Apparatus for securing a cutting tool in a tool holder and machine tools employing the same

A cutting tool assembly comprising:

• (a) a tool holder having one end adapted to be inserted into a machine tool and an opposed end having a cutting tool receiving housing extending therefrom, said housing having an essentially cylindrical axial bore and a conical outer surface;
• (b) a stationary ring mounted to the tool holder and having a cylindrical axial hole adapted to circumscribe the cutting tool receiving housing;
• (c) a first bearing means comprising at least one row of bearings aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cutting tool receiving housing and having an inner and outer bearing surface, the outer bearing surface adapted to engage the inner surface of the stationary ring;
• (d) a second bearing means comprising:
• (i) a conical housing containing at least one row of bearing receiving slots circumscribing the housing, each slot being positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cutting tool receiving housing, and
• (ii) a bearing securable in each of said slots and having an inner and outer bearing surface, said inner surface adapted to engage the cutting tool receiving housing;
• (e) a rotatable ring adapted to rotate about the second bearing means comprising:
• (i) a conical shaped axial hole having an inner surface adapted to engage the outer bearing surface of the bearings of the second bearing means, and
• (ii) a substantially cylindrical outer surface adapted to engage the inner bearing surface of the first bearing means;
• and
• (f) a cutting tool having at least one cutting insert at one end and a shank at an opposed end adapted to be inserted into the cutting tool receiving housing of the tool holder,
• wherein when the rotatable ring is rotated about the second bearing means, the rotatable ring exerts an essentially 360.degree. radially centered compressive force against the cutting tool receiving housing thereby securing the cutting tool in the tool holder.

An apparatus for securing a cutting tool in a tool holder comprising:

• (a) a stationary ring mounted to the tool holder and having an axial hole adapted to circumscribe a cutting tool receiving housing extending from one end of the tool holder;
• (b) a first bearing means having an inner and outer bearing surface, the outer bearing surface adapted to engage the inner surface of the stationary ring;
• (c) a second bearing means comprising:
• (i) a conical housing containing at least one row of bearing receiving slots circumscribing the housing, and having a first end extending towards the tool holder and an opposed end wherein the conical housing tapers outwardly from the first end to the opposed end, each slot being positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cutting tool receiving housing, and
• (ii) a bearing securable in each of said slots and having an inner and outer bearing surface, said inner surface adapted to engage the outer surface of the cutting tool receiving housing;
• (d) a rotatable ring adapted to rotate about the second bearing means comprising:
• (i) a conical shaped axial hole having an inner surface having a first end and an opposed end, said surface tapering outwardly from the first to the opposed end and adapted to engage the outer bearing surface of the bearings of the second bearing means, and
• (ii) a substantially cylindrical outer surface adapted to engage the inner bearing surface of the first bearing means,
• wherein when the rotatable ring is located about the second bearing means, the rotatable ring exerts an essentially 360.degree. radially centered compressive force against the cutting tool receiving housing thereby securing the cutting tool in the tool holder.

A cutting tool assembly comprising:

• (a) a tool holder having one end adapted to be inserted into a machine tool and an opposed end having a cutting tool receiving housing extending therefrom, said housing having an essentially cylindrical axial bore and a conical outer surface;
• (b) a stationary ring mounted to the tool holder and having a cylindrical axial hole adapted to circumscribe the cutting tool receiving housing;
• (c) a first bearing means having an inner and outer bearing surface, the outer bearing surface adapted to engage the inner surface of the stationary ring;
• (d) a second bearing means comprising:
• (i) a conical housing containing at least one row of bearing receiving slots circumscribing the housing and having a first end extending toward the tool holder and an opposed end wherein the conical housing tapers outwardly from the first end to the opposed end, each slot being positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cutting tool receiving housing, and
• (ii) a bearing securable in each of said slots and having an inner and outer bearing surface, said inner surface adapted to engage the cutting tool receiving housing;
• (e) a rotatable ring adapted to rotate about the second bearing means comprising:
• (i) a conical shaped axial hole having an inner surface having a first end and an opposed end, said surface tapering outwardly from the first end to the opposed end and adapted to engage the outer bearing surface of the bearings of the second bearing means, and
• (ii) a substantially cylindrical outer surface adapted to engage the inner bearing surface of the first bearing means;
• and
• (f) a cutting tool having at least one cutting insert at one end and a shank at an opposed end adapted to be inserted into the cutting tool receiving housing of the tool holder,
• wherein when the rotatable ring is rotated about the second bearing means, the rotatable ring exerts an essentially 360.degree.radially centered compressive force against the cutting tool receiving housing thereby securing the cutting tool in the tool holder.