Patent Application
20200078874
This application does not claim priority from any other application.
This invention pertains to a tool length adjustment system, more preferably, to a tool length adjustment system for tool (or tool holder) combinations for taps/tap-holders and drills/drill-holders.
When utilizing tools such as taps, drills or others, there are times when it is desirable or necessary to change or adjust the length of the tool and holder. This desire or need may be caused by any one of a number of different factors, including the drill or tap has incurred some wear, or has been re-sharpened, which in turn has changed the overall tool length. It is desirable in many operations to maintain the tapping or drilling depths in the work piece so they are consistent during each operation.
In order to maintain the depth accuracy desired for the operation, it is then necessary and sometimes tedious with the prior art, to change or adjust the tool length (which is normally a combined length of the tool holder such as a tap holder or drill holder, combined with the tool being held or secured within the holder (the tool being a tap or a drill for example).
A common way to adjust the vertical position of a tap or drill in a tool holder is to have a screw inside the tool holder and that screw for example acts as a stop for the back of the tap or drill. In these prior art length adjustment systems, the screws are typically turned one direction to push the tap forward in the collet, or turned in the opposite direction, the retraction direction, to allow the tap or drill to go deeper into the tool holder. To adjust the screw as described in the prior art, the user normally has to take a drill or tap out of the machine that is retaining it, adjust the screw, and re-insert the drill or tap back into the holder and then re-measure the length. Sometimes this process takes several rounds of adjustment in rechecking the length in order to achieve the desired depth.
A problem inherent with the prior art requiring that the drill or tap be removed and then reinserted in order to adjust the tool length, is that it takes much more employee time and the production of the machine is down during this time.
It is an object of applications of some embodiments of this invention to provide a tool length adjustment system which does not require that the tool be removed from the tool holder.
Embodiments of this invention have the advantage of providing an adjustment system for changing the tool length without being required to take the tool (a tap or a drill) out of the tool holder, which thereby makes the adjustment quicker and easier to get to the desired tool length. In order to achieve this particular advantage to the invention, some embodiments of this invention utilizes adjustment balls which act as a drive mechanism and in a similar fashion to gears, in order to turn a key that is built into the tool holder.
Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will appear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of this invention, it is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible to change in design and structural arrangement, with only one practical and preferred embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as required.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
Many of the fastening, connection, manufacturing and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art or science; therefore, they will not be discussed in significant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application or embodiment of any element may already be widely known or used in the art or by persons skilled in the art or science; therefore, each will not be discussed in significant detail.
The terms “a”, “an”, and “the” as used in the claims herein are used in conformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean “at least one”.
The adjustment key 19 rotatably attached at a top end to the adjustment sun 27 and rotatably attached at a bottom end to an adjustment screw 23. By rotatably attached, the adjustment key 19 is attached such that it rotates with the adjustment sun 27 at the top end and rotates with the adjustment screw 23 at the bottom end. The attachment may be any one of a number of different types of attachments, such as a fixed or permanent attachment, or one which may be disassembled such as shown in the figures, with no one in particular being required to practice the invention.
A review of
It should be noted that while the drawings show two adjustment balls 35 per each of the three adjustment ball apertures 44, this invention is not limited to an application utilizing two adjustment balls or three adjustment ball apertures 44. Instead, any one of a number of adjustment balls 35 per adjustment ball aperture 44 may be used in practicing this invention (including without limitation, one, three or four) with no one in particular being required to practice this invention. Still further, one, two, three, four, or five adjustment ball apertures 44 may be used in practicing this invention, with no particular number being required.
In a two adjustment ball (per adjustment aperture) configuration such as shown in the figures, the outermost adjustment ball 35a is in direct contact with the interior surface of the adjustment ring 28 and with the innermost adjustment ball 35b (shown in
The adjustment sun 27 acts similar to a sun gear and the innermost adjustment balls 35b act similar to planetary gears as the adjustment ring 28 is rotated. Since a two adjustment ball configuration is used in this embodiment, the adjustment sun 27 turns in the same rotational direction as the adjustment ring 28. However, it should be noted that in embodiments utilizing a single adjustment ball in the adjustment aperture, the adjustment sun 27 would rotate in the opposite rotational direction of the adjustment ring 28.
The adjustment sun 27 is operably attached to the adjustment key 19 and disposed or configured such that when the adjustment sun 27 rotates, the adjustment key 19 rotates with it. The adjustment sun 27 can be operably attached to the adjustment key 19 in any one of a number of ways with no one particular being required to practice this invention—so long as the adjustment key 19 is directly or indirectly rotatably fixed to the adjustment sun 27.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the adjustment key 19 has an upper end 19a operably attached to the adjustment sun 27 and a lower end 19b which is configured and disposed to operably attach to an adjusting screw 23. The adjusting screw 23 in this example of this embodiment is externally threaded and configured or disposed such that when it rotates it directly or indirectly causes the tool 32 (tap or drill bit) to move up and/or down with the rotation. In the embodiment shown, the lower end 19b of the adjustment key 19 is shaped in an “I” or “I-beam” shape such that it can easily slide in and out of the key aperture in the adjustment screw 23, thereby causing the adjustment screw 23 to rotate with the adjustment key 19. In the example of the embodiment shown, the I-beam cross-sectional configuration of the adjustment key 19 inserts into a hexagonal key aperture 23a in the adjustment screw and is thereby rotationally fixed with the adjustment screw 23 (but is still relatively easily removable).
There are different ways to practice this invention with the adjustment screw 23. In some embodiments the adjustment screw 23 can be configured to contact the back of the tool (cutting tool, tap or drill), or like shown in the drawing, the adjustment screw 23 can be configured to press against a driver 30 that has a slot 30a for receiving and securing the tap square (the tap square is a square shaped top end of a tap or drill for example, but can be any non-circular geometry that rotationally fixes the driver to the tool).
In the embodiment shown, the adjustment ring 28 is shown with adjustment lines 28a thereon, ten adjustment lines 28a in the embodiment shown. So when the adjustment ring 28 is rotated, the adjustment balls 35 are trapped between the adjustment ring 28 and the adjustment sun 27, which illustrates the gear-like function of the adjustment balls 35 in this embodiment.
The relative sizing of the adjustment ring 28 and adjustment sun 27 can be controlled to predetermine the relative rotations of the two components, which in this embodiment is preferred to be a 2.5 multiple. However, it will be noted that the relative diameter sizes of the adjustment ring 28 and the adjustment sun 27 may be any one of a number of different configurations, with no one in particular being required to practice this invention. In the embodiment of the invention where the two and one-half (2.5) multiple between the diameters is chosen, for each revolution of the adjustment ring 28 made, the adjustment sun 27 will rotate two and one-half (2.5) revolutions. In this embodiment if the screw pitch for the adjustment screw 23 is chosen to be one-millimeter (1 mm), then each revolution or rotation of the adjustment ring 28 will turn the adjustment sun two and one-half (2.5) revolutions, which would advance or retract the adjustment screw two and one-half millimeters (2.5 mm) due to the one-millimeter (1 mm) pitch of the adjustment screw 23.
The ten equally spaced adjustment lines 28a on the adjustment ring 28 then represents a one-quarter millimeter (0.25 mm) adjustment length, or a one one-hundredths of an inch (0.01 inches) tool length adjustment.
In some applications users of the tool holders desire to provide lubricant through the tool holder and to the workpiece being drilled, tapped or cut. In the embodiment shown, the lower end of 19b of the adjustment key 19 is shaped in an “I” or “I-beam” shape such that it can easily slide in and out of the key aperture in the adjustment screw 23, thereby causing the adjustment screw 23 to rotate with the adjustment key 19. The I-beam configuration naturally provides lubricant passageways on both sides (along and down the adjustment screw 23) to allow the user to route lubricant through the tool holder (including past the adjustment key 19 and through the adjustment screw 23) and to the tool and workpiece.
In another embodiment of the invention, instead of using two adjustment balls per adjustment aperture, one adjustment wheel could be utilized. In this embodiment a wheel shaped driver may be placed directly between the adjustment ring 28 and the adjustment sun 27, such that the adjustment wheel would act in a similar fashion to a single adjustment ball—for example the single wheel between the two would mean that the adjustment sun 27 (and consequently the adjustment screw) would rotate the opposite direction from the adjustment ring 28. In this wheel-based drive example, window-like configured adjustment wheel apertures would need to be provided instead of drilling the adjustment apertures for the adjustment balls.
As will be appreciated by those of reasonable skill in the art, there are numerous embodiments to this invention, and variations of elements and components which may be used, all within the scope of this invention. In one embodiment for example, a tool holder adjustment system is provided, comprising: a tool holder with an upper end configured to attach and detach to a machine spindle and a lower end configured to securely receive a tool; an adjustment ring rotatably mounted around the periphery of part of the tool holder; an adjustment sun rotatably mounted within the tool holder; at least one adjustment member rotatably mounted abutting and between the adjustment ring and the adjustment sun, and disposed such that the at least one adjustment member rotates in response to rotation of the adjustment ring and the adjustment sun rotates in response to rotation of the adjustment member; an adjustment key rotatably attached at a top end to the adjustment sun and rotatably attached at a bottom end to an adjustment screw; and an adjustment screw rotatably attached to the adjustment key and configured to interact with a tool directly or indirectly attached to the adjustment screw such that when the adjustment screw rotates relative to the tool, the tool is moved vertically.
In addition to the embodiment disclosed in the preceding paragraph, the invention may further include such a tool holder adjustment system: further wherein the at least one adjustment members are two in number; further wherein there are three of the at least one adjustment members around the tool holder (including without limitation, wherein the at least one adjustment members are two in number); further wherein the tool holder is configured to securely receive a tap; further wherein the tool holder is configured to securely receive a drill; and/or further wherein the rotational member is spherical-shaped further wherein the rotational member is wheel-shaped;
In addition to the embodiment disclosed in the second preceding paragraph, the invention may further include such a tool holder adjustment system further comprised of: a first rotational member operatively abutting an interior surface of the adjustment ring and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the adjustment ring; a second rotational member operatively abutting and between both the first rotational member and the adjustment sun, such that the second rotational member rotates in response to rotation of the first rotational member, and further configured such that the adjustment sun rotates in response to rotation of the second adjustment member; and without limitation, further wherein the first rotational member and the second rotational member are spherically-shaped.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
