Thread forming taps
AssigneeKennametal Inc.
InventorsYan Yan, Emmanuel Puviland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one aspect, thread forming taps are described herein. In some embodiments a thread forming tap comprises a shank disposed at a first end adapted to engage a tool holder and an elongated working portion disposed at a second end. The working portion comprises at least one helical thread and a plurality of longitudinally-extending linear grooves. The longitudinally-extending linear grooves intersect the helical thread forming a plurality of lobes, wherein adjacent lobes differ from one another in relief type and/or relief rate.
Claims23
A tap for forming internal threads in a workpiece through application of a compressive force and substantially without the generation of chips, the tap defining a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end disposed axially away from the first end, the tap comprising:
- a shank disposed at the first end and adapted to engage a tool holder;
- and
- an elongated working portion disposed at the second end comprising:
- at least one thread disposed helically about the working portion;
- a plurality of longitudinally-extending linear grooves disposed about the longitudinal axis, the linear grooves intersecting the at least one helical thread;
- and
- a plurality of lobes formed by the intersection of the linear grooves with the at least one helical thread;
- said lobes comprising lobes that are adjacent to one another along a circumferential direction of the elongated working portion;
- wherein said adjacent lobes differ from one another based on at least one of:
- relief type and relief rate;
- wherein in a first of said adjacent lobes all thread portions are defined by a first relief type or relief rate;
- and
- wherein in a second of said adjacent lobes all thread portions are defined by a second relief type or relief rate different from the first relief type or relief rate.
A tap for forming internal threads in a workpiece through application of a compressive force and substantially without the generation of chips, the tap defining a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end disposed axially away from the first end, the tap comprising:
- a shank disposed at the first end and adapted to engage a tool holder;
- and
- an elongated working portion disposed at the second end comprising:
- at least one thread disposed helically about the working portion;
- and
- a plurality of lobes disposed on the at least one thread about the longitudinal axis;
- said lobes comprising lobes that are adjacent to one another along a circumferential direction of the elongated working portion;
- wherein in a first of said adjacent lobes all thread portions are defined by a first relief type or relief rate;
- and
- wherein in a second of said adjacent lobes all thread portions are defined by a second relief type or relief rate different from the first relief type or relief rate.
A thread-forming tool comprising:
- a tool holder configured to receive a thread-forming tap;
- and
- a tap, coupled to the tool holder, for forming internal threads in a workpiece through application of a compressive force and substantially without the generation of chips, the tap defining a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end disposed axially away from the first end, the tap comprising:
- a shank disposed at the first end and adapted to engage the tool holder;
- and
- a working portion disposed at the second end comprising:
- at least one thread disposed helically about the working portion;
- a plurality of longitudinally-extending linear grooves disposed about the longitudinal axis, the linear grooves intersecting the at least one thread;
- and
- a plurality of lobes formed by the intersection of the linear grooves with the at least one thread;
- said lobes comprising lobes that are adjacent to one another along a circumferential direction of the elongated working portion;
- wherein said adjacent lobes differ from one another based on at least one of:
- relief type and relief rate;
- wherein in a first of said adjacent lobes all thread portions are defined by a first relief type or relief rate;
- and
- wherein in a second of said adjacent lobes all thread portions are defined by a second relief type or relief rate different from the first relief type or relief rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.