Debris collection for a milling process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9937599-B1
Application number	US-201615288883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 7, 2016
Priority date	Oct 7, 2016
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A debris removal apparatus for a milling machine. In one embodiment, the debris removal apparatus includes a hollow, cylindrical suction member that attaches to a tool shaft which holds an end mill to rotate with the tool shaft. The debris removal apparatus further includes a nonrotating canister that applies a suction force to the suction member. The suction member is dimensioned to fit within a hole being cut by the end mill as the end mill is fed into the hole, and to extract debris created by the end mill via the suction force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A debris removal apparatus comprising:
a hollow, cylindrical suction member comprising a suction tube that attaches to a tool shaft to rotate with the tool shaft, wherein the suction tube attaches to the tool shaft by spacer tabs that define a clearance between the suction tube and the tool shaft; and
a nonrotating canister that applies a suction force to the suction member;
wherein the tool shaft holds an end mill;
wherein the suction member is dimensioned to fit within a hole being cut by the end mill as the end mill is fed into the hole, and to extract debris created by the end mill via the suction force.

2. The debris removal apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the suction member includes a first end proximal to the end mill, and includes a second end distal from the end mill; and
the suction member includes at least one intake aperture on the first end that draws the debris into an interior of the suction member.

3. The debris removal apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the suction member includes at least one additional intake aperture along a side of the suction member proximal to the first end.

4. The debris removal apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the suction member includes at least one outlet aperture along the side of the suction member proximal to the second end; and
the nonrotating canister encloses a portion of the suction member that includes the at least one outlet aperture to apply the suction force to the suction member.

5. The debris removal apparatus of claim 4 wherein:
an area of the at least one intake aperture is smaller than an area of the at least one outlet aperture.

6. The debris removal apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the suction member comprises:
a first connecting collar that attaches one end of the suction tube to the tool shaft proximal to the end mill; and
a second connecting collar that attaches another end of the suction tube to the tool shaft distal from the end mill;
wherein the first connecting collar includes the at least one intake aperture.

7. The debris removal apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the nonrotating canister includes:
an enclosure;
a first circular opening in the enclosure for the suction member to pass through;
a first rotary coupling for the first circular opening to allow the suction member to rotate within the first circular opening; and
a suction port in the enclosure for attaching to a suction device that creates the suction force.

8. The debris removal apparatus of claim 7 wherein:
the nonrotating canister further includes:
a second circular opening in the enclosure coaxial with the first circular opening for the tool shaft to pass through; and
a second rotary coupling for the second circular opening to allow the tool shaft to rotate within the second circular opening.

9. The debris removal apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
an outer diameter of the suction member is less than a cutting diameter of the end mill.

10. A debris removal apparatus comprising:
a suction member comprising a hollow cylindrical suction tube that slides over a tool shaft which holds an end mill, and attaches to the tool shaft to rotate with the tool shaft with spacer tabs that define a clearance between the suction tube and the tool shaft, wherein the suction member includes a first end proximal to the end mill, and includes a second end distal from the end mill;
a nonrotating canister that encloses a volume around a portion of the suction member proximate to the second end, wherein the nonrotating canister includes:
an enclosure;
a first circular opening in the enclosure for the suction member to pass through;
a first rotary coupling for the first circular opening to allow the suction member to rotate within the first circular opening; and
a suction port in the enclosure that attaches to a suction device;

wherein the first end of the suction member includes at least one intake aperture to draw debris created by the end mill into the clearance between an outer diameter of the tool shaft and an inner diameter of the suction tube;
wherein the second end of the suction member includes at least one outlet aperture to expel the debris from the clearance and into the nonrotating canister.

11. The debris removal apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
the suction member further includes at least one additional intake aperture along a side of the suction member proximal to the first end.

12. The debris removal apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
an area of the at least one intake aperture is smaller than an area of the at least one outlet aperture.

13. The debris removal apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
the nonrotating canister further includes:
a second circular opening in the enclosure coaxial with the first circular opening for the tool shaft to pass through; and
a second rotary coupling for the second circular opening to allow the tool shaft to rotate within the second circular opening.

14. The debris removal apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
an outer diameter of the suction member is less than a cutting diameter of the end mill.

15. The debris removal apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
the suction member comprises:
a first connecting collar that attaches one end of the suction tube to the tool shaft proximal to the end mill; and
a second connecting collar that attaches another end of the suction tube to the tool shaft distal from the end mill;
wherein the first connecting collar includes the at least one intake aperture.

16. A milling machine comprising:
a drive mechanism;
a spindle driven at a first end by the drive mechanism to rotate about an axis;
a cutting tool gripped by a second end of the spindle, wherein the cutting tool includes a tool shaft and a removable end mill; and
a debris removal apparatus comprising:
a suction member having a first end proximal to the end mill, and a second end distal from the end mill, the suction member comprising:
a suction tube that is a hollow cylinder;
a first connecting collar that attaches one end of the suction tube to the tool shaft proximal to the end mill; and
a second connecting collar that attaches another end of the suction tube to the tool shaft distal from the end mill;
wherein the first connecting collar includes spacer tabs that define a clearance between the suction tube and the tool shaft;
wherein gaps between the spacer tabs define at least one intake aperture that draws debris created by the end mill into an interior of the suction member; and

a nonrotating canister that applies a suction force to the suction member;
wherein the suction member is dimensioned to fit within a hole being cut by the end mill as the end mill is fed into the hole, and to extract the debris created by the end mill via the suction force.

17. The milling machine of claim 16 wherein:
the suction member includes at least one outlet aperture along the side of the suction member proximal to the second end; and
the nonrotating canister encloses a portion of the suction member that includes the at least one outlet aperture to apply the suction force to the suction member.

18. The milling machine of claim 17 wherein:
the suction member includes at least one additional intake aperture along a side of the suction member proximal to the first end.

19. The milling machine of claim 17 wherein:
the clearance between the suction tube and the tool shaft provides a path for the debris to flow from the at least one intake aperture, through the interior of the suction member, and out the at lea

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Holleman Wesley E
• Farrell Nicholas Ryan
• Lipczynski Gary

Classifications

• B23B2251/68

  Drills with provision for suction · CPC title

• B23Q11/0046 Primary

  by sucking · CPC title

• B23C2230/08

  Using suction · CPC title

• B23C2215/04

  Aircraft components · CPC title

• B23C2230/045

  to the middle of the cutter or in the middle of a hollow cutter · CPC title