Adjustable Tool Holder With Eccentric Sleeve for Balanced Diameter Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tool holders for rotating material removal tools are expensive to manufacture and complicated to handle due to the large number of components that move relative to each other.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable tool holder with a body portion, inner sleeve, and slider, featuring eccentrically positioned guide elements allowing linear movement in perpendicular directions, minimizing imbalance and simplifying handling through a simplified design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing tool holders use multiple moving components to enable adjustment, then the adjustability is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases and handling becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidnumber of moving components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple adjustment functions into a single integrated body structure. The body integrates the guide elements, mounting interface, and adjustment mechanism into one piece, eliminating the need for separate moving components that would otherwise be required to achieve the same adjustability. This merging reduces component count while maintaining full adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The body is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mounting, guiding, and adjustment functions. The guide elements are integrated into the body structure, allowing the same component to perform multiple roles: supporting the tool, guiding the adjustment movement, and enabling radial displacement. This universal design reduces the overall number of parts needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing tool holders use multiple moving components to enable adjustment, then the adjustability is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple functions into the single body structure, the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This consolidation simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces costs associated with multiple moving components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

While the body is integrated, the guide elements are designed as distinct geometric features within the body that can be manufactured using standard machining operations. This segmentation of functions within a single component allows for efficient manufacturing without requiring complex multi-part assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the tool holder uses a simplified design with fewer components, then the ease of handling is improved and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to maintain balance during adjustment may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidbalance maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide elements are positioned asymmetrically within the body, with specific geometric relationships designed to maintain rotational balance. The guide elements are arranged to ensure that the center of rotation remains stable during adjustment, preventing imbalance even with the simplified single-body design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The body incorporates locally optimized features at critical positions, such as precisely positioned guide elements and balanced mass distribution. These local quality enhancements ensure that the simplified overall design still maintains the necessary balance and reliability during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4574318A1Adjustable tool holder
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 SANDVIK COROMANT
  • EP4574318A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4574318A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4574318A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an adjustable tool holder (10) for a rotating material removal tool, comprising a body portion (18), an inner sleeve (22) and a slider (24), the inner sleeve comprising a tool fitting bore (34) and an outer surface (26) being eccentric relative to each other. The slider is arranged to rotatably receive the inner sleeve. The body portion comprises a first guide element and a second guide element. The inner sleeve comprises a third guide element interacting with the first guide element, thereby allowing a linear movement of the inner sleeve relative to the body portion in a first direction (56). The slider comprises a fourth guide element interacting with the second guide element, thereby, allowing a linear movement of the slider relative to the body portion in a second direction (62), wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.