Angular head with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool

Abstract

Angular head (1) with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool (7, 8) for material removal and for fastening to the spindle of a machine tool, wherein: it comprises a free end (3); it extends along a main extension direction (SP); it comprises a first housing (11) which is arranged in proximity of the free end (3) to rotatably and removably support a tool (7, 8); it comprises an impeller (5) which is rotatably supported by the frame (4), which is actuatable by a liquid and which is connectable to the tool (7, 8); the impeller (5) is spaced from the first housing (11) along the main extension direction (SP); it comprises motion transmission means (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33), for example a gear, for transmitting the motion from the impeller (5) to the tool (7, 8).

Description

[0001] ANGULAR HEAD WITH LIQUID ACTUATION FOR DRIVING IN ROTATION A TOOL FOR MATERIAL REMOVAL AND FOR FASTENING TO THE SPINDLE OF A MACHINE TOOL

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention falls within the technical field relating to an angular head with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool (for example a milling cutter or a drilling tool) for material removal and for fastening to the spindle of a machine tool.

[0004] DESCRIPTION OF THE KNOWN ART

[0005] An angular head with liquid actuation is known for driving in rotation a tool for material removal, wherein: it comprises a free end; it extends along a main extension direction up to the said free end; it comprises a frame; it comprises an impeller which is rotatably supported by the frame and which is actuatable by a liquid; it comprises a housing which is part of the frame and which is arranged in proximity of the free end to rotatably support the impeller and to rotatably and removably support the tool; the impeller and the tool (when arranged in the housing) are coaxial and integral with each other, so that a rotation of the impeller corresponds to a rotation of the tool.

[0006] The actuation of the impeller is for example by means of coolant liquid.

[0007] Some machining operations require that the axis of the tool be as close as possible to the free end of the angular head; however, in the design phase the distance between the axis of the tool and the free end of the angular head is limited by the radial bulk of the impeller, which instead depends on the nominal power. Therefore, only by reducing the nominal power of the angular head is it possible to reduce the radial bulk of the impeller and consequently reduce the distance between the axis of the milling cutter and the free end.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In the light of the above, the purpose of the present invention consists in overcoming the said drawback.

[0010] The aforesaid purpose is obtained by means of an angular head with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool for material removal and for fastening to the spindle of a machine tool, in accordance with claim 1 .

[0011] Advantageously, the impeller is spaced from the first housing and is connected to the tool by means of motion transmission means (for example a gear or a transmission belt). Therefore, the radial dimensions of the first housing depend only on the radial dimensions of the tool, which are generally much smaller than the radial dimensions of the impeller, so that it is possible to design an angular head with liquid actuation in which, with respect to the known art, it is possible to have a smaller distance between the axis of the tool and the free end.

[0012] As a consequence, it is also possible to reduce the axial dimensions of the first housing, which makes it possible to further reduce the portion of the angular head with liquid actuation that is at the corresponding free end.

[0013] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Specific embodiments of the invention will be described in the following of the present discussion, in accordance with what is reported in the claims and with the aid of the attached drawing tables, in which: figure 1 illustrates a rear view of an angular head with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool for material removal, object of the present invention and in accordance with a first embodiment, from which a rear cover has been removed to show a tool, a gear and an impeller; figure 2 is a view of the section ll-ll of figure 1 , in which the rear cover is also illustrated; figure 3 is a side view of the angular head with liquid actuation of figure 1 ; figure 4 is a view of the section I V-l V of figure 3; figure 5 is a rear view of an angular head with liquid actuation, also object of the present invention and in accordance with a second embodiment, from which a rear cover has been removed to show a tool, a gear and an impeller; figure 6 is a view of the section VI-VI of figure 5, in which the rear cover is also illustrated; figure 7 is a side view of the angular head with liquid actuation of figure 5; figure 8 is a view of the section VI I l-VI 11 of figure 7; figure 9 is a rear view of an angular head with liquid actuation, also object of the present invention and in accordance with a third embodiment, from which a rear cover has been removed to show a tool, a gear and an impeller; figure 10 is a view of the section X-X of figure 9, in which the rear cover is also illustrated; figure 11 is a side view of the angular head with liquid actuation of figure 9; figure 12 is a view of the section XII-XII of figure 11 ; figure 13 illustrates a machine tool which carries an angular head object of the present invention, together with a workpiece from which material must be removed.

[0015] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] With reference to the attached drawing tables, an angular head (1) with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool for material removal and for fastening to the spindle (300) of a machine tool (301), object of the present invention, has been generally indicated with (1), wherein: it comprises a first end (30) which is fastenable to the spindle (300) of a machine tool (301); it comprises a second free end (3); it extends along a main extension direction (SP), from the first end (30) (figures 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) up to the said second free end (3); it comprises a frame (4) which in turn comprises a first housing (11) (figures 2, 6, 10); the first housing (11) is arranged in proximity of the second free end (3) to rotatably and removably receive a tool (7, 8) for material removal, so that the rotation axis (AU) of the tool (7, 8) (figures 2, 3, 6, 11) results arranged at an angle with respect to the main extension direction (SP); it comprises an impeller (5) which is rotatably supported by the frame (4), which is actuatable by a liquid and which is connectable to the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11), to drive in rotation the tool (7, 8); the impeller (5) is spaced from the first housing (11) along the main extension direction (SP) (see for example figure 2); it comprises motion transmission means (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 , 32, 33) for transmitting the motion from the impeller (5) to the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11).

[0017] The frame (4) may comprise a supply duct (9) (figures 4, 8, 12) which is connected to the impeller (5), so that the pressurized liquid which passes through the supply duct (9) can actuate the impeller (5) in rotation.

[0018] Preferably, the rotation axis (AU) of the tool (7, 8) is arranged at an angle comprised between 15° and 165° with respect to the main extension direction (SP).

[0019] Even more preferably, the rotation axis (AU) of the tool (7, 8) is perpendicular to the main extension direction (SP).

[0020] The frame (4) may comprise a second housing (12) (figures 2, 6, 10) for rotatably supporting the impeller (5); the second housing (12) is preferably spaced from the first housing (11) along the main extension direction (SP).

[0021] Preferably, the rotation axis (AG) of the impeller (5) is spaced from the rotation axis (AU) of the tool (7, 8) along the main extension direction (SP).

[0022] Preferably, the motion transmission means (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 , 32, 33) comprise a gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) for connecting the impeller (5) to the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11).

[0023] The gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) comprises a first gear wheel (21) (figures 2, 6) which is integral with the impeller (5) and a second gearwheel (22) (figures 2, 5, 6) which is integral with the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11).

[0024] The first gear wheel (21) may be keyed onto the shaft of the impeller (5).

[0025] The gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) may comprise at least a third gear wheel (23) which is interposed between the first gear wheel (21) and the second gear wheel (22).

[0026] In accordance with a first embodiment illustrated in figures 1-4, the third gear wheel (23) meshes with the first gear wheel (21). Moreover, the gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) comprises: a fourth gear wheel (24) which is coaxial and integral with the third gear wheel (23); a fifth gear wheel (25) which meshes with the fourth gear wheel (24); a sixth gear wheel (26) which meshes with the fifth gear wheel (25); a seventh gear wheel (27) which meshes with the sixth gear wheel (26) and with the second gear wheel (22).

[0027] The angular head (1) with liquid actuation may comprise a rear cover (10), visible in figures 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11 , which is removable (see figures 1 , 5, 9 in which the rear cover (10) has been removed).

[0028] In accordance with a second embodiment illustrated in figures 5-9, the third gear wheel (23) meshes with the first gear wheel (21). Moreover, the gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25) comprises: a fourth gear wheel (24) which is coaxial and integral with the third gear wheel (23); and a fifth gear wheel (25) which meshes with the fourth gear wheel (24) and with the second gear wheel (22).

[0029] Advantageously, the use of the gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) makes it possible to choose, in the design phase, the value of angular speed which the tool (7, 8) must have with respect to the value of angular speed of the impeller (5).

[0030] In accordance with a third embodiment, the motion transmission means (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 , 32, 33) comprise: a first pulley (31) which is integral with the impeller (5) and a second pulley (32) which is integral with the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11); and a transmission belt (33) which winds around the first pulley (31) and the second pulley (32), so that the actuation of the impeller (5) by means of the pressurized liquid can drive in rotation the tool (7, 8).

[0031] The angular head (1) with liquid actuation may comprise a fastening member (13) which is positionable inside the first housing (11), which is removably fastenable to the tool (7, 8) and which carries the second gear wheel (22) (second embodiment, figures 5-9) or the second pulley (32) (third embodiment, figures 9-12).

[0032] The second gear wheel (22) may be made in one piece with the fastening member (13).

[0033] The second pulley (32) may be made in one piece with the fastening member (13).

[0034] It is also object of the present invention an angular head assembly (1), wherein: it comprises the angular head (1) with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool (7, 8) for material removal and for fastening to the spindle (300) of a machine tool (301), as described above with reference to the second embodiment; it comprises the tool (7, 8) for material removal; the tool (7, 8) comprises a shank (7) and a material removal portion (8); the second gear wheel (22) is made in one piece in the shank (7) of the tool (7, 8), as illustrated in figures 1-4.

[0035] Figure 13 shows a machine tool (301) which comprises a spindle (300), to which the first end (30) of the angular head (1) is fastened for removing material from a workpiece (100).

[0036] It is understood that what has been described above has been given purely by way of example and not limitation, so that possible constructional variants are to be considered as falling within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Angular head (1) with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool (7, 8) for material removal and for fastening to the spindle (300) of a machine tool (301), wherein: it comprises a first end (30) which is fastenable to the spindle (300) of a machine tool (301); it comprises a second free end (3); it extends along a main extension direction (SP), from the first end (30) up to the said second free end (3); it comprises a frame (4) which in turn comprises a first housing (11); the first housing (11) is arranged in proximity of the second free end (3) to rotatably and removably receive a tool (7, 8) for material removal, so that the rotation axis (AU) of the tool (7, 8) results arranged at an angle with respect to the main extension direction (SP); it comprises an impeller (5) which is rotatably supported by the frame (4), which is actuatable by a liquid and which is connectable to the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11), to drive in rotation the tool (7, 8); characterized in that: the impeller (5) is spaced from the first housing (11) along the main extension direction (SP); it comprises motion transmission means (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 , 32, 33) for transmitting the motion from the impeller (5) to the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11).

2. Angular head (1) with liquid actuation according to the preceding claim, wherein: the frame (4) comprises a second housing (12) for rotatably supporting the impeller (5); the second housing (12) is spaced from the first housing (11) along the main extension direction (SP).

3. Angular head (1) with liquid actuation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the motion transmission means (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 , 32, 33) comprisea gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) for connecting the impeller (5) to the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11).

4. Angular head (1) with liquid actuation according to the preceding claim, wherein the gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) comprises a first gear wheel (21) which is integral with the impeller (5) and a second gear wheel (22) which is integral with the tool (7, 8), when the tool (7, 8) is arranged in the first housing (11).

5. Angular head (1) with liquid actuation according to the preceding claim, wherein the gear (21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) comprises at least a third gear wheel (23) which is interposed between the first gearwheel (21) and the second gear wheel (22).

6. Angular head (1) with liquid actuation according to claim 4 or 5, wherein it comprises a fastening member (13) which is positionable inside the first housing (11), which is removably fastenable to the tool (7, 8) and which carries the second gear wheel (22).

7. Angular head assembly (1), wherein: it comprises an angular head (1) with liquid actuation for driving in rotation a tool (7, 8) for material removal and for fastening to the spindle (300) of a machine tool (301), according to claim 4 or 5; it comprises a tool (7, 8) for material removal which is positionable in the first housing (11); the tool (7, 8) comprises a shank (7) and a material removal portion (8); the second gear wheel (22) is made in one piece with the shank (7) of the tool (7, 8).

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