Coupling structure and method

A tool holder comprising:

• a body member having an axis of rotation extending through the body member and a sidewall defining a recess formed in the body member with a transversely extending aperture formed in the sidewall of the recess;
• means for securing the body member to structure for rotating the body member about the axis of rotation;
• a coupling member including an elongated one end having a radially and longitudinally extending slot, said one end positioned within the recess of the body member;
• and
• means extending transversely into the slot in the one end of the coupling member from the aperture in the sidewall of the body member for expanding the one end of the coupling member within the recess of the body member to secure the coupling member to the body member, said expanding means passing through said slot during insertion of said coupling member within said recess of said body member.

A method of securing a tool to a tool holder having a recess therein comprising the steps of:

• securing the tool to an elongate coupling member including a first transversely extending radial aperture adjacent one end, at least a portion of the radial aperture defining at least one generally conically-shaped surface, the first transversely extending radial aperture communicating with a longitudinally extending slot through the one end;
• passing threaded lock means into the recess in the tool holder through a second transversely extending radial aperture;
• inserting the one end of the coupling member into the recess in the tool holder;
• passing the threaded lock means into the first transversely extending radial aperture adjacent the one end of the coupling member through the slot during insertion of the coupling member within the recess of the tool holder;
• and
• positioning the coupling member by engagement with the at least one generally conically-shaped surface and simultaneously locking the coupling member in assembly with the tool holder when the threaded lock means is threadingly driven to operably engage the conically-shaped surface.

A method of securing a tool to a tool holder having a recess therein comprising the steps of:

• securing the tool to a coupling member including a slotted one end;
• inserting the slotted one end of the coupling member into the recess in the tool holder;
• passing threaded means into the recess, the threaded means for transversely expanding the slotted one end of the coupling member within the recess transversely of the slot in the one end of the coupling member;
• and
• inserting a tapered liner in the recess in the tool holder prior to inserting the one end of the coupling member into the recess.

A method of securing a tool to a tool holder having a recess therein comprising the steps of:

• securing the tool to a coupling member including a slotted one end defined by two edges spaced apart from one another by a predetermined width, said two edges extending longitudinally from the one end to an inner end;
• inserting the slotted one end of the coupling member into the recess in the tool holder;
• positioning within the recess threaded coupling means for transversely expanding the slotted one end of the coupling member within the recess transversely of the slot in the one end of the coupling member;
• and
• providing a conical opening through the slotted one end of the coupling member on the axis of the slot and wherein the threaded coupling means for transversely expanding the slotted one end of the coupling is a threaded shank having a diameter less than the width of the slotted one end and a conical member connected to the threaded shank passed into the conical opening with the conical member in surface-to-surface engagement with the conical opening and the coupling member to expand the slotted one end of the coupling member to lock the coupling member in assembly with the tool holder, such that the threaded coupling means is operable between a coupled position and a release position, said coupled position firmly engaging said conical member with said conical surface and expanding said cylindrical portion of said coupling member sufficiently to lock the coupling member in assembly with the tool holder, and said release position radially spacing said conical member from said conical surface sufficiently to allow axial withdrawal of said cylindrical portion of said coupling member from said recess of said tool holder by passing said diameter of said threaded shank through said width of said slot.

A method of securing a tool to a tool holder having a recess therein comprising the steps of:

• securing the tool to a coupling member including a slotted one end;
• inserting the slotted one end of the coupling member into the recess in the tool holder;
• passing into the recess means for transversely expanding the slotted one end of the coupling member within the recess transversely of the slot in the one end of the coupling member;
• and
• providing a conical opening through the slotted one end of the coupling member on the axis of the slot and wherein the means for transversely expanding the slotted one end of the coupling member is a conical member passed into the conical opening with the conical member in surface-to-surface engagement with the conical opening and the coupling member to expand the slotted one end of the coupling member, wherein the opening through the one end of the coupling member has two conical surfaces thereon diverging outwardly of the ends of the opening and further including inserting conical members into the opening in the coupling member from each end thereof in surface-to-surface engagement with the respective conical surfaces thereof and adjusting them axially of each other to expand the one end of the coupling member.

In a coupling structure for securing a coupling member to a mechanically driven, rotatable tool holder, the improvement comprising:

• the tool holder having a generally cylindrical recess symmetrical about an axis of generation thereof and an aperture perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of generation of said recess;
• the coupling member having a cylindrical longitudinally extending portion with a first end and two opposing edges spaced from one another by a predefined width defining a slot extending axially along a diametrical plane from said first end to an inner end, a conical surface formed symmetrically about a radial axis lying in said diametrical plane at said inner end of said slot, said radial axis alignable with said aperture of said tool holder when said cylindrical portion is axially engaged within said recess of said tool holder;
• and
• threaded coupling means engaged through said aligned aperture and slot to operably engage said conical surface for axially positioning the coupling member with respect to the tool holder and for expanding the first end of the coupling member with respect to the recess of the tool holder to lock the coupling member in assembly with the tool holder.

A tool holder comprising:

• a body member having an axis of rotation extending through the body member and an elongated recess formed in the body member with at least one open end;
• means for securing the body member to structure for rotating the body member about the axis of rotation;
• a coupling member including one end positioned within the recess of the body member through the open end of the recess, the coupling member having a slot extending longitudinally from the one end;
• and
• means extending transversely with respect to the recess in the body member and into the one end of the coupling member for expanding the one end of the coupling member within the recess of the body member to secure the coupling member to the body member, the expanding means passing through the slot in the coupling member during longitudinal insertion of the coupling member within the recess in the body member prior to expanding the one end of the coupling member inside the recess of the body member.

A tool holder comprising:

• a body member having an axis of rotation extending through the body member and a recess formed therein;
• means for securing the body member to structure for rotating the body member about the axis of rotation;
• a coupling member including one end positioned within the recess of the body member;
• and
• means extending transversely into the one end of the coupling member for expanding the one end of the coupling member within the recess of the body member to secure the coupling member to the body member, wherein the end of the coupling member within the recess is cylindrical, a slot is provided extending axially of the cylindrical end of the coupling member within the recess and the means for expanding the one end of the coupling member is a conical opening extending radially through the cylindrical end of the coupling member on the axis of the slot therethrough and a wedge screw having a conical head and operable between the body member and the conical opening through the coupling member to expand the one end of the coupling member within the recess of the body member.