Clamping Bolt Locking Mechanism for Cutting Insert Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting tools for drilling and boring operations lack a reliable safety feature to prevent the cutting insert from being inadvertently removed during rotation, leading to potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A cutting tool design featuring a clamping bolt with undercuts and bolt locking portions that allow secure engagement and disengagement without disengaging the threaded portion, providing a safety feature to prevent accidental removal of the cutting insert by positioning the bolt locking portions directly over the undercut sub-surfaces in the locked position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cutting insert is secured by a clamping bolt passing through a through hole and engaging a threaded portion, then the cutting insert can be removed without disengaging the bolt from the threaded portion, but the cutting insert can be inadvertently pulled from the tool shank during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping bolt is designed with a movable locking portion that can transition between a locked position (engaging the undercut to prevent removal) and an unlocked position (allowing easy removal). This dynamic mechanism allows the same component to provide both safety during operation and ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping bolt is segmented into functional portions: a threaded portion for securing the insert, a locking portion for safety engagement with the undercut, and a shank portion for clamping. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function independently while working together as a unified fastening system.
2Reliability
If the clamping bolt requires disengagement from the threaded portion for insert removal, then the insert is more securely retained, but the removal process becomes more time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion can be quickly moved from the locked to unlocked position without requiring thread disengagement, enabling rapid insert removal while maintaining secure retention during operation. The dynamic locking mechanism provides both security and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted as a separate movable portion from the threaded fastening function. This allows the locking mechanism to be independently activated or deactivated without affecting the threaded engagement, enabling quick release while maintaining secure retention when locked.
3Ease of operation
If the cutaway portion opens to the outer side surfaces and rear edge face, then the tip can be easily removed, but there is no safety feature to prevent inadvertent pulling of the tip
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion provides a dynamic safety feature that can be engaged or disengaged as needed. During operation, the locking portion engages the undercut to prevent inadvertent removal. During maintenance, the locking portion can be moved to the unlocked position to allow easy removal, providing both safety and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the clamping bolt and the cutting insert. It provides an additional layer of security by engaging the undercut, while still allowing the bolt to maintain its clamping function. This intermediary feature prevents inadvertent removal without interfering with normal operation or maintenance when properly managed.
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting tool has a cutting insert secured in a tool shank by means of a clamping bolt, whereby two opposing side surfaces of a body portion of the cutting insert are located between two spaced apart protuberances of the tool shank. The body portion includes a cut-out extending between the two opposing side surfaces and opening out to a bottom surface. The cut-out includes an undercut with at least one undercut sub-surface with respect to a forward direction. The clamping bolt can be rotated from a locked position wherein the bolt shank has a threaded portion engaged in one of the protuberances and a bolt locking portion located directly forward of the at least one undercut sub-surface, to an un-locked position wherein the threaded portion remains engaged in the protuberance and no portion of the bolt shank is located directly forward of the at least one undercut sub-surface.