Modular cutting tool holder and clamping mechanism therefor

1. A modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) for a metal-working machine, comprising a four-way indexable first engagement face ( 32 , 106 ) configured for clamping engagement with a corresponding four-way indexable second engagement face of a complementary modular cutting tool holder portion ( 18 , 16 );

the first engagement face ( 32 , 106 ) comprising

a base surface ( 48 , 132 ) and

interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) in the form of exactly four projecting protrusions ( 50 ) or exactly four recesses ( 134 );

each interlocking element ( 50 , 134 ) comprising

a non-contact surface ( 68 , 148 ) spaced from the base surface ( 48 , 132 ) and having two opposing edges ( 70 , 72 , 150 , 152 ) between which it extends, and

two abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 , 154 , 156 ) each extending from a respective one of the two opposing edges ( 70 , 72 , 150 , 152 ) to the base surface ( 48 , 132 ) and being configured for the clamping engagement; wherein:

each protrusion ( 50 ) or recess ( 134 ) has a first end ( 56 , 138 ) located at an intersection ( 58 , 140 ) of the first engagement face ( 32 , 106 ) with an external peripheral surface ( 30 , 118 ) of the modular tool holder portion; and

each protrusion ( 50 ) or recess ( 134 ) extends from the first end ( 56 , 138 ) to a second end ( 60 , 142 ) disposed along the first engagement face ( 32 , 106 ) and spaced from the external peripheral surface ( 30 , 118 ).

2. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each external peripheral surface ( 30 , 118 ) comprises adjacent sub-surfaces ( 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 , 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 ), with adjacent pairs meeting at a common edge ( 46 , 128 ), the first ends ( 56 , 138 ) being located at an intersection of the respective first and second engagement face ( 32 , 106 ) and the external peripheral surface ( 30 , 118 ) at the common edge ( 46 , 128 ).

3. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the portion ( 18 ) is a head portion ( 18 ) configured for holding one or more cutting elements ( 20 ).

4. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 18 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) are exactly four projecting protrusions ( 50 ).

5. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the first base surface ( 48 ) has a ring-shaped inner portion ( 52 ) thereof disposed between one or each of the protrusions ( 50 ) and the locking bore ( 36 ).

6. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the first engagement face ( 32 ) is formed with a bore ( 36 ) extending therein, the bore ( 36 ) comprising a bore edge ( 78 ) having an elongated shape and located at the first engagement face ( 32 ), a bore internal surface ( 80 ) extending from the bore edge ( 78 ) inwardly into the head portion ( 18 ), and a bore end surface ( 82 ) distal from the engagement face ( 32 ).

7. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) is disposed at a portion of the first engagement face ( 32 , 106 ), which portion is distal to a centerpoint ( 62 , 144 ) thereof.

8. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) has a tapered shape.

9. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 , 154 , 156 ) is planar.

10. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 , 154 , 156 ) is slanted with respect to the base surface ( 48 , 132 ) and/or the non-contact surface ( 68 , 148 ).

11. A modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) for a metal-working machine comprising a body portion ( 16 ) in accordance with claim 1 , and a complementary head portion ( 18 ) in accordance with claim 1 ; wherein

one of the body and head portions ( 16 , 18 ) comprises the interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) in the form of exactly four projecting protrusions ( 50 ) and the other of the body and head portions ( 16 , 18 ) comprises the interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) in the form of exactly four corresponding recesses ( 134 );

the head portion ( 18 ) is configured to hold one or more cutting elements; and wherein

the only contact between the body and head portions ( 16 , 18 ) is via the abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 , 154 , 156 ) of the interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ).

12. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the first and corresponding second engagement faces ( 32 , 106 ) are configured for clamping engagement with each other at four different positions.

13. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , configured to be brought to each of the four different positions via successive quarter turns of one of the body portion ( 16 ) and head portion ( 18 ) relative to the other.

14. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein oppositely slanted abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 ) of the head portion ( 18 ) contact oppositely slanted respective abutment surfaces ( 154 , 156 ) of the body portion ( 16 ) to prevent relative rotation of the head and body portions ( 18 , 16 ) in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

15. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein all of the eight abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 , 154 , 156 ) of the head portion ( 18 ) and all of the eight abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 , 154 , 156 ) of the body portion ( 16 ) are configured to contact simultaneously.

16. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) are evenly spaced along a periphery of each engagement face ( 32 , 106 ).

17. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the head portion and body portion are configured to rotate, relative to each other, in the clockwise and counterclockwise direction in an attached-unlocked or attached-locked position.

18. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein an outermost surface or surfaces ( 64 ) of the first end ( 56 ) of each protrusion ( 50 ) at the peripheral surface ( 30 ) is planar and/or an outermost surface ( 66 ) of the second end ( 60 ) of each protrusion ( 50 ) is concave.

19. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the body portion ( 16 ) is made of a material having greater stiffness than a material of which the head portion ( 18 ) is made.

20. A cutting head portion ( 18 ) configured to hold one or more cutting elements and comprising:

an external peripheral surface ( 30 ); and

a four-way indexable engagement face ( 32 ) comprising a base surface ( 48 ) and exactly four projecting protrusions ( 50 ); wherein:

each protrusion ( 50 ) extends from a first end ( 56 ) proximate the external peripheral surface ( 30 ), in an inward direction, to a second end ( 60 ) further from the external peripheral surface ( 30 ) than the first end ( 50 );

each protrusion ( 50 ) comprises:

a non-contact surface ( 68 ) spaced from the base surface ( 48 ) and having two opposing edges ( 70 , 72 ) between which it extends, and

two abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 ), each extending from a respective one of the two opposing edges ( 70 , 72 ) to the base surface ( 48 ).

21. A cutting head portion ( 18 ) configured to hold one or more cutting elements and comprising:

an external peripheral surface ( 118 ); and

a four-way indexable engagement face ( 106 ) comprising a base surface ( 132 ) and exactly four recesses ( 134 ); wherein:

each recess ( 134 ) extends from a first end ( 138 ) proximate the external peripheral surface ( 118 ), in an inward direction, to a second end ( 142 ) further from the external peripheral surface ( 118 ) than the first end ( 136 );

each recess ( 134 ) comprises:

a non-contact surface ( 148 ) spaced from the base surface ( 132 ) and having two opposing edges ( 150 , 152 ) between which it extends, and

two abutment surfaces ( 154 , 156 ), each extending from a respective one of the two opposing edges ( 150 , 152 ) to the base surface ( 132 ).

22. A modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) for a metal-working machine comprising

a cutting head portion ( 18 ) configured for holding at least one cutting element ( 20 ) and comprising a four-way indexable first engagement face ( 32 ) having an external peripheral surface ( 30 ), a first base surface ( 48 , 132 ) and interlocking elements ( 50 , 134 ) in the form of either exactly four projecting protrusions ( 50 ) or exactly four recesses ( 134 ); and

a body portion ( 16 ) comprising a four-way indexable second engagement face ( 106 ) having an external periphery surface ( 118 ), a second base surface ( 132 , 48 ) and interlocking elements ( 134 , 50 ) in the form of either exactly four recesses ( 134 ) or exactly four projecting protrusions ( 50 );

wherein:

each interlocking element ( 50 , 134 ) comprises:

a non-contact surface ( 68 , 148 ) spaced from the respective first or second base surface ( 48 , 132 ) and having two opposing edges ( 70 , 72 , 150 , 152 ) between which it extends, and

two abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 , 154 , 156 ) each extending from a respective one of the two opposing edges ( 70 , 72 , 150 , 152 ) to the respective first or second base surface ( 48 , 132 ) and being configured for the clamping engagement;

wherein either:

the cutting head portion ( 18 ) comprises the exactly four protrusions ( 50 ), each protrusion ( 50 ) extending from a first end ( 56 ) proximate the external peripheral surface ( 30 ), in an inward direction, to a second end ( 60 ) further from the external peripheral surface ( 30 ) than the first end ( 50 ), while the body portion ( 16 ) comprises the four recesses ( 134 );

or

the cutting head portion ( 18 ) comprises the exactly four recesses ( 134 ), each recess ( 134 ) extending from a first end ( 138 ) proximate the external peripheral surface ( 118 ), in an inward direction, to a second end ( 142 ) further from the external peripheral surface ( 118 ) than the first end ( 136 ), while the body portion ( 16 ) comprises the four protrusions ( 50 );

wherein:

the first and second engagement faces ( 32 , 106 ) are configured for clamping engagement with each other at four different positions; and

the tool holder is configured for the body and head portions ( 16 , 18 ) to contact each other via only the eight abutment surfaces ( 74 , 76 ) of the head portion ( 18 ) and the eight abutment surfaces ( 154 , 156 ) of the body portion ( 18 ).

23. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 22 , wherein the first ends ( 56 ) of the cutting head portion ( 18 ) are located at intersections ( 58 ) of the first engagement face ( 32 ) and the external peripheral surface ( 30 ), and the first ends ( 138 ) of the body portion ( 16 ) are located at intersections ( 140 ) of the second engagement face ( 106 ) and the external peripheral surface ( 118 ).

24. The modular cutting tool holder ( 10 ) according to claim 22 , wherein each external peripheral surface ( 30 , 118 ) comprises adjacent sub-surfaces ( 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 , 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 ), with adjacent pairs meeting at a common edge ( 46 , 128 ), the first ends ( 56 , 138 ) being located at an intersection of the respective first and second engagement face ( 32 , 106 ) and the external peripheral surface ( 30 , 118 ) at the common edge ( 46 , 128 ).

25. The modular cutting tool holder portion ( 16 , 18 ) according to claim 1 , wherein an outermost surface or surfaces ( 64 ) of the first end ( 56 ) of each protrusion ( 50 ) at the peripheral surface ( 30 ) is planar and/or an outermost surface ( 66 ) of the second end ( 60 ) of each protrusion ( 50 ) is concave.