Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-08
2001-07-10
Peterson, Kenneth E. (Department: 3724)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C076S107100, C083S698910, C409S259000, C409S287000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256857
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to manufacturing a form on the end of a shaft, i.e., blind spline tools mounted in tool holders, and more specifically to securing punches and dies to tool holders in individual or multiple tool arrangements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Blind spline tools, i.e. punches and/or dies, individually or in multiple tool arrangements, have traditionally been held in position by precision grinding the major diameter or minor diameter of the cutting tool to very precise tolerances and mounting the cutting tool into tool holders having precision bores or pilots. Radial location is generally established by using a precision “V” slot or keyway. The “V” or keyway is manufactured in relation to the profile of the cutting tool and positioned central to the precision ground inside or outside diameter of the cutting tool. Most tools are retained by socket head cap screws threaded into the base of the tool holder.
FIG. 6
shows such a prior art arrangement. A cylindrical cutting tool
100
is shown having a precision ground outer diameter
102
and an inner form ground master spline
104
which defines the cutting surface. The cutting tool
100
is secured to a cutting tool mounting block or holder
106
by securing bolts
108
. The tool holder has a cylindrical cavity
109
with a diameter closely toleranced to the outer diameter
102
of the cutting tool
100
. While the securing bolts
108
establish a location in a plane transverse to the axis of the cutting tool
100
, the radial position of the cutting tool
100
still needs to be accurately positioned. For this purpose a “V” notch
110
is typically used to provide such radial positioning. A securing member or “V” locator
112
is formed on the tool holder
106
so that the “V” notch
110
in the cutting tool mounts therein to provide the radial position of the cutting tool
100
with respect to the tool holder
106
.
To accommodate for the loss of the location in the transverse plane of the cutting tool when the cutter is sharpened by grinding the top of the cutting tool
100
, a riser shim (not shown) is mounted adjacent to the bottom of the tool between the cutting tool and the tool holder by cap screws
107
. This riser shim, which in thickness represents the metal removed from the top in sharpening the cutting tool, is usually attached to the bottom of the cutting tool after it is sharpened. Clearance holes for the screw heads which retain the riser shims to the cutting tool are provided in the tool holder.
To prevent a setup man from mounting the wrong cutting tool
100
in the wrong mounting block
106
, a selective interference is provided in the cutting tool mounting block cavity. This selective interference is most commonly accomplished by having a dowel pin
105
located in and protruding from the top face of the tool holder
106
which mates with a corresponding hole in the bottom of the cutting tool
100
in such a manner as to interfere with all but the correct cutting tool. The correct cutting tool will have a clearance hole in a predetermined location with respect to the “V” notch and the mounting hole pattern to receive the dowel pin protruding from the top face of the tool holder and therefore only the correct cutting tool will fit in a specific cavity in the tool holder.
To remove the prior art cutting tool
100
from its tool holder
106
it is required that the securing bolt
108
be removed, and the securing member
112
removed or retracted from the “V” notch
110
. Often the prior art cutting tool requires the use of jack screws to remove or lift the cutting tool
100
from the cavity in the precision tool holder
106
. The jack screws are required since the cylindrical cavity
109
in the tool holder
106
is precision ground to very close tolerances to match the outer diameter
102
of the cutting tool
100
. The need for the various accurate positioning surfaces and associated retaining devices results in an expensive cutting tool which is time consuming to remove from its tool holder. Accordingly, what is needed is a cutting tool which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install and/or remove from its tool holder as well as which offers more accuracy for positioning the cutting tool on the tool holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a blind spline cutting tool having two precision planar or flat faces which are machined in the periphery of the cutting tool along an outer edge of the cutting tool in spaced relation to each other and perpendicular to the bottom face of the cutting tool. A third planar or flat face is also machined in the periphery of the cutting tool along the outer edge opposite from the two precision planar faces. The third planar face is at an acute angle with respect to the bottom face of the cutting tool such that when contacted by a securing device, such as a wedge, an effective force will be generated so as to force the cutting tool firmly against the two precision planar faces and a base on the tool holder in order to accurately mount the cutting tool in the tool holder. In a preferred embodiment, the base or tool holder upon which the cutting tool is mounted has complementary riser blocks establishing abutment mounting faces in opposing spaced relationship. The planar face opposing the two precision planar faces on the cutting tool is spaced a predetermined distance from the complementary riser block mounted on the base or holder. When the cutting tool is mounted to the tool holder the two precision planar faces of the cutting tool are forced against mounting faces of the complementary riser blocks on the tool holder, by the use of a wedge lock mounted between the third planar face of the cutting tool and its complementary riser block. The wedge lock cooperates with the third planar face and the associated riser block to secure the cutting tool to its tool holder and prevents the cutting tool from pulling away from the base of the tool holder. This arrangement provides for radial alignment of the cutting tool as well as secures the cutting tool to its tool holder thereby eliminating the need for a “V” notch for establishing a radial position.
To accommodate resharpening of the cutting tool, riser shims are used to provide an adjustment to the height of the cutting tool. The riser shims are bolted to the bottom of the cutting tool. “Fool proofing” in the present invention is accomplished by positioning the riser shim holes in a different radial relationship to the precision planar faces on each cutter in a set and providing clearance holes in the tool holder in a pattern which assures that only the proper cutting tool with the proper shim is bolted in the corresponding tool holder.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cutting tool retention device that provides for accurate positioning of a cutting tool by eliminating any clearance between the cutting tool and the tool holder.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a cutting tool retention device wherein the positioning of a cutting tool has improved accuracy in a radial direction.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cutting tool retention device from which a cutting tool is easy to remove by backing off a single locking device.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cutting tool retention device for securing a cutting tool that requires only a single retaining device in an effort to reduce the time and effort required to change tools.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a cutting tool retention device for a cutting tool that is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is an even further object of the invention to provide a blind spline tool retention device for a blind spline cutting tool that allows existing prior art cutting tools with screw holes to be reworked to conform to the new inventive cutting tool.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a securing apparatus for a
Peterson Kenneth E.
Utica Enterprises Inc.
Vanophem Meehan & Vanophem P.C.
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