Rotating cutting tool with a coolant passage and a method of providing it with coolant

A drill having a longitudinal axis, said drill comprising:

• a shank portion;
• a cutter portion;
• said cutter portion being disposed to extend from said shank portion;
• said cutter portion comprising a drill tip to drill a hole in a material to be drilled;
• said drill tip being disposed opposite to said shank portion;
• at least one channel;
• said at least one channel being configured and disposed to extend at least along said cutter portion in a substantially longitudinal direction;
• said at least one channel being configured to permit flow of lubricant through said drill;
• at least one reservoir being configured to receive and contain lubricant;
• said at least one reservoir being disposed within said drill;
• said at least one reservoir being operatively connected hydraulically to said at least one channel to permit lubricant in said at least one reservoir to enter said at least one channel;
• said cutter portion comprising at least one chip flute;
• said at least one chip flute being configured and disposed to remove chips generated by said drill tip;
• said at least one chip flute being disposed to spiral from said drill tip to said shank portion about the longitudinal axis;
• said cutter portion comprising at least one opening;
• said at least one opening being disposed adjacent to said drill tip;
• said at least one channel being operatively connected to said at least one opening to permit discharge of lubricant from said cutter portion;
• said shank portion comprising an end;
• said end of said shank portion being disposed opposite said cutter portion;
• said at least one reservoir comprising an arrangement to permit refilling of said at least one reservoir with lubricant;
• said drill comprising a capillary storage medium;
• said capillary storage medium being disposed in at least one of said at least one reservoir and said at least one channel;
• said drill comprising at least one branch passage;
• said at least one branch passage being disposed to connect said at least one opening and said at least one channel;
• said at least one channel having a first diameter;
• said at least one branch passage having a second diameter;
• the second diameter being substantially smaller than the first diameter;
• said at least one opening having a third diameter;
• and
• the third diameter being substantially smaller than the first diameter.

A drill having a longitudinal axis, said drill comprising;

• a shank portion;
• a cutter portion;
• said cutter portion being disposed to extend from said shank portion;
• said cutter portion comprising a drill tip to drill a hole in a material to be drilled;
• said drill tip being disposed opposite to said shank portion;
• at least one channel;
• said at least one channel being configured and disposed to extend at least along said cutter portion in a substantially longitudinal direction;
• said at least one channel being configured to permit flow of lubricant through said drill;
• at least one reservoir being configured to receive and contain lubricant;
• said at least one reservoir being disposed within said drill;
• said at least one reservoir being operatively connected hydraulically to said at least one channel to permit lubricant in said at least one reservoir to enter said at least one channel;
• said cutter portion comprising at least one chip flute;
• said at least one chip flute being configured and disposed to remove chips generated by said drill tip;
• said at least one chip flute being disposed to spiral from said drill tip to said shank portion about the longitudinal axis;
• said cutter portion comprising at least one opening;
• said at least one opening being disposed adjacent to said drill tip;
• said at least one channel being operatively connected to said at least one opening to permit discharge of lubricant from said cutter portion;
• said shank portion comprising an end;
• said end of said shank portion being disposed opposite said cutter portion;
• said drill comprising a cartridge;
• said at least one reservoir being disposed in said cartridge;
• and
• said cartridge being configured to be insertable into said drill and removable from said drill.

An apparatus to hold a drill in an operating position, the drill having a shank portion, a cutter portion, the cutter portion being disposed to extend from the shank portion, the cutter portion comprising a drill tip to drill a hole in a material to be drilled, the drill tip being disposed opposite to the shank portion, at least one channel, the at least one channel being configured and disposed to extend at least along the cutter portion in a substantially longitudinal direction;

• and the at least one channel being configured to permit flow of lubricant through the drill, said holding apparatus comprising:
• a dispenser being configured to contain a lubricant;
• said dispenser being integral with and disposed at said holding apparatus;
• an arrangement to hydraulically connect said dispenser and the at least one channel of the drill upon the drill being held in the operating position by said holding apparatus;
• said connecting arrangement comprising a valve arrangement;
• said valve arrangement being configured and disposed to be actuated by centrifugal force to control the flow of lubricant from said dispenser to the at least one channel of the drill;
• and
• said lubricant contained in said dispenser being pressurized.

A method for supplying lubricant to a drill arrangement, the drill arrangement having a shank portion, a cutter portion, the cutter portion being disposed to extend from the shank portion, the cutter portion comprising a drill tip to drill a hole in a material to be drilled, the drill tip being disposed opposite to the shank portion, at least one channel, the at least one channel being configured and disposed to extend at least along the cutter portion in a substantially longitudinal direction, the at least one channel being configured to permit flow of lubricant through the drill arrangement, a dispenser, the dispenser being disposed adjacent to the shank portion, the cutter portion comprising at least one opening, the at least one opening being disposed adjacent to the drill tip, and the at least one channel being operatively connected to the at least one opening to permit discharge of lubricant from the cutter portion, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a lubricant to cool and lubricate the drill arrangement during operation of the drill arrangement;
• storing the lubricant in the dispenser;
• connecting operatively the dispenser storing the lubricant to the at least one channel;
• transporting the lubricant through the at least one channel and the at least one opening to an area substantially adjacent the drill tip to at least one of cool and lubricate the drill arrangement during operation of the drill arrangement;
• said step of transporting the lubricant comprising one of a), b) and c):
• a) transporting the lubricant through the at least one channel and the at least one opening by gravity;
• b) transporting the lubricant through the at least one channel and the at least one opening by means of a capillary transport device;
• and
• c) transporting the lubricant through the at least one channel and the at least one opening by pressurization of the dispenser;
• said step of providing a lubricant comprising providing a lubricant which is one of:
• solid or highly viscous at room temperature and is substantially liquified at an operating temperature of the drill arrangement;
• coordinating the cross-section of the at least one opening and the viscosity of the lubricant to limit leakage of the lubricant from the at least one opening when the drill arrangement is not in operation;
• said dispenser being one of d), e) and f):
• d) disposed in a recess in the shank portion;
• e) disposed separate and a distance from the shank portion;
• and
• f) disposed in the drill arrangement apart from the shank portion;
• and
• the at least one opening being sized to control the amount of lubricant passing through the at least one opening during operation of the drill arrangement.

A drill having a longitudinal axis, said drill comprising:

• a shank portion;
• a cutter portion;
• said cutter portion being disposed to extend from said shank portion;
• said cutter portion comprising a drill tip to drill a hole in a material to be drilled;
• said drill tip being disposed opposite to said shank portion;
• said shank portion comprising an end;
• said end of said shank portion being disposed opposite said cutter portion;
• at least one channel;
• said at least one channel being configured and disposed to extend at least along said cutter portion in a substantially longitudinal direction;
• said at least one channel being configured to permit flow of lubricant through said drill arrangement;
• at least one reservoir being configured to receive and contain lubricant;
• said at least one reservoir comprising a device to selectively both mechanically connect and operatively hydraulically connect said at least one reservoir to said at least one channel;
• and
• said at least one reservoir being detachably connectable to said end of said shank portion.

An apparatus to hold a drill in an operating position, the drill having a shank portion, a cutter portion, the cutter portion being disposed to extend from the shank portion, the cutter portion comprising a drill tip to drill a hole in a material to be drilled, the drill tip being disposed opposite to the shank portion, at least one channel, the at least one channel being configured and disposed to extend at least along the cutter portion in a substantially longitudinal direction, the at least one channel being configured to permit flow of lubricant through the drill, and the drill having a capillary storage medium disposed in the at least one channel, said holding apparatus comprising:

• a dispenser being configured to contain a lubricant;
• said dispenser being integral with and disposed at said holding apparatus;
• an arrangement to hydraulically connect said dispenser and the at least one channel of the drill upon the drill being held in the operating position by said holding apparatus;
• said dispenser comprising a capillary storage medium;
• and
• said capillary storage medium of said dispenser being configured and disposed to work in conjunction with the capillary storage medium of the at least one channel to permit passage of lubricant from said dispenser to the cutter portion of the drill.