Cutting tool adjustment device

• US 7,114,890 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valenite Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valenite Inc.
• Inventors: Noggle, Kenneth G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cadugan, Erica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Application Number:
  US09/782,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20020110428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 407/30, 407/33, 407/36, 407/37, 407/38, 407/40, 407/41, 407/44, 407/45, 407/47, 407/49, 724/823, 724/824, 836/985.1, 836/986.1, 836/993.1, 836/994.1, 836/995.1, 836/996.1, 411/57.1, 411/58, 411/60.2, 411/60.1, 408/153, 408/161, 408/190, 408/191, 408/713
• US Class Current: 407/36
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/2269 for plate-like cutting inserts B23C5/2278, B23C5/2291 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/24 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/2493 where the adjustment is made by deforming the seating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 408/713 Tool having detachable cutting edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1912 Tool adjustable relative to holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1916 And axially
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1918 Selectively
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1928 Tool adjustable relative to holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/858 Moving means including wedge, screw or cam

Abstract

The instant invention is directed to an adjustment device for a multiple insert cutting tool with adjusting elements using a wedge to adjust the position of an insert in a tool body pocket through an intermediate component having expansion elements. The intermediate component is disposed in a cavity which is at least partly contiguous with a pocket containing an insert. The intermediate component engages the insert to be adjusted and, when expanded, adjusts the position of the insert.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the position of a cutting insert adjustably secured in a pocket disposed in a holder, comprising:

a cavity in said holder, at least a portion of said cavity being contiguous with said pocket;

an intermediate component separate from said holder and disposed within said cavity, said intermediate component comprising an external peripheral surface and at least one expansion mechanism, said external peripheral surface engaging the insert at said contiguous portion; and

a wedging device movably attached directly to said holder and engaging the intermediate component such that actuation of the wedging device results in expansion of the intermediate component in a direction substantially parallel to a desired direction of adjustment of the insert.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said expansion mechanism comprises slots and a tapered portion disposed on a first region of an internal peripheral surface of said intermediate component.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said wedging device comprises a conical wedge.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said wedging device includes an adjustment screw threadingly engaged to the holder.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said intermediate component defines a portion of a pocket side of said pocket.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the intermediate component further comprises opposite end faces facing generally parallel to a direction of movement of said wedging device, each end face being intersected by at least one expansion element.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein actuation of the wedging device causes expansion of the intermediate component along substantially the entire length of said component.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said intermediate component comprises a sleeve having a through-hole extending therethrough, and through which said wedging element extends.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said through-hole is defined by a surface, a first portion of said surface located closest to said insert being tapered correspondingly to a taper of said wedging element, a second portion of said surface located diametrically opposite said first portion being substantially cylindrical.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said sleeve includes opposite ends through which said hole extends, said opposite ends including respective first and second pairs of oppositely facing slots, defining said expansion mechanism, said slots of each of said first and second pairs being separated from one another by said hole, said first pair of slots offset from said second pair of slots as said sleeve is viewed along said center axis.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said sleeve includes a plurality of sides together forming a polygonal shape, a first of said sides being disposed adjacent said first portion of said hole surface, and a second of said sides being disposed opposite said first side and abutting against a wall of said pocket.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said sleeve includes a plurality of sides together forming a polygonal shape, a first of said sides being disposed adjacent said first portion of said hole surface, and a second of said sides being disposed opposite said first side and abutting against a wall of said pocket.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said holder comprises a rotatable tool body defining an axis of rotation.

8. A method for adjusting the position of an insert relative to a holder, wherein said holder has a pocket having a floor and sides and a retaining device for adjustably securing the insert to said holder, comprising the steps of:

A) positioning an insert in said pocket in engagement with a sleeve;

the sleeve including an end, an external peripheral surface and at least one expansion mechanism;

a hole extending through the end of the sleeve;

the at least one expansion mechanism comprising generally aligned slot portions formed in the end and separated from one another by said hole;

said external peripheral surface including a first portion engaging the insert, and a second portion engaging a wall of said cavity disposed opposite said pocket, said slot portions disposed between said first and second portions of said external surface;

said hole having a tapered portion disposed adjacent said first portion of said external surface, and an opposing cylindrical portion disposed adjacent said second portion of said external surface;

B) tightening the retaining device to secure the insert in the pocket; and

C) tightening a wedging device disposed in said hole while said second portion of said peripheral surface engages said wall, causing a conical wedging surface of said wedging device to contact both said tapered portion and said cylindrical portion, whereupon said wedging device exerts a wedging action against the tapered portion of the hole surface, thereby causing expansion of the first portion of the external surface, resulting in change of position of the insert.

15. A device for adjusting the position of a cutting insert disposed within a pocket of a holder comprising:

a retaining device in said holder for adjustably securing said insert;

a sleeve disposed in a cavity in said holder, said cavity being at least partially contiguous with said pocket, said sleeve including opposite first and second ends and an external surface extending between said first and second sleeve ends, a through-hole extending through said sleeve from said first sleeve end to said second sleeve end, a surface of said through-hole defining an internal surface of said sleeve, a portion of said external surface defining a flexing flank surface for engaging a flank of said insert, said flexing flank surface having a length parallel to a center axis of said through-hole, a portion of said internal surface being situated adjacent said external flexing flank and being tapered with respect to said center axis, said first sleeve end including a first pair of oppositely disposed slots formed therein and separated from one another by said through-hole, said second sleeve end including a second pair of oppositely disposed slots formed therein and separated from one another by said through-hole, each of said slots extending from said external surface to said internal surface, said first pair of slots being offset from said second pair of slots in a direction perpendicular to said center axis; and

an adjustment screw extending-through said through-hole and being threadingly connected in said holder, said screw including a wedge-shaped portion disposed in said through-hole and engaging said tapered surface portion of said internal surface adjacent said first and second sleeve ends, such that rotation of said screw in one direction causes said sleeve to expand at both of said first and second pairs of slots in a direction toward said insert, wherein said flexing flank surface is translationally displaced along its entire length toward said insert for displacing said insert.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein a portion of said external surface disposed opposite said portion thereof which engages said insert is arranged to bear against a wall of said pocket prior to a termination of said expansion of said sleeve.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein a portion of said internal surface situated opposite said tapered portion thereof is substantially cylindrical.

18. The device according to claim 15 wherein said holder comprises a tool body defining an axis of rotation.

19. The device according to claim 15 wherein said holder comprises a cartridge mounted in a tool body which defines an axis of rotation.

20. A device for adjusting the position of a cutting insert disposed within a pocket of a holder comprising:

a retaining device in said holder for adjustably securing said insert;

a cavity formed in said holder and being at least partially contiguous with said pocket, said cavity including a wall situated opposite said pocket;

a sleeve disposed in said cavity and including opposite first and second ends and an external surface extending between said first and second sleeve ends, a hole disposed in said sleeve wherein a surface of said hole defines an internal surface of said sleeve, a first portion of said external surface defining a flexing flank surface for engaging said insert, a second portion of said external surface being situated diametrically opposite said first portion and facing said wall of said cavity, a first portion of said internal surface being situated adjacent said external flexing surface and being tapered with respect to a center axis of said hole, a second portion of said internal surface being situated diametrically opposite said first portion and being cylindrically shaped, at least one of said sleeve ends including a pair of oppositely disposed slots separated from one another by said hole, each slot extending from said external surface to said internal surface and positioned between said first and second portions of said internal surface; and

an adjustment screw including a wedge-shaped portion disposed in said hole and engaging said first portion of said internal surface, said screw being rotatable in a direction causing said sleeve to expand at said slots, wherein said second portion of said external surface bears against said wall of said cavity, and said first portion of said external surface is displaced toward said insert to adjustably displace said insert while said second portion of said external surface bears against said wall to stabilize the sleeve.