Arbor for hole cutter and related method of use

An arbor for a hole cutter including an outer surface defining a threaded hole, and at least one pin hole spaced radially relative to the threaded hole, the arbor comprising:

• an axially-elongated arbor body including a first threaded portion formed on an end portion of the arbor body and defining a major thread diameter that is threadedly engageable with the threaded hole of the hole cutter, a shoulder formed adjacent to the first threaded portion and spaced radially outwardly therefrom, a drive shank formed on another end portion of the arbor body, and at least one first bearing surface extending axially along a portion of the arbor body between the shoulder and drive shank;
• a pin ring defining an aperture extending therethrough, an axial bearing surface formed on one side of the pin ring, at least one drive pin radially spaced relative to the aperture and extending axially from the axial bearing surface, and a second bearing surface forming at least a portion of a periphery of the aperture, wherein the arbor body is receivable within the aperture of the pin ring with at least one of the pin ring and arbor body being axially movable relative to the other, at least one of the first and second bearing surfaces is engageable with the other for preventing the pin ring and arbor body from rotating relative to each other, the at least one drive pin is receivable within the at least one pin hole of the hole cutter, at least one of the second and axial bearing surfaces is movable axially over the shoulder of the arbor body and is engageable with the major diameter of the first threaded portion of the arbor body, and the axial bearing surface of the pin ring is engageable with the hole cutter with the at least one drive pin received within the at least one corresponding pin hole;
• a locking member engageable with the arbor body for releasably securing the axial bearing surface of the pin ring in engagement with the hole cutter;
• and
• an o-ring receivable on the arbor body between the locking member and pin ring to facilitate securing the locking member and pin ring to the hole cutter.

An arbor for a hole cutter including an outer surface defining a threaded hole, and at least one pin hole spaced radially relative to the threaded hole, the arbor comprising:

• an axially-elongated arbor body including a first threaded portion formed on an end portion of the arbor body and defining a major thread diameter that is threadedly engageable with the threaded hole of the hole cutter, a shoulder formed adjacent to the first threaded portion and spaced radially outwardly therefrom a drive shank formed on another end portion of the arbor body, and at least one first bearing surface extending axially along a portion of the arbor body between the shoulder and drive shank;
• a pin ring defining an aperture extending therethrough, an axial bearing surface formed on one side of the pin ring, at least one drive pin radially spaced relative to the aperture and extending axially from the axial bearing surface, and a second bearing surface forming at least a portion of a periphery of the aperture, wherein the arbor body is receivable within the aperture of the pin ma with at least one of the pin ring and arbor body being axially movable relative to the other, at least one of the first and second bearing surfaces is engageable with the other for preventing the pin ring and arbor body from rotating relative to each other, the at least one drive pin is receivable within the at least one pin hole of the hole cutter, at least one of the second and axial bearing surfaces is movable axially over the shoulder of the arbor body and is engageable with the major diameter of the first threaded portion of the arbor body, and the axial bearing surface of the pin ring is engageable with the hole cutter with the at least one drive pin received within the at least one corresponding pin hole;
• and
• a locking member engageable with the arbor body for releasably securing the axial bearing surface of the pin ring in engagement with the hole cutter,
• wherein the second bearing surface defines a chamfered portion engageable with the first threaded portion of the arbor body.

An arbor for a hole cutter including an outer surface defining a threaded hole, and at least one pin hole spaced radially relative to the threaded hole, the arbor comprising:

• an arbor body including a threaded end portion threadedly engageable with the threaded hole of the hole cutter, a stop surface formed adjacent to the threaded end portion and spaced radially outwardly therefrom, a drive shank located on another end portion of the arbor body, and a first bearing surface extending axially along a portion of the arbor body between the stop surface and drive shank;
• a pin support member including an aperture formed therethrough, a second bearing surface formed on one side thereof, at least one pin extending outwardly of the second bearing surface, and a third bearing surface formed adjacent to the aperture, wherein the arbor body is receivable within the aperture of the pin support member with at least one of the pin support member and arbor body being axially movable relative to the other, at least one of the first and third bearing surfaces is engageable with the other for preventing relative rotation of the pin support member and arbor body, the at least one pin is receivable within the at least one pin hole of the hole cutter, at least one of the second and third bearing surfaces is movable axially over the stop surface of the arbor body in a first direction, is engageable with a peripheral surface of the threaded end portion of the arbor body and is thereby prevented from further axial movement relative to the arbor body in the first direction, and the second bearing surface of the pin support member is abuttingly engageable with the hole cutter with the at least one pin received within the at least one corresponding pin hole of the hole cutter;
• and
• a locking member coupled to the arbor body for releasably securing the pin support member to the hole saw.

An arbor for a hole cutter including an outer surface defining a threaded hole, and at least one pin hole spaced radially relative to the threaded hole, the arbor comprising:

• an arbor body including a threaded end portion threadedly engageable with the threaded hole of the hole cutter, a stop surface formed adjacent to the threaded end portion and spaced radially outwardly therefrom, a drive shank located on another end portion of the arber body, and a first bearing surface extending axially along a portion of the arbor body between the stop surface and drive shank;
• a pin support member including an aperture formed therethrough, a second bearing surface formed on one side thereof, at least one pin extending outwardly of the second bearing surface, and a third bearing surface formed adjacent to the aperture, wherein the arbor body is receivable within the aperture of the pin support member with at least one of the pin support member and arbor body being axially movable relative to the other, at least one of the first and third bearing surfaces is engageable with the other for preventing relative rotation of the pin support member and arbor body, the at least one pin is receivable within the at least one pin hole of the hole cutter, at least one of the second and third bearing surfaces is movable axially over the stop surface of the arbor body and is engageable with a peripheral surface of the threaded end portion of the arbor body, and the second bearing surface of the pin support member is abuttingly engageable with the hole cutter with the at least one pin received within the at least one corresponding pin hole of the hole cutter;
• and
• a locking member coupled to the arbor body for releasably securing the pin support member to the hole saw,
• wherein the third bearing surface defines a chamfered portion engageable with the threaded end portion of the arbor body.

An arbor for a hole cutter including an outer surface defining a threaded hole, and at least one drive surface hole spaced radially relative to the threaded hole, the arbor comprising:

• an arbor body including first means for threadedly engaging the threaded hole of the hole cutter;
• second means for stopping further axial movement of the hole cutter relative to the arbor body upon threadedly engaging the first means to the hole cutter;
• and third means for connecting the arbor to a power tool for rotatably driving the arbor and hole cutter connected thereto;
• a drive member connectable between the arbor body and hole cutter;
• the drive member including an aperture formed therethrough for receiving the arbor body and allowing axial movement of at least one of the drive member and arbor body relative to the other;
• fourth means for preventing relative rotation of the arbor body and drive member, wherein the fourth means is movable axially over the second means in a first direction, is engageable with the first means of the arbor body and is thereby prevented from further axial movement relative to the arbor body in the first direction;
• at least one drive surface extending outwardly of the drive member and receivable within the at least one drive surface hole of the hole cutter;
• and fifth means for abuttingly engaging the hole cutter with the at least one drive surface received within the at least one corresponding drive surface hole of the hole cutter;
• and
• a locking member coupled to the arbor body for releasably securing the drive member to the hole cutter.

A method for attaching an arbor to a hole cutter, wherein the hole cutter comprises an outer surface defining a threaded hole;

• and at least one drive pin hole spaced radially relative to the threaded hole;
• and the arbor comprises an arbor body including a threaded end portion, and a stop surface formed adjacent to the threaded end portion and spaced radially outwardly therefrom;
• a pin support member including an aperture formed therethrough, a second bearing surface formed on one side thereof, at least one pin extending through and outwardly of the second bearing surface, wherein a portion of the second bearing surface is contiguous to the at least one pin, and a third bearing surface formed adjacent to the aperture, wherein at least one of the second and third bearing surfaces is axially movable over the stop surface of the arbor body and engageable with the threaded end portion thereof and a locking member coupled to the arbor body;
• the method comprising the following steps:
• threadedly connecting the end portion of the arbor body to the threaded hole of the hole cutter until the hole cutter contacts the stop surface of the arbor body;
• unthreading the end portion of the arbor body from the threaded hole of the hole cutter and aligning the at least one pin of the pin support member with the at least one corresponding pin hole of the hole cutter;
• moving the pin support member and the at least one pin extending through and outwardly of the second bearing surface thereof axially over the arbor body and toward the hole cutter until the at least one pin is received within the at least one corresponding pin hole of the hole cutter and the second bearing surface including the portion of the second bearing surface contiguous to the at least one pin abuttingly engages the hole cutter;
• and
• moving the locking member axially over the arbor body and toward the pin support member and releasably securing with the locking member the second bearing surface of the pin support member including the portion of the second bearing surface contiguous to the at least one pin in abutting engagement with the hole cutter.