Collet and tool assembly
AssigneeDalton Technology
InventorsJames Lafferty, Robert DeLong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collet and tool assembly for rotatable tools such as drills and taps in which the collet and tool each include mating: a) stops for limiting entrance of the tool into the holder; b) matching detents for producing an audible click when the tool is properly placed in the collet; and c) matching eccentric sections which provide positive torque transfer between the collet and the tool.
Claims8
A collet and interchangeable tool assembly including an elongated tool for rotatable engagement with workpieces, particularly in bone structure for the incorporeal implantation of replacement body parts comprising:
- a collet which is adapted to be driven about a longitudinal axis thereof by a rotating power source;
- said collet having a body portion with a rearward proximal end secured to a source of rotation and a forward distal end including internal surfaces defining a resilient jaw opening for receiving said tool to be held by said collet and driven by the source or rotating power;
- said body including an internal recess communicating with and rearward said jaw opening and parallel to but eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of said collet;
- said surfaces of said collet further defining a detent having axially spaced forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces;
- said collet operating in conjunction with said elongated tool for use with said collet, said tool including a workpiece end and a mounting end, said mounting end including a longitudinally extending protuberance corresponding to said internal recess in said collet to engage said recess for positive driving of said tool by said collet;
- said tool further including a mating detent part for said detent of said surfaces defining said jaw opening of said collet and having axially spaced forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces for simultaneously mating with said forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces of said detent of said collet;
- locking means engaging said collet for biasing said surfaces defining said resilient jaw opening detent engaging relationship with said tool;
- and
- wherein said tool further includes integral stop means extending beyond said collet to limit the extent of tool movement into a workpiece.
A collet for holding a tool for rotatable engagement with a workpiece comprising:
- said collet having a body portion with a proximal rearward end secured to a source of rotation and a forward distal end including internal surfaces defining a resilient jaw opening for receiving a tool to be held by said collet and driven by the source of rotating power;
- an internal recess in said body communicating with and rearward of said jaw opening parallel to but eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of said collet;
- said surfaces of said collet further including an internally directed annular detent having an axially extending portion disposed between two coaxially disposed substantially frusto-conical surfaces facing each other on the internal surfaces defining said jaw opening;
- and
- a forwardly facing frusto-conical surface in the forward most portion of said internal surfaces defining a resilient jaw opening.
A rotatable tool for longitudinal movement relative to a workpiece, said tool including a forward working end, a shank, and a rearward attachment end;
- said attachment end including:
- a stop defining a limit of longitudinal positioning of said tool relative to said workpiece;
- a detent rearward said stop cooperating with a mating tool holder to provide an audible indication of seating of the tool in its holder, said detent including an axially extending portion disposed between two coaxially disposed substantially frusto-conical surfaces oppositely oriented along the tool axis and on the attachment end;
- an eccentric extension comprising a cylinder having a central axis which is displaced from and parallels the axis of rotation of the tool for engaging a mating eccentric portion of a tool holder whereby said symmetrical extension provides torque transmitting engagement with a tool holder;
- and
- a second stop facing toward the attachment end for limiting the entrance of the tool into said tool holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.