Pressure-activated tool
AssigneeKennametal Inc.
InventorsRuy Frota de Souza Filho, Christoph Gey, Alexander Kroedel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cutting tool system may include a tool body, a flexible internal pressure chamber, and at least one cutting edge. The flexible internal pressure chamber may be disposed within the tool body. The at least one cutting edge may be attached to the tool body. The flexible internal pressure chamber may be configured to elastically deform, due to pressure within the flexible internal pressure chamber, which in turn may deform the tool body, which in turn may change a position of the at least one cutting edge attached to the tool body.
Claims20
A cutting tool system comprising:
- a tool body;
- a flexible internal pressure chamber disposed within the tool body;
- and
- at least one cutting edge attached to the tool body;
- wherein the flexible internal pressure chamber is configured to elastically deform, due to pressure within the flexible internal pressure chamber, which in turn deforms the tool body, which in turn changes a position of the at least one cutting edge attached to the tool body.
A cutting tool system comprising:
- a tool body comprising a stiff, exterior portion;
- a flexible internal pressure chamber disposed within the tool body, the flexible internal pressure chamber supporting the stiff, exterior portion;
- at least one cutting edge attached to the stiff, exterior portion of the tool body;
- at least one pressure sensor connected to the flexible internal pressure chamber;
- a valve connected to the flexible internal pressure chamber;
- and
- a computer numerical control device connected to the at least one pressure sensor and to the valve, the computer numerical control device configured to monitor the pressure within the flexible internal pressure chamber with the at least one pressure sensor, and to control the pressure within the flexible internal pressure chamber with the valve;
- wherein the flexible internal pressure chamber is configured to elastically deform, due to the pressure applied by the computer numerical control device within the flexible internal pressure chamber, thereby deforming the stiff, exterior portion, thereby changing a position of the at least one cutting edge attached to the stiff, exterior portion of the tool body.
A method of cutting comprising:
- controlling a pressure within a flexible internal pressure chamber of a tool body to elastically deform the flexible internal pressure chamber;
- a stiff, exterior portion of the tool body deforming due to the deformation of the flexible internal pressure chamber;
- and
- a position of at least one cutting edge, attached to the stiff, exterior portion of the tool body, changing due to the deformation of the stiff, exterior portion of the tool body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.