Modular drill apparatus with cutting tip in situ insert assembly

A modular drill apparatus comprising:

• a shank including a pocket including a bottom, the shank including a cylindrical post centrally disposed at the bottom of the pocket, the cylindrical post including a distal end with an unlock interface;
• a cutting tip including a lower portion, an upper portion and a channel therebetween, the channel spanning across the cutting tip perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the modular drill apparatus, the lower portion including a central bore which receives the cylindrical post for symmetrically supporting the cutting tip within the pocket and allowing repositioning of the cutting tip within the pocket along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an insert assembly interfitted within the channel, the insert assembly being expandable/retractable along a channel axis of the channel, the insert assembly including chamfered surfaces at opposite ends thereof, respectively, and a ramp, the ramp and one of the chamfered surfaces being rotationally repositionable in relation to and longitudinally slidable along the channel axis, and another of the chamfered surfaces being rotationally fixed in position in relation to and longitudinally slidable along the channel axis;
• wherein the shank includes a pair of openings therethrough at opposite sides of the shank, the openings including lock interfaces at distal-most portions thereof adjacent to opposite ends of the channel, respectively, the shank and the cutting tip being shaped such that when the cutting tip is received within the pocket the openings generally coalign with the channel at opposite ends thereof, respectively, one of the openings accommodating access to the insert assembly by a tool for adjustably expanding the insert assembly extending the opposite ends of the insert assembly into the openings bringing the chamfered surfaces into contact with the lock interfaces which are configured/angled such that the cutting tip and insert assembly together translate toward the bottom of the pocket and for adjustably retracting the insert assembly bringing the ramp into contact with the unlock interface, the ramp and the unlock interface being configured/angled such that responsive to retracting the opposite ends of the insert assembly the cutting tip and insert assembly together translate/reposition a sufficient amount/distance away from the bottom of the pocket to release or disengage the cutting tip from the shank.

A modular drill apparatus comprising:

• a shank including a pocket defined by a bottom and sidewalls which extend from the bottom to a distal opening of the pocket, the shank including a cylindrical post centrally disposed at the bottom of the pocket;
• a cutting tip including a lower portion, an upper portion and a channel therebetween, the channel spanning across the cutting tip perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the modular drill apparatus, the lower portion including a central bore which receives the cylindrical post for symmetrically supporting the cutting tip within the pocket and allowing repositioning of the cutting tip within the pocket along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an insert assembly interfitted within the channel,
• the insert assembly being expandable along a channel axis of the channel for securing the cutting tip to the shank, the insert assembly including chamfered surfaces at opposite ends thereof and an adjusting component accessible via an opening in the shank, the adjusting component being rotationally repositionable within and longitudinally slidable along the channel by rotating the adjusting component in a first direction for repositioning, responsive to the chamfered surfaces interfacing with portions of the shank, the cutting tip and the insert assembly toward the bottom of the pocket, and
• the insert assembly being retractable along the channel axis for releasing the cutting tip from the pocket, the adjusting component including a ramp circumferentially disposed thereabout and generally facing the central bore, the adjusting component being rotationally repositionable in relation to and longitudinally slidable along the channel axis by counterrotating the adjusting component in a second direction for repositioning, responsive to the ramp interfacing with a portion of the cylindrical post, the cutting tip and the insert assembly a sufficient distance away from the bottom of the pocket to release the cutting tip from the pocket.

A modular drill apparatus comprising:

• a shank having a pocket;
• a cylindrical post centrally secured within a bottom of the pocket;
• a cutting tip including
• a lower portion including a central bore which receives the cylindrical post,
• an upper portion and
• a channel therebetween;
• and
• an insert assembly interfitted within and supported by the channel, the insert assembly being expandable along a length thereof to translate the cutting tip and the insert assembly toward the bottom of the pocket for securing the cutting tip to the shank within the pocket by providing an interference fit, and retractable along the length to bring the insert assembly into contact with the cylindrical post and release the cutting tip from the pocket by repositioning the cutting tip and the insert assembly a sufficient distance away from the bottom of the pocket and overcoming the interference fit.

A modular drill apparatus comprising:

• a shank having a pocket defined by a bottom and sidewalls which extend from the bottom, wherein each sidewall is inclined at an angle with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the shank;
• a cylindrical post centrally secured within the bottom of the pocket;
• a cutting tip including
• a lower portion including a central bore which receives the cylindrical post,
• an upper portion and
• a channel therebetween;
• and
• an insert assembly interfitted within and supported by the channel, the insert assembly being expandable along a length thereof for securing the cutting tip to the shank within the pocket by providing an interference fit and retractable along the length thereof to bring the insert assembly into contact with the cylindrical post and release the cutting tip from the pocket by overcoming the interference fit.