TOOL HOLDER FOR A CUTTING TOOL AND SLEEVE FOR A TOOL HOLDER

Abstract

A tool holder for a cutting tool having a tool shank includes a receptacle which extends in an axial direction and a sleeve disposed in the receptacle. The sleeve includes a tool receptacle structured to at least partially receive the tool shank and a blocking element that projects radially into the tool receptacle. The axial positioning of the sleeve is adjustable with respect to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A tool holder for a cutting tool having a tool shank, the tool holder comprising: a receptacle which extends in an axial direction; a sleeve disposed in the receptacle, the sleeve having: a tool receptacle structured to at least partially receive the tool shank; and a base having a bolt extending outward therefrom in the axial direction, wherein the axial positioning of the sleeve is adjustable with respect to the receptacle.

2. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is formed in a pot-like manner and includes a sleeve base.

3. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a spring element arranged at a base of the sleeve and wherein the spring element is structured to exert a restoring force on the tool shank when the cutting tool is inserted in the sleeve.

4. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a thread structured to provide for adjustment of the axial positioning of the sleeve with respect to the receptacle.

5. The tool holder of claim 4 wherein the bolt has an externally threaded surface.

6. The tool holder of claim 4 wherein the sleeve includes an outer casing in which the thread is provided.

7. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a portion structured to be engaged by an adjusting tool for adjusting the axial position of the sleeve with respect to the receptacle.

8. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is in the form of a reducing sleeve and is structured to receive the tool shank in a clamping manner.

9. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is subdivided into a front clamping region structured to receive the tool shank in a clamping manner, and a rear adjusting region in which the sleeve is arranged in an adjustable manner with respect to the receptacle.

10. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein the tool holder is configured in the manner of a hydraulic expansion chuck.

11. A sleeve for inserting in a receptacle in a tool holder, the sleeve comprising: a tool receptacle structured to receive at least a portion of a shank of a cutting tool; an adjusting mechanism structured to provide for adjustment of the axial positioning of the sleeve within the receptacle, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a threaded bolt structured to engage a threaded portion of the tool holder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the partially schematic figures in which:

[0027] FIG. 1.1 shows a front view of a cutting tool in an example embodiment having a flattened portion and a transverse groove in the form of a partial annular groove,

[0028] FIG. 1.2 shows the cutting tool partly in a side view and partly in a sectional illustration,

[0029] FIG. 1.3 shows a side view of a detail of the tool shank of the cutting tool,

[0030] FIG. 2.1 shows a front view of an alternative cutting tool having two flattened portions and a circumferential annular groove,

[0031] FIG. 2.2 shows the alternative cutting tool partly in a side view and partly in a sectional illustration,

[0032] FIG. 2.3 shows a side view of a detail of the tool shank of the alternative cutting tool,

[0033] FIG. 3.1 shows a sectional illustration of a first variant embodiment of a tool holder, together with a reducing sleeve according to a first embodiment and a clamped-in cutting tool,

[0034] FIG. 3.2 shows a perspective view of the tool holder together with the clamped-in reducing sleeve and a cutting tool which is clamped therein and is illustrated in a greatly simplified manner,

[0035] FIG. 4.1 shows a front view of the reducing sleeve in an example embodiment of the cutting tool according to FIGS. 1.1 to 1.3,

[0036] FIG. 4.2 shows a perspective view of the reducing sleeve,

[0037] FIG. 4.3 shows a side view of the reducing sleeve,

[0038] FIG. 4.4 shows a side view of the reducing sleeve with schematically indicated internal workings,

[0039] FIG. 4.5 shows the sectional illustration A-A according to FIG. 4.1,

[0040] FIG. 4.6 shows the sectional illustration B-B according to FIG. 4.3,

[0041] FIG. 4.7 shows a bottom view of the reducing sleeve,

[0042] FIG. 4.8 shows the sectional illustration C-C according to FIG. 4.7,

[0043] FIG. 5.1 shows a front view of an alternative reducing sleeve,

[0044] FIG. 5.2 shows a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the reducing sleeve,

[0045] FIG. 5.3 shows a side view of the alternative reducing sleeve,

[0046] FIG. 5.4 shows a side view of the alternative reducing sleeve with schematically indicated internal workings,

[0047] FIG. 5.5 shows the sectional illustration D-D according to FIG. 5.1,

[0048] FIG. 5.6 shows the sectional illustration E-E according to FIG. 5.3,

[0049] FIG. 5.7 shows a bottom view of the alternative reducing sleeve,

[0050] FIG. 5.8 shows the sectional illustration F-F according to FIG. 5.7.

[0051] FIG. 6.1 shows a sectional illustration of a second variant embodiment of a tool holder together with a sleeve and a cutting tool which is clamped therein and is illustrated in a greatly simplified manner,

[0052] FIG. 6.2 shows a perspective view of the tool holder according to FIG. 6.1,

[0053] FIG. 7.1 shows a perspective view of the sleeve illustrated in FIG. 6.1,

[0054] FIG. 7.2 shows a longitudinal section through the sleeve according to FIG. 7.1,

[0055] FIG. 7.3 shows a cross section through the sleeve according to FIG. 7.2,

[0056] FIG. 8.1 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a sleeve,

[0057] FIG. 8.2 shows a first longitudinal-section view of the sleeve according to FIG. 8.1,

[0058] FIG. 8.3 shows a second longitudinal-section view of the sleeve along the section line J-J in FIG. 8.4,

[0059] FIG. 8.4 shows a plan view of the rear side of the sleeve according to FIG. 8.1,

[0060] FIG. 8.5 shows a section view along the section line L-L according to FIG. 8.6, and

[0061] FIG. 8.6 shows a side view of the sleeve according to FIG. 8.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, left, right, front, back, top, bottom and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein. Identical parts are provided with the same reference number in all drawings.

[0063] In the exemplary embodiment described in the following text, a cutting tool 2 has a cutting part 4 and a tool shank 8 that adjoins the latter counter to an axial direction 6. Worked into the tool shank 8 are, as illustrated in FIG. 1.2 and FIG. 1.3, a flattened portion 10 and a transverse groove that directly adjoins the latter and is in the form of a partial annular groove 12.

[0064] On account of the flattened portion 10, the shank cross-sectional area of a free end of the cylindrical tool shank 8 is reduced, with an abrupt or step-like transition, as seen in the axial direction 6, being provided in this regard. The surface formed in this way of the tool shank 8 in the region of the flattened portion 10 is substantially planar and cuboidal. In particular values in the order of magnitude of half the diameter of the tool shank 8 are provided for the extent of that cuboidal surface both in the axial direction 6 and also perpendicularly thereto. The partial annular groove 12 that extends perpendicularly to the axial direction 6 is formed as a groove having an arcuate cross section, and in particular a cross section in the form of a segment of a circle, and extends in the circumferential direction 13 over an angular region of about 180°. In this case, the radial distance of the partial annular groove 12 from a central longitudinal axis 14 of the cutting tool 2 is constant over the entire extent in the circumferential direction 13. Furthermore, the partial annular groove 12 is arranged in the region of the periphery, facing the cutting part 4, of the cuboidal surface of the flattened portion 10. One end of the partial annular groove 12 leads into the flattened portion 10, while the opposite end forms, in a manner which is not illustrated in more detail, a stop that acts in the circumferential direction 13. The depth of the partial annular groove 12 and the form of the reduction of the shank cross-sectional area in the region of the flattened portion 10 are of comparable orders of magnitude and adapted to that extent to which a blocking element 16 projects radially into a tool receptacle 18 for the cutting tool 2 (cf., for example, FIG. 3.1).

[0065] An alternative form of the tool shank 8 of the cutting tool 2 is shown in illustrations in FIG. 2.1 to FIG. 2.3. Here, the cutting tool 2 has, at the end of the tool shank 8, two substantially identical flattened portions 10 of the above-described type and form, the flattened portions 10 being positioned circumferentially and opposite one another at the free end of the cylindrical tool shank 8. At the axial level of the partial annular groove 12 of the previous exemplary embodiment, there is provided in this cutting tool 2 a circumferential complete annular groove 20, the cross section of which is in turn arcuate or in the form of a segment of a circle. In this variant embodiment, too, the extent of each flattened portion 10 and also the depth of the complete annular groove 20 is adapted to the form and position of the blocking element 16 of the tool receptacle 18.

[0066] An axial securing mechanism comprises, in addition to a partial annular groove 12 or a complete annular groove 20, also a securing or blocking element 16. The latter projects into the tool receptacle 18 for the tool shank 8 and, in the operating state of a machine tool, forms together with the partial annular groove 12 or the complete annular groove 20 a form-fitting connection, by way of which the cutting tool 2 is secured against shifting out of the tool receptacle 18. A corresponding operating state is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3.1 and FIG. 3.2 and also in FIGS. 6.1 and 6.2. In this case, a hydraulic expansion chuck 22 is connected in a manner which is not illustrated in more detail to a machine tool via a hollow shank taper-machine spindle interface (HSK for short) 24. For the benefit of compatibility which is as good as possible, as an alternative, further interfaces, in particular standardized interfaces such as an interface having a steep taper shank (SK for short) or having a Kennametal receptacle (KM for short), for example, are provided.

[0067] The structure of the illustrated hydraulic expansion chuck 22 is similar to an embodiment which is described in detail in the laid-open specification WO 2005/097383. Therefore, express reference is made to the entire disclosure of this document attributed to the applicant.

[0068] The chuck 22 has a receptacle 26. This can be described to a close approximation as cylindrical and thus rotationally symmetrical to a central longitudinal axis 28 of the hydraulic expansion chuck 22. At its base, the receptacle 26 is continued by a duct 30 having a circular cross section and an internal thread 32. The duct 30 serves, inter alia, as a supply line for a coolant and/or lubricant. An external thread 34 of a threaded bolt 36 engages in the internal thread 32, said threaded bolt 36 being for its part integrally formed on the base side of a reducing sleeve 38. In the operating state illustrated, the threaded bolt 36 is screwed into the duct 30, and so the reducing sleeve 38 is fixed in the receptacle 26 and is additionally adjusted with respect to the axial relative position in relation to the hydraulic expansion chuck 22.

[0069] Worked centrally into the reducing sleeve 38 is the cylindrical tool receptacle 18 (clamping receptacle), in which the cutting tool 2 is clamped by way of its tool shank 8 in the operating state. In this case, two opposite transverse bolts 42, which act here as blocking element 16, by way of example, and are positioned transversely to the axial direction 6 and also transversely to a radial direction 43, engage in the complete annular groove 20 on the cutting tool 2. As a result, a form-fitting connection is formed between the reducing sleeve 38 and the cutting tool 2, the form-fitting connection blocking the axial movements of the cutting tool 2. Furthermore, at the base of the reducing sleeve 38 there is arranged a cylindrical compression spring 44, the restoring force of which is directed in the axial direction 6 and acts on the end face of the tool shank 8. Accordingly, the compression spring 44 pushes the tool shank 8 in the axial direction 6, and so any production-induced play present between each transverse bolt 42 and the complete annular groove 20 is compensated. In an example embodiment, the transverse bolts 42 are positioned such that the axial distance between the transverse bolts 42 and the base of the reducing sleeve 38 corresponds to about half the diameter of the reducing sleeve 38. Furthermore, the tool receptacle 18 is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the duct 30. A supply duct 45 which is provided therefor, passes centrally through the threaded bolt 36 and through the base of the reducing sleeve 38, such that the cooling oil and/or lubricating oil can be introduced via said supply duct 45 into a supply opening worked at the end side into the free end of the cutting tool 2.

[0070] In order to clamp the reducing sleeve 38 and the cutting tool 2 in the hydraulic expansion chuck 22, the volume of a hydraulic reservoir is reduced by means of a grub screw in a manner which is not illustrated. The hydraulic oil located in the reservoir is then pressed via connecting ducts 46 into hydraulic chambers 48, as a result of which a membrane-like expanding bush 50 expands or rather deforms in the direction of the central longitudinal axis 28. Consequently, a press connection is formed both between the receptacle 26 and the reducing sleeve 38 and between the reducing sleeve 38 and the cutting tool 2.

[0071] A more detailed illustration of the reducing sleeve 38 is given in the illustrations in FIG. 5.1 to FIG. 5.8. In addition to a cylindrical basic body 52, into which the tool receptacle 18 is worked, and the threaded bolt 36 integrally formed on the base side, the reducing sleeve 38 has at its end a disc-like reducing sleeve collar 54, which is integrally formed opposite the threaded bolt 36 on the basic body 52. As can be seen from FIG. 5.1, the reducing sleeve collar 54 is radially flattened, such that wrench flats 56 are produced on the disc circumference. These wrench flats 56 form a tool engagement portion for screwing in the reducing sleeve 38 (axial adjustment). The orientation of the wrench flats 56 reflects in a supplementary manner the substantially parallel arrangement of the longitudinal axes of the two transverse bolts 42 and thus serves as an assembly aid when the cutting tool 2 is inserted, wherein, in order to introduce the tool shank 8 into the tool receptacle 18, the flattened portion 10 has to be aligned approximately plane-parallel to the wrench flats 56. In precisely this orientation, the flattened portion 10 and the transverse bolts 42 are oriented in relation to one another such that axial displacement of the cutting tool 2 in the tool receptacle 18 is possible.

[0072] The basic body 52 of the reducing sleeve 38 has four longitudinal slots 58, which are worked in circumferentially in an equally distributed manner and by way of which, when pressure is exerted on the circumference, a reversible yielding of the basic body 52 in the direction of a central longitudinal axis 60 of the reducing sleeve 38 is promoted. These longitudinal slots 58 extend in this case approximately parallel to the central longitudinal axis 60 and extend along approximately 80% of the extent of the basic body 52 in the axial direction 6. In addition, the longitudinal slots 58 are continued in the sleeve collar 54, this continuation not being configured completely in the region of the introduction opening for the cutting tool 2 into the tool receptacle 18.

[0073] For the benefit of simple production of the reducing sleeve 38, two press-in ducts 62 are worked into the basic body 52, into which press-in ducts 62 the transverse bolts 42 are pressed as part of an assembly step, and in the process are positioned fixedly in the intended end position. The transverse bolts 42 also act, as illustrated in FIG. 5.8, as a stop for the cylindrical compression spring 44, such that the latter is secured against falling out.

[0074] An alternative example design of the reducing sleeve 38 is shown in the illustrations in FIG. 4.1 to FIG. 4.8. This design differs in that only one transverse bolt 42 is provided as blocking element 16. This design has the advantage of particularly simple production of the tool shank. The transverse groove is in this case in the form of a partial annular groove 12, such that a stop is formed and defined and easy insertion of the cutting tool is allowed. Generally, the flattened portion(s) and the transverse groove are worked in all exemplary embodiments into the originally cylindrical shank preferably by simple grinding methods.

[0075] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate a second variant embodiment of the tool holder having a sleeve 70 which serves merely for axial pull-out prevention and has no clamping function. The basic structure of the sleeve 70 with the transverse bolt 42 as blocking element, the threaded bolt 36 for screwing into the receptacle 26 and the compression spring 44 arranged in the interior of the sleeve 70 is identical or at least largely identical to the configuration of the pull-out prevention means in the case of the reducing sleeve 38 as is illustrated for example in FIG. 4.2. In FIGS. 6.1 and 7.2, the pot-like configuration of the sleeve 70 having the sleeve base 72, on which the compression spring 44 is supported, can be seen very clearly.

[0076] As can be gathered in particular from FIGS. 7.1 and 7.3, the sleeve 70 (just like the reducing sleeve 38) has in its outer wall an aperture 74 formed in the manner of a through-passage hole, such that the transverse bolt 42 can be pushed easily into the aperture 74. This makes simple production possible. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 7.3, the transverse bolt 42 does not project at least beyond the outer wall of the sleeve 70.

[0077] The tool holder according to FIG. 6.1 is illustrated in a partial sectional view, in which only the rear part of the tool holder is illustrated in a sectional view. In this variant embodiment, the receptacle 26 is subdivided into a front clamping region 76 which is formed in FIG. 6.1 by the nonhatched subregion. In the rear part, the receptacle 26 forms an adjusting region 78, in which the sleeve 70 is arranged in a longitudinally adjustable manner. The clamping region 76 is formed preferably directly by the chuck without the use of an additional sleeve such as a reducing sleeve or the like, for example. In particular, the clamping region is formed directly by an expansion chuck, the tool shank 8 being formed preferably directly by a corresponding inner wall, bounding a hydraulic chamber, of the chuck.

[0078] The insertion of the tool shank 8 and the axial pull-out prevention thereof by the formation of the undercut by way of the transverse bolt 42 take place in the same way as for the reducing sleeve, as is described in FIG. 4.2. In principle, the axial pull-out prevention of the sleeve 70 can also take place with two transverse bolts 42, as in the case of the reducing sleeve according to FIG. 5.2.

[0079] The axial adjustment of the sleeve 70 takes place with the aid of a tool engagement portion, which, in the case of the exemplary embodiment of the sleeve 70, is in the form of a transverse slot 80 on the rear end side of the threaded bolt 36.

[0080] FIGS. 8.1-8.6 illustrate a preferred alternative of the sleeve 70. As can be gathered in particular from the sectional illustrations in FIG. 8.2 and FIG. 8.3, the sleeve has the external thread 34 on its outer casing 82. In comparison with the exemplary embodiment described with regard to FIGS. 7.1-7.3, this sleeve therefore differs by the elimination of the threaded bolt 36, instead of which the outer casing 82 is provided with the thread 34. The rest of the embodiment, in particular the arrangement of the transverse bolt 42 and of the compression spring 44, is identical to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 7.1-7.3. In a manner corresponding to the alternative embodiment of the sleeve 70, the receptacle 26 is also formed with an associated internal thread on the lateral surface of the receptacle 26. The internal thread begins preferably at the front end side and extends in particular along at least virtually the entire length of the receptacle 26 in the direction of the interface 24. In comparison with the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.1, the intermediate portion, in which the threaded bolt 36 is enclosed, has been dispensed with. The entire tool holder 22 is therefore shortened by this intermediate portion, compared with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6.1.

[0081] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 7.1-7.3, the sleeve 70 also has, on account of the formation of the thread 34 on the outer casing 82, a larger diameter in the front region of the thread 34 than in a rear region. In the exemplary embodiment, the thread 34 extends from the end side along about two thirds of the length of the sleeve 70.

[0082] The longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve takes place—as in the previous exemplary embodiments—by twisting the sleeve. On account of the form-fitting and rotationally locked fastening of the tool 2 via the transverse bolt 42, this can also take place, with a tool 2 inserted, by for example a manual rotary movement of the tool 2 in the not yet clamped state. Alternatively, in order to longitudinally adjust the sleeve 70 a tool engagement portion 80 is formed preferably—in a manner not illustrated in more detail here—on the rear side within the receptacle 26 of the chuck 22, such that the desired longitudinal adjustment takes place via a rotary movement of the sleeve 70. To this end, in an expedient embodiment, the rear through-passage opening, which is in the form of the supply duct 45, is in the form of a polygonal receptacle, for example a hexagonal receptacle, on which a correspondingly formed polygon wrench can act.

[0083] While specific example embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to the details provided herein could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.