Cutting tool holder

A cutting tool holder for maintaining at least one cutting tool member in a desired spaced relationship thereto as said at least one tool is selectively engaged with a workpiece for performing a cutting operation, said holder comprising:

• an elongated holder body having a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced apart end faces, said holder body further including a first coaxial bore extending therethrough, said body being adapted to be readily affixed to a conventional metal removal machine;
• an elongated tool mounting shaft having a first tool mounting portion including means for rigidly affixing said at least one tool member thereto and a second shaft mounting portion receivable in said first bore from said first end face to extend substantially longitudinally through said holder body, said at least one tool member comprising a single cutting tool releasably mounted on said mounting shaft adjacent the outermost end of said tool mounting portion, said tool mounting portion having an end face which includes therein a tool receiving recess for closely receiving said single cutting tool, said tool mounting portion further including an end cap which is selectively receivable over said receiving recess for rigidly retaining said single cutting tool therein, said single cutting tool including a tool mounting portion dimensioned to be closely received in said recess and a cutting tool portion affixed to said mounting portion so as to extend generally radially outward therefrom, said cutting tool portion comprising a cutting tool element having a cutting surface at least at the outermost edge thereof and a back-up portion disposed adjacent said tool element on the rear side thereof for providing strength and rigidity to said tool element, said tool member mounting portion further including locating areas thereon for desirably locating said single cutting tool in said receiving recess, said end cap and said mounting portion end face including interfitting areas to facilitate a rigid located relationship therebetween;
• means for engaging said second shaft mounting portion to retain said tool mounting shaft in a desired position within said bore;
• means for selectively preventing rotational movement of at least said mounting shaft relative to said body;
• means for selectively longitudinally moving said mounting shaft relative to said holder body including an elongated adjustment member forming one part of said engaging means and threadedly extending through another part of said engaging means, said one part of said engaging means acting against said shaft mounting portion;
• and
• means received in said first bore over said shaft mounting portion for continuously biasing said shaft longitudinally of said holder body, said biasing means comprising an elongated biasing sleeve closely slideably received over said mounting shaft having a length approximately equal to the length of said body, said biasing sleeve having a first portion closely slideably received in said first bore adjacent said first end face;
• means for maintaining said biasing sleeve in a desired position relative to said body;
• spring biasing means received over said biasing sleeve in said first bore adjacent said biasing sleeve firt portion;
• and, a spring biasing means retaining collar received over said biasing sleeve adjacent said second end face for maintaining said spring biasing means in a compressed condition.