwed into the cutting head on  FIG. 11 , wherein the mesh can be designed as a hexagon socket, for example. In an alternative embodiment, the cutting head of the first step, second step, several steps or all steps in a stepped reamer can be expanded with an expanding tool according to  FIG. 9 , or adjusted in terms of its radial distance to the longitudinal axis of the cutting head. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  shows an alternative embodiment of the invention with a threaded bolt  1305  having a differential thread (differentiated thread) on which are located two regions with varying threads  1303 ,  1306 . A first male thread  1306  of the threaded bolt  1305  can engage into a matching female thread  1307  of the expanding tool  1308 , and a second male thread  1303  of the threaded bolt  1305  can engage into a matching female thread  1302  of the cutting head  1301 . The male threads  1303 ,  1306  exhibit varying pitches. The threaded bolt  1305  can exhibit a hexagon socket  1304 , into which a socket wrench can engage, for example. Due to the differing thread types, turning the socket wrench leads to a purely translatory movement of the expanding tool  1308  in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the expanding tool  1308 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  shows another alternative embodiment of an expanding tool  1407  in a cutting head  1401 , wherein the male thread  1408  of a threaded bolt  1402  can engage into the female thread  1404  of the cutting head  1401 . The threaded bolt  1402  can exhibit a head  1406  that can be mounted in a recess of the expanding tool  1407 , wherein the head  1406  can be mounted in such a way that the head  1406  can freely rotate inside the recess. A projection  1405  makes it possible to prevent the head  1406  from jumping out of the recess. In an alternative embodiment, the head  1406  can be designed as a nose and/or rod-shaped, wherein the head  1406  is always configured in such a way that the projection  1405  can prevent the head  1406  from moving out of the recess of the expanding tool  1407 . The threaded bolt  1402  can exhibit an intermeshing hexagon socket for a socket wrench, wherein the socket wrench can be used to turn the threaded bolt  1402 . A rotational motion of the threaded bolt  1402  can lead to a purely translatory movement of the expanding tool  1407  in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the expanding tool  1407 , wherein the expanding tool  1407  does not have to rotate due to how the head  1406  is mounted inside the recess of the expanding tool  1407 , which can enable the head  1406  to rotate as desired without taking along the expanding tool  1407 . 
         [0053]    In another embodiment of the invention, a sleeve can be provided between the hollow shank taper of the cutting head and outer cone of the expanding tool, wherein the sleeve can help improve how the expanding tool and cutting head are able to slide. This enables a more precise and reproducible adjustment of the radial distance between the cutting inserts and the longitudinal axis of the tool. In particular, this makes it possible to prevent the outer cone from hooking the hollow shank taper of the cutting head, so that jerky movements between the expanding tool and cutting head can be avoided. The sleeve can consist of a material that is harder or softer by comparison to the outer cone and/or cutting head. In particular, the sleeve can consist of copper, brass, plastic, rubber or some other type of plastic material. An especially good sliding of the expanding tool and cutting head can be enabled in particular by the selection of sleeve material, wherein copper, brass, plastic, rubber or some other type of plastic material appear to be especially advantageous in this connection. Increasing the conical outer or inner lateral surface of the sleeve also makes it possible to determine how fine or strong a change can be made in the radial distance between the cutting edges of the cutting head and the longitudinal axis. If the outer or inner taper angle is small, a very fine adjustment is possible. A larger taper angle enables a coarse adjustment. 
         [0054]    Let it be noted that the term “encompassing” does not preclude other elements or procedural steps, just as the terms “an” and “a” do not rule out several elements and steps. 
         [0055]    The used references serve only to enhance understandability, and are in no way be construed as limiting, wherein the claims reflect the protective scope of the invention. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
           101  T-slot 
           102  Mesh for socket wrench 
           103  Hollow shank taper 
           104  Cutting head 
           105  Cutting insert 
           106  Worm with hexagon socket 
           107  Mesh 
           201  Cutting head 
           202  Cutting insert 
           301  Cutting head 
           302  Worm with hexagon socket 
           303  Hollow shank taper 
           304  Male thread 
           305  Outer cone 
           306  Expanding tool 
           307  Cylindrical section 
           308  Cutting tool 
           309  Worm 
           310  Longitudinal axis 
           311  Cutting insert 
           401  Male thread 
           402  Outer cone 
           403  Cylindrical section 
           501  Male thread 
           502  Cylindrical section 
           503  Outer cone 
           601  Cutting head 
           602  Additional cutting head 
           603  Hollow shank taper 
           604  Cutting insert 
           605  Longitudinal axis 
           701  Cutting insert 
           702  Recess 
           703  Longitudinal axis 
           801  T-slot 
           802  Cooling channel 
           803  Cutting insert 
           804  Recess 
           901  T-slot 
           902  Cutting head 
           903  Cylindrical section 
           904  Roller bearing 
           905  Worm 
           906  Hexagon socket 
           907  Roller bearing 
           908  Teeth 
           909  Worm wheel 
           910  Female thread 
           911  Male thread 
           912  Teeth 
           913  Roller bearing 
           914  Roller bearing 
           915  Cutting insert 
           916  Outer cone 
           917  Inner cone 
           918  Expanding tool 
           919  Cutting head 
           920  Radial distance 
           921  Longitudinal axis 
           922  Stop 
           923  Stop 
           1001  Cutting head 
           1002  Outer cone 
           1003  Cylindrical section 
           1004  Worm 
           1005  Male thread 
           1006  Worm wheel 
           1007  Cutting head 
           1008  Cutting insert 
           1009  Cutting insert 
           1010  Cutting head 
           1101  Inner cone 
           1102  Female thread 
           1103  Recess 
           1201  Expanding tool 
           1202  Hexagon socket 
           1203  Male thread 
           1204  Outer cone 
           1301  Cutting head 
           1302  Female thread 
           1303  Male thread 
           1304  Hexagon socket 
           1305  Threaded bolt 
           1306  Male thread 
           1307  Female thread 
           1308  Expanding tool 
           1401  Cutting head 
           1402  Threaded bolt 
           1403  Hexagon socket 
           1404  Female thread 
           1405  Projection 
           1406  Washer 
           1407  Expanding tool 
           1408  Male thread