Retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block

Abstract

An improved retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block rigidly attached to an outer surface of a carrier. The retaining system includes a first groove formed in an outer surface of a shank portion of the cutting tool in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shank portion. There is a second groove formed in a surface of a bore formed through an axis of the support block for receiving the shank portion of the cutting tool and formed generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of such carrier. The first groove is radially opposed to the a second groove when the shank portion is inserted into the bore of the support block. The final essential element of the retaining system is a pin member engageable with each of the first groove and the second groove for securing the cutting tool to the support block.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/733,607 filed on Dec. 11, 2003, to co-pending U.S. Ser. No. ______ entitled “CUTTING TOOL”, filed concurrently herewith. These applications being assigned to the assignee of the present invention and the disclosures of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to cutting tools and, more particularly, this invention relates to an improved retaining system for retaining such cutting tools in their support blocks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, cutting tool assemblies have been in widespread use. These cutting tool assemblies are used, typically, in mining, in the surface milling of roads and for clearing debris from undeveloped land. The cutting tool usually carries a hardened work tip for increased tool life and is rotatably mounted into a support block. The support blocks are either bolted or welded onto a drum or other carrier, which in turn is rotatably driven to engage the cutting tools forcibly into whatever material is chosen to be addressed by the machinery.

Each cutting tool is generally secured within the support block with at least one retaining pin engaging complimentary and radially opposed grooves formed in a bore of the support block and in the shank portion of the cutting tool. The axis of the complimentary grooves are disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bore and the shank of the cutting tool. Additionally, such axis are generally parallel to a rotational axis of the drum or other carrier.

To increase performance, it is desirable to have the aforementioned drum equipped with a large quantity of cutting tools disposed in close proximity to each other thus limiting the lateral space between adjacent support blocks. A problem in increasing the quantity of cutting tools is that the resulting limited lateral space between adjacent support blocks increases the difficulty and the effort of removing and replacing retaining pins in order to replace the cutting tool which is, as is generally well known, subject to substantial wear during use.

Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved retaining system for securing a cutting tool within the support block.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block which is rigidly attached to an outer surface of a carrier normally having a rotational axis. The retaining system includes a first groove, having a first predetermined shape, formed in an outer surface of a shank portion of such cutting tool. The first groove is formed in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shank portion. There is a second groove, having a second predetermined shape, formed in a surface of a bore formed through an axis of the support block for receiving therein such shank portion of the cutting tool. The second groove formed in the outer surface of such shank portion of the cutting tool is radially opposed to the first groove formed in the surface of such bore formed through the axis of the support block when such shank portion is inserted into the bore of the support block. The second groove has a longitudinal axis aligned substantially perpendicular to such rotational axis of the carrier. The final essential element of the retaining system is a pin member engageable with each of such first groove formed in the outer surface of such shank portion of the cutting tool and the second groove formed in such surface of the bore formed through the axis of the support block for securing the cutting tool to the support block. The alignment of the second groove enables ease of installing and removing the pin member in applications wherein the support blocks are disposed in close lateral proximity to each other and further facilitates use of simple power tools.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an improved retaining system for affixing a cutting tool to a support block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block that allows reduced lateral spacing between adjacent support blocks.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block that allows easy replacement of the cutting tool.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block that allows use of simple power tools to replace the cutting tool within the support block.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block that is easy to manufacture.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block that is easily adaptable to prior art type cutting tools.

In addition to the numerous objects and advantages of the present invention listed above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art from a reading of the detailed description section of this document. The other objects and advantages will become particularly apparent when the detailed description is considered along with the attached drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side view of a cutting tool mounted in a support block in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cutting tool according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a support block in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a support block of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a pin member as used in a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the pin member shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a prior art type cutting tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to a much more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing Figures for the sake of clarity and understanding of the invention.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4, illustrated therein is a retaining system, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, for securing a cutting tool, generally designated 20, to a support block, generally designated 30. The support block 30 has a surface portion 14 for rigid attachment to an outer surface 4 of a rotating drum 2 which has a rotational axis 6, best shown in FIG. 4. The support block 30 is further provided with at least one grove 16a with a longitudinal axis 17a formed at least partially in a surface of a bore 18 which is formed through an axis of the support block 30. The presently preferred shape of such at least one groove 16a is round. In the presently preferred embodiment, the longitudinal axis 17a of the at least one groove 16a is aligned generally perpendicular to the outer surface 4 and rotational axis 6 of the drum 2. Preferably, a second groove 16b with a longitudinal axis 17b is formed at least partially in such surface of the bore 18 opposite the first groove 16b. It is further presently preferred that such axis 17a and 17b are continuously divergent from each other in a downwardly direction. Grooves 16a and 16b correspond respectively with a first aperture 19a and a second aperture 19b formed on an outer surface of the support block 30 adjacent the bore 18 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The cutting tool 20 has at least one groove 22 having a predetermined shape, formed in an outer surface of a shank portion 24, groove 22 being formed in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shank 24. Preferably, such predetermined shape of the at least one groove 22 is oblong.

When the shank portion 24 is inserted into the bore 18, and the first ledge 28 abuts a face of the support block 30, the groove 22 is radially opposed to the grooves 16a and 16b and complimentarily aligned therewith.

To securely retain the cutting tool 20 within the support block 12, at least one pin member 8, being preferably a pair of pin members 8, are inserted into apertures 19a and 19b and are engageable with groove 22 of shank portion 24 of cutting tool 20 and grooves 16a and 16b formed in surface of the bore 18. Once the pin members 8 are fully inserted into apertures 19a and 19b, through grooves 16a and 16b respectively, and while the shank portion 24 is fully inserted into support block 30, the presence of pin members 8 prevents shank portion 24 from being removed from the bore 18 of the support block 30.

It will be appreciated that an alignment of grooves 16a and 16b, wherein their longitudinal axis 17a and 17b respectively are disposed generally perpendicular to the rotating axis 6 of the drum 2 offers ease of installing and removing pin members 8 in applications wherein the support blocks 30 are disposed in close lateral proximity to each other as generally vertical disposition of apertures 19a and 19b enables unobstructed access to the pin members 8 and facilitates use of simple power tools.

The pin members 8 are formed of at least one of metal, plastic, ceramic or various combinations thereof. More particularly, metal and preferably rolled spring steel pin members 8 are used in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. Such pin members 8 are slightly compressed when inserted through apertures 19a and 19b and tend to grip the surface of grooves 16a and 16b thereby frictionally securing the retaining pin members 8 within such grooves 16a and 16b. Accordingly, the size of the apertures 19a and 19b and diameter of the grooves 16a and 16b will be slightly less than identical to the diameter of the pin member 8.

It will be appreciated that pin members 8 manufactured from a rolled spring steel offer increased strength and reduction in cost.

Advantageously, groove 22 of shank portion 24 is formed slightly larger than pin members 8 so that the expanded size of pin members 8, although limited in expansion by the slightly smaller size of grooves 16a and 16b, and thereby smaller than the diameter or groove 22, shank portion 24 is allowed to laterally rotate within the bore 18 of support block 30. Such rotation allows for more even wear of the work tip 21 of the cutting tool 20.

As best shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, the shank portion 24 may further include a second circumferential groove 26 formed closely adjacent an end of shank portion 24 and axially disposed from the groove 22 for receiving a washer like member 7 to further retain the cutting tool 20 in such support block 30.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the groove 22 of the shank portion 24 may be formed less than a complete circumference of the shank portion 24 or just a partial circumference to allow rotation in both directions but not a complete lateral rotation in one direction or the other.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of a cutting tool 20 having the first ledge 28, the second circumferential groove 26 and a second ledge 32, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be applied to other types of cutting tools which have a shank portion 24 of a uniform diameter having the work tip 21 disposed at one end.

Furthermore, different types of pin members 8, for example, spiral or solid type pin members may be utilized for retaining such cutting tool within the support block.

While the present invention has been described by way of a detailed description of a particularly preferred embodiment or embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various substitutions of equivalents may be affected without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A retaining system for securing a cutting tool to a support block rigidly attached to an outer surface of a rotating carrier having a rotational axis, said retaining system comprising:

(a) a first groove, having a first predetermined shape, formed in an outer surface of a shank portion of said cutting tool intermediate each end thereof, said first groove being formed in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said shank portion;

(b) a second groove, having a second predetermined shape, formed in a surface of a bore formed through an axis of said support block for receiving therein said shank portion of said cutting tool, said first groove formed in said outer surface of said shank portion of said cutting tool being substantially radially opposed to said second groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through said axis of said support block when said shank portion is inserted into said bore of said support block, said second groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through an axis of said support block has a longitudinal axis aligned generally perpendicular to each of said outer surface and said rotational axis of said carrier; and

(c) a pin member engageable with each of said first groove formed in said outer surface of said shank portion of said cutting tool and said second groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through said axis of said support block for securing said cutting tool to said support block.

2. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said shank portion further includes a circumferential groove formed in said outer surface thereof closely adjacent an end of said shank portion for receiving a washer like member therein to provide additional retention of said cutting tool in said support block.

3. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said shank portion includes at least two grooves formed in said outer surface thereof, said at least two grooves being formed in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said shank portion.

4. The retaining system, according to claim 3, wherein said at least two grooves are formed substantially radially opposed to each other.

5. The retaining system, according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined shape of each of said at least two grooves formed substantially radially opposed to each other is generally oblong.

6. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said first groove formed in said shank portion is formed as a circumferential groove thereby enabling rotation of said cutting tool in said support block.

7. The retaining system, according to claim 6, wherein said circumferential groove formed in said outer surface of said shank portion has a generally oblong shape.

8. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said second groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through said axis of said support block is formed as part of at least one aperture through said support block adjacent said bore formed through said axis of said support block.

9. The retaining system, according to claim 8, wherein said second groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through said axis of said support block has a substantially round shape.

10. The retaining system, according to claim 8, wherein said at least one aperture formed in said support block has a size slightly less than identical to a size of said at least one pin member while enabling passage thereof into and from said second groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through said axis of said support block.

11. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said pin member is formed from at least one of metal, plastic, ceramic and various combinations thereof.

12. The retaining system, according to claim 11, wherein said pin member is formed of metal.

13. The retaining system, according to claim 12, wherein said pin member is formed from rolled spring steel.

14. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said pin member has a substantially round shape.

15. The retaining system, according to claim 14, wherein said pin member has a slightly larger diameter as said at least one groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through said axis of said support block, whereby said pin member grips a surface of said second groove formed in said surface of said bore formed through said axis of said support block for frictional retention therein.

16. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said retaining system further includes at least one ledge portion formed on an outer surface of said shank portion.

17. The retaining system, according to claim 1, wherein said retaining system further includes a pair of ledge portions formed on an outer surface of said shank portion.

18. The retaining system, according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said pair of ledge portions formed on said outer surface of said shank portion is disposed substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said shank portion.