Broach tool holding system, broach tool, and method for mounting the broach tool

A broach tool holding system comprising:

• a tool holder plate having a mounting surface for providing support thereof on a broaching machine and having a tool surface for mounting a broach tool for performing broaching, the tool holder plate having a large end, a small end and an intermediate portion between the large and small ends, the large and small ends and the intermediate portion each having a pair of oppositely facing parallel surfaces that are respectively spaced from each other by large, small and intermediate distances so a plurality of such tool holder plates can be positioned adjacent each other with the adjacent tool holder plates oriented 180 degrees from each other so the large ends are adjacent the small ends of adjacent tool holder plates with the intermediate portions therebetween to provide relatively close positioning of broach tools mounted on the intermediate portions of the tool holder plates;
• four attachment bolts, the tool holder plate including four attachment bolt holes through which the attachment bolts extend to attach the tool holder plate to the broaching machine, and the four attachment holes being located in pairs respectively adjacent junctions of the intermediate portion of the tool holder plate with its large and small ends;
• a pair of locator pins mounted on the intermediate portion of the tool holder plate respectively adjacent its oppositely facing surfaces for rotation about spaced axes that are parallel to each other, each locator pin having a locator end that projects from the tool holder plate and has round locating surfaces spaced circumferentially about the associated axis from each other, and the locator end of each locator pin having clearance surfaces circumferentially alternating with the round locating surfaces and extending therebetween at locations radially inward from the round locating surfaces, the round locating surfaces of the locator ends of the locator pins being rotational aligned with circumferentially spaced clearance surfaces in locating holes in the broach tool to facilitate initial positioning of the broach tool on the tool holder plate, and the locator pins being rotatable on the tool holder plate to rotate the locating surfaces thereof from alignment with the clearance surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool into locating contact with circumferentially spaced locating surfaces in the locating holes in the broach tool to position the broach tool on the tool holder plate in a predetermined location;
• the tool holder plate including a pair of locating openings that respectively receive the locating ends of the pair of locator pins, and each locating opening of the tool holder plate having a stop that provides rotational positioning of the associated locating pin for alignment of the locating surfaces thereof with the clearance surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool to facilitate the broach tool mounting;
• and
• three clamps for securing the located broach tool on the tool holder plate for use and for selectively releasing the broach tool for detachment which is performed after rotation of the locator pins to rotate the locating surfaces thereof out of contact with the circumferentially spaced locating surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool and into alignment with the clearance surfaces thereof to facilitate the detachment, two of the clamps being mounted on the large end of the tool holder plate respectively adjacent its oppositely facing surfaces, and one of the clamps being mounted on the small end of the tool holder plate generally midway between its oppositely facing surfaces.

A broach tool holding system comprising:

• a tool holder plate having a mounting surface for providing support thereof on a broaching machine and having a tool surface for mounting a broach tool for performing broaching, the tool holder plate having a large end, a small end and an intermediate portion between the large and small ends, the large and small ends and the intermediate portion each having a pair of oppositely facing parallel surfaces that are respectively spaced from each other by large, small and intermediate distances so a plurality of such tool holder plates can be positioned adjacent each other with the adjacent tool holder plates oriented 180 degrees from each other so the large ends are adjacent the small ends of adjacent tool holder plates with the intermediate portions therebetween to provide relatively close positioning of broach tools mounted on the intermediate portions of the tool holder plates;
• four attachment bolts, the tool holder plate including four attachment bolt holes through which the attachment bolts extend to attach the tool holder plate to the broaching machine, and the four attachment holes being located in pairs respectively adjacent junctions of the intermediate portion of the tool holder plate with its large and small ends;
• a pair of locator pins mounted on the intermediate portion of the tool holder plate respectively adjacent its oppositely facing surfaces for rotation about spaced axes that are parallel to each other, each locator pin having a locator end that projects from the tool holder plate and has three round locating surfaces spaced circumferentially about the associated axis from each other, and the locator end of each locator pin having three flat clearance surfaces circumferentially alternating with the round locating surfaces and extending therebetween as chords with respect to the associated axis at locations radially inward from the round locating surfaces, the round locating surfaces of the locator ends of the locator pins being rotationally aligned with circumferentially spaced clearance surfaces in locating holes in the broach tool to facilitate initial positioning of the broach tool on the tool holder plate, and the locator pins being rotatable on the tool holder plate to rotate the locating surfaces thereof from alignment with the clearance surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool into locating contact with circumferentially spaced locating surfaces in the locating holes in the broach tool to position the broach tool on the tool holder plate in a predetermined location;
• the tool holder plate including a pair of locating openings that respectively receive the locating ends of the pair of locator pins, and each locating opening of the tool holder plate having a stop that provides rotational positioning of the associated locating pin for alignment of the locating surfaces thereof with the clearance surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool to facilitate the broach tool mounting;
• and
• three clamps for securing the located broach tool on the tool holder plate for use and for selectively releasing the broach tool for detachment which is performed after rotation of the locator pins to rotate the locating surfaces thereof out of contact with the circumferentially spaced locating surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool and into alignment with the clearance surfaces thereof to facilitate the detachment, two of the clamps being mounted on the large end of the tool holder plate respectively adjacent its oppositely facing surfaces, and one of the clamps being mounted on the small end of the tool holder plate generally midway between its oppositely facing surfaces.

A broach tool comprising:

• a tool body having a mounting surface for mounting on a mounting surface of a broach tool holder plate;
• a pair of locating holes extending through the tool body about associated spaced and parallel axes;
• each locating hole having a plurality of round clearance surfaces spaced circumferentially from each other about its associated axis;
• and
• each locating hole having a plurality of round locating surfaces spaced circumferentially from each other about its associated axis in an alternating relationship with the clearance surfaces and having a smaller radius than the clearance surfaces.

A broach tool comprising:

• a tool body having a mounting surface for mounting on a mounting surface of a broach tool holder plate;
• a pair of locating holes extending through the tool body about associated spaced and parallel axes;
• each locating hole having three round clearance surfaces spaced circumferentially from each other about its associated axis;
• each locating hole having three round locating surfaces spaced circumferentially from each other about its associated axis in an alternating relationship with the clearance surfaces and having a smaller radius than the clearance surfaces.

A method for mounting a broach tool comprising:

• positioning the broach tool on a broach tool holder plate with a pair of rotatable spaced and parallel locator pins on the holder plate respectively extending into a pair of locating holes in the broach tool with circumferentially spaced locating surfaces of each locator pin in alignment with circumferentially spaced clearance surfaces of the associated locating hole to provide initial positioning of the broach tool on the holder plate;
• rotating the locator pins to move the locating surfaces thereof into contact with circumferentially spaced locating surfaces of the locating holes to provide positioning of the broach tool in a predetermined location on the holder plate;
• and
• clamping the located broach tool on the holder plate for use.

A method for mounting a broach tool comprising:

• positioning the broach tool on a broach tool holder plate with a pair of rotatable spaced and parallel locator pins on the holder plate respectively extending into a pair of locating holes in the broach tool with circumferentially spaced locating surfaces of each locator pin in alignment with circumferentially spaced clearance surfaces of the associated locating hole to provide initial positioning of the broach tool on the holder plate;
• rotating the locator pins by wrench actuation in contact with circumferentially spaced clearance surfaces of the locator pins to move the locating surfaces thereof into contact with circumferentially spaced locating surfaces of the locating holes of the broach tool to provide positioning of the broach tool in a predetermined location on the holder plate;
• and
• clamping the located broach tool on the holder plate for use.