Description:BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool holder assembly having a round milling insert having multiple indexing angles. The tool holder assembly incudes a tool holder body, a cutting insert and a cartridge. The invention discloses that the cutting insert and cartridge provides indexing feasibility for round inserts to have effective use of the entire cutting edge.
2. Description of the Background Art
Cutting inserts are well known and a large percentage of them are of the throwaway design. Such inserts are detach ably clamped on a tool holder and are removed from the tool holder and discarded when they become dull or chipped. Throwaway inserts are usually indexable so that an insert can be provided with at least two cutting edges for selective presentation to a work piece. An indexable insert having multiple cutting edges is more economical because when one edge has been used, the insert may simply be indexed to the next usable edge. Such a feature is especially important when considering the high cost of materials from which inserts are produced. In general, inserts must be securely and accurately held in place within an insert holder during the cutting operation. This is especially true when the inserts are deployed with numerically controlled machines which depend for accuracy upon an accurately located and firmly supported insert. It is known to secure an insert firmly within a pocket of a tool holder by providing the insert with a central hole and the tool holder with a pin-type clamping device. It is also known to secure inserts to be held in place by a top clamp. Whenever a central hole exists within an insert, the overall strength of the insert is somewhat reduced. Cutting inserts for metalworking operations are typically made of wear-resistant material such as a hard cemented carbide or cermet comprised of tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, tungsten titanium carbide or TiC-TiN and a binder material such as cobalt, iron and/or nickel. The wear resistant material may also be a tool steel or a ceramic material, such as for example but not limited to an aluminum oxide-based, silicon nitrate based, or silicon-based ceramic materials.
This invention addresses the above disadvantages of the background art by providing a round milling insert with multiple indexing angles and an insert clamping indexing using a rake face of the round milling insert. The invention provides effective use of the entire cutting edge of the round milling insert.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of this invention, a tool holder assembly is provided comprising (i) a tool holder body having a pocket; (ii) a cartridge having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section that is disposed between said top face and said bottom surface, said cartridge has a first end and a second end that is opposite to said first end, wherein said cartridge has a bore that extends from said top face of said cartridge, through said middle section of said cartridge and through said bottom surface of said cartridge, and wherein said cartridge has a protrusion that extends in a general vertical direction from said bottom surface of said first end of said cartridge and wherein said protrusion has at least one surface; (iii) a cutting insert having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section disposed between said top face and said bottom surface of said cutting insert, wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two recessed slots), wherein said cutting insert mounts within said pocket of said tool holder body, and wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge engages at least one surface of said recessed slot; and (iv) a fastener element that is located within said bore of said cartridge and wherein said fastener element engages a threaded bore in said tool holder body.
In certain embodiments of this invention, the tool holder assembly, as described herein, includes wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two of said recessed slots wherein each recessed slot is positioned at about a forty-five degree angle to each other.
In another embodiment of this invention, the tool holder assembly, as described herein, includes wherein said top face of said cutting insert has eight recessed slots and wherein each of said eight recessed slots are positioned to an adjacent slot at about a forty-five (45) degree angle.
Another embodiment of this invention includes a tool holder assembly, as described herein, wherein said fastener element is engaged into said bore of said cartridge and into said threaded bore of said tool holder body locks said cartridge into place on the tool holder body.
In certain embodiments of this invention, a tool holder assembly, as described herein is provided wherein said cartridge is locked into place on the tool holder body such that said cartridge locks into place said cutting insert against at least one side of said pocket of said tool holder body.
In another embodiment of this invention, the tool holder assembly includes wherein said recessed slot is planar, and wherein said protrusion of said cartridge is planar.
In certain embodiments of the tool holder assembly of this invention, the shape of said protrusion is a reverse image of a shape of said recessed slot.
In other embodiments of this invention, the tool holder assembly includes wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is of any inclination angle that is the same as a draft angle of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.
Another embodiment of the tool holder assembly of this invention provides wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is planar and is used for indexing and to avoid anti-rotation of said tool holder assembly.
In certain embodiments of the tool holder assembly of this invention includes wherein said bottom surface that is located at the first end of said cartridge is a planar surface that is used for clamping said cutting insert against said tool holder body.
In another embodiment of the tool holder assembly of this invention includes wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is planar and wherein said bottom surface located at said first end of said cartridge is a planar surface.
In certain embodiments of this invention, the tool holder assembly includes wherein said fastener element is engaged and urges said cartridge against said cutting insert such that said surface of said protrusion is placed in juxtaposition to and against said surface and said cavity of said recessed slot.
In another embodiment of this invention, the tool holder assembly includes wherein said protrusion urges said cutting insert downwardly against a bottom wall of said pocket of said tool holder body and laterally against at least one side of said pocket.
In another embodiment of this invention, a tool assembly is provided comprising a cartridge having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section that is disposed between said top face and said bottom surface, said cartridge has a first end and a second end that is opposite to said first end, wherein said cartridge has a bore that extends from said top face of said cartridge, through said middle section of said cartridge and through said bottom surface of said cartridge, and wherein said cartridge has a protrusion that extends in a general vertical direction from said bottom surface of said first end of said cartridge and wherein said protrusion has at least one surface; and a cutting insert having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section disposed between said top face and said bottom surface of said cutting insert, wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two recessed slots, and wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge engages at least one surface of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.
In certain embodiments of this invention, the tool assembly, as described herein, includes wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two of said recessed slots wherein each of said recessed slots is positioned at about a forty-five degree angle to each other.
In another embodiment of this invention, the tool assembly, as described herein, includes wherein said top face of said cutting insert has eight recessed slots and wherein each of said eight recessed slots are positioned to an adjacent slot at about a forty-five (45) degree angle.
Another embodiment of the tool assembly, as described herein, includes wherein said recessed slot is planar, and wherein said protrusion of said cartridge is planar.
In another embodiment of this invention, the tool assembly, as described herein, includes wherein a shape of said protrusion is a reverse image of a shape of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.
In certain embodiments of this invention, the tool assembly, as described herein, includes wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is of any inclination angle that is the same as a draft angle of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.
These and other embodiments of this invention shall be described in more detail herein and in the drawings that show certain embodiments of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While various embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the drawings, the particular embodiments shown should not be construed to limit the claims. Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a top view of the tool holder assembly of this invention.
Fig. 2 shows a partial isometric side view of the tool holder body of this invention.
Fig. 3 shows an isometric side view of an unassembled tool holder assembly of this invention.
Fig. 4 shows an isometric view of an assembled tool holder assembly of this invention.
Fig. 5 shows an isometric top view of the cartridge of this invention.
Fig. 6 shows an isometric bottom view of the cartridge of this invention.
Fig. 7 show a bottom view of the cartridge of this invention.
FIG. 8 shows a front view of the cartridge of this invention.
FIG. 9 shows a top view of the cartridge of this invention.
FIG. 10 shows an isometric side view of the cutting insert of this invention.
FIG. 11 shows a side view of the cutting insert of this invention.
FIG. 12 shows a side view of the cutting insert of this invention.
FIG. 13 shows a top view of the cutting insert of this invention.
FIG. 14 shows an assembled side view of the tool holder assembly of this invention. FIG. 15 shows a front view of the assembled tool holder assembly of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, 14, and 15, an embodiment of the tool holder assembly (10) of this invention is shown. The tool holder assembly (10) comprising (i) a tool holder body (12) having a pocket (14), (ii) a cartridge (16) having a top face (18), a bottom surface (22), and a middle section (20) that is disposed between said top face (18) and said bottom surface (22), said cartridge has a first end (24) and a second end (26) that is opposite to said first end (24), wherein said cartridge has a bore (28) that extends from said top face (18) of said cartridge (16), through said middle section (20) of said cartridge (16) and through said bottom surface (22) of said cartridge (16), and wherein said cartridge has a protrusion (30) that extends in a general vertical direction from said bottom surface (22) of said cartridge (16) and wherein said protrusion (30) has at least one surface (90), and (iii) a cutting insert (32) having a top face (34), a bottom surface (38), and a middle section (36) disposed between said top face (34) and said bottom surface (38) of said cutting insert (32), wherein said top face (34) of said cutting insert (32) has at least two recessed slots (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47, respectively), wherein said cutting insert (32) mounts within said pocket (14) of said tool holder body (12), and wherein said surface (90) of said protrusion (30) of said cartridge (16) engages at least one surface (70) of at least one of said recessed slots (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, or 47, respectively), and (iv) a fastener element (50) that is located within said bore (28) of said cartridge and wherein said fastener element (50) engages a threaded bore (60) in said tool holder body (12). Referring to FIG. 7, in certain embodiments of this invention, the surface (90) of said cartridge (16) is planar. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in certain embodiments of this invention, the protrusion (30) of said cartridge (16) has a chamfered or beveled shape.
Referring to FIGS. 5-9, the cartridge (16) of this invention is shown having a top face (18), a bottom surface (22), and a middle section (20) that is disposed between said top face (18) and said bottom surface (22), said cartridge has a first end (24) and a second end (26) that is opposite to said first end (24), wherein said cartridge has a bore (28) that extends from said top face (18) of said cartridge (16), through said middle section (20) of said cartridge (16) and through said bottom surface (22) of said cartridge (16), and wherein said cartridge has a protrusion (30) that extends in a general vertical direction from said bottom surface (22) of said cartridge (16) and wherein said protrusion (30) has at least one surface (90). Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in certain embodiments of the cartridge (16) of this invention, the bottom surface (20) below said first end (24) of said cartridge (16) has a planar surface (120). Planar surface (120) is used in operation of the tool holder assembly (10) for clamping said cutting insert (32) due to pressure developed when the fastener element (50) is engaged and torqued.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 8, in certain embodiments of the cartridge (16) of this invention, the cartridge (16) has a right flank face (110) that is positioned in front of and forward to said middle section (20) of said cartridge (16) and in juxtaposition to said first end (24) of said cartridge (16), and a left flank face (112) that is positioned opposite to said right flank face (110), wherein the left flank face is positioned in front of and forward to said middle section (20) of said cartridge (16) and in juxtaposition to said first end (24) of said cartridge (16), and a nose face (114) that is positioned between said right flank face (110) and said left flank face (112) and wherein said nose face (114) of said cartridge (16) is positioned in juxtaposition to and below said first end (24) of said cartridge (16). Those persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the cartridge (16) of this invention may be of varying shapes and sizes and that FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5-9, and 14 show certain embodiments of cartridge (16) of this invention.
Referring to FIGS. 10-13, in certain embodiments of this invention, the cutting insert (32) of this invention is shown having a top face (34), a bottom surface (38), and a middle section (36) disposed between said top face (34) and said bottom surface (38) of said cutting insert (32), wherein said top face (34) of said cutting insert (32) has at least two recessed slots (40, 41,42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47, respectively). Referring to FIGS. 10-13, a certain embodiment of this invention is shown wherein the top face (34) of said cutting insert (32) has eight recessed slots (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47, respectively), and wherein each of said slots (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47, respectively), are positioned to an adjacent slot at about a forty-five (45) degree angle. Those persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that in certain embodiments of this invention that at least two slots are provided by this invention and that each slot may be independently positioned at a varying angle relative to an adjacent slot.
It will be appreciated by those persons of ordinary skill in the art that the number of recessed slots may be increased or decreased depending upon the size of the diameter of the top face (34) of the cutting insert.
The fastener element (50) when engaged into said bore (28) of said cartridge (16) and into said threaded bore (60) of said tool holder body (12) locks said cartridge (16) into place on the tool holder body (12). It will be appreciated by those persons of ordinary skill in the art, that when said cartridge (16) is locked into place on the tool holder body (12) that, the cartridge locks into place said cutting insert (32) against the sides (100, 101, and 102, respectively) of said pocket (14) of said tool holder body (12).
In certain embodiments of this tool holder assembly (10) of this invention, the recessed slot (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and /or 47, respectively) may be planar, or any other size or shape, such as for example but not limited to, semi-circle-barrel shaped, concave, and cube shaped, and the protrusion (30) of the cartridge (16) may be planar, or any other size or shape, such as for example but not limited to semi-circle-barrel shaped, convex, and cube shaped, such that said protrusion (30) fits into one or more of said recessed slots (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and /or 47, respectively). In other words, it is preferable that the shape of the protrusion is a reverse image of the shape of said recessed slot (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, or 47, respectively).
In certain embodiments of this invention, the surface (90) of said protrusion (30) of said cartridge (16) may be of any inclination angle only limited by the draft angle provided of the recessed slot (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and/or 47, respectively) of said cutting insert (32). In another embodiment of this invention, a tangent line may be created between a cavity (80) of each recess slot (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and/or 47, respectively) of said cutting insert (32) and said surface (90) of said protrusion (30) of said cartridge (16) (i.e. said surface (90) of said protrusion (30) need not be planar).
In certain embodiments of the tool holder assembly (10) of this invention, it will be appreciated by those persons of ordinary skill in the art that the surface (90) of said protrusion (30) of said cartridge (16) is planar and is used for indexing and to avoid anti-rotation of said tool holder assembly (10).
In certain embodiments of the tool holder assembly (10) of this invention, the bottom surface (22) located at the first end (24) of the cartridge (16) is a planar surface (120), wherein said planar surface (120) is used for clamping said cutting insert (32) against said tool holder body (12).
In certain embodiments of this invention, the tool holder assembly (10) includes wherein said surface (90) of said protrusion (30) of said cartridge (16) is planar and wherein said bottom surface (22) located at the first end (24) of the cartridge (16) is a planar surface (120).
The fastener element (50) when engaged urges the cartridge (16) against the cutting insert (32) such that the surface (90) of said protrusion (30) is placed in juxtaposition to and against said surface (70) and said cavity (80) of said recessed slot (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and/or 47, respectively). The protrusion (30) is oriented such that the protrusion (90) urges the cutting insert (32) downwardly against a bottom wall (130) of said pocket (14) of said tool holder body (12) and laterally against the sides 100, 101, and 102 of said pocket.
As used herein, “including,” “containing” and like terms are understood in the context of this application to be synonymous with “comprising” and are therefore open-ended and do not exclude the presence of additional undescribed or un-recited elements, materials, phases or method steps. As used herein, “consisting of” is understood in the context of this application to exclude the presence of any unspecified element, material, phase or method step. As used herein, “consisting essentially of” is understood in the context of this application to include the specified elements, materials, phases, or method steps, where applicable, and to also include any unspecified elements, materials, phases, or method steps that do not materially affect the basic or novel characteristics of the invention.
For purposes of the description above, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences except where expressly specified to the contrary. Moreover, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities of ingredients used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
It should be understood that any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, a range of “1 to 10” is intended to include all sub-ranges between (and including) the recited minimum value of 1 and the recited maximum value of 10, that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and a maximum value of equal to or less than 10.
In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural and plural encompasses singular, unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, in this application, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless specifically stated otherwise, even though “and/or” may be explicitly used in certain instances. In this application, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent.
Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A tool holder assembly comprising:
(i) a tool holder body having a pocket;
(ii) a cartridge having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section that is disposed between said top face and said bottom surface, said cartridge has a first end and a second end that is opposite to said first end, wherein said cartridge has a bore that extends from said top face of said cartridge, through said middle section of said cartridge and through said bottom surface of said cartridge, and wherein said cartridge has a protrusion that extends in a general vertical direction from said bottom surface of said first end of said cartridge and wherein said protrusion has at least one surface;
(iii) a cutting insert having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section disposed between said top face and said bottom surface of said cutting insert, wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two recessed slots), wherein said cutting insert mounts within said pocket of said tool holder body, and wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge engages at least one surface of said recessed slot; and
(iv) a fastener element that is located within said bore of said cartridge and wherein said fastener element engages a threaded bore in said tool holder body.
2. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two of said recessed slots wherein each recessed slot is independently positioned relative to an adjacent slot at a varying angle.
3. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said top face of said cutting insert has eight recessed slots and wherein each of said eight recessed slots are positioned to an adjacent slot at about a forty-five (45) degree angle.
4. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said fastener element is engaged into said bore of said cartridge and into said threaded bore of said tool holder body locks said cartridge into place on the tool holder body.
5. The tool holder assembly of Claim 4 including wherein said cartridge is locked into place on the tool holder body such that said cartridge locks into place said cutting insert against at least one side of said pocket of said tool holder body.
6. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said recessed slot is planar, and wherein said protrusion of said cartridge is planar.
7. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 wherein a shape of said protrusion is a reverse image of a shape of said recessed slot.
8. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is of any inclination angle that is the same as a draft angle of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.
9. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is planar and is used for indexing and to avoid anti-rotation of said tool holder assembly.
10. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said bottom surface that is located at the first end of said cartridge is a planar surface that is used for clamping said cutting insert against said tool holder body.
11. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is planar and wherein said bottom surface located at said first end of said cartridge is a planar surface.
12. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said fastener element is engaged and urges said cartridge against said cutting insert such that said surface of said protrusion is placed in juxtaposition to and against said surface and said cavity of said recessed slot.
13. The tool holder assembly of Claim 1 including wherein said protrusion urges said cutting insert downwardly against a bottom wall of said pocket of said tool holder body and laterally against at least one side of said pocket.
14. A tool assembly comprising a cartridge having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section that is disposed between said top face and said bottom surface, said cartridge has a first end and a second end that is opposite to said first end, wherein said cartridge has a bore that extends from said top face of said cartridge, through said middle section of said cartridge and through said bottom surface of said cartridge, and wherein said cartridge has a protrusion that extends in a general vertical direction from said bottom surface of said first end of said cartridge and wherein said protrusion has at least one surface; and a cutting insert having a top face, a bottom surface, and a middle section disposed between said top face and said bottom surface of said cutting insert, wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two recessed slots, and wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge engages at least one surface of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.
15. The tool assembly of Claim 14 including wherein said top face of said cutting insert has at least two of said recessed slots wherein each of said recessed slots is independently positioned relative to an adjacent slot at a varying angle.
16. The tool assembly of Claim 14 including wherein said top face of said cutting insert has eight recessed slots and wherein each of said eight recessed slots are positioned to an adjacent slot at about a forty-five (45) degree angle.
17. The tool assembly of Claim 14 including wherein said recessed slot is planar, and wherein said protrusion of said cartridge is planar.
18. The tool assembly of Claim 14 wherein a shape of said protrusion is a reverse image of a shape of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.
19. The tool assembly of Claim 14 including wherein said surface of said protrusion of said cartridge is of any inclination angle that is the same as a draft angle of said recessed slot of said cutting insert.