Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool – With product handling or receiving means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-01-09
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool
With product handling or receiving means
C083S565000, C408S080000, C408S204000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171032
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a boring tool having a rotating cutting blade for forming a hole in a workpiece. More particularly, the present invention relates to a boring tool having a cutting blade for forming chip-less holes of either a circular or non-circular shape in a workpiece.
BACKGROUND ART
Various apparatus are known for use in boring and cutting holes through workpieces. Conventional boring apparatus typically include a rotating cutting head which moves along an axis and into contact with a portion of a workpiece. These apparatus include a cutting blade extending forwardly from the cutting head and disposed generally parallel to and spaced from the axis to perform the cutting operation. The blade is positioned such that the rotation of the cutting head moves the blade along a circular path in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The hole is formed by advancing the cutting head along the axis towards the workpiece as it is rotated, until the cutting blade is moved completely through the workpiece.
A significant disadvantage of conventional boring tools is that both the hole which is formed, and the waste slug or plug which is cut from the workpiece, have side edges generally parallel to the axis. As a result, the waste slug or plug often falls through the hole into the workpiece. This is particularly undesirable where the tool is used to form holes in blow molded hollow workpieces, such as vehicle fuel tanks or the like, as the plugs are difficult to retrieve and must be manually removed. In an effort to prevent the slugs from falling into the workpiece, attempts have been made to cut tapered holes, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,560. Such devices, however, are expensive and complex, have numerous moving parts, often require computer feedback, and utilize large areas of space.
The apparatus described above are further disadvantageous in that they only allow for the cutting of holes in workpieces that are uniform or circular in shape. While various apparatus and techniques are known for cutting non-circular or arbitrary shaped holes in workpieces, they also suffer from a variety of significant disadvantages. First, these current apparatus and techniques require expensive technologies to control the operation of the cutting blade, such as CNC machinery, robot manipulation or other motion control or laser cutting. Additionally, current technologies for cutting non-circular holes generate chips during the cutting process. This also increases the cost of the process as it requires a separate vacuum step to remove any debris that has accumulated in the workpiece. This process also significantly increases the amount of time and expense required to cut holes in the workpiece.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a boring tool for forming a tapered hole in a workpiece to prevent the waste slug from falling through the hole into the workpiece thus requiring manual removal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a boring tool for cutting non-uniform arbitrarily shaped holes in a workpiece that is less expensive than prior apparatus.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and durable boring tool for cutting holes in a workpiece.
In accordance with the objects of the present invention, in one embodiment a boring tool for cutting non-uniform holes in a workpiece is provided. The tool includes a boring shaft that is rotatable about an axis and a boring head attached to the shaft. The boring head has a bottom surface beneath which the cutting blade extends. The boring head is surrounded by a stationary housing which is in communication with a pattern template. The pattern template has an inner periphery and an outer periphery with the inner periphery being tapered away from the axis as it extends from the workpiece toward the boring head. The inner periphery of the pattern template is also non-uniform in shape and engages a secant following cutter which is pivotably attached to the bottom surface of the boring head. The cutting blade which is secured to the bottom surface of the secant following cutter thus cuts a hole in the workpiece in the shape of the inner periphery.
In accordance with a further embodiment, a mechanical tool for boring tapered holes in a workpiece through removal of a slug is provided. The tool includes a boring shaft that is rotatable about an axis and a boring head attached to the shaft. The boring head has a bottom surface beneath which the cutting blade extends for contacting the workpiece. The cutting blade is disposed away from and at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the boring shaft. The tool also includes at least one surface probe extending beneath the surface of the boring head for contacting the workpiece. The surface probe is in communication with a linear slide to move the cutting blade in a direction of the taper to be formed in the slug and to effectuate the proper location of the cutting blade with respect to the workpiece.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3941358 (1976-03-01), Darling
patent: 4173913 (1979-11-01), Nicholson
patent: 4283044 (1981-08-01), McKibbin
patent: 5193596 (1993-03-01), Patel
patent: 5458444 (1995-10-01), Duncan
patent: 5653560 (1997-08-01), Weber
patent: 5967709 (1999-10-01), Thuesen
Forche Thomas Leo
Moore Thomas Elwwod
Osenbaugh Vern Charles
Vorenkamp Erich James
Carter Monica S.
Shelton Larry
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
Wellington A. L.
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