Segmented Broach Assembly for Coated Replaceable Teeth

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing broach manufacturing techniques that use glued hard-metal teeth prevent the application of PVD or CVD coatings due to heat-induced adhesive failure, leading to shorter tool service life and premature broach discarding.

Innovation Solution

Securing hard-metal toothed sheet segments to a sheet-holder using a mechanical dovetail coupling and a softer metal dolly with tightening screws and anchor pins, allowing for coating processes and segment replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If hard-metal teeth are secured to the sheet-holder by means of gluing, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the broach cannot be subjected to PVD or CVD coating processes due to heat-induced adhesive failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidadaptability to coating processes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The broach is divided into modular segments (toothed sheets) that can be independently secured to the sheet-holder. This segmentation allows the teeth to be mechanically attached rather than glued, enabling them to withstand the high temperatures of PVD/CVD coating processes while maintaining the ability to replace individual segments if needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding method (gluing) with a mechanical fastening system consisting of screws and anchor pins. This mechanical substitution eliminates the adhesive layer that would fail under coating process temperatures, allowing the broach to undergo PVD or CVD coating while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If the entire broach is discarded when teeth deteriorate, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but resource waste increases and service life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidloss of material
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The broach is designed as a modular system where the toothed sheets are separate segments that can be independently replaced. When teeth deteriorate, only the affected segments need to be removed and replaced, rather than discarding the entire broach. This significantly reduces material waste and extends the overall service life of the tool.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables selective replacement of worn toothed sheets while retaining the sheet-holder and other intact components. This partial replacement strategy recovers and reuses the majority of the broach structure, minimizing material loss and reducing the frequency of complete broach replacements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Strength

If tightening screws are used to secure the toothed sheet, then mechanical fastening is achieved, but the screws may loosen due to strains and stresses during broaching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening strengthVSAvoidfastening reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor pins are pre-positioned in the sheet-holder to provide immediate mechanical constraint in the direction perpendicular to the screw axes. This preliminary mechanical action prevents the tightening screws from loosening under the strains and stresses generated during broaching operations, ensuring sustained fastening reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor pins act as intermediary elements that work in conjunction with the tightening screws. While the screws provide the primary clamping force, the anchor pins serve as a secondary mechanical constraint that prevents screw backout, creating a redundant fastening system that enhances overall reliability under dynamic loading conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3812072B1Broach for broaching machine
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 EKIN S COOP
  • EP3812072B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3812072B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3812072B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a broach for a broaching machine, which comprises a toothed sheet (4) with hard-metal teeth, formed by one or more segments arranged in longitudinal correlation and a sheet-holding support (3) in which the toothed sheet (4) is placed; characterized in that the sheet-holding support (3) has a recess (3.1) into which a base (4.1) of the toothed sheet (4) with matching configuration fits, in order to establish mechanical coupling between the two, and in that the sheet-holding support (3) includes tightening means (6) for securing the toothed sheet (4) in position in the sheet-holder (3).