Example embodiments generally relate to power equipment and, more particularly, relate to improvements for a boring tool.
Boring tools are commonly used in both commercial and private settings to bore holes of various sizes and purposes into lumber or other working media. Typically employed in a construction setting, boring tools are most often driven by a driving device with an electric motor that applies torque to a boring tool to rotate it at relatively high speeds. The tool includes a cutting portion that engages lumber or another medium in order to bore a hole in the medium as the tool is rotated at high speed and pressed into the medium to a desired bore depth.
Given that boring tools may be employed to bore holes in media of various types, the boring tool can include a different shank and/or a different cutting portion for its different applications. In circumstances where the quality of the bore is not as important, and where shallower holes may be desired, spade bits are a popular choice. Spade bits commonly have a cutting portion that is relatively broad and flat that performs a boring operation. On the other hand, auger bits are a good choice to use in circumstances where cleaner bores and/or deeper bores are desired. Auger bits commonly have a helical cutting portion where the entire helix is utilized in a boring operation. Additionally, spade bits are typically cheaper to manufacture and cheaper for consumers to purchase than auger bits. Both spade bits and auger bits are examples of common boring tools that can be used with a driving device to bore holes in a working medium. Furthermore, some boring tools may be a hybrid of auger and spade bits in an attempt to incorporate the benefits of each type.
Occasionally, the working medium that a boring tool is used in may contain obstructions (e.g. nails or screws embedded in wood or drywall). Encountering such obstructions while operating a boring tool may have negative effects, such as a nail getting wrapped around the boring tool due to the rotational motion of the boring tool. Thus, creating a boring tool that is better equipped to overcome potential obstructions encountered during use may allow for a more favorable overall experience, as well as improve the longevity of the boring tool.
Some example embodiments may provide for a boring tool. The boring tool may include a coupling portion which may be at an end of the boring tool, a shank which may be operably coupled to the coupling portion, a cutting portion which may be operably coupled to the shank and a feed screw which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion at an opposite end of the boring tool from the coupling portion. The cutting portion may further include a first paddle, a second paddle, and a third paddle. The first paddle, the second paddle, and the third paddle may be disposed equiangular around a perimeter of the cutting portion. The first paddle, the second paddle, and the third paddle may each comprise a paddle body defined by a leading edge and a lateral edge. The leading edge may extend away from a longitudinal axis of the boring tool in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boring tool. The lateral edge may extend away from the leading edge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the paddle body.
Another example embodiment may provide for a boring tool. The boring tool may include a coupling portion which may be at an end of the boring tool, a shank which may be operably coupled to the coupling portion, a cutting portion which may be operably coupled to the shank and a feed screw which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion at an opposite end of the boring tool from the coupling portion. The cutting portion may further include multiple paddles and multiple ribs disposed around a perimeter of the cutting portion. The multiple paddles may each comprise a paddle body, defined by a leading edge and a lateral edge. The leading edge may extend away from a longitudinal axis of the boring tool in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boring tool. The lateral edge may extend away from the leading edge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the paddle body.
A further example embodiment may provide for a boring tool. The boring tool may include a coupling portion which may be at an end of the boring tool, a shank which may be operably coupled to the coupling portion, a cutting portion which may be operably coupled to the shank and a feed screw which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion at an opposite end of the boring tool from the coupling portion. The feed screw may be shaped like a partial prolate spheroid and may be disposed at a distal end of the cutting portion. The feed screw may comprise a base portion which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion, an intermediate portion which may be operably coupled to the base portion, and a tip portion which may be operably coupled to the intermediate portion. The diameter of the feed screw in the tip portion and the intermediate portion may get larger moving toward the base portion. The diameter of the feed screw in the base portion may not get larger moving toward the cutting portion.
Having thus described some example embodiments in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “or” is to be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. As used herein, operable coupling should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, in either case, enables functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to each other.
Some example embodiments may provide a boring tool constructed from a metallic material and having a coupling portion, a shank, a cutting portion, and a feed screw. The cutting portion may comprise multiple paddles which may be designed to remove material from the working medium when the boring tool is being operated. In some embodiments, the paddles may be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boring tool to enhance the boring tool's ability to guide waste material out of the bore, in the opposite direction of the cut, as the boring tool rotates. The boring tool may further comprise ribs disposed in between consecutive paddles that, when the tool is being operated, are designed to push nails and other obstructions embedded in the working medium out of the way of the boring tool. The ribs may extend further forward in the direction of the cut than the paddles in order to protect the tool from obstructions. The boring tool may further comprise a feed screw designed to securely guide the boring tool into the working medium as the boring tool rotates. The shank may have a torsion release neck which may be designed to concentrate torsional load forces. Concentrating torsional load forces and shear stresses away from the cutting portion of the boring tool allows for the boring tool to have improved boring performance and overall improved durability. Other improvements may also be possible, and the improvements can be made completely independent of each other, or in combination with each other in any desirable configuration. Accordingly, the operability and utility of the boring tool may be enhanced or otherwise facilitated while strengthening the boring tool.
The shank 120 may operably couple the coupling portion 110 to the cutting portion 130. Thus, the shank 120, may assist with translating torque from the driving device into rotational motion of the cutting portion 130. The coupling portion 110 may be operably coupled to a first portion 122 of the shank 120 and the cutting portion 130 may be operably coupled to a second portion 124 of the shank 120. Therefore, the shank 120 may be subject to high torsional loading due to the shank 120 forming a connection between the coupling portion 110 and the cutting portion 130, both of which may experience opposing forces while the boring tool 100 is in use. In this regard, the driving device may exert a torque on the coupling portion 110 and the working medium may exert a frictional force against the cutting portion 130 that may oppose the direction of rotation of the boring tool 100. Thus, these opposing forces may be naturally distributed throughout the boring tool 100. The cutting portion 130 may be the part of the boring tool 100 that is configured to cut the bore in the working medium. The cutting portion 130 may include a plurality of paddles 132 which will be discussed in greater detail below in reference to later figures. Further, the boring tool 100 may comprise a longitudinal axis 150 that may extend through the center of, and down an entire length of, the boring tool 100, around which the boring tool 100 may rotate when in use.
Additionally, as a result of the torsion release neck 160 having a smaller diameter than the first portion 122 of the shank 120 and the second portion 124 of the shank 120, the torsion release neck 160 may also have a lower mathematical value for its polar moment of inertia than other portions of the boring tool 100. In this regard, the torsion release neck 160 may be the part of the boring tool 100 that is least resistant to torsional loading. As such, the torsion release neck 160 may help preserve the functionality of both the cutting portion 130 and the coupling portion 110 of the boring tool 100 by reducing the amount of torsional shock felt at these respective portions. Furthermore, due to the inverse mathematical relationship between polar moment of inertia and shear stress, the torsion release neck 160 of the shank 120 may reduce the magnitude of the shear stresses that the boring tool 100 experiences at the cutting portion 130 and the coupling portion 110. In this regard, the torsion release neck 160 may assist with reducing the likelihood of the boring tool 100 experiencing material failures (i.e. cracking or chipping) at either the coupling portion 110 or the cutting portion 130. Thus, the boring tool 100 as a whole may exhibit improved durability and better boring performance as a result of the torsion release neck 160 reducing torsional loading and shear stresses at the cutting portion 130 and the coupling portion 110.
In some embodiments, the boring tool 100 may not have a torsion release neck 160. In this regard,
In an example embodiment, the leading edge 133 and the lateral edge 134 may comprise a lip relief. In other words, they may be beveled at 15 degrees instead of having a 90 degree edge such as on a regular rectangular prism. However, a range of values may be used for the lip relief in various embodiments. For example, the lip relief may be greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 20 degrees. Thus, one side of the leading edge 133 and one side of the lateral edge 134 may extend beyond the other side of each edge. In some embodiments, the higher side of each of the leading edge 133 and the lateral edge 134 may be the side that leads the paddle in the cutting motion due to the direction of rotation of the boring tool 100 when it is in use. A chamfer 135 may be provided where the leading edge 133 meets the lateral edge 134. The chamfer 135 may be a surface of the paddle body 132 that extends from the leading edge 133 to the lateral edge 134. In some embodiments, the angle of the chamfer 135 may be 45 degrees relative to each of the leading edge 133 and the lateral edge 134. However, a range of values may be used for the chamfer 135 in various example embodiments. For example, the chamfer 135 may be greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 60 degrees. As a result of the chamfer 135 residing between the leading edge 133 and the lateral edge 134, the chamfer 135 may be disposed at the same angle as the leading edge 133 and the lateral edge 134 because both of the leading edge 133 and the lateral edge 134 may already be beveled in their own regards. This gives the chamfer 135 the added benefit of reducing stress on the boring tool 100 as a whole. In other words, the chamfer 135 eliminates the presence of a 90 degree corner intersection of the leading edge 133 and the lateral edge 134. In doing so, the chamfer 135 reduces the amount of friction that the working medium can exert on the paddles and thus reduces the amount of torsional stress applied to the boring tool 100 while it is in use.
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Some example embodiments may provide for a boring tool. The boring tool may include a coupling portion which may be at an end of the boring tool, a shank which may be operably coupled to the coupling portion, a cutting portion which may be operably coupled to the shank and a feed screw which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion at an opposite end of the boring tool from the coupling portion. The cutting portion may further include a first paddle, a second paddle, and a third paddle. The first paddle, the second paddle, and the third paddle may be disposed equiangular around a perimeter of the cutting portion. The first paddle, the second paddle, and the third paddle may each comprise a paddle body defined by a leading edge and a lateral edge. The leading edge may extend away from a longitudinal axis of the boring tool in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boring tool. The lateral edge may extend away from the leading edge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the paddle body.
The boring tool of some embodiments may include additional features, modifications, augmentations and/or the like to achieve further objectives or enhance performance of the blade. The additional features, modifications, augmentations and/or the like may be added in any combination with each other. Below is a list of various additional features, modifications, and augmentations that can each be added individually or in any combination with each other. For example, the intersection of the leading edge and the lateral edge may comprise a chamfer. In an example embodiment, the chamfer may be a beveled edge at an angle that may be greater than or equal to 30 degrees and may be less than or equal to 60 degrees. In some cases, each of the leading edge and the lateral edge may a lip relief cut at an angle that may be greater than or equal to 10 degrees and may be less than or equal to 20 degrees. In an example embodiment, the paddle body of each of the first paddle, the second paddle, and the third paddle may extend from the feed screw toward the shank at an angle that may be greater than or equal to 5 degrees and may be less than or equal to 15 degrees. In some cases, the paddle body of each of the first paddle, the second paddle, and the third paddle may maintain a constant thickness. In an example embodiment, the shank may include a first portion operably coupled to the coupling portion, a second portion operably coupled to the cutting portion, and a torsion release neck that may be disposed in the first portion. In some cases, the second portion may taper from a larger diameter proximate to the cutting portion to a smaller diameter proximate to the first portion. In an example embodiment, the second portion may have a constant diameter from proximate to the cutting portion to proximate to the first portion. In some cases, the diameter of the torsion release neck may be 60%-95% of a diameter of the first end of the shank. In an example embodiment, the diameter of the torsion release neck may be 80%-90% of a diameter of the first end of the shank. In some cases, the feed screw may include a tip portion which may be disposed at a tip of the feed screw, an intermediate portion which may be operably coupled to the tip portion, and a base portion which may be operably coupled to the intermediate portion and may be operably coupled to the cutting portion of the boring tool. In an example embodiment, the feed screw may be shaped like a partial prolate spheroid. In some cases, the tip portion, the intermediate portion, and the base portion may each cover roughly one third of a total length of the feed screw measured from the cutting portion to the tip of the feed screw. In an example embodiment, the diameter of the feed screw in the base portion may not change. In some cases, the cutting portion may further include a rib which may be disposed between each of the first paddle, the second paddle, and the third paddle. In an example embodiment, the rib may extend closer to the feed screw than the leading edge. In some cases, the rib may recede into the paddle body between two thirds and three quarters of a length of the paddle body measured from the leading edge.
Some example embodiments may provide for a boring tool. The boring tool may include a coupling portion which may be at an end of the boring tool, a shank which may be operably coupled to the coupling portion, a cutting portion which may be operably coupled to the shank and a feed screw which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion at an opposite end of the boring tool from the coupling portion. The cutting portion may further include multiple paddles and multiple ribs disposed around a perimeter of the cutting portion. The multiple paddles may each comprise a paddle body, defined by a leading edge and a lateral edge. The leading edge may extend away from a longitudinal axis of the boring tool in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boring tool. The lateral edge may extend away from the leading edge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the paddle body. The multiple ribs may each extend closer to the feed screw than the leading edge.
The boring tool of some embodiments may include additional features, modifications, augmentations and/or the like to achieve further objectives or enhance performance of the blade. The additional features, modifications, augmentations and/or the like may be added in any combination with each other. Below is a list of various additional features, modifications, and augmentations that can each be added individually or in any combination with each other. For example, the intersection of the leading edge and the lateral edge may comprise a chamfer. In an example embodiment, the chamfer may be a beveled edge at an angle that may be greater than or equal to 30 degrees and may be less than or equal to 60 degrees. In some cases, each of the leading edge and the lateral edge may comprise a lip relief cut at an angle that may be greater than or equal to 10 degrees and may be less than or equal to 20 degrees. In an example embodiment, each paddle body may be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boring tool. In some cases, each paddle body may maintain a constant thickness.
Some example embodiments may provide for a boring tool. The boring tool may include a coupling portion which may be at an end of the boring tool, a shank which may be operably coupled to the coupling portion, a cutting portion which may be operably coupled to the shank and a feed screw which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion at an opposite end of the boring tool from the coupling portion. The feed screw may be shaped like a partial prolate spheroid and may be disposed at a distal end of the cutting portion. The feed screw may comprise a base portion which may be operably coupled to the cutting portion, an intermediate portion which may be operably coupled to the base portion, and a tip portion which may be operably coupled to the intermediate portion. The diameter of the feed screw in the tip portion and the intermediate portion may get larger moving toward the base portion. The diameter of the feed screw in the base portion may not get larger moving toward the cutting portion.
The boring tool of some embodiments may include additional features, modifications, augmentations and/or the like to achieve further objectives or enhance performance of the blade. The additional features, modifications, augmentations and/or the like may be added in any combination with each other. Below is a list of various additional features, modifications, and augmentations that can each be added individually or in any combination with each other. For example, the cutting portion may include multiple paddles and multiple ribs disposed around a perimeter of the cutting portion. In some cases, the multiple paddles may each comprise a paddle body which may be defined by a leading edge and a lateral edge. In an example embodiment, the leading edge may extend away from a longitudinal axis of the boring tool in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boring tool. In some cases, the lateral edge may extend away from the leading edge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the paddle body. In an example embodiment, the multiple ribs may each extend closer to the feed screw than the leading edge. In some cases, the intersection of the leading edge and the lateral edge may comprise a chamfer. In an example embodiment, the chamfer may be a beveled edge at an angle that may be greater than or equal to 30 degrees and may be less than or equal to 60 degrees.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits and/or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63241684 | Sep 2021 | US |