Clamping assembly, tool holder assembly and method of replacing tool holder

Abstract

The invention discloses a clamping assembly, a tool rack assembly and a method for replacing a tool rack. The clamp assembly includes: a base member having an inner bore; a lock lever within the inner bore of the base member and movable in a forward direction and a rearward direction between an unlocked position and a locked position; a crank wheel having an axis of rotation; and a connecting rod coupled to the lock bar and coupled to the crank wheel at a position radially offset from the rotational axis of the crank wheel.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the application date of August 18, 2020, application number 202010829865.4, and invention name "Clamping assembly, tool rack assembly and method for replacing tool rack". Technical Field

[0002] The present invention is described in connection with a clamping assembly, a tool holder assembly including a clamping assembly and a removable tool holder, and a method of replacing a tool holder in a tool holder assembly. Background Art

[0003] Typically, metalworking operations are performed using a cutting insert of cemented carbide, ceramic, or cermet. This insert is mounted to a tool holder. Since the cutting insert operates under extreme conditions, the cutting insert must be replaced periodically. To do this, the cutting insert must be removed from the tool holder. The economics of metalworking operations make it inefficient to shut down the machine for the length of time required to replace the cutting insert on the tool holder. It is more desirable to utilize a clamping assembly with a removable tool holder so that the entire tool holder with the cutting insert attached can be removed and replaced with another tool holder with a new cutting insert already in place on the tool holder.

[0004] With this in mind, the focus on efficiency then turns to the ease and speed with which tool holders can be replaced. This has been one of the motivating factors for the creation of different commercial designs for rapid replacement of tool holder assemblies.

[0005] Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue to conduct research and development in the field of tool rack assemblies. Summary of the invention

[0006] In one embodiment, a clamping assembly includes: a base member having an inner hole; a locking rod within the inner hole of the base member and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a crank wheel having a rotational axis; and a connecting rod connected to the locking rod and connected to the crank wheel at a position radially offset from the rotational axis of the crank wheel.

[0007] In another embodiment, a tool holder assembly includes a clamping assembly and a tool holder. The clamping assembly includes: a base member having an inner bore; a locking rod within the inner bore of the base member and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a crank wheel having an axis of rotation; and a connecting rod coupled to the locking rod and coupled to the crank wheel at a position radially offset from the axis of rotation of the crank wheel. The tool holder has a handle configured to be received within the inner bore of the base member.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, a method of replacing a tool holder in a tool holder assembly includes: rotating a crank wheel in a first direction to release a first tool holder from a clamping assembly; removing the first tool holder from the clamping assembly; inserting a second tool holder into the clamping assembly; and rotating the crank wheel in a second direction to clamp the second tool holder in the clamping assembly. The clamping assembly includes: a base member having an inner bore; a locking rod within the inner bore of the base member and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a crank wheel having an axis of rotation; and a connecting rod coupled to the locking rod and coupled to the crank wheel at a position radially offset from the axis of rotation of the crank wheel. The tool holder has a shank configured to be received within the inner bore of the base member.

[0009] Other embodiments of the disclosed clamping assembly, tool holder assembly, and method of replacing a tool holder in a tool holder assembly will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary tool holder assembly according to the present invention, the tool holder assembly including a clamping assembly and a tool holder.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a tool holder assembly, the clamping assembly includes a locking rod, a crank wheel and a connecting rod.

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A front view of a tool holder assembly.

[0013] Figure 4 It is taken along line 4-4 Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly.

[0014] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A side view of a tool holder assembly.

[0015] Figure 6 It was taken along line 6-6 Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly.

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a tool holder assembly having a handle of a tool holder received in a clamping assembly.

[0017] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A front view of a tool holder assembly.

[0018] Fig. 9 Taken along line 9-9 in the loosened position Figure 8A cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly.

[0019] Fig.10 is taken along line 10-10 in the clamped position Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly.

[0020] Fig.11 yes Figure 7 A side view of a tool holder assembly.

[0021] Fig.12 It is taken along line 12-12 Fig.11 A cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly with the clamping assembly in a released position.

[0022] Fig.13 It is taken along line 13-13 Fig.11 A cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly with the clamping assembly in a clamping position.

[0023] Fig.14 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the locking rod, crank wheel and connecting rod of FIG. 1 , with the clamping assembly in the released position.

[0024] Fig.15 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the locking rod, crank wheel and connecting rod of FIG. 1 , wherein the clamping assembly is in the clamping position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The tool rack assembly described in the present invention comprises a clamping assembly and a tool rack.

[0026] The clamp assembly may include: a base member having an inner hole; a locking rod within the inner hole of the base member and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a crank wheel having an axis of rotation; and a connecting rod coupled to the locking rod and coupled to the crank wheel at a position radially offset from the axis of rotation of the crank wheel. With this arrangement, rotation of the crank wheel drives linear movement of the locking rod between the unlocked position and the locked position.

[0027] The connecting rod may be rotationally coupled to the locking rod via a pin joint. The pin joint may include a pin rotationally coupled in a bearing in one of the connecting rod and the locking rod. The pin may be rotationally coupled in a bearing in the other of the connecting rod and the locking rod, or the pin may be fixedly coupled to the other of the connecting rod and the locking rod.

[0028] The connecting rod may be rotationally coupled to the crank wheel via a pin joint. The pin joint may include a pin rotationally coupled in a bearing in one of the connecting rod and the crank wheel. The pin may be rotationally coupled in a bearing in the other of the connecting rod and the crank wheel, or the pin may be fixedly coupled to the other of the connecting rod and the crank wheel.

[0029] The tool holder may have a shank configured to be received within the inner bore of the base member.The tool holder may include a cutting insert.

[0030] The method for replacing a tool rack in a tool rack assembly described in the present invention may include: rotating a crank wheel in a first direction to release a first tool rack from a clamping assembly; removing the first tool rack from the clamping assembly; inserting a second tool rack into the clamping assembly; and rotating the crank wheel in a second direction to clamp the second tool rack in the clamping assembly.

[0031] Figures 1 to 15 A tool rack assembly 10 is described in relation to an example according to the present invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tool holder assembly 10 . Figure 2 yes Figure 1 FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the tool rack assembly 10 . Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A front view of the tool holder assembly 10 is shown. Figure 4 It is taken along line 4-4 Figure 3 sectional view of the tool holder assembly 10. Figure 5 yes Figure 1 10 is a side view of the tool holder assembly 10. Figure 6 It was taken along line 6-6 Figure 5 sectional view of the tool holder assembly 10. Figure 7 yes Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a tool holder assembly 10 having a handle of a tool holder received in a clamping assembly. Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A front view of the tool holder assembly 10 is shown. Fig. 9 Taken along line 9-9 in the loosened position Figure 8 sectional view of the tool holder assembly 10. Fig.10 is taken along line 10-10 in the clamped position Figure 8 sectional view of the tool holder assembly 10. Fig.11 yes Figure 7 10 is a side view of the tool holder assembly 10. Fig.12 It is taken along line 12-12 Fig.11 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly 10 with the clamping assembly in a released position. Fig.13 It is taken along line 13-13 Fig.11 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tool holder assembly 10 with the clamping assembly in a clamping position. Fig.14 is a perspective view of the locking lever 300, crank wheel 400 and connecting rod 500, wherein the clamping assembly 20 is in the released position. Fig.15 is a perspective view of the locking lever 300, the crank wheel 400 and the connecting rod 500, wherein the clamping assembly 20 is in the clamping position.

[0032] like Figure 1 , 3 , 4, 5 and 6, the tool holder assembly 10 includes a clamping assembly 20 and a tool holder 100. The clamping assembly 20 and the tool holder 100 are positioned about a longitudinal axis 12. The tool holder 100 is positioned in a forward direction 14 from the clamping assembly 20 relative to the longitudinal axis 12, and thus, the clamping assembly 20 is positioned in a rearward direction 16 from the tool holder 100 relative to the longitudinal axis 12. This longitudinal axis 12, the forward direction 14 and the rearward direction 16 will be used as reference in this specification.

[0033] The tool holder 100 has a front end 102 and a rear end 106 opposite the front end 102, on which a cutting insert 104 or another tool is mounted. The cutting insert 104 is spaced apart from the tool holder 100 by a spacer 108, and both the cutting insert 104 and the spacer 108 are secured to the tool holder by a clamp 110, which is secured to the tool holder by screws 112. The tool holder 100 is a typical tool holder for non-rotating tools such as lathes. However, it should be understood that the tool holder may have been attached to any of a variety of tools that may be associated with rotating or non-rotating applications.

[0034] The rear end 106 of the tool holder 100 has a rearwardly facing abutment surface 114 and a shank portion 116 having a shank wall 118 extending rearwardly from the rearwardly facing abutment surface 114 and defining a shank aperture 120. The shank portion 116 has a frustoconical shape that tapers inwardly as it extends rearwardly. The shank wall 118 has an alignment slot 122 for aligning the tool holder 100 within the clamping assembly 20, and the shank wall 118 has one or more locking apertures 124. Reference Figure 6 , one or more locking apertures 124 have an inclined inner surface 126 that tapers outwardly as it extends forwardly.

[0035] like Figure 1 , 2 , 3, 4 and 6, the clamp assembly 20 includes: a base member 200 having an inner bore 202; a locking rod 300, which is within the inner bore 202 of the base member 200 and is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a crank wheel 400 having an axis of rotation 402; and a connecting rod 500, which is coupled to the locking rod 300 and is coupled to the crank wheel 400 at a position radially offset from the axis of rotation 402 of the crank wheel 400. With this arrangement, the rotation of the crank wheel 400 drives the movement of the locking rod 300 between the unlocked position and the locked position by means of the coupling of the connecting rod 500 between the crank wheel 400 and the locking rod 300.

[0036] In one aspect, the locking bar 300 is movable in a non-rotational direction between a locked position and an unlocked position. As illustrated, the locking bar 300 is movable to the unlocked position in the forward direction 14 and to the locked position in the rearward direction 16. In an alternative, the locking bar 300 is movable to the locked position in the forward direction 14 and to the unlocked position in the rearward direction 16. With these arrangements, rotation of the crank wheel 400 drives the movement of the locking bar 300 between the forward direction 14 and the rearward direction 16. In another alternative, the locking bar 300 is movable in a non-linear direction between the locked position and the unlocked position, such that the locking bar 300 moves along a curved axis.

[0037] like Figure 1 , 4 6, the base member 200 includes a flange 204 for abutting the rearwardly facing abutment surface 114 of the tool holder 100. The flange 204 defines an opening to an inner bore 202 having a bore wall 206 that is sized to receive the shank 116 of the tool holder 100.

[0038] like Figure 2 , 4 6, the base member 200 further includes a can 208 that is sized to be received within the handle aperture 120 of the tool holder 100. As illustrated, the can 208 is a separate component from the flange 204 of the base member 200. Alternatively, the can 208 can be integrated with the flange 204 of the base member 200. The can 208 includes a can wall 210 that defines a can aperture 212 that is sized to receive a locking rod 300 and one or more locking members 302 therein. As illustrated, the locking rod 300 moves within the can aperture 212 of the can 208, which is within the inner aperture 202 of the base member 200. The can wall 210 further defines one or more locking passages 214 and an access aperture 216. The handle wall 118 is sized to be received within the space defined between the aperture wall 206 and the can 208. When the handle 116 of the tool holder 100 is aligned within the base member 200 , the one or more locking apertures 124 of the tool holder 100 are aligned with the one or more locking passages 214 and the one or more locking members 302 of the tank wall 210 .

[0039] like Figure 2 , 4 As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the locking bar 300 has a front end 304 and a rear end 306. One or more recesses 308 and one or more inclined surfaces 310 are between the front end 304 and the rear end 306 of the locking bar 300, which, when in the unlocked position, align with one or more locking passages 214 of the tank wall 210. The locking bar 300 is movable in the forward and rearward directions within the tank aperture 212 between the unlocked position and the locked position.

[0040] refer to Fig. 9 and 10 When the locking bar 300 is positioned in the rearward direction, the one or more locking members 302 positioned within the one or more locking passages 214 of the canister 208 are pushed radially outward by the one or more inclined surfaces 310 of the locking bar 300. Thus, the one or more locking members 302 move radially outward through the one or more locking passages 214 by the one or more inclined surfaces 310 of the locking bar 300 and engage the inclined inner surfaces 126 of the one or more locking apertures 124. As the one or more locking members 302 travel radially outward through the one or more locking passages 214, the one or more locking members engage the inclined inner surfaces 126 of the one or more locking apertures 124 in the handle wall 118, and the one or more locking members 302 become wedged in the one or more locking apertures, and thus, the tool holder 100 is clamped in place. When the tool holder 100 is clamped within the base member 200, the wedging action generates a high friction force, thereby holding the tool holder 100 within the base member 200.

[0041] When the locking bar 300 is moved in the forward direction to the unlocked position, the one or more locking members 302 travel radially inward through the one or more locking passages 214 to the one or more recesses 308. As a result, the one or more locking members 302 disengage from the inclined inner surface 126 of the one or more locking apertures 124 in the handle wall 118, thereby causing the tool holder 100 to be released. In this configuration, the handle 116 of the tool holder 100 can be removed from the base member 200, and a new tool holder 100 can be inserted into the inner hole 202 of the base member 200, thereby enabling rapid replacement of the tool holder 100.

[0042] In the illustrated example, movement of the locking bar 300 in the rearward direction clamps the tool rack 100 within the base member 200, and movement of the locking bar 300 in the forward direction releases the tool rack from the base member 200. However, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), movement of the locking bar 300 in the forward direction may clamp the tool rack 100 within the base member 200, and movement of the locking bar 300 in the rearward direction may release the tool rack 100 from the base member 200.

[0043] The focus of the present description is on the mechanism for moving the locking bar 300 in the forward and rearward directions. Although the tool rack 100, base member 200 and locking bar 300 described above are a typical arrangement of a tool rack assembly, the mechanism described in the present description can be used to move the locking bar of alternative tool rack assembly arrangements other than the tool rack assembly 10 illustrated and described above.

[0044] refer to Figures 12 to 15, the crank wheel 400 is rotatable about the rotation axis 402, and the connecting rod 500 is coupled to the locking rod 300 and is coupled to the crank wheel 400 at a position radially offset from the rotation axis 402 of the crank wheel 400. Therefore, the connecting rod 500 acts as a connecting rod between the rotating crank wheel 400 and the sliding locking rod 300, and the connecting rod converts the rotational movement of the crank wheel 400 into a reciprocating forward and backward movement of the locking rod 300, so that the locking rod moves between the unlocking position and the locking position.

[0045] like Figures 14 to 15 As best shown in FIG. 1 , to facilitate rotation, the crank wheel 400 may have a torque receiving feature 404, such as the illustrated hexagonal feature 406 for receiving a hexagonal key. To limit rotation, the crank wheel 400 may have a rotation limiting feature 408, such as a semi-annular groove 410, such as Figure 2 As best illustrated in FIG. 4 , the semi-annular groove engages with the stop pin 412 to limit the rotation of the crank wheel 400. For example, the stop pin 412 can limit the rotation of about 0 degrees to about 300 degrees, preferably about 0 degrees to about 200 degrees.

[0046] refer to Figures 12 to 15 , the connecting rod 500 may be rotationally coupled to the locking bar 300 in any manner. In the illustrated example, the connecting rod 500 is rotationally coupled to the locking bar 300 via a first pin joint 510. As shown, the first pin joint 510 includes a first pin 512 rotationally coupled within a first bearing 514 within the locking bar 300 and within a second bearing 516 within the connecting rod 500. Alternatively, the first pin 512 may be rotationally coupled within bearings 514, 516 within one of the connecting rod 500 and the locking bar 300, and the first pin 512 may be fixedly coupled to the other of the connecting rod 500 and the locking bar 300.

[0047] Similarly, the connecting rod 500 may be rotationally coupled to the crank wheel 400 in any manner at a position radially offset from the rotation axis 402 of the crank wheel 400. In the illustrated example, the connecting rod 500 is rotationally coupled to the crank wheel 400 via a second pin joint 520. As shown, the second pin joint 520 includes a second pin 522 rotationally coupled within a third bearing 524 within the crank wheel 400 and within a fourth bearing 526 within the connecting rod 500. Alternatively, the second pin 522 may be rotationally coupled within bearings 524, 526 within one of the connecting rod 500 and the crank wheel 400, and the second pin 522 may be fixedly coupled to the other of the connecting rod 500 and the crank wheel 400.

[0048] Therefore, the connecting rod 500, which is rotationally coupled between the locking rod 300 and the crank wheel 400 at a position radially offset from the rotation axis 402, moves within the clamping assembly 20 to achieve conversion of the rotational movement of the crank wheel 400 into reciprocating forward and backward motion of the locking rod 300. In the illustrated example, the first pin joint 510 and the second pin joint 520 achieve the rotational coupling of the connecting rod 500 between the locking rod 300 and the crank wheel 400.

[0049] In the illustrated example, the second bearing 516 in the connecting rod 500 and the fourth bearing 526 in the connecting rod 500 are shown as blind holes. In an alternative, the second bearing 516 and the fourth bearing 526 may take the form of through holes in the connecting rod 500.

[0050] In the illustrated example, connecting rod 500 is shown as a single body coupled to locking bar 300 and to crank wheel 400. In the alternative, connecting rod 500 may include multiple parts.

[0051] Although various embodiments of the disclosed clamping assembly, tool holder assembly, and method of replacing a tool holder in a tool holder assembly have been shown and described, modifications may occur to one skilled in the art after reading this specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A clamping assembly, comprising: a base member having an inner bore; a locking bar within the inner bore of the base member and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a crank wheel having an axis of rotation; as well as A connecting rod is fixedly coupled to the locking rod by a pin joint and rotationally coupled to the crank wheel at a position radially offset from the rotational axis of the crank wheel.

2. The clamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the pin joint comprises a pin rotationally coupled within a bearing within the connecting rod.

3. The clamping assembly of claim 2, wherein the bearing is a blind hole.

4. The clamping assembly of claim 2, wherein the bearing is a through hole.

5. The clamp assembly of claim 2, wherein the pin is fixedly coupled to the locking bar.

6. The clamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting rod is rotationally coupled to the crank wheel via a pin joint.

7. The clamp assembly of claim 6, wherein the pin joint comprises a pin rotationally coupled within a bearing within one of the connecting rod and the crank wheel.

8. The clamping assembly of claim 7, wherein the bearing is a blind hole.

9. The clamp assembly of claim 7, wherein the bearing is a through hole.

10. The clamp assembly of claim 7, wherein the pin is rotationally coupled within a bearing within the other of the connecting rod and the crank wheel.

11. The clamp assembly of claim 7, wherein the pin is fixedly coupled to the other of the connecting rod and the crank wheel.

12. The clamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a can positioned within the inner bore of the base member, wherein the locking rod is positioned within a can bore of the can.

13. A tool rack assembly comprising: The clamping assembly according to claim 1; as well as A tool holder has a handle configured to be received within the inner bore of the base member.

14. The tool holder assembly of claim 13, wherein the tool holder includes a cutting insert.

15. A method for replacing a tool holder in a tool holder assembly according to claim 13, the method comprising: rotating the crank wheel in a first direction to release the first tool holder from the clamping assembly; removing the first tool holder from the clamping assembly; inserting a second tool holder into the clamping assembly; as well as The crank wheel is rotated in a second direction to clamp the second tool holder in the clamping assembly.

Images