Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool – Tool-support – With tool-retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-07-17
Bishop, Steven C. (Department: 3722)
Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool
Tool-support
With tool-retaining means
C279S024000, C279S029000, C279S082000, C279S137000, C279S904000, C279S906000, C408S226000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261035
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a chuck, a bit, an assembly thereof, and methods of mounting the bit in the chuck. In particular, this invention relates to the structure of the chuck, the structure of the bit, the interrelated structure of the assembled chuck and bit, methods of mounting the bit in the chuck.
For many years, chucks have been used to grip or mount bits for a variety of purposes, including the mounting of rotary bits for use with a hand or power tool. In many instances, chucks have included a plurality of movable bit-engaging jaws mounted within an opening of a chuck body. The jaws can be manipulated to clamp the shank of a bit which has been inserted into the opening of the chuck. In this manner, the bit is retained with the chuck which, in turn, is mounted on the hand or power tool. The jaws of such chucks may be operated by use of an external implement, such as a conventional chuck key, or by rotational elements on the chuck.
Other chucks of the past were designed to allow the bit to be inserted directly into the opening of the chuck using a direct-insertion mounting technique, whereby the bit is locked in assembly with the chuck by virtue of structure within a body of the chuck and on the bit.
While some of the above-noted chucks are adapted to receive and mount bits by insertion of the bits directly into the bit-receiving opening of the chuck, the opening is typically designed to receive only shanks of bits with a common diameter or size, consistent with the diameter or size of the opening. Thus, a set of bits of different diameters at the working ends thereof would each be required to have a chuck-mounting shank diameter which is the same as the shank diameter of the remaining bits of the set. This leads to a situation where the bit shank, in order to be strong enough to handle the forces and torques imposed on the larger bits of a range of sizes employed, is much larger than needed, and thus uneconomical, for the smallest bits of the set.
Thus, there is a need for a chuck having structure which will facilitate use of the direct-insertion mounting technique for bits having different shank diameters.
Also, with respect to bits which are formed with chuck-mounting shanks of different diameters, there is a need for uniform structure on such shanks to facilitate assembly of each bit with common structure of the chuck when using a direct-insertion mounting technique.
In addition, there is a need for a chuck and bit assembly having structure which facilitates use of the direct-insertion mounting technique where the parameters of the chuck structure are constant and the parameters of the structure of the bits fluctuates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a chuck having consistent structure which will facilitate use of a direct-insertion mounting technique for bits having different chuck-mounting shank diameters.
Another object of this invention is to provide bits having a uniform structure on chuck-mounting shanks of different diameters to facilitate assembly of each bit with consistent structure of a chuck when using a direct-insertion mounting technique.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a chuck and bit assembly, each having structure which facilitates use of a direct-insertion mounting technique where parameters of the structure of the chuck are constant and parameters of the structure of the bits fluctuates.
With these and other objects in mind, this invention contemplates a chuck for receiving and supporting a bit, and includes a body having an opening therein formed along an axis thereof for receipt of the bit. The opening of the body is formed with a wall having at least a portion thereof which is spaced from the axis of the body by a prescribed distance. A locking element is mounted for movement relative to the body for locking the bit within the opening of the body. The locking element has at least a defined portion thereof which is normally extendable from the wall into the opening of the body to a location within the opening generally intermediate the prescribed distance.
This invention further contemplates a bit for assembly with a chuck having a locking element, and includes a chuck-mountable shank formed along an axis thereof. The shank is formed with a forward end and a trailing end, and at least one groove is formed in the shank between the forward and trailing ends of the shank and through the trailing end. The groove is formed with a base, and a pocket is formed in at least a portion of the base of the groove at a prescribed radial distance from the axis of the shank for receipt of the locking element of the chuck.
In another aspect, this invention contemplates a bit for assembly with a chuck having a locking element, and includes a chuck-mountable shank formed along an axis thereof. The shank is formed with a forward end and a trailing end, and at least one groove is formed in the shank between the forward and trailing ends of the shank and through the trailing end. The groove is formed with a base, and a pocket is formed in at least a portion of the base of the groove at a prescribed axial distance from the trailing end of the shank for receipt of the locking element of the chuck.
Still further, the invention contemplates a set of bits for assembly with a chuck having a locking element wherein each bit of the set is formed with a chuck-mountable shank having an axis and an external transaxial dimension which is different from the external transaxial dimension of any of the other bits of the set. The shank of each bit of the set is formed with a forward end and a trailing end, and at least one groove is formed in the shank of each bit of the set between the forward and trailing ends of the shank and through the trailing end. The groove of each bit of the set is formed with a base. A pocket is formed in at least a portion of the base of the groove of each bit of the set at a prescribed radial distance from the axis of the shank for receipt of the locking element of the chuck. The prescribed radial distances of the bits of the set are the same.
This invention also contemplates an assembly which includes a chuck and a bit mounted in the chuck, where the chuck includes a body having an opening therein formed along an axis thereof for receipt of the bit. The opening is formed with a wall having at least a portion thereof which is spaced from the axis of the body by a prescribed wall distance. At least one protrusion having a prescribed height is formed on the wall of the opening and extends toward the axis of the body to an inboard peak surface of the protrusion. A locking element is mounted for movement relative to the body for locking the bit within the opening of the body. The locking element has at least a defined portion thereof which is normally extendable from the inboard peak surface of the protrusion into the opening of the body to a locking location within the opening generally intermediate the prescribed wall distance. The bit includes a chuck-mountable shank formed along an axis thereof. A pocket is formed in at least a portion of an outwardly facing surface of the shank at a prescribed radial distance from the axis of the shank. The bit is in assembly within the opening of the body of the chuck, wherein the axis of the shank is coincidental with the axis of the body of the chuck, the pocket is adjacent the inboard peak surface of the protrusion and is positioned at the locking location, and the defined portion of the locking element of the chuck is located within the pocket of the bit to thereby lock the bit with the chuck.
This invention further contemplates a method of mounting alternatively bits of a set in a chuck, including the steps of providing a set of bits wherein each bit is formed with a shank having a free end, a shank axis and a transaxial dimension. The shank of a first bit in the set has a different transaxial dimension from the shank of a second bit in the set. A groove is formed in the shank of the first bit in the set and extends
Brelsford Allen
Cochran John R.
Moores, Jr. Robert G.
Bishop Steven C.
Black & Decker Inc.
Del Ponti John D.
Shapiro Bruce S.
Yocum Charles E.
LandOfFree
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