Debris collection for a milling process
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsWesley E. Holleman, Nicholas Ryan Farrell, Gary Lipczynski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A debris removal apparatus for a milling machine. In one embodiment, the debris removal apparatus includes a hollow, cylindrical suction member that attaches to a tool shaft which holds an end mill to rotate with the tool shaft. The debris removal apparatus further includes a nonrotating canister that applies a suction force to the suction member. The suction member is dimensioned to fit within a hole being cut by the end mill as the end mill is fed into the hole, and to extract debris created by the end mill via the suction force.
Claims20
A debris removal apparatus comprising:
- a hollow, cylindrical suction member comprising a suction tube that attaches to a tool shaft to rotate with the tool shaft, wherein the suction tube attaches to the tool shaft by spacer tabs that define a clearance between the suction tube and the tool shaft;
- and
- a nonrotating canister that applies a suction force to the suction member;
- wherein the tool shaft holds an end mill;
- wherein the suction member is dimensioned to fit within a hole being cut by the end mill as the end mill is fed into the hole, and to extract debris created by the end mill via the suction force.
A debris removal apparatus comprising:
- a suction member comprising a hollow cylindrical suction tube that slides over a tool shaft which holds an end mill, and attaches to the tool shaft to rotate with the tool shaft with spacer tabs that define a clearance between the suction tube and the tool shaft, wherein the suction member includes a first end proximal to the end mill, and includes a second end distal from the end mill;
- a nonrotating canister that encloses a volume around a portion of the suction member proximate to the second end, wherein the nonrotating canister includes:
- an enclosure;
- a first circular opening in the enclosure for the suction member to pass through;
- a first rotary coupling for the first circular opening to allow the suction member to rotate within the first circular opening;
- and
- a suction port in the enclosure that attaches to a suction device;
- wherein the first end of the suction member includes at least one intake aperture to draw debris created by the end mill into the clearance between an outer diameter of the tool shaft and an inner diameter of the suction tube;
- wherein the second end of the suction member includes at least one outlet aperture to expel the debris from the clearance and into the nonrotating canister.
A milling machine comprising:
- a drive mechanism;
- a spindle driven at a first end by the drive mechanism to rotate about an axis;
- a cutting tool gripped by a second end of the spindle, wherein the cutting tool includes a tool shaft and a removable end mill;
- and
- a debris removal apparatus comprising:
- a suction member having a first end proximal to the end mill, and a second end distal from the end mill, the suction member comprising:
- a suction tube that is a hollow cylinder;
- a first connecting collar that attaches one end of the suction tube to the tool shaft proximal to the end mill;
- and
- a second connecting collar that attaches another end of the suction tube to the tool shaft distal from the end mill;
- wherein the first connecting collar includes spacer tabs that define a clearance between the suction tube and the tool shaft;
- wherein gaps between the spacer tabs define at least one intake aperture that draws debris created by the end mill into an interior of the suction member;
- and
- a nonrotating canister that applies a suction force to the suction member;
- wherein the suction member is dimensioned to fit within a hole being cut by the end mill as the end mill is fed into the hole, and to extract the debris created by the end mill via the suction force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.