U.S. patent application number 09/917998 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-15 for material removing tool.
Invention is credited to Steiger, Marco, Suter, David.
Application Number | 20010041524 09/917998 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46257839 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010041524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steiger, Marco ; et
al. |
November 15, 2001 |
Material removing tool
Abstract
A material removing tool, such as a cutting or grinding tool,
adapted to be oscillated by the output shaft of a manually operable
motor-driven apparatus, is provided with at least one elongated
cutting edge defined by teeth or analogous cutting elements
arranged in at least one at least substantially straight linear
array.
Inventors: |
Steiger, Marco; (Uesslingen,
CH) ; Suter, David; (Turbenthal, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Peter K. Kontler
4401 Gulf Shore Blvd. North
Naples
FL
34103-3450
US
|
Family ID: |
46257839 |
Appl. No.: |
09/917998 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09917998 |
Jul 30, 2001 |
|
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|
09123759 |
Jul 27, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
451/356 ;
451/344; 451/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 83/9454 20150401;
B23D 61/006 20130101; B23D 61/12 20130101; B23D 61/123 20130101;
Y10T 83/8798 20150401; B28D 1/127 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/356 ;
451/344; 451/540 |
International
Class: |
B24B 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 21, 1997 |
CH |
01952/97 |
Oct 29, 1997 |
CH |
0252/97 |
May 28, 1997 |
CH |
01254/97 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tool for use with a manually operable material removing
apparatus having a power driven output shaft arranged to oscillate
about a predetermined axis, comprising: an elongated member having
a first section arranged to be mounted on said output shaft so that
the member extends in a direction at least substantially normal to
said predetermined axis, and a second section remote from said
first section and including at least one at least substantially
straight cutting edge at least sbstantially normal to said
direction.
2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said cutting edge is provided with
material removing elements selected from the group consisting of
cutting and grinding elements.
3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said material removing elements
comprise teeth.
4. The tool of claim 2, wherein said material removing elements
comprise industrial diamonds.
5. The tool of claim 2, wherein said material removing elements
comprise corundum.
6. The tool of claim 1, wherein said at least one at least
substantially straight cutting edge comprises two adjoining
sections disposed at an acute angle to each other.
7. The tool of claim 6, wherein said acute angle is between about
1.5.degree. and about 4.6.degree..
8. The tool of claim 7, wherein said acute angle is between about
1.5.degree. and about 2.degree..
9. The tool of claim 1, wherein at least a major part of said
elongated member is flat.
10. The tool of claim 9, wherein said first section of said
elongated member is provided with an aperture for said shaft.
11. The tool of claim 10, wherein said elongated member is provided
with a step intermediate said first and second sections thereof,
said step having a predetermined height and further comprising a
fastener arranged to attach said first section to said shaft and
extending beyond said elongated member through a distance at least
approximating said height.
12. The tool of claim 1, wherein said elongated member comprises
means for facilitating removal of material cut by said cutting
edge.
13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said removal facilitating means
comprises at least one slot provided in said elongated member and
extending between said first and second sections.
14. The tool of claim 12, wherein said at least one cutting edge
has first and second ends and said removal facilitating means
comprises recessed portions at said ends of said at least one
cutting edge intermediate said first and second sections.
15. The tool of claim 1, wherein said elongated member has an at
least substantially constant width at least between said first and
second sections thereof.
16. The tool of claim 1, wherein said member has a substantially
trapeziform outline.
17. The tool of claim 1, wherein said elongated member further
comprises a third section disposed between said first and second
sections and having a first width, at least one of said first and
second sections having a second width different from said first
width.
18. A tool kit for use with a manually operable material removing
apparatus having a power-driven output shaft arranged to oscillate
about a predetermined axis, comprising a plurality of discrete
tools each including an elongated member having a first section
arranged to be nonrotatably and separably mounted on said output
shaft in a position in which said member extends in a direction at
least substantially normal to said predetermined axis, and a second
section comprising at least one at least substantially straight
cutting edge at least substantially normal to said direction upon
mounting of the respective first section on said output shaft.
19. The kit of claim 18, wherein said tools have different
parameters including at least one of the widths, the distances
between the first sections and the cutting edges, and the lengths
of the cutting edges thereof.
20. The kit of claim 18, wherein at least one of said tools has
means for facilitating evacuation of material being removed by the
cutting edge of the at least one tool in actual use of the at least
one tool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus
of the kind in which a material removing tool is arranged to move
relative to a workpiece, and more particularly to improvements in
apparatus in which a material removing tool (such as a cutting or
grinding tool) is arranged to be mounted on a motor-driven output
shaft and carry out oscillatory movements when in actual use.
[0002] Prior art is replete with disclosures of apparatus or
implements which are provided with material removing tools arranged
to be mounted on the output shafts of the apparatus and being
adapted to execute oscillatory movements. In many instances, the
oscillatory movement involves a back-and-forth movement through
about two angular degrees at a frequency of about 20,000
oscillations per minute. Such conventional apparatus may be
designed for numerous applications, or they are constructed for
specific applications. Many conventional apparatus are used to
remove, without causing damage, bonded windshields from automobile
bodies, to saw, cut or grind across or through parts of automobile
bodies, to cut gaps into tiles, and so forth.
[0003] The material removing parts (such as blades) of conventional
tools resemble spoons or sickles; but the cutting portions engaging
a workpiece are always curved, the curvature of the cutting portion
either corresponding to that of the path of movement executed by
the tool or being inclined relative thereto. While the just
described tools can be put to many uses, they are not suited for
the making of accurate laterally limited and definable recesses or
grooves in a workpiece.
[0004] An apparatus or implement for use with a grinding tool is
disclosed in published German patent application Serial No. A 44 15
848. The underside of such apparatus can be adjacent an angular saw
blade which is arranged to perform cuts for removing the lower ends
of door frames when laying hardwood floors. Since oscillating
grinders execute rotary movements, they cannot be used to form
precisely defined recesses or grooves.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus or implement which can employ a material removing (such
as a cutting and/or grinding) tool that is more versatile than
heretofore known apparatus of such character.
[0006] A more specific object of the invention is to provide a
novel and improved cutting and/or grinding tool which can make in a
workpiece cuts with clean (such as accurately defined) lateral
edges.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a material
removing (such as cutting or grinding) tool for forming in any of a
variety of different workpieces grooves bounded by accurately
defined walls.
[0008] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
material removing (such as a cutting or a grinding) tool which is
capable of forming recesses bounded by plane surfaces and extending
at right angles to a selected surface of a workpiece.
[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a tool kit
with two or more different tools which can be utilized selectively
in a single apparatus to carry out any one of a plurality of
different cutting, grinding and analogous material removing
operations.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the
above outlined character with novel and improved means for
facilitating and/or inducing controlled and predictable evacuation
of chips, shavings, granules and/or other fragments of material
from the locale of contact between the tool and a workpiece.
[0011] An additional object of the invention is to provide a
simple, compact and inexpensive tool which can be put to use for
controlled removal of material from hard-to-reach parts of wooden,
metallic, plastic and/or other types of workpieces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the
invention, there is provided a material removing tool in which at
least one material removing (such as cutting or grinding) edge is
remote from the axis about which the tool oscillates and is
provided with at least one linear array of saw teeth or analogous
material removing parts disposed along at least one at least
substantially straight line.
[0013] By means of the straight-line arrangement of the material
removing parts at the material removing (such as cutting) edge or
edges, and by a tangential disposition of the cutting edge or edges
with respect to the fulcrum for the tool, it is now possible to
perform a cutting action in a plane which is parallel to a surface
of a workpiece and thus to form rectangular recesses and cuts even
in the corners of workpieces. Depending upon the structure of its
material removing parts, the tool can be utilized for controlled
removal of material from wood, gypsum or plaster of paris,
composite materials, stones and metallic parts.
[0014] In accordance with another presently preferred embodiment of
the invention, the saw teeth or other suitable material removing
parts are disposed along two or more straight lines at an angle
relative to each other. This renders it possible to form a bottom
surface extending at least substantially at right angles relative
to a recess or cutting surface and being parallel to the surface
bounding a groove or a recess.
[0015] Lateral tapering of the tool and/or the provision of at
least one (e.g., a central longitudinal) cut within the cutting
tool permit for an otimum chip removal and prevent jamming of the
tool between the surfaces formed by the tool.
[0016] The tool is or can be provided with a taper at both sides
and preferably directly adjacent the material removing parts.
[0017] Alternatively, a longitudinal cut can be provided in the
center portion of the tool to receive the removed material and to
enable such material to move rearwardly.
[0018] Forward movement of the tool requires the exertion of a
relatively small force because the tool can automatically advance
into the workpiece.
[0019] For example, one can form cuts which are parallel to a given
surface from a surface extending at a desired angle to the given
surface.
[0020] A feature common to all or practically all presently
preferred embodiments of our invention is that the improved tool
can be put to use with a manually operable material removing
apparatus having a power driven output shaft (e.g., a shaft driven
by an electric or fluid-operated motor) arranged to oscillate about
a predetermined axis. The tool comprises an elongated member having
a first section arranged to be mounted on the output shaft so that
the member extends in a direction at least substantially normal to
the pedetermined axis, and a second section which is remote from
the first section and includes at least one at least substantially
straight cutting edge which is at least substantially normal to the
aforementioned direction.
[0021] The cutting edge is or can be provided with material
removing elements (such as teeth or industrial diamonds) which can
constitute cutting and/or grinding elements. It is also possible to
employ material removing elements which comprise corundum.
[0022] At least a major part of the aforementioned elongated member
is or can be flat, and the first section of such member is or can
be provided with an aperture (e.g., an aperture bounded by a
polygonal surface) for the shaft. Such elongated member can have an
at least substantially constant width, at least between its first
and second sections; it can have a substantially trapeziform
outline; or it can comprise a third section which is disposed
between the first and second sections and has a width different
from (e.g., less than) that of the first and/or second section.
[0023] A further feature of the present invention resides in the
provision of a tool kit which can be utilized with a manually
operable material removing apparatus having a power-driven output
shaft arranged to oscillate about a predetermined axis. The
improved tool kit comprises a plurality of discrete tools each
including an elongated member having a first section arranged to be
non-rotatably but separably mounted on the output shaft in a
position in which the elongated member extends in a direction at
least substantially at right angles to the predetermined axis, and
a second section comprising at least one at least substantially
straight cutting (material removing) edge which is at least
substantially normal to the aforementioned direction upon mounting
of the respective first section on the output shaft.
[0024] The tools of the kit have (or can have) different parameters
such as their widths, the distances between the first sections and
the respective cutting edges, and the lengths of their cutting
edges.
[0025] At least one of the tools constituting the kit can be
provided with the aforediscussed and/or other suitable means for
facilitating the evacuation of material being removed by the
cutting edge or edges of the at least one tool in actual use of the
at least one tool.
[0026] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of
the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.
The improved tools themselves, however, both as to their
construction and the modes of installing and utilizing the same,
together with numerous additional important and advantageous
features and attributes thereof, will be best understood upon
perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently
preferred specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus embodying
one form of the invention and having an oscillatable output shaft
mounting a material removing tool of the type shown in FIGS. 2 to
4;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus which is shown in
FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the tool;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen in the
direction of arrows from the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified tool;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third tool;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a tool having two rows of saw teeth
disposed at an acute angle to each other;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a tool which is similar to the tool
shown in FIG. 3;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a tool constituting a modification
of the tools shown in FIGS. 3 to 8;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a tool constituting a modification
of the tool which is illustrated in FIG. 7;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a tool constituting a modification
of the tool shown in FIG. 10;
[0038] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a tool constituting a simplified
modification of the material removing tool shown in FIG. 5; and
[0039] FIG. 13 is a sectional view substantially as seen in the
direction of arrows from the line XIII-XIII shown in FIG. 12.
DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] The motor-driven and manually operable implement or
apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 1 is provided with a housing including
a handle 3 confining a prime mover (not shown) and a section 5 for
a transmission (also not shown). The transmission is provided with
an output shaft 7 extending outwardly from the housing section 5.
At the free end of the shaft 7, there is provided a suitable tool
fastening means, such as a chuck or a bolt 9, for rigidly attaching
to the shaft a material removing tool 11. For example, the prime
mover may constitute an electric or a fluid-operated (such as
pneumatic) motor. The output shaft 7 is assumed to be adapted to
execute oscillatory movements abut an axis A within a range of
about two angular degrees and at a frequency which can be
infinitely adjustable between zero and 20,000 cycles per
minute.
[0041] One end section of the tool 11 is provided with a cutting
edge 13 defined by numerous teeth. As used herein, the term
"cutting edge" is intended to embrace one or more rows of teeth as
well as one or more rows of cutting edges or surfaces. Depending
upon its intended use, the cutting edge 13 may be defined by
cutting teeth, preferably cross ground teeth or sawteeth, by
industrial diamonds or, for work with metal, by corundum or other
abrasive substances. In the embodiment which is illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 4, the cutting tool 11 includes a substantially
trapezoidal flat elongated member 15 at the base of which the
cutting edge 13 is formed. Preferably, the flat member 15 is
provided with a step 17 the height h of which at least matches the
thickness d of the fastener 9. The length L of the cutting tool 11,
as measured between the section traversed by the axis A and the
section including the cutting edge 13, may vary, depending upon the
intended application of the tool. Of course, for the making of deep
cuts the length L has to be greater than for the formation of
shallow grooves. However, at a constant rotary angle of the
apparatus 1 a greater length L will result in a greater stroke H/2.
An optimum length is presently considered to be at last close to 80
mm. The maximum width B of the tool 11 (i.e., the length of the
cutting edge 13 of the tool 11 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4) may be 60 mm;
however, it may be much less for very small cuts and it will depend
upon the length L.
[0042] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the elongated tool 11a of
constant width has a straight cutting edge 13a and is provided with
parallel lateral edges 17a. An elongated slot 19 is provided at the
center (i.e., in the constant-width intermediate section between
the two end sections of the elongated member 15a) of the cutting
tool 11a for the removal of shavings, chips, dust and other
fragments of the material being cut.
[0043] In the tool 11b of FIG. 6, the lateral edges 17b of the
elongated member 15b are also parallel but nearer to each other
than at the two ends. The transition from the straight cutting edge
13b to each of the recessed lateral edges 17b extends along a
discrete connection 19b disposed at an angle .alpha. relative to
the respective lateral edge 17b. By narrowing the cutting tool 11b
in this manner, chips and other fragments of the material being
treated may escape and be removed along the lateral edges 17b.
[0044] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention
as depicted in FIG. 7, the tips of the teeth are not disposed on
the cutting edge 13c along a single straight line. Instead, the
cutting edge 13c includes two sections 21 disposed at an angle
.beta. to each other. The angle .beta. between the straight lines
connecting the teeth in each of the sections 21 is a small acute
angle. In an arrangement of the character described in connection
with and illustrated in FIG. 7, the angle .beta. may range between
1.5.degree. and 2.degree.. In short tools, the angle .beta. is
preferably greater than 2.degree. but should be less than 2.degree.
in shorter tools. In a blade having a length of 100 mm (as measured
between the fulcrum on the axis A and the cutting edge 13c), the
angle .beta. is preferably about 4.6.degree.. Depending upon its
selected width B, the cutting edge 13c may be divided into more
than two sections 21 with each pair of such sections disposed at an
angle .beta. with respect to each other. The plural angles .beta.
may but need not be identical with each other. For example, the
twin-section cutting edge 13c of the tool 11c shown in FIG. 7 can
be replaced with a more complex cutting edge including four
sections. Otherwise stated, each section 21 of the cutting edge 13c
can be replaced with two straight or at least substantially
straight subsections making an acute angle which matches or
approximates one of the two angles .beta. shown in FIG. 7.
[0045] As has already been mentioned hereinbefore, the design of
the cutting edges depends upon the material to be cut or ground.
Cutting edges having at least one linear array of at least three
teeth, for example, ground teeth or sawteeth, have been found to be
particularly advantageous for numerous material removing operations
such as those involving the cutting of wood or gypsum (plaster of
paris), for instance, at building construction sites; for forming
rectangular holes or recesses for the reception of pegs and the
like in beams, as is customary for joining beams; for removing
window frames to be replaced; and to form grooves for insertion of
panels as well as for many other uses. When working with composite
plastic materials or stones, cutting edges provided in the usual
manner with industrial diamonds have been found to be particularly
useful. Metal working has been found to be optimized by employing
tools having cutting edges of corundum. The cutting or abrading
material can be applied to the cutting edge (such as 13) by
resorting to processes familiar to those skilled in the art of
making cutting, grinding and other material removing tools of the
kind here under consideration.
[0046] The material removing tool 11' of FIG. 8 is a cutting tool
having an at least substantially straight cutting edge 13' defined
by at least one row of teeth, e.g., teeth of the type suitable for
the making of cuts in wood or plastic material. The reference
character 17' denotes a step provided at the rear portion or
section of the elongated metallic member 15' of the tool 11',
namely at the portion having an opening 23' serving to
non-rotatably receive an oscillatable shaft corresponding to the
shaft 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The acute angle enclosed by the
lateral marginal portions 25a', 25b' of the major portion
(trapezoidal flat member) 15' of the tool 11' is smaller than the
angle between the lateral marginal portions 25a, 25b of the flat
member 15 shown in FIG. 3 and/or the angle between the lateral
marginal portions 25a", 25b" of the elongated member 15" of the
tool 11" shown in FIG. 9.
[0047] The teeth at the material removing (cutting) edge 13' of the
tool 11' may but need not be identical with those at the cutting
edge 13 of the tool 11 and/or at the cutting edge 13" of the tool
11". The tools 11, 11' and 11" can be utilized interchangeably;
therefore, their steps 17' and their openings 23' are or can be
identical. The same, holds true for the tools 11b, 11b" and 11a'
which are respectively shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12-13, i.e., their
openings 23' can non-rotatably receive the shaft which is
non-rotatably receivable in the opening 23' of the tool 11' or
11".
[0048] The difference between the tools 11b', 11b" of FIGS. 10 and
11 on the one hand, and the tool 11b of FIG. 6 on the other hand,
is that the latter has a relatively short intermediate portion 15b
(namely the portion bounded by the parallel or substantially
parallel side edges 17b). The difference between the tools 11b' and
11b" is that the latter has a relatively long cutting edge 13c" (as
compared with the cutting edge 13c'). Furthermore, the intermediate
portion or section of at least one of these tools can be provided
with an elongated slot (see the slot 19c' which is shown in FIG. 10
by phantom lines).
[0049] The difference between the tool 11a of FIG. 5 and the tool
11a' of FIGS. 11-12 is that the intermediate section of the latter
does not have a slot 19 as well as that its overall length (between
the axis of the shaft non-rotatably receivable in the opening 23'
and the cutting edge 13a') is much less than the overall length of
the intermediate section of the member 15a of the tool 11a.
[0050] To work with the material removing tool in accordance with
the invention is a simple procedure. For instance, if hardwood or
parquetry or some other kind of cover is to be applied to the floor
of a room, and the cover is to extend below an existing door frame,
threshold or molding, a groove flush with the floor may be cut or
otherwise formed by inserting the rim or margin of the floor cover
into it. Not only can such a groove be formed parallel to the
cutting edge (such as the cutting edge 13), but it may also be cut
in corner sections thus eliminating the need for work with a chisel
or the like. The material removing tool, especially if it is
provided with a cutting edge having ground teeth or sawteeth, will
move into the material to be cut almost automatically, i.e., in
response to the exertion of a relatively small force. The straight
cutting edge or edges ensures or ensure a uniform depth of the
groove or recess even in the corner sections of a structure. By
comparison, if similar grooves are formed by a round or curved
cutting tool, their depth does not diminish in the corner areas and
they also fail to provide the clean cut edges achieved with an
apparatus employing the tool of the present invention.
[0051] All (or at least some) of the tools shown in FIGS. 1 to 13
can form part of a kit for use with one and the same apparatus,
such as the apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2. All that is necessary is
to provide a separable connection (such as the fastening means 9)
and identical openings 23'. The just discussed feature also ensures
that a defective tool (such as the tool 11) can be replaced with an
identical new tool or with an identical used tool 11.
[0052] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal
the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications
without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art,
fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and
specific aspects of the above outlined contribution to the art of
making naterial removing tools and, therefore, such adaptations
should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and
range of equivalence of the appended claims.
* * * * *