Tool holder having coolant fluid delivery system

An apparatus for receiving and retaining a tap in a rotatable-driving relationship when said apparatus is coupled to a machine tool spindle and for transmitting pressurized coolant fluid from said spindle to an aperture in said tap, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongated body having a central axis;
• a tap-receiving member mounted within said elongated body by resilient means to allow a retained tap to be rotatably driven and follow its lead axially without corresponding axial movement of the body while allowing limited movement of the tap with respect to the body in either direction along the central axis of the body;
• means for transmitting coolant fluid to the retained tap without eliminating the resilient mounting between the tap and the body, said transmitting means including:
• means defining a fluid chamber within said body for receiving pressurized coolant fluid from said spindle;
• a fluid transmitting tube extending between the fluid chamber and a coolant receiving aperture in said retained tap, said tube passing through the tap retaining member;
• and
• an enlarged head coupled to said fluid transmitting tube within said chamber, said head receiving a force from the pressurized fluid in said chamber and urging said tube into the coolant receiving aperture in said retained tap to retard coolant leakage therebetween.