Countersink cage
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorJeffrey Garrett Mercier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A countersink cage for controlling a rotating countersink cutter to penetrate to a predetermined depth through a curved surface along a cutting axis. More specifically, the countersink cage comprises a top cage member with a top aperture which is formed for receiving the rotating countersink cutter axially therethrough. Rotatably attached to the top cage member is a bottom cage member. The bottom cage member has a bottom aperture aligning itself with the top aperture for receiving the rotating countersink cutter axially therethrough. Further, two contact members extend from the bottom cage member. The two contact members are sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the countersink cutter penetrates therethrough along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth.
Claims32
A countersink cage for controlling a countersink cutter to penetrate to a predetermined depth through a curved surface along a cutting axis, the countersink cutter having a rotating cutter body, the countersink cage comprising:
- a top cage member having a top aperture formed for receiving the rotating cutter body axially therethrough, the top cage member being selectively engageable to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body;
- a bottom cage member rotatably engaged to and axially fixed to the top cage member, the bottom cage member having a bottom aperture in alignment with the top aperture for receiving the rotating cutter body axially therethrough;
- and
- two contact members extending from the bottom cage member sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth.
A countersink cage for controlling a countersink cutter to penetrate to a predetermined depth through a curved surface along a cutting axis, the countersink cutter having a rotating cutter body, the countersink cage comprising:
- a top cage member having a top aperture formed for receiving the rotating cutter body axially therethrough, the top cage member being selectively engageable to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body;
- a bottom cage member rotatably engaged with the top cage member, the bottom cage member having a bottom aperture in alignment with the top aperture for receiving the rotating cutter body axially therethrough and having a lower bottom cage member end;
- and
- two contact members being formed on the lower bottom cage member end extending from the bottom cage member sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth.
A countersink cage for controlling a countersink cutter to penetrate to a predetermined depth through a curved surface along a cutting axis, the countersink cutter having a rotating cutter body, the countersink cage comprising:
- a top cage member having a top aperture formed for receiving the rotating cutter body axially therethrough, the top cage member being selectively engageable to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body;
- a bottom cage member rotateably engaged with the top cage member, the bottom cage member having a bottom aperture in alignment with the top aperture for receiving the rotating cutter body axially therethrough;
- and
- two annular segments extending from the bottom cage member sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth, each annular segment having a lower inner edge and a bottom surface, the lower inner edge being disposed adjacent the rotating cutter body for supporting the countersink cage upon a convex curved surface, the bottom surface being configured for supporting the countersink cage upon a concave curved surface.
A drill and countersink device for penetrating to a predetermined depth through a curved surface along a cutting axis, the device comprising:
- a countersink cutter having a cutter body, the cutter body having a device end and a cutting end, the device end being engaged to the drill and countersink device for rotating the cutter body thereby, the cutting end being operative to penetrate through the curved surface along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth;
- and
- a countersink cage for controlling the countersink cutter to penetrate to the predetermined depth, the countersink cage comprising:
- a top cage member having a top aperture formed for receiving the cutter body axially therethrough, the top cage member being selectively engageable to the cutter body between the device and cutting ends;
- a bottom cage member rotatably engaged to and axially fixed to the top cage member, the bottom cage member having a bottom aperture in alignment with the top aperture for receiving the cutter body axially therethrough;
- and
- two contact members extending from the bottom cage member sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the cutting end of the cutter body penetrates therethrough along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth.
A drill and countersink device for penetrating to a predetermined depth through a curved surface along a cutting axis, the device comprising:
- a countersink cutter having a cutter body, the cutter body having a device end and a cutting end, the device end being engaged to the drill and countersink device for rotating the cutter body thereby, the cutting end being operative to penetrate through the curved surface along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth;
- and
- a countersink cage for controlling the countersink cutter to penetrate to the predetermined depth, the countersink cage comprising:
- a top cage member having a top aperture formed for receiving the cutter body axially therethrough, the top cage member being selectively engageable to the cutter body between the device and cutting ends;
- a bottom cage member rotatably engaged with the top cage member, the bottom cage member having a bottom aperture in alignment with the top aperture for receiving the cutter body axially therethrough;
- and
- two annular segments directly opposed to each other extending from the bottom cage member sized and configured to contact the curved surface when the cutting end of the cutter body penetrates therethrough along the cutting axis to the predetermined depth, each annular segment having a lower inner edge and a bottom portion, the lower inner edge being disposed adjacent the cutter body for supporting the countersink cage upon a convex curved surface, the bottom portion being configured for supporting the countersink cage upon a concave curved surface.
A method of penetrating a curved surface to a predetermined depth along a cutting axis with a countersink cutter, the countersink cutter having a rotating cutter body, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) engaging a countersink cage having two annular segments to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body;
- b) penetrating the curved surface with the rotating cutter body along the cutting axis;
- and
- c) stopping the rotation of the cage to indicate that the rotating cutter body has penetrated the surface to the predetermined depth.
A method of penetrating a curved surface to a predetermined depth along a cutting axis with a countersink cutter, the countersink cutter having a rotating cutter body, the method comprises:
- a) engaging a countersink cage having two annular segments to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body, the engaging step comprising the steps of:
- 1) defining a top cage member with a top aperture and a bottom cage member with a bottom aperture;
- 2) aligning the top and bottom apertures to each other;
- 3) receiving the rotating cutter body axially through the top and bottom apertures;
- and
- 4) adjusting the countersink cage along the rotating cutter body so as to facilitate in penetrating the curved surface to the predetermined depth, the adjusting step comprising the steps of:
- i) obtaining a set block having a pin mounted thereon;
- ii) positioning the countersink cage on the pin through the top aperture;
- iii) partially pushing the rotating cutter body with the pin;
- iv) removing the countersink cage from the set block;
- v) engaging a drill tool to the rotating cutter body;
- and
- vi) engaging the top cage member to the rotating cutter body.
- b) penetrating the curved surface with the rotating cutter body along the cutting axis;
- and
- c) contacting the curved surface with the two annular segments when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough to the predetermined depth.
A method of penetrating a curved surface to a predetermined depth along a cutting axis with a countersink cutter, the countersink cutter having a rotating cutter body, the method comprises:
- a) engaging a countersink cage having two annular segments to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body;
- b) penetrating the curved surface with the rotating cutter body along the cutting axis;
- and
- c) contacting the curved surface with the two annular segments when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough to the predetermined depth, the contacting step further comprising the steps of:
- 1) defining a lower inner edge and a lower outer edge of the two annular segments, the lower inner edge being disposed adjacent the rotating cutter body, the lower outer edge being disposed opposite to the lower inner edge away from the rotating cutter body;
- and
- 2) contacting a convex curved surface with the lower inner edge when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough to the predetermined cutting depth.
A method of penetrating a curved surface to a predetermined depth along a cutting axis with a countersink cutter, the countersink cutter having a rotating cutter body, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) engaging a countersink cage having two annular segments to the countersink cutter along the rotating cutter body;
- b) penetrating the curved surface with the rotating cutter body along the cutting axis;
- and
- c) contacting the curved surface with the two annular segments when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough to the predetermined depth, the contacting step further comprising the steps of:
- 1) defining a lower inner edge and a lower outer edge of the two annular segments, the lower inner edge being disposed adjacent the rotating cutter body, the lower outer edge being disposed opposite to the lower inner edge away from the rotating cutter body;
- and
- 2) contacting a concave curved surface with the bottom portion when the rotating cutter body penetrates therethrough to the predetermined cutting depth.
A cage for controlling a cutter to penetrate to a predetermined depth through a surface, the cage comprising:
- a cage having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving a rotating cutter body, the rotating cutter body being independently rotateable within the cage and axially fixed to the cage;
- and
- at least two contact members extending from the cage, each contact member defining a lower inner and outer edge to control a penetration of the rotating cutter body to a predetermined depth through a concave and a convex curved surface, the lower inner edge being disposed adjacent the rotating cutter body for supporting the cage upon a convex curved surface, the lower outer edge being disposed adjacent the lower inner edge for supporting the cage upon a concave curved surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.