Abrading – Carrier for relatively movable simultaneously usable tools – For radially movable tools
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-14
2001-10-30
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Carrier for relatively movable simultaneously usable tools
For radially movable tools
C451S469000, C451S490000, C015S179000, C015S180000, C015S200000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309291
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cutters and, more particularly, to a brush cutter adapted to be driven in rotation by a conventional machine tool, such as a milling machine for removing material from a workpiece.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Workpieces manufactured from conventional casting and subsequent milling operations often contain numerous burrs which must be removed in order to provide an end product of acceptable quality. Burrs are generally small, sometimes flexible projections adhering strongly to the edge of a workpiece. If burrs are not removed, they can cause assembly failures, short circuits, injuries to workers, and even fatigue failures.
Traditional deburring operations have often consisted of an individual manually removing burrs from the workpiece using a knife-like deburring tool. As may be appreciated, this is a very labor intensive and time consuming process which often results in a low workpiece production rate.
In order to improve the efficiency of deburring workpieces, grinding wheels, carbide tips or brush cutters driven in rotation by a conventional hand held power tool are sometimes utilized. Conventional brush cutters include a plurality of closely spaced metal wire bristles which are moved over the workpiece surface while rotating, thereby cutting burrs from such surface. Unfortunately, these brush cutters often clog or “gum up” by removed burrs or chips which are entrapped between the rotating bristles during the cutting operation. This shortcoming is often exacerbated with increased cutting speeds wherein conventional brush cutters are typically limited to a maximum operating speed of approximately 200 surface feet per minute. The removed burrs or chips between the bristles typically melt together at higher operating speeds.
Additionally, conventional brush cutters have a limited surface area for contacting the workpiece to be deburred. Once again, due to the compact wire bristle arrangement, the overall operating diameter of the brush cutter is necessarily limited. As is readily apparent, with a small operating diameter brush cutter, more time is required to debur any given workpiece.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a brush cutter which may be powered by a conventional machine tool while operating at increased speeds for producing high quality deburred workpieces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a brush cutter which may be operably connected to a conventional machine tool for quickly and efficiently deburring workpieces while providing an improved surface finish on the workpiece.
The brush cutter of the present invention is adapted for being driven in rotation by a spindle of a conventional machine tool, such as a horizontal or vertical milling machine. The machine tool includes a spindle supporting a shell mill arbor for rotation. The arbor includes a cylindrical body portion supporting a pair of diametrically opposed keys and a cylindrical pilot positioned intermediate the keys. The pilot includes an internally threaded aperture coaxially aligned along the longitudinal center axis of the arbor.
The brush cutter comprises a housing including an annular wall having a cylindrical outer surface defining a longitudinal center axis coaxial with the center axis of the arbor. Front and rear faces are connected to, and positioned in space relation to each other by, the annular wall. A cylindrical inner surface defines an arbor bore extending axially inwardly from the rear face towards the front face and coaxially aligned with the center axis. The arbor bore slidably receives the pilot of the arbor.
A cylindrical intermediate surface is positioned intermediate the outer surface and the inner surface and defines a counterbore extending from the front face towards the rear face which is coaxially aligned with the center axis. The counterbore is concentrically positioned relative to the arbor bore and is in communication with the arbor bore. A lock shoulder is defined between the arbor bore and the counterbore.
A plurality of circumferentially spaced axial receiving bores extend within the body axially inwardly from the front face towards the rear face. Similarly, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial receiving bores extend within the body substantially radially inwardly from the outer surface.
An arbor lock screw includes a threaded shaft which is threadably received within the threaded aperture of the pilot. The lock screw further includes an enlarged head integral with the shaft, wherein the head is received within the counterbore of the body and engages the lock shoulder for securing the housing to the arbor. A pair of diametrically opposed keyways extend inwardly from the rear face of the brush cutter and are adapted to receive the pair of keys of the arbor for rotatably securing the housing to the spindle.
A plurality of brush assemblies are slidably and removably received within the plurality of axial and radial receiving bores. A plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting passageways are positioned intermediate the brush assemblies for facilitating the removal of cut material away from the center axis of the housing.
Each brush assembly includes a sleeve and a plurality of metal wire bristles fixed within the sleeve. Each brush assembly further comprises a stem connected to and concentrically disposed relative to the sleeve. Each axial and radial receiving bore includes an outer portion for receiving the sleeve and an inner portion in communication with the outer portion for receiving the stem. A plurality of first and second set screws extend within the housing wherein each first set screw engages a sleeve and each second set screw engages a stem of a respective brush assembly.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a brush cutter which may be operably connected to a conventional machine tool.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a brush cutter having a structure which facilitates easy installation and removal from a conventional machine tool.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a brush cutter which may be operated at increased surface speeds thereby improving production efficiency.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a brush cutter which effectively removes cuttings from the brush assemblies thereby preventing clogging or gumming up of the wire bristles.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brush cutter including a plurality of easily replaceable brush assemblies.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a brush cutter including a plurality of axially and radially disposed brush assemblies thereby providing improved versatility in deburring workpieces.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brush cutter which produces an improved surface finish on the workpiece.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1082922 (1913-12-01), Bemis
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patent: 2311135 (1943-02-01), Steinmetz et al.
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patent: 3163920 (1965-01-01), Stier
patent: 4077081 (1978-03-01), Drumm
patent: 4302863 (1981-12-01), Droeser
patent: 4534080 (1985-08-01), Young et al.
patent: 5446939 (1995-09-01), Park
patent: 5755003 (1998-05-01), Altermare et al.
patent: 5766060 (1998-06-01), Foreman et al.
Biebel & French
Hail III Joseph J.
Nguyen George
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