U.S. patent application number 12/036952 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for self aligning tap.
This patent application is currently assigned to JORE CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kahl David Chirico.
Application Number | 20090215544 12/036952 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40998880 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090215544 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chirico; Kahl David |
August 27, 2009 |
SELF ALIGNING TAP
Abstract
A tap for forming threads in a workpiece is provided. The tap
includes a shank having a first end adapted for insertion in a hand
tool and a second end. The tap also includes a threaded shaft
portion extending from the second end of the shank, the shaft
portion includes a substantially uniform diameter and threads. The
tap further includes a substantially cylindrical tip extending from
the shaft portion. The tip has a diameter less than the diameter of
the shaft portion and a length sufficient to co-axially align the
tap with an sized opening of a workpiece to be tapped.
Inventors: |
Chirico; Kahl David;
(Polson, MT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTENSEN, O'CONNOR, JOHNSON, KINDNESS, PLLC
1420 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 2800
SEATTLE
WA
98101-2347
US
|
Assignee: |
JORE CORPORATION
Ronan
MT
|
Family ID: |
40998880 |
Appl. No.: |
12/036952 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
470/199 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23G 5/062 20130101;
B23G 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
470/199 |
International
Class: |
B21J 13/02 20060101
B21J013/02 |
Claims
1. A tap for forming threads in a workpiece, the tap comprising:
(a) a shank having a first end adapted for insertion in a hand tool
and a second end; (b) a threaded shaft portion extending from the
second end of the shank, the shaft portion having a substantially
uniform diameter and threads; and (c) a substantially cylindrical
tip extending from the shaft portion, the tip having a diameter
less than the diameter of the shaft portion and a length sufficient
to co-axially align the tap with an sized opening of a workpiece to
be tapped.
2. The tap of claim 1, further comprising at least one flute
alternating with the threads.
3. The tap of claim 2, wherein the at least one flute is a helical
flute.
4. The tap of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of flutes
alternating with the threads.
5. The tap of claim 4, wherein the plurality of flutes are helical
in shape.
6. A self-aligning tap for forming threads in a suitably-sized
opening, the tap comprising: (a) a shank having a first end and a
second end; (b) a tang extending from the first end of the shank;
(c) a substantially cylindrical shaft portion having a
substantially uniform diameter and including a threaded portion
extending from the second end of the shank; and (d) a substantially
cylindrical tip extending from the shaft, the tip having a diameter
less than the diameter of the shaft portion and a tip length less
than a length of the shaft portion.
7. The tap of claim 6, further comprising at least one flute
alternating with threads of the threaded portion.
8. The tap of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of flutes
alternating with threads of the threaded portion.
9. The tap of claim 7, wherein the at least one flute is a helical
flute.
10. A self-aligning tap for forming threads in a suitably-sized
opening, the tap comprising: (a) a shank having a first end adapted
for insertion in a hand tool capable of producing a rotational
motion and a second end; (b) a substantially cylindrical shaft
extending from the second end of the shank, the shaft having a
substantially uniform diameter and threads; and (c) means for
aligning the tap with an opening in a workpiece.
11. The tap of claim 11, further comprising at least one flute
alternating with the threads.
12. The tap of claim 12, wherein at least one flute is a helical
flute.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Taps are known in the market and have a number of
variations. Shank configurations of taps vary from the standard
four-sided shank to hex shanks. Different flute styles are
available for the threaded portion of the tap, such as straight
flutes and helical flutes, with one or more flutes possible per
tap. Even though variations exist, taps can all be reduced to three
common types: standard taps, bottoming taps, and "draps" (i.e.,
drill-tap combinations).
[0002] Standard taps and bottoming taps, however, require the use
of a drill press or mill. A drill press or mill is necessary to
ensure that the tap is used on the same axis as the drill bit used
to drill the opening to be tapped, so that the opening is tapped
straight, not crooked. The necessity of using a drill press or mill
can limit the usefulness of these taps.
[0003] Draps combine a tap with a drill into a single tool. The
front of the tool is a drill bit of approximately one half of an
inch in length, followed by a tap. Draps are, however, limited to
use with thin-wall material where the drill bit can clear the
material before the tap portion comes in contact with the material.
Because it advances at a constant rate, the tap portion of a drap
would bind the drill bit portion to the material if both portions
of the drap were in contact with the material at the same time.
SUMMARY
[0004] A tap for forming threads in a workpiece is provided. The
tap includes a shank having a first end adapted for insertion in a
hand tool and a second end. The tap also includes a threaded shaft
portion extending from the second end of the shank, the shaft
portion includes a substantially uniform diameter and threads. The
tap further includes a substantially cylindrical tip extending from
the shaft portion. The tip has a diameter less than the diameter of
the shaft portion and a length sufficient to co-axially align the
tap with an sized opening of a workpiece to be tapped.
[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify
key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to
be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become better understood by reference to the
following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a self-aligning tap
constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an end planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a self-aligning tap
constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the
present disclosure and showing two flutes alternating with the
threads;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 4;
[0012] FIG. 6 is an end planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a self-aligning tap
constructed in accordance with a second alternate embodiment of the
present disclosure and showing four flutes alternating with the
threads;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a side planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 7;
[0015] FIG. 9 is an end planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 7;
[0016] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a self-aligning tap
constructed in accordance with a third alternate embodiment of the
present disclosure and showing two helical flutes alternating with
the threads;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a side planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 10; and
[0018] FIG. 12 is an end planar view of the self-aligning tap of
FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a tap 10 constructed in accordance with
one embodiment of the present disclosure. The tap 10 is suitably
fabricated from hardened tool steel, hardened cast steel, cast
aluminum or some other material capable of withstanding the
application of torque and tensile forces. Such a tap 10 includes a
shank 12 with a tang 14 or other suitable projection adapted for
insertion in a drill or other hand tool capable of producing a
rotational motion along the axis of the tap 10. The tap 10 also
includes a threaded shaft portion 16 that is substantially
cylindrical in shape and of substantially uniform diameter. One of
skill in the art will appreciate that a variety of standard
diameters are available and can be employed, such as 1/4 inch, 5/8
inch, etc., and that specialized diameters are possible as
well.
[0020] The tap 10 also includes a substantially cylindrically
shaped alignment tip 20 of substantially uniform diameter. The
alignment tip 20 is suitably smaller in diameter than the threaded
shaft portion 16. The diameter of the alignment tip 20 corresponds
substantially to the diameter of an opening in a workpiece, such as
wood, to be tapped.
[0021] The alignment tip 20 is preferably of a length sufficient to
ensure that the length of the tap 10 is co-axial with the opening
to be tapped. The alignment tip 20 should not, however, be so long
that a substantial portion of a blind hole or other similar opening
remains untapped as a result of the excessive length of the
alignment tip 20. Accordingly, it is envisioned that the length of
the alignment tip 20 is substantially equal to or greater than the
diameter of the alignment tip 20. As a non-limiting example, if the
alignment tip 20 is 1/4 inch in diameter, then the length of the
alignment tip 20 is at least 1/4 inch.
[0022] Such a ratio, based on the present teachings, is within the
skill of one in the art and, therefore, a multitude of
configurations are within the scope of the present disclosure and
will vary according to the size of the tap 10. Further, a number of
shapes in addition to a circular shape can be used for the tip,
such as a regular hexagon, a regular nonagon, and a regular
decagon.
[0023] Use of the tap 10 may be best understood by referring to
FIGS. 1-3. The alignment tip 20 is inserted in the opening to be
tapped. The drill or other suitable hand tool (not shown) is
activated and the tap 10 begins rotating. The alignment tip 20
serves to align the tap 10 with the opening such that the threaded
shaft portion 16 is aligned coaxially with the length of the
opening as it is being tapped. In this way, the threads formed in
the opening by the tap 10 as the threaded shaft portion 16 advances
into the opening are substantially orthogonal in relation to the
axis of the opening.
[0024] A tap 30 constructed in accordance with an alternate
embodiment of the present disclosure may be best understood by
referring to FIGS. 4-6. The tap 30 is substantially identical in
materials and operation as the tap 10 described with respect to
FIGS. 1-3, with the following exception. Specifically, the tap 30
includes flutes 40. The flutes 40, of which there are two, act to
channel chips out of the opening during operation of the tap 30.
The flutes 40 carry the chips up from the cutting edge to the top
of the hole where they are cast off. The flutes 40 additionally
provide cutting edges and channels for lubrication.
[0025] A tap 50 constructed in accordance with another alternate
embodiment of the present disclosure may be best understood by
referring to FIGS. 7-9. The tap 50 is substantially identical in
materials and operation as the tap 30 described with respect to
FIGS. 4-6, with the following exception. Specifically, the tap 50
includes multiple flutes 60. As a non-limiting example, the tap 50
includes four flutes 60. As was the case in the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the flutes 60 serve to remove chips, and
to provide cutting edges and channels for lubrication.
[0026] A tap 70 constructed in accordance with yet another
alternate embodiment of the present disclosure may be best
understood by referring to FIGS. 10-12. The tap 70 is substantially
identical in materials and operation as the tap 50 described with
respect to FIGS. 7-9, with the following exception. Specifically,
the tap 70 includes a plurality of helical flutes 80. As will be
appreciated by one of skill in the art, helical flutes 80 are
particularly effective at removing chips. As will be further
appreciated by one of skill in the art, the number of helical
flutes 80 can vary, from a single helical flute to two or more and,
therefore, such embodiments are also within the scope of the
present disclosure.
[0027] The taps disclosed above generally includes a tip that is
slightly smaller in diameter than the opening to be tapped. The tip
thus acts as a guide for the tap, keeping it straight as the tap
enters the opening. The tip extends from the tap portion of the
device which is cylindrical, bears threads, and has a diameter
greater than the diameter of the tip. The tap is adapted for
insertion in a drill or other similar hand tool. This tap is
capable of tapping both a through hole and a blind hole.
* * * * *