Thread generating tool for producing a thread in a workpiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630267-B2
Application number	US-201113917845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2011
Priority date	Dec 14, 2010
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

The thread generating tool for producing a thread in a workpiece has the following features: a) the tool is rotatable about a tool axis (A), b) the tool has a number n≧1 of groove generating regions for generating in each case one groove in the workpiece and a number m≧1 of thread generating regions for generating the thread in the workpiece, c) each of the m thread generating regions is arranged behind one of the n groove generating regions as viewed in an axial projection parallel to the tool axis (A), and has a smaller extent than said groove generating region as viewed in cross section in the axial projection.

First claim

We claim:

1. A thread generating tool for producing a thread in a workpiece, having the features:
a) the tool is rotatable about a tool axis (A),
b) the tool has a number n≧1 of groove generating regions for generating in each case one groove in the workpiece and a number m≧1 of thread generating regions for generating the thread in the workpiece,
c) each of the m thread generating regions is arranged behind one of the n groove generating regions as viewed in an axial projection parallel to the tool axis (A), and has a smaller extent than said groove generating region as viewed in cross section in the axial projection,
d) wherein at least some of the n groove generating regions are formed as cutting groove generating regions with groove generating cutting edges,
e) wherein each groove generating region has a groove cutting edge oriented toward or situated on the face side,
f) wherein the groove cutting edges are the radially furthest outward projecting regions of the tool, at least in the front portion thereof,
g) wherein the or each groove cutting edge is adjoined laterally in a circumferential direction by a side cutting edge, which is at the front in the direction of rotation (S) about the tool axis (A),
h) wherein during the rotation of the tool in the direction of rotation (S) which takes place for the generation of the thread, the front side cutting edge cuts laterally into the workpiece.

2. The tool as claimed in claim 1 , in which the groove generating cutting edges are arranged on a face side of the tool, wherein at least some of the cutting groove generating regions or groove generating cutting edges have, in an axial direction or in a circumferential direction, in each case at least one step or edge which is provided as a chip-splitting step or edge.

3. A thread generating tool for producing a thread in a workpiece, having the features:
a) the tool is rotatable about a tool axis (A),
b) the tool has a number n≧1 of groove generating regions for generating in each case one groove in the workpiece and a number m≧1 of thread generating regions for generating the thread in the workpiece,
c) each of the m thread generating regions is arranged behind one of the n groove generating regions as viewed in an axial projection parallel to the tool axis (A), and has a smaller extent than said groove generating region as viewed in cross section in the axial projection,
d) wherein at least some of the n groove generating regions are formed as groove generating regions which operate by plastic deformation or impression of the workpiece material,
e) each groove generating region has a shaping spine which runs substantially in a circumferential direction around the tool axis (A) and which, as viewed in an axial direction, is the radially highest elevation of the groove generating region or projects radially furthest outward,
f) in front of the shaping spine in an axial direction, each groove generating region has a front surface,
g) wherein the front surface rises in an axial direction from a front profile, which is situated radially further inward than the shaping spine to the shaping spine,
h) the front surface forming a run-on surface by means of which the groove generating region presses into the workpiece surface for the first time and with slowly increasing deformation force,
i) wherein behind the shaping spine in an axial direction, each groove generating region has a back surface which slopes downward from the shaping spine in an axial direction and provides a free space for the flows of workpiece material.

4. The tool as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising at least one of the following features:
a) the shaping spine has a maximum which projects radially furthest outward, and said shaping spine slopes downward radially from the maximum in one circumferential direction in one flank to a first end point which is situated radially further inward than the maximum, and in the other circumferential direction in a further flank to a second end point which is situated radially further inward than the maximum,
b) one end point is situated radially further inward than the other end point or one flank is shorter than the other flank,
c) the front profile has a similar shape to the shaping spine with a maximum and two flanks sloping downward from the maximum to end points,
d) the front surface connects corresponding maxima of the shaping spine and front profile or corresponding end points or corresponding flanks,
e) the front surface runs between the front profile and the shaping spine in an axial direction in a substantially linear or convexly inwardly curved manner or following an arbitrary continuous radial function.

5. The tool as claimed in claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following features:
a) the n groove generating regions are arranged at uniform angular intervals of 360°/n relative to one another about the tool axis,
b) the angle component β of one or each groove generating region and of the thread generating regions, situated therebehind, about the tool axis (A) is between 7.2° and 45°,
c) the thread generating regions project radially further outward than the other outer surfaces of the thread generating tool.

6. The tool as claimed in claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following features:
a) at least one thread generating region is a thread shaping region and generates its part of the thread flight by a shaping and thus non-cutting process,
b) at least some of the thread generating regions of the thread generating tool have thread pressing lobes arranged on a helical line, which corresponds in terms of thread pitch and turning direction to the thread to be generated, about the tool axis (A), which thread pressing lobes project radially furthest outward within the thread generating region but project radially outward to a lesser extent than the one or more groove generating region(s).

7. The tool as claimed in claimed in claim 1 , having at least one the following features:
a) at least one thread generating region is a thread cutting region and generates its part of the thread flight by a cutting process,
b) at least some of the thread generating regions of the thread generating tool have thread cutting teeth arranged on a helical line, which corresponds in terms of thread pitch and turning direction to the thread to be generated, about the tool axis (A), which thread cutting teeth project radially furthest outward within the thread generating region but project radially outward to a lesser extent than the one or more groove generating region(s), wherein the thread cutting teeth are joined in a direction opposite to the cutting direction or direction of rotation by outer free surfaces.

8. The tool as claimed in claim 7 , wherein:
the thread cutting teeth are arranged and formed so as to cut in the turning direction of the thread to be generated and of the helical line about the tool axis (A) on which the thread cutting teeth are arranged,
or
the thread cutting teeth are arranged and formed so as to cut oppositely to the turning direction of the thread to be generated and of the helical line about the tool axis (A) on which the thread cutting teeth are arranged.

9. The tool as claimed in claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following features:
a) the groove generating regions or the thread generating regions are fastened detachably or exchangeably to a tool carrier,
b) the groove cutting edges are of at least approximately circular form,
c) the radius (r 0 ) of the groove cutting edges is greater by a differential radius (Δr) than the radius (r 1 ) of the first thread generating sub-region,
the or each groove cutting

Assignees

• Glimpel Helmut
• Hechtle Dietmar
• Kopton Peter
• Emuge-Werk Richard Glimpel Gmbh & Co Kg Fabrik Fuer Praez
• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Glimpel Helmut
• Hechtle Dietmar
• Kopton Peter

Classifications

• B23G5/06 Primary

  Taps (chucks therefor B23B31/00) · CPC title

• B23G2240/36

  Methods of threading not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B23G1/16

  in holes of workpieces by taps (B23G1/26, B23G1/32, B23G1/36 take precedence) · CPC title

• B21H3/08

  internal screw-threads · CPC title

• B23D3/02

  for cutting grooves (cutting helical grooves B23D5/02) · CPC title