Replaceable Guide Bushing Insert for Worn Conical Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conical outer surface of guide barrels for cutting tools wears out quickly, leading to high replacement costs and inefficiencies in drilling aeronautical structural parts, as the entire barrel is often replaced rather than just the worn portion.

Innovation Solution

A guide bush design featuring a main body with a screwable insert for the conical outer surface, allowing the insert to be replaced independently while extending the life of the main body, thus reducing replacement costs and enabling easy diameter changes for different cutting tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a one-piece guide barrel is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but the entire barrel must be replaced when the conical surface wears out, increasing operational costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmaterial loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The guide barrel is divided into two separate components: a main body and a conical insert. The insert can be independently replaced when worn, while the main body remains in service. This segmentation allows selective replacement of only the worn conical surface rather than the entire barrel, reducing material loss and operational costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of stationary object

If an insert is used for the conical surface, then replacement frequency of the main body is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conical surface is extracted from the main barrel body and implemented as a separate removable insert. This allows the insert to be replaced independently when worn, extending the service life of the main body without requiring complete barrel replacement. The extraction principle reduces overall device complexity by enabling modular maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If the entire barrel is replaced when the conical surface wears, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity decreases due to frequent replacements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the guide barrel into a main body and a replaceable conical insert, the system maintains manufacturing precision through precise fitting between components while improving productivity. The insert can be quickly replaced without replacing the entire barrel, reducing downtime and increasing overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If a one-piece barrel is used, then the device complexity is low, but adaptability is reduced when diameter changes are needed for different cutting tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide barrel system becomes dynamic and adaptable through the removable insert design. Different conical inserts with various diameters can be exchanged based on the cutting tool requirements, enabling the system to adapt to different tool sizes without changing the main body structure. This maintains low overall complexity while providing high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3572173B1Guide bushing for a cutting tool, associated drilling machine and system, use of the drilling system and maintenance method of the drilling machine
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 PV TOOL FRANCE
  • EP3572173B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The cutting tool guide barrel (114) has a rear end (206) with a conical external surface for being press-fitted into a barrel holder of a drilling machine. It comprises a main body (202) having a front end (204) and a rear end (206) with the conical external surface, and a cutting tool guide insert (208) designed to be screwed into the front end (204) of the main body (202).