Shell cutter with replaceable inserts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026048441-A1
Application number	US-202418804632-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 14, 2024
Priority date	Aug 14, 2024
Publication date	Feb 19, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rotary shell cutter tool can include a cylindrical body defining a center axis extending through the body that further defines a cutting face, a cutting insert, and a cutting recess defined in the cutting face that extends axially into the cylindrical body from the cutting face. The cutting recess can be configured to receive the cutting insert. The rotary shell cutter tool can be configured to have replaceable cutting inserts which can be attached to the shell cutter via a flexure.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A rotary cutting tool comprising:
a substantially cylindrical body defining a center axis extending therethrough, the body comprising a cutting face; a cutting insert; and a cutting recess defined in the cutting face, the cutting recess extending axially into the substantially cylindrical body from the cutting face, the cutting recess configured to receive therein the cutting insert.

2 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting recess comprises a flexure, a fulcrum, and a clamping face.

3 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 2 , wherein the flexure, the fulcrum, and the clamping face are structured collectively to provide a clamping force operable to secure the cutting insert against the cutting face.

4 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 3 , wherein the cutting insert is secured between the flexure and the clamping face.

5 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 3 , wherein the fulcrum is configured to bias the flexure against the cutting insert.

6 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting recess comprises a substantially V-shaped forward surface configured to secure therein the cutting insert.

7 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting recess comprises a cam receptacle sizably configured to engage with a cam tool.

8 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 7 , wherein the cam tool is configured to, while so engaged with the cam, release a clamping force of the cutting recess.

9 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting insert comprises a substantially V-shaped rearward surface configured to engage with the cutting recess.

10 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting insert comprises a cutting edge extending outwardly in a direction relative to the cutting face, defining a positive rake angle.

11 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cutting recesses, the plurality of cutting recesses extending axially into the substantially cylindrical body from the cutting face.

12 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cutting recesses are spaced equidistantly about a periphery of the cutting face.

13 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener, wherein an insert fastener hole is defined in the cutting recess, and wherein the insert fastener hole receives the fastener to releasably secure the cutting insert to the cutting recess.

14 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 13 , wherein the fastener is a threaded bolt and the recess fastener hole is a threaded hole.

15 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 13 , wherein the fastener directly secures the cutting insert to the cutting recess.

16 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 15 , wherein the cutting recess defines a concave cutting relief extending from the cutting face of the substantially cylindrical body to a base of the cutting recess, and wherein the cutting insert comprises an insert base engaging the base of the cutting recess.

17 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 16 , wherein the cutting recess defines a concave locating feature, the concave locating feature defining an anti-rotation feature, and wherein the cutting insert defines a locating feature with a shape that is complementary to the anti-rotation feature of the locating feature of the cutting recess.

18 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 17 , wherein the anti-rotation feature is defined at a midpoint of the locating feature of the cutting recess and the anti-rotation feature defines a radius of curvature that is smaller than a radius of curvature of the locating feature of the cutting recess.

19 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 13 , wherein the fastener and the insert fastener hole extend in a direction parallel to the center axis of the substantially cylindrical body.

20 . The rotary cutting tool of claim 13 , wherein:
the cutting insert comprises an insert base defining a bolt portion; the bolt portion defines an insert fastener hole; and the fastener extends through the insert fastener hole to engage the recess fastener hole of the cutting recess.

21 . A cutting tool comprising:
an annular body rotatably centered about an axis, the body defining a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end comprising a cutting face; a plurality of cutting recesses defined circumferentially about the cutting face, each cutting recess defining a void; and a plurality of cutting inserts, each cutting insert disposed in the void of each cutting recess, each cutting insert sizably configured to form an interference fit with each void.

22 . The cutting tool of claim 21 , wherein the distal end of the annular body is configured to engage with a power tool.

23 . The cutting tool of claim 21 , wherein each cutting insert is canted relative to each cutting recess to define a rake angle.

24 . The cutting tool of claim 21 , wherein the interference fit of each cutting insert is configured to provide a clamping force which is operable to retain each cutting insert within the void of each cutting recess.

25 . The cutting tool of claim 24 , wherein each cutting insert, when engaged with a work surface, is configured to increase the clamping force of the interference fit.

26 . The cutting tool of claim 21 , further comprising a cam tool and a cam receptacle proximal to each cutting recess, the cam tool configured to engage the cam receptacle and temporarily disrupt the interference fit.

27 . The cutting tool of claim 21 , wherein the body comprises a sintered metallic material.

28 . The cutting tool of claim 21 , wherein the cutting insert comprises tungsten carbide.

29 . The cutting tool of claim 21 , wherein each cutting recess further comprises a locating feature that engages each cutting insert and is configured to locate each cutting insert relative to each cutting recess.

30 . A method of securing a cutting insert to a rotary tool, the method comprising:
providing a rotary cutting tool comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a cutting face, a cutting recess, a cam tool, and a first cutting insert; engaging the cam tool with the rotary cutting tool at the cutting recess; articulating the cam tool to elastically deform the cutting recess and release a clamping force; replacing the first cutting insert with a second cutting insert; and releasing the cam tool.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the cam tool is rotated in the cutting recess.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the first cutting insert defines a first shape, and the second cutting insert defines a second shape that is different from the first shape.

33 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the first cutting insert is configured to cut a first material and the second cutting insert is configured to cut a second material that is different from the first material.

34 . A method of securing a cutting insert to a rotary tool, the method comprising:
providing a rotary cutting tool comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a cutting face, a cutting recess, a cutter bolt, and a first cutting insert; articulating the cutter bolt to selectively tighten or loosen the cutter bolt to modulate a holding force provided therefrom; diseng

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Qasim Mohammad Unnus
• Hughes Jr David Latimore
• Li Yixin
• Larson Ryan Fairchild

Classifications

• B23B51/0466 Primary

  with exchangeable cutting inserts, e.g. able to be clamped · CPC title