Rotatable cutting tool assembly having a spring clip

Abstract

A cutting tool assembly is disclosed. The cutting tool assembly may have an adapter board, which may have at least one bore, extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The assembly may also have a cutting tool, having an elongated tool body. At least a portion of the tool body may be disposed within the bore. The tool body may have an annular channel on the tool body adjacent the distal end of the bore. The assembly may have a spring clip, having a generally hollow cylindrical sleeve, circumscribing at least a portion of the tool body within the bore. The spring clip may also have a flange attached to and extending radially outward from the sleeve. The spring clip may also have a circumferential rib extending radially inward from the sleeve. The circumferential rib may be configured to engage with the annular channel within the bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cutting tool assembly, comprising:
 an adapter board including a bore extending from a proximal end to a distal end;   a cutting tool, including:
 an elongated tool body, at least a portion of the tool body being disposed within the bore; and 
 an annular channel on the tool body adjacent the distal end of the bore; and 
   a spring clip, including:
 a generally hollow cylindrical sleeve circumscribing at least a portion of the tool body within the bore; 
 a flange attached to and extending radially outward from the sleeve, the flange being disposed outside the bore adjacent the distal end of the bore; and 
 a circumferential rib extending radially inward from the sleeve and configured to engage with the annular channel within the bore. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tool body includes:
 a tool head positioned adjacent to and outside the proximal end of the bore; and   a shank extending from the tool head into the bore.   
     
     
         3 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the shank has a shank length greater than a length of the bore. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 2 , further including an annular bearing having a bearing bore, the bearing being disposed within the bore, and the shank being rotatably disposed within the bearing bore. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve extends partway into the bore from the distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bearing is located between the proximal end of the bore and the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 6 , further including a washer between the tool head and the proximal end of the bore. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring clip includes an axial slit along an entire length of the spring clip. 
     
     
         9 . A cutting tool, comprising:
 a tool body extending from a front end to a rear end;   a cutting bit attached to the tool body at the front end;   an annular channel disposed in the tool body adjacent the rear end; and   a spring clip, including:
 a generally cylindrical hollow sleeve circumscribing at least a portion of the tool body; 
 a flange attached to and extending radially outward from the sleeve adjacent the rear end of the tool body; and 
 a circumferential rib extending radially inward from the sleeve and configured to be received in the annular channel of the tool body. 
   
     
     
         10 . The cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein the spring clip includes an axial slit along an entire length of the spring clip. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein the tool body includes:
 a tool head adjacent the front end of the tool body, the cutting bit being attached to the tool head; and   a generally cylindrical shank extending from the tool head to adjacent the rear end of the tool body.   
     
     
         12 . The cutting tool of  claim 11 , wherein the shank has a shank diameter smaller than a tool head diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve has a sleeve length smaller than a length of the shank. 
     
     
         14 . The cutting tool of  claim 12 , further including a generally annular bearing having a bearing bore, the bearing being positioned between the tool head and the sleeve, a portion of the shank being rotatably disposed within the bearing bore. 
     
     
         15 . The cutting tool of  claim 14 , wherein the annular channel is located between the rear end of the tool body and the bearing. 
     
     
         16 . The cutting tool of  claim 14 , further including a washer located between the tool head and the bearing. 
     
     
         17 . A spring clip, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hollow sleeve;   a flange attached at one end of the sleeve, the flange extending radially outward from the sleeve;   a circumferential rib positioned adjacent the flange, the rib extending radially inward from the sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The spring clip of  claim 17 , further including an annular channel in an outer wall of the sleeve, the annular channel and the rib positioned at a same axial location along a length of the sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The spring clip of  claim 17 , further including an axial slit along an entire length of the spring clip. 
     
     
         20 . The spring clip of  claim 19 , wherein the slit includes:
 a left edge and a right edge separated from the left edge by a circumferential gap;   a protrusion extending circumferentially into the gap from the left edge towards the right edge; and   a recess extending circumferentially from the right edge away from the gap, the recess being configured to receive the protrusion.