Hybrid threading tool with cutting portion and rolling portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465221-B2
Application number	US-202017134957-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2020
Priority date	Dec 28, 2020
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A hybrid threading tool defines a longitudinal axis and includes a cutting portion with a plurality of cutting teeth. The plurality of cutting teeth are configured to cut a first threading into a workpiece. The hybrid threading tool also defines a forming portion that is attached to the cutting portion and that is arranged therewith along the longitudinal axis. The forming portion includes a plurality of forming teeth configured to plastically deform the first threading into a second threading for the workpiece.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid threading tool that defines a longitudinal axis comprising:
a cutting portion with a first end and a second end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the cutting portion including a plurality of cutting teeth, the plurality of cutting teeth configured to cut a first threading into a workpiece;
a forming portion with a third end and a fourth end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the third end being attached to the second end of the cutting portion at a junction, the forming portion arranged with the cutting portion along the longitudinal axis, the forming portion including a plurality of forming teeth configured to plastically deform the first threading into a second threading for the workpiece; and
wherein the cutting portion and the forming portion have different material characteristics that are different at the junction.

2. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of cutting teeth at the second end of the cutting portion is continuously connected to the plurality of forming teeth at the third end of the forming portion.

3. The hybrid threading tool of claim 2 , wherein the cutting portion is tapered along the longitudinal axis.

4. The hybrid threading tool of claim 3 , wherein the cutting portion is entirely tapered at a single taper angle from the first end to the second end.

5. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting portion has a first major diameter and the forming portion has a second major diameter; and
wherein the first major diameter is, at most, between eighty percent (80%) and ninety-five percent (95%) of the second major diameter.

6. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting portion and the forming portion are integrally connected.

7. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting portion and the forming portion are made of different materials.

8. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting portion and the forming portion have different heat treatments that provide the different material characteristics.

9. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting portion has higher hardness than the forming portion, and wherein the forming portion has higher material toughness than the cutting portion.

10. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cutting teeth is arranged in a first land and a second land, and further comprising a chip opening defined circumferentially between the first land and the second land, the chip opening extending along the longitudinal axis through the cutting portion and configured to receive chips from the cutting of the first threading, the chip opening extending along the longitudinal axis into the forming portion.

11. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , further comprising a shank; and
wherein the plurality of cutting teeth and the plurality of forming teeth are attached to the shank and extend outward radially therefrom and away from the longitudinal axis to define a hybrid male threading tap.

12. The hybrid threading tool of claim 1 , further comprising a support body; and
wherein the plurality of cutting teeth and the plurality of forming teeth are attached to the support body and extend inward radially therefrom and toward the longitudinal axis to define a female threading die.

13. A hybrid threading tool for threading a main bearing bolt hole of an engine block, the threading tool defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a cutting portion with a first end and a second end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the cutting portion including a plurality of cutting teeth, the cutting portion being tapered, the plurality of cutting teeth configured to cut a first threading into the main bearing bolt hole at a first major diameter;
a forming portion with a third end and a fourth end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the third end being attached to the second end of the cutting portion at a junction, the forming portion arranged with the cutting portion along the longitudinal axis, the forming portion including a plurality of forming teeth configured to plastically deform the first threading into a second threading for the main bearing bolt hole, the second threading having a second major diameter, the first major diameter being, at most, ninety-five percent (95%) of the second major diameter; and
wherein the cutting portion and the forming portion have different material characteristics that are different at the junction, the cutting portion having higher hardness than the forming portion and the forming portion having higher material toughness than the cutting portion.

14. The hybrid threading tool of claim 13 , wherein the cutting portion is tapered along the longitudinal axis.

15. The hybrid threading tool of claim 14 , wherein the cutting portion is entirely tapered at a single taper angle from the first end to the second end.

16. The hybrid threading tool of claim 13 , wherein the cutting portion and the forming portion are integrally connected.

17. The hybrid threading tool of claim 13 , wherein the cutting portion and the forming portion have different heat treatments that provide the different material characteristics.

18. The hybrid threading tool of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of cutting teeth is arranged in a first land and a second land, and further comprising a chip opening defined circumferentially between the first land and the second land, the chip opening extending along the longitudinal axis through the cutting portion and configured to receive chips from the cutting of the first threading, the chip opening extending along the longitudinal axis into the forming portion.

19. The hybrid threading tool of claim 13 , further comprising a shank; and
wherein the plurality of cutting teeth and the plurality of forming teeth are attached to the shank and extend outward radially therefrom and away from the longitudinal axis to define a hybrid male threading tap.

20. The hybrid threading tool of claim 13 , wherein the third end is attached to the second end at a weldment.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wulbrecht David A
• Wang Qigui
• Munikamal Tiruttani
• Choudhary Lokesh

Classifications

• B21H3/042

  Thread-rolling heads · CPC title

• B23G1/00 Primary

  Thread cutting; Automatic machines specially designed therefor · CPC title

• B23G2200/143

  Tools comprising means for drilling · CPC title

• B23G5/20 Primary

  combined with other tools, e.g. drills {(B23G5/182 takes precedence; screws which drill and tap F16B25/00)} · CPC title

• B23G2200/26

  Coatings of tools · CPC title