Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to machine cutting tools having pockets for receiving inserts, and more specifically to seating pins for supporting the inserts. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   When machining a metal work piece cutting tools are used to shape the metal into a desired form. The types of cutting tools vary but can include specialized tools that have replaceable inserts to that function as the cutting teeth of the tool for removing metal from the work piece. The inserts are fixed onto the tool body at predetermined locations called pockets. 
   In some applications inserts can be adjusted in the pocket to control the radial and axial positioning of the insert. One such example of an adjustable insert pin is U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,393, entitled “CLAMPING AND ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS FOR A CUTTING TOOL” which describes a cutting tool having a cutting insert  2  that can be adjusted both radially and axially with respect to the tool body  3 . The radial and axial adjustment is accomplished through the use of a wedge pin  12  that is positioned between the insert and the radial wall of the pocket that the insert  2  is mounted in. 
   As described above pins or wedges have been used for the purpose of adjusting the position of the insert; however, there exists a need for improved arrangements for supporting inserts on the tool body. Traditionally the cutting tool inserts are supported by the walls of the pockets formed on the body. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an enlarged perspective view of a prior art cutting tool  100  is depicted. More specifically, the cutting tool  100  has a pocket  122  that receives a cutting insert (not shown). The pocket  122  has a radial wall  126  which supports the insert, a primary seating surface  124  which is where the insert is connected to the cutting tool  100 ; and an axial wall  125  formed as part of the cutting tool  100 . The axial wall  125  is designed to support the insert and prevent it from moving axially; however, the axial wall  125  is subject to unwanted breaking or flexing as the cutting tool  100  works on a work piece. Therefore, it is desirable to resolve the problems encountered with the axial wall. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a cutting tool having a body with an axis. A pocket having a primary bearing face and a radial wall formed on the surface of the body. An insert is removably connected to the pocket at the primary bearing face and positioned adjacent the radial wall. An axial seating pin is removably connected to the body and extends at an angle substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body. The axial seating pin has an abutting face that contacts a face of the insert and prevents the insert from moving axially during operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an enlarged perspective view of a prior art pocket for receiving an insert; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the axial seating pin placed on a tool body; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the axial seating pin on the tool body; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan side view of the axial seating pin; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the axial seating pin and fastener arranged as they are when connected to the cutting tool; and 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a pocket of the cutting tool and axial seating pin where the insert is removed; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 2-6  and more specifically to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a cutting tool  10  with an axis  20  is shown. Cutting tool  10  has an axial cutting end  14  which in certain cutting operations makes initial contact with a work piece at an angle generally parallel to the axis  20 . There is also a radial peripheral cutting side  15  of the cutting tool  10  that can make initial contact with a work piece at an angle generally perpendicular to the axis  20 . The body  12  has one or more flutes  16  formed on its surface. The flutes  16  run parallel to the axis  20  of the cutting tool  10 .  FIG. 2  depicts each flute  16  extending helically and parallel to the axis  20  of the cutting tool  10 ; however, virtually any type of pattern can be used. 
   The body  12  also has one or more pockets  22 ,  22 ′ formed on its surface for receiving a removable insert  28 . The pockets  22  differ from the pockets  22 ′ in that they are located adjacent the cutting end  14  and do not include an axial face  35  which is part of the pockets  22 ′. The pockets  22 ,  22 ′ are generally arranged in rows parallel to the axis  20  and each row includes one or more pockets.  FIG. 2  depicts several rows of inserts  28 ,  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ positioned in their respective pockets  22 ,  22 ′ in each row. The inserts  28  in the first row are connected to the pockets  22  and are positioned adjacent the cutting end  14  the body  12 . The inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ respectively make up the second, third and fourth rows and are connected to their respective pockets  22 ′. While  FIG. 2  depicts four rows of cutting inserts, it is possible for a cutting tool  10  to have a greater or lesser number of rows. Additionally each row can have one or more pockets  22 ,  22 ′ with one or more inserts. Thus the scope of this invention is not limited to the number of rows, pockets or inserts found on a particular cutting tool. 
   The pockets  22 ,  22 ′ each have a primary bearing face  24  and a radial wall  26  that form part of the pockets  22 ,  22 ′ for receiving the inserts  28 ,  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″. Each of the inserts  28 ,  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ are fastened to their respective primary bearing face  24  through the use of a fastener  31  that extends through the respective insert and connects to an aperture  33  formed on the primary bearing face  24 . As discussed above, the pockets  22 ′ of the second, third, and fourth rows each include the axial face  35  while the pockets  22  of the first row does not. The axial face  35  is not present in the pockets  22  of the first row because the inserts  28  of the first row have two cutting edges; an axial cutting edge  27  and a radial cutting edge  29 . While two cutting edges are described it is within the scope of this invention to have more than two cutting edges on inserts  28 . The axial cutting edge  27  is the cutting surface that makes initial contact with the work piece on the axial cutting end  14  in operations where the axial cutting end  14  moves against the work piece first. The cutting edge of the radial cutting edge makes initial contact with a work piece on the radial peripheral cutting edge  15  in cutting operations where the radial peripheral cutting edge  15  makes initial contact with the work piece. 
   The presence of an axial cutting edge  27  causes force to be applied to the inserts  28  in an axial direction as the cutting end  14  moves against a work piece (not shown). This axial force presses the inserts  28  in an axial direction away from the axial cutting edge  27 . The inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ of the second, third, and forth rows only have a radial cutting edge  29  and are further supported in their respective pockets  22 ′ by the axial face  35 . Thus the inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ are not subject to the direct axial forces in part because of the presence of the axial face  35  is present. While one cutting edge is described it is also within the scope of this invention to have more than one cutting edge on inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″. 
     FIG. 6  depicts an enlarged perspective view of the cutting tool  10  pocket  22  shown with the insert  28  removed. This particular view differs from the prior art drawing shown in  FIG. 1  in that using an axial seating pin  32  in place of the axial wall  125  eliminates the unwanted breaking or flexing that can occur in the axial wall  125 . 
   The axial seating pin  32  extends at an angle that is generally perpendicular to the axis  20  of the cutting tool  10  and has an abutting face  36  that abuts a face  30  of the insert  28  in order to support the insert  28  during the cutting operation. Axial seating pin  32  also has a face  38  that is contoured or angled in a predetermined manner. The face  38  serves several purposes that include allowing for wrench or tool clearance so that access to the adjacent inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ′″ is not hindered. The face  38  also allows for the clearance of chips that are sheared from the work piece by inserts  28 ′,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ attached in other rows. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the face  38  of the axial seating pin  32  allows for the clearance of chips that are removed from the insert  28 ″ of the second row. The angle of the face  38  can have virtually any shape or degree provided that the axial seating pin  32  is thick enough to provide adequate strength to support the insert that the axial seating pin  32  is being used to support. 
   The axial seating pin  32  has a shank  34  that is configured to slide into a connection point  40  on the body  12 . The shank  34  extends axially along the axis of the axial seating pin  32  and terminates at a lip  46  of the axial seating pin  32 . The lip  46  is used to attach or fasten the axial seating pin  32  to the body  12  at the connection point  40 . The connection point  40  has an aperture  18  that has been formed into the body  12 . Although it is not required, it is advantageous to have the aperture  18  formed into one of the flutes  16  so that the connection point  40  will be away from the surface of the body  12  that can come into contact with a work piece during operation. The aperture  18  receives the shank and also has a fastener receiving portion  42  for receiving a fastener  44  that contacts the lip  46  and holds the axial seating pin  32  in place. The fastener receiving portion  42  can be formed as part of the aperture  18  or can be a separate aperture or thread found in the body  12 . 
     FIG. 5  depicts an overhead plan view of the axial seating pin  32  and fastener  44  with the body  12  of the tool partially shown in phantom. As can be seen the fastener  44  rests against the lip  46  of the axial seating pin  32  to hold the axial seating pin  32  in place against the body  12  of the cutting tool  10 . The axial seating pin  32  can easily be removed and replaced with a new axial seating pin if it becomes damaged or worn or if circumstances require an axial seating pin  32  to have a different contoured or angled face  38 . The axial seating pin  32  can also be coated with a carbide or titanium coating to further strengthen or extend the life of the axial seating pin  32 . The use of the axial seating pin  32  improves the life of the cutting tool  10  because it eliminates damage that can occur to the walls of the pocket  22  which are part of the tool body  12 . As discussed above with reference to  FIG. 1 , prior to the use of the axial seating pin  32 , the pocket  122  of the cutting tool  100  body had an axial wall  125  that was integral with the tool body. If the axial wall  125  became damaged then the whole cutting tool  100  had to be replaced. Now with the use of an axial seating pin  32 , only the axial seating pin  32  will have to be replaced and the body  12  of the cutting tool  10  will be preserved. 
   Although the inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ in the other rows are not always subject to direct axial force as the work piece moves against the cutting tool  10 , it can be beneficial to support the inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″ in the successive rows since vibrations of force can also cause these inserts to move in an unwanted axial direction. Therefore, some embodiments of the present invention can use an axial seating pin  32  to support the inserts  28 ″,  28 ′″,  28 ″″.  FIG. 2  shows this alternative arrangement which has an axial seating pin  32  shown in phantom that supports one of the inserts  28 ′″. While  FIG. 2  only shows one additional axial seating pin  32  a greater or lesser number is within the scope of this invention. 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 7