Interchangeable tool alignment system

An interchangeable cutting tool alignment and positioning system comprising, at least, a first tool segment and a second tool segment, said first tool segment comprising a male coupler means axially aligned with and concentric with an axis of rotation of said first tool segment, said second tool segment comprising a female coupler means aligned with and concentric with an axis of rotation of said second tool segment, said male coupler means which extends from an end of said first tool segment, said male coupler means which comprises:

• a.) pilot means, extending from one end of said male coupler means as an integral part of said male coupler means, said pilot means which provides a first cylindrical mating surface for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation;
• b.) concentric alignment means, separated from and spaced apart from said pilot means, said concentric alignment means which are integral parts of said male coupler means, said concentric alignment means which provides a second cylindrical mating surface for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation;
• c.) first planar surface means which provide a first planar mating surface for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation, said first planar mating surface which is perpendicular to said first tool segment axis of rotation and said second cylindrical mating surface of said concentric alignment means, said first planar mating surface which extends inwardly, from said concentric alignment means, toward said first tool segment axis of rotation;
• d.) second planar surface means which provide a second planar mating surface for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation, said second planar mating surface extending outwardly from said concentric alignment means, away from said first tool segment axis of rotation, at the opposite end of said concentric alignment means from said first planar surface means, said second planar mating surface which is perpendicular to said first tool segment axis of rotation and said second cylindrical mating surface of said concentric alignment means;
• e.) male thread means, extending between and spacing apart said pilot means and said concentric alignment means, said male thread means which are concentric with said pilot means and said concentric alignment means, said male thread means which serve to provide threadable engagement between, and the holding together of, said assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation;
• and
• said female coupler means which are integral with and formed into one end of said second tool segment, said female coupler means which comprise:
• f.) pilot bore means, extending within said one end of said female coupler means, said pilot bore means which provide a first complementary cylindrical mating surface, corresponding to said first cylindrical mating surface of said pilot means, for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation;
• g.) concentric bore means, separated and spaced apart from said pilot means, said concentric bore means which are integral with said female coupler means, said concentric bore means which provide a second complementary cylindrical mating surface corresponding to said second cylindrical mating surface of said concentric alignment means, for assembly of said first and second tool segments coaxially aligned with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation;
• h.) first complementary planar surface means which provide a first complementary planar mating surface, corresponding to said first planar mating surface of said concentric alignment means, for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation, said first complementary planar mating surface which is perpendicular to said second tool segment axis of rotation and said second complementary cylindrical mating surface of said concentric bore means, said first complementary planar mating surface means which extends inwardly from said concentric bore means toward said second tool segment axis of rotation;
• i.) second complementary planar surface means which provide a second complementary planar mating surface, corresponding to said second planar mating surface of said second planar mating surface means, for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation, said second complementary planar mating surface which extends outwardly from said concentric bore means away from said second tool segment axis of rotation, said second complementary planar mating surface which extends at the opposite end of said concentric bore means from said first complementary planar surface means, said second complementary planar mating surface which is perpendicular to said second tool segment axis of rotation;
• j.) female thread means extending between said pilot bore means and said concentric bore means, separating and spacing apart said pilot bore means and said concentric bore means, said female thread means which are concentric with said pilot bore means and said concentric bore means, said female thread means which are complementary with and correspond to said male thread means, said female thread means which, in conjunction with said male thread means, provide threadable engagement between and the holding together of said first and second tool segments, for assembly of said first and second tool segments in coaxial alignment with each other relative to their respective axes of rotation;
• said male coupler means and said female coupler means which provide for threadable coaxial engagement of said first and second tool segments relative to their respective axes of rotation to concentrically align said first and second tool segments such that a single common rotational axis is provided, said male coupler means and said female coupler means which, on assembly of said first and second tool segments, also prevent misalignment of said first and second tool segment from said single common rotational axis.