Patent ID: 8596937

Claim:
A rotary cutting tool ( 20 ) comprising a tool shank ( 22 ), a cutting head ( 24 ), a locking sleeve ( 26 ) and a clamping nut ( 28 ): the tool shank ( 22 ) comprising a longitudinal axis (A 1 ) extending in a forward to rearward direction (F, R), the tool shank having unitary one-piece construction including a cutting head receiving portion ( 30 ) adjacent a tool shank forward end surface ( 32 ) and a male threaded portion ( 34 ) rearward of the cutting head receiving portion ( 30 ), the cutting head receiving portion ( 30 ) comprising a plurality of radially protruding and generally axially extending clamping wings ( 38 ), each clamping wing ( 38 ) having a male clamping surface ( 40 ) outwardly inclined in the forward direction (F); the cutting head ( 24 ) comprising a central bore ( 58 ) having a central bore axis (A 2 ) coaxial with the longitudinal axis (A 1 ) and a peripheral outer surface ( 60 ) having a plurality of cutting edges ( 62 ), with an outer cutting diameter D, axially extending between a cutting head rearward end surface ( 64 ) and a cutting head forward end surface ( 66 ), the central bore ( 58 ) comprising a plurality of generally axially extending bore sectors ( 70 ), each bore sector ( 70 ) having a female clamping surface ( 74 ) outwardly inclined in a direction towards the cutting head forward end surface ( 66 ); the locking sleeve ( 26 ) having a cylindrical shape with a through bore ( 86 ) between a locking sleeve rearward end surface ( 88 ) and a locking sleeve forward end surface ( 90 ); and the clamping nut ( 28 ) having a threaded bore ( 82 ) between a clamping nut forward and rearward end surface ( 84 a , 84 b ), wherein the threaded bore ( 82 ) of the clamping nut ( 28 ) is in threaded engagement with the male threaded portion ( 34 ) of the tool shank ( 22 ), the locking sleeve rearward end surface ( 88 ) is in clamping contact with the clamping nut forward end surface ( 84 a ), the locking sleeve forward end surface ( 90 ) is in clamping contact with the cutting head rearward end surface ( 64 ), and the plurality of female clamping surfaces ( 74 ) are in clamping contact with the plurality of male clamping surfaces ( 40 ), and wherein the clamping contact forces and the cutting diameter D can be increased and decreased by adjusting the rotational position of the clamping nut ( 28 ), and the cutting head ( 24 ) can be removed and replaced following rotation of the clamping nut ( 28 ) without removing either the locking sleeve ( 26 ) or the clamping nut ( 28 ) from the tool shank ( 22 ).