Modular
cutting tool (10), comprising: a
cutting head (12), comprising: a
cutting section (18) which is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis (15); and a cylindrical skirt (20) extending axially from the cutting section (18) and terminating at a contact surface (22) arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (15), the skirt (20) having a number of curved inner surfaces (32) which generally define a bore (34) arranged about the longitudinal axis (15); and a shaft (14), comprising: a cylindrical section (14A) with a first
diameter arranged around the longitudinal axis (15); and a
central projection (40) arranged in the bore (34) of the cutting section (18), the
central projection (40) having a second
diameter smaller than the first
diameter and extending longitudinally from a contact surface (42) arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (15) at a front end of the cylindrical section (14A); and a mechanism (60) that assists in mounting and locks the cutting head (12) onto the shaft (14), the mechanism (60) comprises: a first locking drive stone (100); a second locking drive stone (200); and a
differential screw element (66) arranged within the transverse bore (48) and comprising a first threaded section (68) arranged at or around a first end (66A) and a second threaded section (70) arranged at or around a second end (66B) opposite the first end (66A), wherein the first threaded section (68) includes a first plurality of threads arranged in a first direction, and the second threaded section (70) includes a second plurality of threads arranged in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. wherein the first locking drive stone (100) and the second locking drive stone (200) each comprise: a main body section (102, 202) which generally fits into a corresponding first niche (44) or second niche (46), wherein the main body section (102, 202) has: an interior surface (104, 204) that points towards the longitudinal axis (15); an outer surface (106, 206) which is arranged opposite the inner surface (104, 204); a front side surface (108, 208) extending between the inner surface (104, 204) and the outer surface (106, 206) on a front face of the main body section (102, 202) when the shaft (14) is rotated about the longitudinal axis (15) in a cutting direction; and a rear side surface (110, 210) extending between the inner surface (104, 204) and the outer surface (106, 206) on a rear side of the main body section (102, 202) when the shaft (14) is rotated about the longitudinal axis (15) in the cutting direction; a
central projection (112, 212) extending radially inwards from the inner surface (104, 204) of the main body section (102, 202) to the longitudinal axis (15); and a
lateral projection (114, 214) which generally extends tangentially with respect to a reference circle centered on the longitudinal axis (15) from the rear side surface (110, 210) of the main body section (102, 202) or on an upper section (102A, 202A) of the main body section (102, 202), wherein the upper section (102A, 202A) of each main body section (102, 202) of each locking drive stone (100, 200) is arranged in one of the respective cutout areas (36) of the skirt (20) of the
cutting tool (10), wherein the
lateral projection (114, 214) of each locking driver stone (100, 200) is arranged in an axially overlapping position with respect to the longitudinal axis (15) with respect to the section (38) of the skirt (20), wherein the first locking driver stone (100) further includes a threaded opening (116) defined by the main body section (102) and the central projection (112) thereof, which engages in threaded engagement with the first threaded section (68) of the
differential screw element (66), wherein the second locking drive stone (200) further includes a threaded opening (216) defined by the main body section (202) and the central projection (212) thereof, which engages in threaded engagement with the second threaded section (70) of the
differential screw element (66), and wherein the differential screw element (66) further includes a feature (72) formed in one or both of the first end (66A) or the second end (66B) thereof, which is structured to engage with a suitably designed tool for rotating the differential screw element (66) about a central longitudinal axis (15) thereof.