CUTTING TOOL ASSEMBLY HAVING CLAMP ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CLAMP AND A COOLANT PLATE

• US 20140369772A1
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kennametal Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kennametal Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Shi, Henry, Nicholas J., Mizgalski, Kent P., Eichelberger, Samuel L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,511,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 407/11
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2205/00 Fixation of cutting inserts in holders
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2250/12 Cooling and lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/03 Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 27/10 Cutting tools with special provision for cooling drills with lubricating or cooling equipment B23B51/06; features relating to lubricating or cooling of milling cutters B23C5/28; arrangements or devices for cooling or lubricating tools or work B23Q11/10
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 27/1677 with plate-like cutting inserts clamped by a clamping member acting almost perpendicularly on the chip-forming plane and at the same time upon the wall of a hole in the insert
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/14 with means to apply fluid to cutting tool

Abstract

A clamp assembly to secure a cutting insert to a holder that includes a clamp that has a distal end and a clamp projection depending from the distal end of the clamp. There is a coolant plate that has a top plate surface and a bottom plate surface wherein the top plate surface contains a recess that receives the clamp projection upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate. The bottom plate surface contains a bowl having an open bowl end wherein in operation the bowl directs coolant through the open bowl end toward the cutting insert. The assembly has a positioner extending between the clamp and the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate upon the assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate.

Claims

1. A clamp assembly to secure a cutting insert to a holder, the clamp assembly comprising:

a clamp;

the clamp having a distal end and a clamp projection depending from the distal end of the clamp;

a coolant plate having a top plate surface and a bottom plate surface, the top plate surface containing a recess wherein the recess receives the clamp projection upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate;

the bottom plate surface containing a bowl having an open bowl end wherein in operation the bowl directs coolant through the open bowl end toward the cutting insert; and

a positioner extending between the clamp and the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate upon the assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate.

2. The clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the recess comprises a depression.

3. The clamp assembly according to claim 2 wherein the clamp projection comprising a boss.

4. The clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the recess comprising a first notch.

5. The clamp assembly according to claim 4 wherein the first notch having a first notch central longitudinal axis, and the coolant plate having a coolant plate central longitudinal axis.

6. The clamp assembly according to claim 5 wherein the first notch central longitudinal axis being generally perpendicular to the coolant plate central longitudinal axis.

7. The clamp assembly according to claim 5 further including a second notch having a second notch central longitudinal axis, and the first notch central longitudinal axis and the second notch central longitudinal axis each being disposed at a notch disposition angle to the coolant plate central longitudinal axis.

8. The clamp assembly according to claim 7 wherein the first notch intersecting the second notch.

9. The clamp assembly according to claim 7 wherein when the clamp being assembled to the coolant plate, the rib being received within a selected one of the first notch and the second notch.

10. The clamp assembly according to claim 4 wherein the clamp projection comprising a rib.

11. The clamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein when the clamp being assembled to the coolant plate), the rib being received within the first notch.

12. The clamp assembly according to claim 4 wherein the bottom plate surface containing a rearward notch having a central longitudinal axis, and the first notch having a central longitudinal axis, and the central longitudinal axis of the rearward notch being generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the first notch.

13. The clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the clamp having a clamp bottom surface and the positioner comprising a clamp post extending from the clamp bottom surface, and the bottom plate surface further containing a rearward notch wherein the rearward notch receives the clamp post upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate.

14. The clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the clamp containing a threaded aperture and the coolant plate containing a threaded aperture, and the positioner comprising a threaded member, and the threaded member threadedly engaging the threaded aperture of the clamp and the threaded aperture of the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate.

15. The clamp assembly according to claim 14 wherein the threaded member secures the coolant plate to the clamp.

16. A cutting assembly for chipforming cutting of a workpiece, the cutting assembly comprising:

a cutting insert;

a holder having a seat wherein the seat receives the cutting insert upon assembly of the cutting insert to the holder;

a clamp;

the clamp having a distal end and a clamp projection depending from the distal end of the clamp;

a coolant plate having a top plate surface and a bottom plate surface, the top plate surface containing a recess wherein the recess receives the clamp projection upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate;

the bottom plate surface containing a bowl having an open bowl end wherein in operation the bowl directs coolant through the open bowl end toward the cutting insert; and

a positioner extending between the clamp and the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate upon the assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate.

17. The cutting assembly according to claim 16 wherein the clamp having a clamp bottom surface and the positioner comprising a clamp post extending from the clamp bottom surface, and the bottom plate surface further containing a rearward notch wherein the rearward notch receives the clamp post upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate.

18. The cutting assembly according to claim 16 wherein the clamp containing a threaded aperture and the coolant plate containing a threaded aperture, and the positioner comprising a threaded member, and the threaded member threadedly engaging the threaded aperture of the clamp and the threaded aperture of the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate.

19. The cutting assembly according to claim 18 wherein the threaded member secures the coolant plate to the clamp.

20. A coolant plate for use in cooperation with a clamp in a cutting assembly with a cutting insert and a clamp having a clamp projection and the clamp containing a threaded aperture wherein a threaded member extends between the threaded aperture of the clamp and the coolant plate, the coolant plate comprising:

a top plate surface and a bottom plate surface, the top plate surface containing a recess wherein the recess receives a clamp projection from the clamp upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate;

the bottom plate surface containing a bowl having an open bowl end wherein in operation the bowl directs coolant through the open bowl end toward a cutting insert; and

the coolant plate containing a threaded aperture that receives the threaded member upon assembly of the clamp to the coolant plate so as to maintain a position of the clamp relative to the coolant plate.

21. The coolant plate according to claim 20 wherein the recess comprises a depression, and the clamp projection comprising a boss.

22. The coolant plate according to claim 20 wherein the recess comprising a first notch, and the first notch having a first notch central longitudinal axis, and the coolant plate having a coolant plate central longitudinal axis.

23. The coolant plate according to claim 22 wherein the first notch central longitudinal axis being generally parallel to the coolant plate central longitudinal axis.

24. The coolant plate according to claim 22 further including a second notch having a second notch central longitudinal axis, and the first notch central longitudinal axis and the second notch central longitudinal axis each being disposed at a notch disposition angle to the coolant plate central longitudinal axis.

25. A coolant plate for use in cooperation with a clamp in a cutting assembly with a cutting insert and a clamp having a clamp post and a clamp projection, the coolant plate comprising:

a top plate surface and a bottom plate surface, the top plate surface containing a recess wherein the recess receives a clamp projection from the clamp upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate;

the bottom plate surface containing a bowl having an open bowl end wherein in operation the bowl directs coolant through the open bowl end toward a cutting insert; and

the bottom plate surface further containing a rearward notch wherein the rearward notch receives a clamp post from the clamp upon assembly of the clamp and the coolant plate.