Foreign matter removal tap

Abstract

Provided is a foreign matter removal tap for removing foreign matter adhering to a female screw surface, the foreign matter removal tap comprising a taper screw section and a female screw engagement section. The taper screw section has a spiral groove portion in part or in entirety thereof.

Description

Tap for removing foreign matter

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a tap for removing foreign matter adhering to a female thread portion.

[0002] When drilling a screw hole in a metal material, a resin material, or the like, a pilot hole is drilled in the object, and then a female thread is formed using a tap. When a surface treatment such as painting is required for a metal material, painting is usually performed after the female thread is formed, and the paint adheres to the thread surface of the female thread. Furthermore, chips, powder, liquid, and the like may adhere to the female thread after the female thread is formed. Therefore, foreign matter must be removed before the female thread can be used.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for removing paint that has adhered to a female thread. The invention described in Patent Document 1 removes the paint film that has formed on the female thread by inserting a paint removal tap into the female thread while rotating it.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-44575

[0005] Foreign matter adhering to female threads has traditionally been removed by accurately inserting a foreign matter removal tap into the female thread, which is designed to mesh with the formed female thread, and cutting the foreign matter away. However, if the insertion position or angle of the foreign matter removal tap is off, the foreign matter is not sufficiently removed, preventing the female thread from fully functioning. Another problem is that the female thread may be damaged, resulting in damage to the female thread surface. Therefore, the foreign matter removal tap must be inserted accurately into the female thread, and this must be done manually by a skilled worker.

[0006] The present inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above problems and have developed a foreign body removal tap that allows for easy adjustment of the position and angle of insertion into a female thread.

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides the following [1] to

[16] . [1] A foreign matter removal tap for removing foreign matter adhering to the surface of a female thread, the foreign matter removal tap having a tapered thread portion and a female thread engagement portion, the tapered thread portion having a spiral groove in part or all of the tapered thread portion. [2] The foreign matter removal tap according to [1], wherein the tapered thread portion has a taper angle of 2 to 75 degrees. [3] The foreign matter removal tap according to [1] or [2], wherein the length in the tap central axis direction of the female thread engagement portion is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread. [4] The foreign matter removal tap according to [1] or [2], wherein the ridge diameter of the female thread engagement portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread. [5] The foreign body removal tap according to [1] or [2], which has a tip guide portion that is tapered in part or in whole, and the tapered thread portion is connected at one end to the tip guide portion and at the other end to the female thread engagement portion.

[0008] [6] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the length of the female thread engagement portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread. [7] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the thread ridge diameter of the female thread engagement portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread. [8] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], which has a tip guide portion that is tapered in part or in its entirety, and the tapered thread portion has one end connected to the tip guide portion and the other end connected to the female thread engagement portion.

[0009] [9] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the length of the female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread, and the thread ridge diameter of the female thread engaging portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread.

[10] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the length of the female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread, and the taper thread portion has a tapered tip guide portion that is partially or entirely tapered, one end of the tapered thread portion is connected to the tip guide portion and the other end of the tapered thread portion.

[11] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the thread ridge diameter of the female thread engaging portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread, and the taper thread portion has a tapered tip guide portion that is partially or entirely tapered, one end of the tapered thread portion is connected to the tip guide portion and the other end of the tapered thread portion.

[0010]

[12] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the thread diameter of the thread at the distal end of the tapered thread portion is 0.30 to 0.90 times the thread diameter of the thread at the proximal end of the tapered thread portion, the length of the female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the thread diameter of the female thread, and the thread diameter of the female thread engaging portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread.

[13] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the thread diameter of the thread at the distal end of the tapered thread portion is 0.30 to 0.90 times the thread diameter of the thread at the proximal end of the tapered thread portion, the length of the female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread, and the foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the thread diameter of the thread at the distal end of the tapered thread portion is 0.30 to 0.90 times the thread diameter of the thread at the proximal end of the tapered thread portion, the length of the female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread, and the foreign body removal tap according to [1],

[14] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the thread diameter of the thread at the distal end of the tapered thread portion is 0.30 to 0.90 times the thread diameter of the thread at the proximal end of the tapered thread portion, the thread diameter of the thread at the female thread engaging portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread, the tapered thread portion has a partially or entirely tapered tip guide portion, one end of the tapered thread portion is connected to the tip guide portion and the other end of the tapered thread portion is connected to the female thread engaging portion.

[15] The foreign body removal tap according to [1], wherein the length of the female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread, the thread diameter of the thread at the female thread engaging portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread, the tapered thread portion has a partially or entirely tapered tip guide portion, one end of the tapered thread portion is connected to the tip guide portion and the other end of the tapered thread portion is connected to the female thread engaging portion.

[0011]

[16] The thread diameter of the tip of the tapered thread portion is 0.30 to 0.90 times the thread diameter of the base end of the tapered thread portion, the length of the female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of the female thread, the thread diameter of the female thread engaging portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread, and the thread guide portion is tapered in part or in its entirety, and the tapered thread portion has one end connected to the tip guide portion and the other end connected to the female thread engaging portion.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, even if the insertion position or angle of the foreign matter removal tap is misaligned, foreign matter can be sufficiently removed and damage to the female thread can be suppressed.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a front view of a foreign matter removal tap according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the foreign matter removal tap of Fig. 1 in use. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing the foreign matter removal tap of Fig. 1 in use. Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing the foreign matter removal tap of Fig. 1 in use. Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged view showing the foreign matter removal tap of Fig. 1 in use. Fig. 6 is a front view of a foreign matter removal tap according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a front view of a foreign matter removal tap according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Hereinafter, a foreign matter removal tap according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as necessary, although the present invention is not limited to each embodiment.

[0015] (Embodiment 1) The foreign matter removal tap 1 shown in Figure 1 is a foreign matter removal tap for removing foreign matter 13 adhering to the surface of a female thread 12, and has a tapered thread portion 2 and a female thread engagement portion 3, and the tapered thread portion 2 has a spiral groove portion 5 in part or all of it.

[0016] (Tapered Thread Portion) The tapered thread portion 2 is tapered, and is formed so that the thread diameter narrows from the base end to the tip end. The tapered thread portion 2 can be, for example, a linear taper, an exponential taper, a parabolic taper, or the like. The tapered thread portion preferably has a taper angle of 2 to 75 degrees, more preferably 4 to 60 degrees, and particularly preferably 6 to 30 degrees. Because the foreign matter 13 adheres to the female thread 12, a male thread of the corresponding standard cannot be inserted, and the root diameter and surface shape are not uniform. If the taper angle of the tapered thread portion 2 is within the above range, it can be easily inserted into the female thread 12.

[0017] The thread diameter of the base end of the tapered thread portion 2 is the same as the thread diameter of the female thread engaging portion 3. The tapered thread portion 2 and the female thread engaging portion 3 are smoothly connected.

[0018] The tapered thread portion 2 has a spiral groove 5 in part or all of its length. The groove 5 can have a shape similar to that of a male thread, for example. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, if the central axis 9 of the tap 1 and the central axis 19 of the female thread 12 are misaligned, the tap 1 cannot be inserted into the female thread 12 at the correct position or angle. When the tap 1 is inserted into the female thread 12 while rotating, the groove 5 engages with the groove of the female thread 12, and the tap 1 is inserted along the groove of the female thread 12. This allows the misalignment of the insertion position and insertion angle of the tap 1 to be corrected. Furthermore, the accurate engagement of the female thread engaging portion 3 with the groove of the female thread 12 fully demonstrates its function of removing foreign matter adhering to the surface of the female thread 12, without damaging the thread surface of the female thread 12. Furthermore, when the tap 1 is inserted into the female thread 12 while rotating, the groove 5 engages with the groove of the female thread 12, allowing it to remove foreign matter adhering to the surface of the female thread 12.

[0019] The length L2 of the tapered thread portion 2 in the tap central axis direction is preferably 0.10 to 10.00, and more preferably 0.50 to 1.50, relative to the length L1 of the female thread engagement portion 3 in the tap central axis direction. If the length L2 of the tapered thread portion 2 in the tap central axis direction is within the above range, the position and angle correction function can be exhibited while ensuring the foreign matter removal ability.

[0020] The length L1 of the female thread engaging portion 3 in the tap central axis direction is preferably 0.10 to 10.00, more preferably 0.50 to 1.50, and particularly preferably 0.80 to 1.20, relative to the thread diameter A1 of the female thread engaging portion 3 of the foreign matter removal tap 1. If it is smaller than the above range, the effective engaging portion with the female thread engaging portion 3 will be insufficient, and the foreign matter removal function will not be sufficiently exhibited. On the other hand, if it is larger than the above range, the overall length of the tap 1 will be long, which will reduce the space available for use and is not preferred.

[0021] (Female Thread Engagement Portion) The female thread engagement portion 3 is a spiral groove provided to engage with the thread surface of the female thread 12. The female thread engagement portion 3 is, for example, a groove having the same shape as the surface of a tap used to tap the female thread 12, but with a smaller thread diameter.

[0022] It is preferable that a part or all of the tapered thread portion 2 has a cutting surface. It is also preferable that a part or all of the female thread engagement portion 3 has a cutting surface. As a result, when the tap 1 is inserted into the female thread 12 while rotating, foreign matter existing between the tap 1 and the female thread 12 can be cut or the like, thereby removing the foreign matter mainly by physical action. The cutting surface may have any shape that can engage with the female thread, and may be spiral, or may have the shape of a groove, blade, hole, claw, or the like.

[0023] The thread crest diameter A1 of the female thread engagement portion 3 is preferably 0.80 to 1.00, more preferably 0.85 to 1.00, even more preferably 0.90 to 1.00, and particularly preferably 1.00, relative to the root diameter A2 of the female thread 12. Because the foreign matter 13 adheres to the surface of the female thread 12, the thread crest diameter A1 of the female thread engagement portion 3 is preferably the same as or smaller than the root diameter A2 of the female thread 12. Furthermore, by setting the ratio to 0.80 or more, the female thread engagement portion 3 can be made large enough to remove foreign matter from the surface of the female thread 12. The length of the female thread engagement portion 3 in the tap central axis direction is preferably 0.10 to 10.0, more preferably 0.15 to 1.80, and particularly preferably 0.30 to 1.50, relative to the root diameter A2 of the female thread 12. By setting the length of the female thread engaging portion 3 in the tap central axis direction within the above range, the tap 1 can be made to have an appropriate size according to the female thread 12.

[0024] The foreign body removal tap 1 has a tip guide portion 4, and one end of the tapered thread portion 2 is connected to the tip guide portion 4 and the other end is connected to the female thread engagement portion 3. The tip guide portion 4 has an adjustment portion 4A, a guide portion 4B, and a gap portion 4C. The provision of the tip guide portion 4 allows the tap 1 to be smoothly inserted into the female thread.

[0025] Second Embodiment A foreign substance removal tap 101 does not have the guide portion 4B, which simplifies the tap structure while still ensuring sufficient correction of the tap insertion position and insertion angle.

[0026] (Embodiment 3) A foreign substance removal tap 201 does not have a tip guide portion 4. This simplifies the structure of the tap while still ensuring sufficient correction of the insertion position and insertion angle of the tap.

[0027] The workpiece 11 is provided with the female thread 12. The foreign matter 13 is, for example, metal pieces, metal sludge, resin pieces, resin sludge, paint film, liquid, etc., and may adhere to the surface of the workpiece 11 other than the female thread 12.

[0028] According to the present invention, even if the insertion position or angle of the foreign matter removal tap is misaligned, foreign matter can be sufficiently removed and damage to the female thread can be suppressed, making it industrially useful.

[0029] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Foreign body removal tap, 2 Tapered thread portion, 3 Female thread engagement portion, 4 Tip guide portion, 9 Tap center axis, 11 Workpiece, 12 Female thread, 13 Foreign body, 19 Female thread center axis, 101 Foreign body removal tap, 201 Foreign body removal tap

Claims

1. A foreign matter removal tap for removing foreign matter adhering to the surface of a female thread, the foreign matter removal tap having a tapered thread portion and a female thread engagement portion, the tapered thread portion having a spiral groove portion in part or all of it.

2. The foreign body removal tap according to claim 1, wherein the tapered thread portion has a taper angle of 2 to 75 degrees.

3. The foreign matter removal tap according to claim 1, wherein the tapered thread portion has a taper angle of 6 to 30 degrees.

4. A foreign matter removal tap as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the length of said female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.10 to 10.0 times the root diameter of said female thread.

5. A foreign matter removal tap as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the length of said female thread engaging portion in the tap central axis direction is 0.30 to 1.50 times the root diameter of said female thread.

6. A foreign matter removal tap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thread ridge diameter of the female thread engagement portion is 0.80 to 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread.

7. A foreign matter removal tap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thread ridge diameter of said female thread engagement portion is 0.90 to 1.00 times the root diameter of said female thread.

8. A foreign matter removal tap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thread ridge diameter of the female thread engagement portion is 1.00 times the root diameter of the female thread.

9. A foreign matter removal tap according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tapered thread portion has a thread formed by the groove portion located toward the tip of the tap, and the cross-sectional shape in a direction parallel to the central axis of the tap is approximately triangular.

10. A foreign matter removal tap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the thread formed by the groove portion located toward the tip of the tap, in a direction parallel to the central axis of the tap, is approximately the same as the cross-sectional shape of the thread provided in the female thread engagement portion, in a direction parallel to the central axis of the tap.

11. A foreign body removal tap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, having a tip guide portion which is tapered in part or in whole, said tapered thread portion having one end connected to said tip guide portion and the other end connected to said female thread engagement portion.

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