Patents by Inventor Robert A. Erickson

Robert A. Erickson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8807888
    Abstract: A tool shank for use with a cutting insert in a rotary cutting tool includes a body having, and adapted to be rotated about, a central longitudinal tool axis, the body having a tip portion structured to receive at least a portion of the cutting insert therein. The shank also includes a pair of chip flutes formed in the body and a pair of recesses, each recess bordering a respective chip flute. Each recess includes a rim portion extending perpendicular to the tool axis and a bearing surface extending at an incline relative to the tool axis. Each rim portion is adapted to engage a corresponding surface on the cutting insert. Each bearing surface is adapted to engage a corresponding bearing surface on the cutting insert in a manner such that the cutting insert is pulled against the body when the rotary cutting tool is rotated about the tool axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard Borschert, Dieter Muhlfriedel, Jurgen Schwagerl, Ruy Frota de Souza, Jr., Michael D. Shultz, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 8366358
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool that is composed of a tool shank with at least one chucking groove or chip flute and one exchangeable cutting insert. At the tip of the shank a recess for accommodating the cutting insert is provided. The tool shank, on its circumference, has a limb with a bearing surface that is inclined relative to the tool axis and that corresponds to a likewise inclined bearing surface on a wing of the cutting insert. The inclination of the bearing surfaces produces an axial force that retains the cutting insert on the tool shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard Borschert, Dieter Mühlfriedel, Jürgen Schwägerl, Ruy Frota De Souza, Jr., Michael D. Shultz, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 8220804
    Abstract: An apparatus for releasably holding a tubular toolholder shank by axially reciprocating a lock rod between a locked and unlocked position. Compression balls following a helical path on a torque nut are used to retract a compression sleeve, which in turn compresses springs against the lock rod to move the lock rod into the locked position. As a result, a repeatable lock rod force is possible with a pre-determined and self limiting rotation of the torque nut. The same helical groove may be used to advance the compression sleeve against the lock rod to urge the toolholder from the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erickson, Carla Erickson, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20110020086
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool that is composed of a tool shank with at least one chucking groove or chip flute and one exchangeable cutting insert. At the tip of the shank a recess for accommodating the cutting insert is provided. The tool shank, on its circumference, has a limb with a bearing surface that is inclined relative to the tool axis and that corresponds to a likewise inclined bearing surface on a wing of the cutting insert. The inclination of the bearing surfaces produces an axial force that retains the cutting insert on the tool shank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: BERNHARD BORSCHERT, Dieter Mühlfriedel, Jürgen Schwägerl, Ruy Frota De Souza Filho, Michael D. Shultz, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7832967
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool that is composed of a tool shank with at least one chucking groove or chip flute and one exchangeable cutting insert. At the tip of the shank a recess for accommodating the cutting insert is provided. The tool shank, on its circumference, has a limb with a bearing surface that is inclined relative to the tool axis and that corresponds to a likewise inclined bearing surface on a wing of the cutting insert. The inclination of the bearing surfaces produces an axial force that retains the cutting insert on the tool shank. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard Borschert, Dieter Mühlfriedel, Jürgen Schwägerl, Ruy Frota De Souza, Michael D. Shultz, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20100196113
    Abstract: An apparatus for releasably holding a tubular toolholder shank by axially reciprocating a lock rod between a locked and unlocked position. Compression balls following a helical path on a torque nut are used to retract a compression sleeve, which in turn compresses springs against the lock rod to move the lock rod into the locked position. As a result, a repeatable lock rod force is possible with a pre-determined and self limiting rotation of the torque nut. The same helical groove may be used to advance the compression sleeve against the lock rod to urge the toolholder from the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erickson, Carla Erickson
  • Patent number: 7669308
    Abstract: An collet and lock nut assembly includes a collet for receiving a cutting tool shank and a lock nut for creating a gripping force between the collet and the shank. The collet has a nose portion and a body portion separated by an annular groove. The lock nut has a plurality of retention tabs and a corresponding number of clear portions. The collet and lock nut assembly can be easily assembled by inserting at least one retention tab within the groove of the collet, and then applying pressure to the collet such that the remaining retention tabs of the lock nut are received within the groove of the collet to place the assembly in a locked position. The collet and cutting tool shank can be drawn from the tool holder by applying rotational torque to the lock nut. The collet is easily removed from the lock nut by applying pressure in any circumferential, lateral direction against the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Oshnock, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson, Keith Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7610834
    Abstract: A tool holder assembly includes a tool holder with a shank and a key slot having a surface with an angled portion that forms a non-zero angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tool holder assembly. A clamping mechanism includes a support block, a ball canister including a key, and a lock rod. An interference fit key arrangement is provided between the tool holder and the clamping mechanism by an abutment surface located along the first side wall of the key. The abutment surface contacts the angular portion of the key slot to cause the key slot to undergo elastic deformation and allow simultaneous contact between the abutment surface and the angular portion of the key slot and the second side wall of the key and the second surface of the key slot, thereby providing for an interference fit key arrangement between the tool holder and the clamping mechanism when the tool holder assembly is placed in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20090235790
    Abstract: A tool holder assembly includes a tool holder with a shank and a key slot having a surface with an angled portion that forms a non-zero angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tool holder assembly. A clamping mechanism includes a support block, a ball canister including a key, and a lock rod. An interference fit key arrangement is provided between the tool holder and the clamping mechanism by an abutment surface located along the first side wall of the key. The abutment surface contacts the angular portion of the key slot to cause the key slot to undergo elastic deformation and allow simultaneous contact between the abutment surface and the angular portion of the key slot and the second side wall of the key and the second surface of the key slot, thereby providing for an interference fit key arrangement between the tool holder and the clamping mechanism when the tool holder assembly is placed in the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7431539
    Abstract: A clamp pin tool holder for clamping an insert in a tool holder includes a bore for receiving a clamp pin and a bore for receiving a lock screw. The clamp pin includes a cam portion with angled surfaces. The lock screw is rotatably mounted to the bore of the tool holder and includes angled surfaces for engaging the angled surfaces of the clamp pin. When the lock screw is rotated in one direction, one angled surface on the lock screw and one angled surface on the clamp pin engage each other an acts as a conical wedge to cause the clamp pin to move relative to the lock screw. When the lock screw is rotated in the opposite direction, another angled surface on the lock screw engages a different angled surface on the clamp pin in a similar manner to cause the clamp pin to move in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erickson, Paul A. Brown
  • Publication number: 20080213053
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool that is composed of a tool shank with at least one chucking groove or chip flute and one exchangeable cutting insert. At the tip of the shank a recess for accommodating the cutting insert is provided. The tool shank, on its circumference, has a limb with a bearing surface that is inclined relative to the tool axis and that corresponds to a likewise inclined bearing surface on a wing of the cutting insert. The inclination of the bearing surfaces produces an axial force that retains the cutting insert on the tool shank. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Bernhard Borschert, Dieter Muhlfriedel, Jurgen Schwagerl, Ruy Frota De Souza, Michael D. Shultz, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7360974
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool that is composed of a tool shank with at least one chucking groove or chip flute and one exchangeable cutting insert. At the tip of the shank a recess for accommodating the cutting insert is provided. The tool shank, on its circumference, has a limb with a bearing surface that is inclined relative to the tool axis and that corresponds to a likewise inclined bearing surface on a wing of the cutting insert. The inclination of the bearing surfaces produces an axial force that retains the cutting insert on the tool shank. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard Borschert, Dieter Mühlfriedel, Jürgen Schwägerl, Ruy Filho Frota De Souza, Michael D. Shultz, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7357608
    Abstract: A rotary tapered tool holder includes a shank including a front mounting portion and an aperture. An expansion sleeve is disposed about a portion of the shank. The expansion sleeve includes a front mounting portion adjacent the front mounting portion of the shank. An expansion rod is disposed within the shank and includes a pocket or cam surface. An expansion pin is at least partially received in the aperture of the shank. The expansion pin has a first end or cam surface for engaging the pocket of the expansion rod, and a second end for engaging the front mounting portion of the expansion sleeve. A force applied to the expansion rod in a first direction causes the expansion pin to move in a second direction and into positive engagement with the front mounting portion of the expansion sleeve, thereby forcing the expansion sleeve into positive contact with a tapered bore of a spindle of the tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erickson, Ted R. Massa
  • Patent number: 7338419
    Abstract: A tool coupler for connecting tool heads, such as drills, reamers, millers, turn-cutters, dies, and rams, to a tool holder. The tool coupler has a hollow shaft, a ring-shaped collar, and a gripper groove, in which gripper groove are disposed two diametrically opposite blind bore holes with varying bore hole contours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Storch, Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7311478
    Abstract: A tool holder (20) comprises a body portion (32), a support member assembly (33) mounted to the body portion and an insert-receiving cartridge (36) removably received in the support member. The insert-receiving cartridge (36) includes a pocket (38) for mounting a cutting insert (40) thereon. The support member assembly (33) includes a bore and the insert-receiving cartridge (36) includes a shank capable of being received in the bore. The combination of the insert-receiving cartridge (36) and the cutting insert (40) forms a cutting tool for a particular cutting operation. In one embodiment, the cutting tools are radially mounted to a side periphery of the body portion (32) such that the vertical axis of the cutting tool is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the toolholder (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erickson, Linn R. Andras
  • Patent number: 7306238
    Abstract: An assembly generally comprises a collet for receiving a cutting tool shank and a lock nut for creating a gripping force between the collet and the cutting tool shank. The collet has a nose and the lock nut has a front face that is substantially flush with the nose. The lock nut further has a fastening element that mates with a fastening element of a coolant sealing ring for attaching the coolant sealing ring to the lock nut so that the coolant sealing ring may be detached from the lock nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Oshnock, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7287941
    Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically amplifying the force acting upon a lock rod to retain a toolholder within a toolholder receiving member has a spindle extending from the toolholder receiving member and at least two in-line dual acting piston/cylinder modules within a cavity within the bore of the spindle. Each module has a piston within an associated cylinder and wherein the lock rod, through a drawbar, is attached to the piston of each module such that when each module is pressurized, the combined force of all of the pistons is applied to the lock rod. The invention is also directed to a method for achieving this task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7261302
    Abstract: A collet and lock nut assembly includes a collet for receiving a cutting tool shank and a lock nut for creating a gripping force between the collet and the shank. The collet has a nose portion and a body portion separated by an annular groove. The lock nut has a plurality of retention tabs and a corresponding number of clear portions. The collet and lock nut assembly can be easily assembled by inserting at least one retention tab within the groove of the collet, and then applying pressure to the collet such that the remaining retention tabs of the lock nut are received within the groove of the collet to place the assembly in a locked position. The collet and cutting tool shank can be drawn from the tool holder by applying rotational torque to the lock nut. The collet is easily removed from the lock nut by applying pressure in any circumferential, lateral direction against the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Oshnock, Michael R. McCormick, Robert A. Erickson, Keith Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7240594
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for releasably holding a toolholder shank having a lockable surface and a releasable surface utilizing an actuating bolt with an associated threaded actuating nut. When the actuating bolt is rotated in a locking direction, the actuating nut is drawn onto the bolt thereby clamping against the lockable surfaces of the toolholder shank. When the actuating bolt is rotated in the releasing direction, a releasing segment acts upon the toolholder thereby ejecting it from the tool support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erickson, William M. Long
  • Patent number: 7186064
    Abstract: A rotary tapered tool holder includes a body or shank including a front contact portion and a rear contact portion. An adapter sleeve is disposed about a portion of the shank. The adapter sleeve includes slits that allow radial expansion and contraction of the adapter sleeve. The adapter sleeve includes an inner surface formed at a first non-zero taper angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shank, and an outer surface formed at a second non-zero taper angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank. The second taper angle is different than the first taper angle such that an interference fit between the shank and the inner surface of the adapter sleeve forces the outer surface of the adapter sleeve into positive contact with a tapered bore of a spindle of the rotary tapered tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erickson, Ted R. Massa