# US 2023/0054585 A1 · Drilling tool including a step drill bit

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- Number: US 2023/0054585 A1
- Document ID: US20230054585A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/796,047
- Filed: 2021-01-18
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-29
- Assignees: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
- Applicants: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
- Inventors: Zachary D. Bernaden; Jason M. Thom; Milorad Marich; Jonathan G. Winter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054585A1

## CPC

- B23B 51/009: {Stepped drills}
- B22F 3/225: {by injection molding}
- B22F 7/06: of composite workpieces or articles from parts, e.g. to form tipped tools {(B22F7/002 takes precedence)}
- B22F 10/18: by mixing binder with metal in filament form, e.g. fused filament fabrication [FFF]
- B22F 10/22: Direct deposition of molten metal
- B23B 51/0003: {with exchangeable heads or inserts}
- B23P 15/28: cutting tools (sawing tools B23D63/00, B23D65/00; files or rasps B23D73/00)
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- B22F 5/12: of wires {(of tubes B22F5/10)}
- B22F 2003/247: {Removing material: carving, cleaning, grinding, hobbing, honing, lapping, polishing, milling, shaving, skiving, turning the surface}
- B22F 2005/001: {Cutting tools, earth boring or grinding tool other than table ware}
- B22F 2207/20: Cooperating components
- B22F 2998/10: Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps
- B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A drilling tool includes a drive assembly with a shank that is configured to couple to a power tool and a step drill bit. The step drill bit includes a body having a proximal end adjacent the shank, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a bit axis extending centrally through the body between the proximal end and the distal end. The body is defined by a wall extending around the bit axis to define a hollow interior cavity of the body. The step drill bit also includes a plurality of axially stacked, progressively sized steps with a first step at the proximal end and a terminal step at the distal end and a flute extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The flute defines a cutting edge.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drilling tool comprising:
a drive assembly including a shank that is configured to couple to a power tool; and
a step drill bit including
a body having a proximal end adjacent the shank, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a bit axis extending centrally through the body between the proximal end and the distal end, the body being defined by a wall extending around the bit axis to define a hollow interior cavity of the body,
a plurality of axially stacked, progressively sized steps including a first step at the proximal end and a terminal step at the distal end, and
a flute extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the flute defining a cutting edge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the step drill bit further includes an opening positioned on the flute that extends into the hollow interior cavity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly is removably coupled to the step drill bit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The drilling tool of claim 3, wherein the drive assembly includes a drive head, and wherein the body of the step drill bit includes a drive socket that receives the drive head.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the step drill bit is made of a first material and the drive assembly is made of a second material that is different than the first material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The drilling tool of claim 5, wherein the first material is a high wear resistant material and the second material is a high impact material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge is cladded.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the step drill bit is manufactured using an additive manufacturing process or a molding process.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the wall has a thickness that is at least 2 millimeters.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein each step of the plurality of steps includes a radial relief that extends from each step to an adjacent step.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the body includes a bottom that defines an opening that extends into the interior cavity.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the shank is integrally formed with the step drill bit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The drilling tool of claim 1, wherein the body of the step drill bit includes a drive socket that receives the drive assembly and a side opening that is positioned between the drive socket and the wall.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The drilling tool of claim 13, wherein the drive socket and the side opening extend into the hollow interior cavity.

### Claim 15

A step drill bit comprising:
a body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a bit axis extending centrally through the body between the proximal end and the distal end, the body being defined by a wall extending around the bit axis to define a hollow interior cavity of the body;
a plurality of axially stacked, progressively sized steps including a first step at the proximal end and a terminal step at the distal end; and
a flute extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the flute defining a cutting edge.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The step drill bit of claim 15, wherein the hollow interior cavity is open to outside of the step drill bit at the proximal end of the body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The step drill bit of claim 15, further comprising an opening positioned on the flute that extends into the hollow interior cavity.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The step drill bit of claim 17, wherein the opening extends along a portion of the cutting edge.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The step drill bit of claim 18, wherein the opening extends a length that is at least one-fifth a length of the cutting edge.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The step drill bit of claim 15, wherein the body defines an opening that extends into the hollow interior cavity.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The step drill bit of claim 20, wherein the opening is configured to receive a drive assembly.

### Claim at position 22

-37. (canceled)