WO1997013605A1

WO1997013605A1 - Indexed cutting tool

Info

Publication number: WO1997013605A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/013603
Authority: WO
Inventors: Virgil Shouse
Original assignee: Virgil Shouse
Priority date: 1995-10-12
Filing date: 1995-10-12
Publication date: 1997-04-17

Abstract

An indexed cutting tool (1) is provided comprising a cutting tip (10) which includes a cutting portion defining a first geometric shape, and a seating portion (20b) defining a second non-circular geometric shape. The cutting tip (10) is releasably secured to a cutting tip support (20) which includes a seat for receiving the seating portion (20b) of the cutting tip. The seat defines a noncircular geometric shape permitting indexed rotation of the cutting tip therein.

Description

INDEXED CUTTING TOOL

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cutting tools and more particularly to an improved indexable cutting tip including interchangeable cutting tip supports to provide for the incremental rotation of the cutting tip.

BACKGROUND of the Invention

Cutting tools are well known and have a variety of applications in the manufacturing industry, including the turning of the interior or exterior of metal components such as break drums or pistons.

The typical cutting tool comprises a cutting tip of hard material such as diamond or carborundum detachably secured to a supporting member, which in turn is releasably held in position by a shank. Commonly, the cutting tip is secured to the supporting member by adhesive or a bolt.

The cutting tips come in a variety of shapes; the most common being circular and triangular. Whatever the shape, cutting tips are relatively expensive and must frequently be replaced as their cutting surfaces are dulled through constant use. To extend their useful life, it is customary to manually rotate the cutting tip within the supporting member such that a previously unused portion of the cutting surface is exposed. With triangular shaped cutting tips, this practice is fairly effective as the cutting tip has three readily identifiable cutting surfaces. With circular and similar cutting tips having a continuous cutting surface, however, it is difficult to precisely reposition the cutting tip within the supporting member so as to avoid repetitive use of a dull cutting surface. To compensate, rotation of such cutting tip is within the supporting member is exaggerated. Consequently, the cutting tip is frequently disposed of before its entire cutting surface has been used.

Summary of the Disclosure

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an indexed cutting tool wherein the cutting tip may be easily and precisely rotated with respect to the supporting member.

It is yet another object of the present inventive indexed cutting tool to provide for precise indexed rotation of the cutting tip relative to the supporting member such that incremental exposure of the cutting tip's cutting surface is maximized.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved through an improved indexed cutting tool comprising a cutting tip including both a cutting portion having a cutting surface, and a seating portion. The cutting portion defines a first geometric shape and the seating portion defines a second, non¬ circular geometric shape. The cutting tool includes means for releasably securing the cutting tip comprising at least two selectively interchangeable seats. Each of the at least two seats defines a non-circular geometric shape complementary to the seating portion of the cutting tip. Each seat is further characterized by a different orientation with respect to the other seat.

According to one feature of this invention, the at least two seats are oriented with respect to each other so as to maximize the incremental exposure of the cutting surface of the cutting tip.

According to another feature of the present invention, the seating portion of the cutting tip and the at least two seats each defines a hexagonal shape. According to yet another feature, the cutting tip is further provided with indicia thereon, the indicia identifying a point corresponding with a first orientation of the cutting tip within one of the at least two seats.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the means for releasably securing the cutting tip includes two selectively interchangeable cutting tip supports, each cutting tip support having provided thereon one of the at least two seats.

According to a further embodiment, the means for releasably securing the cutting tip include a single cutting tip support, the at least two seats being provided on the single cutting tip support.

In a yet another embodiment of the present invention, only one cutting tip support is provided. The cutting tip support includes a seat for receiving the seating portion of the cutting tip. The seat defines a non-circular, geometrical shape and permits indexed rotation of the cutting tip therein. According to one feature of this embodiment, the seating portion of the cutting tip defines a hexagon, while the seat of the cutting tip support defines a star-like shape having 12 points and permitting indexed rotation of the cutting tip in 30 degree increments. Alternatively, the seating portion of the cutting tip may define a star¬ like shape complementary to the seat.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIGURE 1 depicts an exploded perspective view of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section of the assembled cartridge of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 3A is a bottom view of the cutting tip of the present invention;

FIGURE 3B is a lateral elevation of the cutting tip of Figure 3A;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the first cutting tip support of the present invention; FIGURE 5 is a top view of the second cutting tip support of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is depicts one alternate embodiment of the present invention indexed cutting tool;

FIGURES 7A and 7B depict plan views of the operation of the indexed cutting tool of the present invention; and

FIGURE 8 is another alternate embodiment of the present invention. Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

With reference now to the drawings, a cutting tool is shown comprising both an improved cutting tip and cutting-tip support whereby precise indexed rotation of the cutting tip within the support is possible.

Referring first to Figure 1, the illustrated form of the present inventive cutting tool 1 comprises a cutting tip 10 removably sandwiched between mateable halves 20a and 20b of cartridge 20, and means 40 for removably connective cartridge 20 and cutting tip 10 to a shank 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the preferred means 40 comprise a metal bolt 41 having a threaded tip 43 which is threadingly engageable with a correspondingly threaded bore 56 in shank 50. Bolt 41 extends through coaxial openings 21a and 21b in mated halves 20a and 20b of cartridge 20, thereby capturing cartridge 20 and cutting tip 10 along its shaft 42. Annular groove 44 is provided in shaft 42 for receiving therein a selectively positionable threaded setting screw 22 disposed in lower half 20b of cartridge 20. (Figure 2.) When tightened, setting screw 22 extends within bore 21b to prevent unwanted separation of upper 20a and lower 20b halves of cartridge 20. Shank 50 includes a seat 55 for securely receiving the assembled cutting tool 1 therein; seat 55 characterized by dimensions corresponding to the assembled cartridge 20. As shown, seat 55 may further be provided with positioning means 57, such as disclosed in my co-pending U.S. patent application, Serial No. . Positioning means 57 assist in ensuring precise repeatability in the positioning of cutting tool 1 within seat 55.

Turning now to Figures 3A and 3B, cutting tip 10 comprises a cutting portion including both a cutting layer 11 of suitably hard material, such as diamond, carborundum, or the like supported on a substrate layer 13 of steel or other metal. The peripheral edge of the illustrated cutting tip 10 defines a continuous cutting surface 12. Extending from the lower surface of cutting tip 10 coaxial with both substrate layer 13 and cutting layer 11 is seating portion 15. As with substrate layer 13, seating portion 15 is preferably manufactured of metal such as steel or the like, and for that reason seating portion 15 is formed integrally with substrate layer 13 in the preferred form of this invention. The cutting portion of cutting tip 10 defines a first geometric shape, such as the illustrated circular form, while seating portion 15 defines a second, non-circular geometric shape. In the illustrated form, seating portion 15 is hexagonal. However, any non- circular shape is equally suitable for use in the present invention, and seating portion 15, cutting tip 11, and substrate 12 may all define similar geometric shapes. For reasons explained hereinbelow, the present inventive cutting tool is most effective for circular-shaped cutting tips. However, any desired shape is equally adaptable for use with the present inventive cutting tool.

Referring again to Figure 1, cartridge 20 generally comprises first 20a and second 20b axially mateable halves, each half 20a and 20b defining a similar shape (such as the illustrated diamond form) . Each half 20a and 20b includes a central bore 21 a and 21b, respectively, bores 21a and 21b being coaxially aligned in the assembled cartridge 20 and receiving therein connector means 40 as described. First half 20a further includes a recessed channel 29 therein, channel 29 slidingly receiving a pine 23 protruding vertically upwards from second half 20b in order to ensure proper mating alignment of each half 20a and 20b. Second half 20b comprises a cutting tip support having a forward end 24 including a cutting tip platform 25 in which cutting tip 10 detachably secured. According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least two such cutting tip supports 20b' and 20b" are provided, each support selectively interchangeable with first half 20a to define cartridge 20. (Figures 4 and 5.) Each support 20b' , 20b" includes a recessed cutting tip platform 25' and 25", respectively, having dimensions equivalent to cutting tip 10. Both platforms 25' and 25" include respective seating surfaces 26', 26" which continuously abut the exposed lower surface of substrate layer 13 of cutting tip 10. Centrally disposed within each of seating surfaces 26', 26" are recessed seats 27' and 27", respectively. Seats 27' and 27" define non-circular geometric shapes approximately corresponding to the dimensions of seating platform 15 of cutting tip 10. According to the illustrated form, each seat 27' and 27" defines a hexagonal shape. Of course, any non-circular geometric shape is equally adaptable to the present invention and may, as explained above, be substituted for the illustrated embodiment. For reasons explained further herein, seats 27' and 27" are characterized by different orientations with respect to each other. As depicted, a vertex of seat 27' is oriented adjacent forward end 24', while seat 27" is oriented such that no vertex thereof is less than 60 degrees away from forward end 24". A small bore 28', 28" provided coaxially through each seat 27' , 27" facilitates removal of cutting tip 10 from the underside of each cutting tip support 20b', 20b". Of course, it is not critical to the present invention that cartridge 20 include interchangeable cutting tip supports 20b' 20b" . As depicted in Figure 6, for example, it is also contemplated to provide two seats 27' and 27" as described but disposed on opposed ends of the same cutting tip support 20b; seats 27' and 27" being interchangeable by simply rotating the entire support 20b 180 degrees within seat 55 (not shown) .

Turning now to Figures 7A and 7B, it will be appreciated that incremental manual rotation of cutting tip

10 within seat 27' (shown in dashed lines) of cutting tip support 20b' will sequentially expose a plurality of cutting areas Rl of cutting surface 12 adjacent forward end 24', each such cutting area Rl being spaced approximately 60 degrees apart. Accordingly, a circular-shaped cutting tip 10 as in the illustrated form will provide six cutting areas Rl as it is incrementally rotated within seat 27' ^• one cutting area Rl corresponding to each vertex of seat 27' . By substituting cutting tip support 20b" for support 20b' , wherein the orientation of seat 27" is varied with respect to seat 27' as described above, six additional cutting areas R2 of cutting surface 12 are realized adjacent forward end 24"; each cutting area R2 being similarly spaced 60 degrees apart. Consequently, it will be appreciated that selectively interchanging supports 20b' and 20b" will permit incremental exposure of the entire 360 degree cutting surface 12 of cutting tip 10.

To further ensure precise incremental exposure of the entire cutting surface 12, the cutting tip may include indicia (not shown) thereon in the form of a dot or other marking identifying a first orientation of the cutting tip within a seat 27' and 27". Such indicia will permit a user to visually identify incremental rotation of cutting tip 10 within each seat 27' and 27".

It is further contemplated that the precise indexing of cutting tip 10 described above may be achieved without the use of selectively interchangeable cutting tip supports 20b' and 20b". In an alternate embodiment, for example, a single cutting tip support 30 is provided wherein the seat 37 defines a non-circular geometric shape permitting 30 degree incremental rotation of cutting tip 10. (Figure 8.) As shown, this seat 37 comprises a star¬ like shape having twelve points each spaced 30 degrees apart. According to this embodiment, the hexagonally- shaped seating portion 15 of cutting tip 10 may be both securely detachably positioned within seat 37 and rotatably repositioned to expose the entire 360 degrees cutting surface 12 of cutting tip 10 in 30 degree increments. Alternately, seating portion 15 may have a geometric shape corresponding to seat 37, so as to ensure more precision in the incremental rotational positioning of cutting tip 10.

Of course, it will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely illustrative of only three possible embodiments of the present invention. Many additions and modifications, apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, are certainly possible without departing from the spirit and border aspects of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims The invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. A cutting tool, comprising: a cutting tip including a cutting portion defining a first geometric shape and a seating portion defining a second non-circular geometric shape; and a cutting tip support for releasably securing thereunto said cutting tip, said cutting tip support including a seat for receiving said seating portion of said cutting tip, said seat defining a non-circular geometric shape permitting indexed rotation of said cutting tip therein.

2. The cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said seat defines a star-like shape having 12 points, said star¬ like shape permitting indexed rotation of said cutting tip in 30 degree increments.

3. The cutting tool of claim 2, wherein said seating portion is complementary to said star-like shape.

4. The cutting tool of claim 2, wherein said seating portion defines a hexagonal shape.

5. The cutting tool of either claim 2 or claim 4, wherein said cutting portion is circular.

6. The cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said cutting tip is further provided with indicia thereon, said indicia identifying a point corresponding with a first orientation of said cutting tip within said seat.

7. An indexed cutting tool comprising: a cutting tip comprising a cutting portion including a cutting surface and defining a first geometric shape, and a seating portion defining a second non-circular geometric shape; and means for releasably securing said cutting tip including at least two selectively interchangeable seats, each of said at least two seats defining a non-circular geometric shape complementary to said seating portion, each of said at least two seats further having a different orientation with respect to the other of said at least two seats.

8. The cutting tool of claim 7, said means for releasably securing said cutting tip including two selectively interchangeable cutting tip supports, wherein said at least two seats are each provided on one of said two supports.

9. The cutting tool of claim 7, said means for releasably securing said cutting tip including a single cutting tip support, wherein said at least two seats are provided on said single cutting tip support.

10. The cutting tool of either claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said at least two seats are oriented with respect to each other so as to maximize incremental exposure of said cutting surface of said cutting tip.

11. The cutting tool of claim 10, wherein each of said seating portion and said seats defines a hexagonal shape.

12. The cutting tool of claim 11, wherein said first geometric shape defined by said cutting portion of said cutting tip is circular.

13. The cutting tool of claim 7, wherein said cutting tip is further provided with indicia thereon, said indicia identifying a point corresponding with a first orientation of said cutting tip within one of said at least two seats.