Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool – Processes – Bit detachable
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-18
2002-10-29
Bishop, Steven C. (Department: 3722)
Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool
Processes
Bit detachable
C408S082000, C408S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471450
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to countersink cages, and more particularly to an improved countersink cage with two extending contact members that are specifically sized and configured to contact a curved surface when an attached countersink cutter penetrates therethrough to a predetermined depth.
Countersink cages are well known throughout the aerospace industry as well as other industries. Indeed, various types of countersink cages are currently available and in wide use. Countersink cages are useful in facilitating and expediting precision drilling and countersinking by predetermining the depth in which a countersink cutter and a drill tool may collectively penetrate a given work surface. In order to achieve such purpose, a typical countersink cage is secured to the drill and countersink device at a selected location (e.g., a spindle) so as to align itself along the countersink cutter supporting the drill tool therein. In this regard, the countersink cage predetermines the limits of depth in which the countersink cutter and the drill tool can collectively penetrate the work surface. Simply put, when the predetermined depth is reached, the countersink cage contacts the work surface to prevent any further penetration.
However, though such currently known and available countersink cages may accomplish their primary objective of precision drilling and countersinking, they possess certain deficiencies which detract from their overall utility. Perhaps the greatest deficiency of the prior art countersink cages is the inability to conduct precise drilling and countersinking operations upon curved surfaces, such as concave or convex curved surfaces for example.
More specifically, the prior art countersink cages are mainly utilized for depth control and alignment purposes on flat surfaces. However, the depth control must typically be continually adjusted as the contour of the surfaces change, thus making the drilling and countersinking operations vulnerable to its operators' skills and ability. Moreover, even the alignment relative to the curved surfaces is compromised in that the countersink cages are often incapable of being stabilized evenly thereon. Simply put, the prior art countersink cages not only tend to increase the possibility of performing defective drilling and countersinking operations, but they also tend to mitigate user-convenience and labor time.
Thus, there has long been a need in the industry, and in the aerospace industry in particular, for a countersink cage capable of maintaining the same depth on all surfaces without the need for any manual adjustment. In particular, there is a need for a countersink cage which can stabilize itself evenly on all surfaces, whether they are flat or curved.
The present invention addresses and overcomes the above-described deficiencies of prior art countersink cages by providing two extending contact members that are specifically sized and configured to evenly contact convex and/or concave curved surfaces when the countersink cutter penetrates therethrough to a predetermined depth. Moreover, the present countersink cage is directly and selectively engageable to the countersink cutter so as to facilitate consistent depth-penetration on such curved surfaces. In this respect, not only does the present countersink cage mitigate operator-dependency and labor time, but it also tends to ensure precision drilling and countersinking operations on all surfaces of different contours.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a countersink cage for controlling a countersink cutter to penetrate to a predetermined depth through a curved surface. The countersink cutter has a cutter body which may attach a drill tool thereto. Furthermore, the cutter body has a device end and a cutting end. The device end is adapted to be engaged to a drill and countersink device in order to rotate the cutter body thereby. Moreover, the cutting end is operative to penetrate through the curved surface along a cutting axis to the predetermined depth.
The countersink cage of the preferred embodiment comprises a top cage member having a top aperture formed for receiving the rotating cutter body axially therethrough. The top cage member is selectively engageable to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body, namely, between the device and cutting ends thereof. Rotatably engaged with the top cage member is a bottom cage member. The bottom cage member has a bottom aperture aligning itself with the top aperture to also receive the rotating cutter body axially therethrough. In addition, two contact members extend from the bottom cage member. The two contact members are sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough to the predetermined depth. The top cage member, bottom cage member and two contact members are each preferably fabricated from a metallic material.
The countersink cage may be adjusted along the rotating cutter body so as to facilitate in penetrating the curved surface to the predetermined depth. More particularly, a set block having a pin mounted thereon should be obtained to serve such purpose. The countersink cage is positionable on the pin through the aperture. The rotating cutter body is then partially pushed through the aperture with the pin. The countersink cage is removed from the set block to engage the drill tool/pilot to the rotating cutter body. The pushed portion of the rotating cutter body and the drill tool extending therefrom are representative of the predetermined depth to be penetrated through the curved surface.
In the preferred embodiment, the top cage member and the bottom cage member collectively form a raceway therebetween. The raceway may have a plurality of bearing balls for facilitating the rotational engagement between the top and bottom cage members. Further to such configuration, the top cage member has a lower top cage member portion peripherally defining a groove. Additionally, the bottom cage member has an upper bottom cage member end peripherally defining an appendage extending generally perpendicular toward the rotating cutter body. The groove is complimentary to the appendage so as to be engageable with each other. However, a dowel pin may extend between the bottom cage member and a fixed location of the drill and countersink device. In this respect, the dowel pin maintains the bottom cage member in a stationary position as the top cage member is rotatable with respect thereto.
Moreover, the bottom cage member has a lower bottom cage member end in which the two contact members are formed thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the two contact members are two directly opposed, symmetrically formed annular segments. The two annular segments each comprise a bottom surface having a lower inner edge. Specifically, the lower inner edge is disposed adjacent the rotating cutter body for supporting the countersink cage upon a convex curved surface when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough. The lower outer edge is disposed generally opposite to the lower inner edge away from the rotating cutter body.
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Bishop Steven C.
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
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