Abstract: A clamping device used for securing a toolholder for metal working operations includes a lock rod reciprocating along a lock rod longitudinal axis to radially activate locking balls to engage perforations within the shank of a toolholder, wherein the toolholder is oriented along a toolholder axis non parallel to the locking rod longitudinal axis. Additionally, the lock rod includes a ramp which engages a bump-off pin in a direction lateral to the motion of the lock rod to provide a mechanism for ejecting the toolholder from the clamping device.

Abstract: A tool holder includes a body, a cutting head having a cutting end portion and a tapered end portion, a retention knob located at the tapered end portion of the cutting head, and a ball clamping mechanism received in an aperture of the body. The ball clamping mechanism includes an upper clamp, a lower clamp, and a double-ended clamp screw threaded onto the upper and lower clamps. Rotation of the clamp screw in a one direction causes the upper clamp and the lower clamp to move toward each other and engage the retention knob to place the tool holder in a locked position, and rotation of the clamp screw in an opposite direction causes the upper clamp and the lower clamp to move away from each other such that the upper and lower clamps no longer engage the retention knob to place the tool holder in a unlocked position.

Abstract: A toolholder assembly for releasably holding a toolholder includes a toolholder having a tubular shank with at least two perforations; a tool support member; a canister disposed within the tool support member and including at least two apertures; a lock rod movable within the tool support member in a reciprocating motion for pulling the toolholder into a locked position and for releasing the toolholder to an unlocked position; and at least two locking elements disposed within the spaced apertures of the canister and engaging the lock rod so that movement of the lock rod causes the locking elements to extend radially outward from the canister. The circumferentially spaced perforations of the tubular shank each include a primary cylindrical wall and a forward facing contact surface at least partially defined by a depression having a converging wall surface non-concentric with the primary cylindrical wall of the perforations.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably holding a tubular toolholder shank includes a tool support member; a canister disposed within the tool support member; a lock rod movable within the tool support member in a reciprocating motion for pulling the tubular toolholder shank into a locked position and for releasing the tubular toolholder shank to an unlocked position; and at least two locking elements engaging the lock rod so that movement of the lock rod causes the locking elements to extend outward to engage the tubular toolholder shank. The lock rod includes a relief cavity extending rearward from a forward end of the lock rod. The lock rod has a maximum outer diameter and the relief cavity has a maximum diameter. A ratio of the maximum diameter of the relief cavity to the maximum outer diameter of the front portion of the lock rod is greater than approximately 1 to 4.

Abstract: A clamping unit for releasably holding a tubular toolholder shank has a base member with a canister sleeve mounted therein. To secure the canister sleeve within the base member and to minimize movement caused by tolerances, retention bolts are threadably mated within the base member to engage a slot within the canister, wherein the relationship between the retention bolt and the slot is such that the retention bolt is intentionally misaligned, so that when engaged with the canister slot, the retention blot resiliently deflects and provides both an axial force and a lateral force upon a canister sleeve.

Abstract: A toolholder support member for retaining the shank of a toolholder has a bore to accept the toolholder shank. A retention member extends through the bore wall to engage a perforation extending through the shank or indentation within the shank, thereby retaining the shank within the receiving bore. The retention member is biased to provide resistance for insertion or extraction of the shank within the receiving bore. Furthermore, the retention bore is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the receiving bore so that the force required to insert the toolholder within the receiving bore is minimized, while the force required to extract the toolholder from the receiving bore is maximized.

Abstract: A coolant coupling system for coupling a toolholder to a toolholder support member, wherein the shank of the toolholder is secured within the bore of the toolholder support member with an interference fit and a coolant channel extends through the toolholder support member to the toolholder passing through the region of the interference fit to provide a high pressure seal for the coolant passageway between the toolholder and the toolholder support member.

Abstract: A clamping device used for securing a toolholder for metal working operations includes a lock rod reciprocating along a lock rod longitudinal axis to radially activate locking balls to engage perforations within the shank of a toolholder, wherein the toolholder is oriented along a toolholder axis non parallel to the locking rod longitudinal axis. Additionally, the lock rod includes a ramp which engages a bump-off pin in a direction lateral to the motion of the lock rod to provide a mechanism for ejecting the toolholder from the clamping device.

Abstract: A rotary tapered tool holder includes a body and an adapter sleeve disposed about a portion of the body. The body and the adapter sleeve have front and rear contact surfaces with different taper angles. The front contact surfaces are optimized for an interference fit and the rear contact surfaces provide an axial stop and support band when the tool holder is assembled into a clamping receptacle. Face contact is achieved between a flange contact surface of the body and a face contact surface of the clamping receptacle.

Abstract: A tool holder includes a body, a cutting head having a cutting end portion and a tapered end portion, a retention knob located at the tapered end portion of the cutting head, and a ball clamping mechanism received in an aperture of the body. The ball clamping mechanism includes an upper clamp, a lower clamp, and a double-ended clamp screw threaded onto the upper and lower clamps. Rotation of the clamp screw in a one direction causes the upper clamp and the lower clamp to move toward each other and engage the retention knob to place the tool holder in a locked position, and rotation of the clamp screw in an opposite direction causes the upper clamp and the lower clamp to move away from each other such that the upper and lower clamps no longer engage the retention knob to place the tool holder in a unlocked position.

Abstract: A rotary tapered tool holder includes a body and an adapter sleeve disposed about a portion of the body. The body and the adapter sleeve have front and rear contact surfaces with different taper angles. The front contact surfaces are optimized for an interference fit and the rear contact surfaces provide an axial stop and support band when the tool holder is assembled into a clamping receptacle. Face contact is achieved between a flange contact surface of the body and a face contact surface of the clamping receptacle.