Bit holder
A unitary bit/holder and/or a bit holder including a body portion and a shank. The body portion and the shank being coaxial and including a bore extending from a forward end of the body portion to the distal end of the shank. The shank further including a segment adjacent a distal end of the shank that includes a plurality of ribs and at least one notch or relief zone between each rib in the plurality of ribs.
1. A bit holder comprising:
a forward body portion having a bottom;
a generally cylindrical hollow shank depending axially from the bottom of the forward body portion, the shank comprising:
a first segment adjacent a distal end of the shank, the first segment comprising a plurality of ribs solely around a first outer surface of the first segment;
a slot axially extending from the distal end of the shank to a slot termination disposed in a second segment adjacent the first segment, the second segment comprising a smooth second outer surface, a first diameter of the first segment subjacent the second segment greater than a second diameter of the second segment; and
a bore axially extending from a forward end of the forward body portion to the distal end of the shank, a portion of the bore internally adjacent the first segment, the portion including a smooth surface.
2. The bit holder of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one notch disposed between each rib of the plurality of ribs.
3. The bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the at least one notch is U-shaped.
4. The bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the at least one notch includes a pair of sides, each side disposed at at least one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle to a plane through a centerline of the bit holder.
5. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein each rib in the plurality of ribs includes a pair of sides, each side disposed at at least one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle to a plane through a centerline of the bit holder.
6. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs is adapted to reduce a surface contact between the segment and a complementary portion of a bore of a base block and to provide a more evenly distributed and more highly concentrated force per segment.
7. A unitary bit/holder comprising:
a forward body portion having a bottom;
a generally cylindrical hollow shank depending axially from the bottom of the forward body portion, the shank comprising:
a first segment adjacent a distal end of the shank, the first segment comprising a plurality of ribs solely around a first outer surface of the first segment;
a slot axially extending from the distal end of the shank to a slot termination disposed in a second segment adjacent the first segment, the second segment comprising a smooth second outer surface, a first diameter of the first segment subjacent the second segment greater than a second diameter of the second segment; and
a bore axially extending from a forward end of the forward body portion to the distal end of the shank, a portion of the bore internally adjacent the first segment, the portion including a smooth surface.
8. The unitary bit/holder of claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one notch disposed between each rib of the plurality of ribs.
9. The unitary bit/holder of claim 8 , wherein the at least one notch is U-shaped.
10. The unitary bit/holder of claim 8 , wherein the at least one notch includes a pair of sides, each side disposed at at least one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle to a plane through a centerline of the unitary bit/holder.
11. The unitary bit/holder of claim 7 , wherein each rib in the plurality of ribs includes a pair of sides, each side disposed at at least one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle to a plane through a centerline of the unitary bit/holder.
12. The unitary bit/holder of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of ribs is adapted to reduce a surface contact between the segment and a complementary portion of a bore of a base block and to provide a more evenly distributed and more highly concentrated force per segment.
13. A combination for a bit assembly comprising:
one of a unitary bit/holder and a bit holder comprising:
a forward body portion having a bottom;
a generally cylindrical hollow shank depending axially from the bottom of the forward body portion, the shank comprising:
a first segment adjacent a distal end of the shank, the first segment comprising a plurality of ribs solely around a first outer surface of the first segment;
a slot axially extending from the distal end of the shank to a slot termination disposed in a second segment adjacent the first segment, the second segment comprising a smooth second outer surface, a first diameter of the first segment subjacent the second segment greater than a second diameter of the second segment;
a shank bore axially extending from a forward end of the forward body portion to the distal end of the shank, a portion of the shank bore internally adjacent the first segment, the portion including a smooth surface; and
a base block comprising a base block bore adapted to make an interference contact with at least the first segment of the shank, the plurality of ribs adapted to reduce a surface contact between the first segment and a complementary portion of the base block bore of the base block and to provide a more evenly distributed and more highly concentrated force per segment.
14. The combination of claim 13 , further comprising:
at least one notch disposed between each rib of the plurality of ribs.
15. The combination of claim 14 , wherein the at least one notch is U-shaped.
16. The combination of claim 14 , wherein the at least one notch includes a pair of sides, each side disposed at at least one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle to a plane through a centerline of at least one of the unitary bit/holder and the bit holder.
17. The combination of claim 13 , wherein each rib in the plurality of ribs includes a pair of sides, each side disposed at at least one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle to a plane through a centerline of at least one of the unitary bit/holder and the bit holder.