Reamer with angled blade and full length clamp and method of assembly

Abstract

A reamer comprises a single, adjustable, elongate carbide blade clamped in position in an axial slot in the reamer periphery by means of a clamping plate, with the slot having a positive rake blade supporting fade so that the blade is adjustable along a line parallel to a tangent to the reamer periphery.

We claim: 
     
       1. A reamer comprising a reamer body, a single adjustable, axially-elongated blade with an axially-elongated front cutting face, an axially-elongated outer cutting edge, and an axially-elongated rear planar face thereon parallel to said front cutting face, said blade having a generally trapezoidal lateral cross-section with its front cutting face being wider than its rear planar face, said blade being clamped by a clamping plate in a generally axially-extending slot in the periphery of said reamer body, said clamping plate extending over substantially the axial length of said blade, said slot having a planar positive rake blade supporting face extending generally axially in said slot in said reamer body and being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said reamer body, said planar supporting face in said reamer body being generally flatly engaged directly by said axially-elongated rear planar face of blade for slidable adjusting movement of said blade therealong and being disposed in a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of said reamer body and through said outer cutting edge of said cutting face of said blade so that the radial position of said outer cutting edge of said blade is adjustable along a first plane parallel to said planar supporting face and parallel to a second plane extending through the longitudinal axis of said reamer body and disposed at a positive angular relationship relative to said radial plane, said radial position of said outer cutting edge of said blade being adjustable by a pair of screws spaced apart along the reamer body and in threadable engagement therewith, one of said screws abuttingly bearing on said blade at or adjacent each end of the blade, and said clamping plate wedgingly engaging the front cutting face of the blade and clampingly urging said blade into said generally flat direct engagement of said rear planar face with said planar supporting face in said reamer body in order to maintain said outer cutting edge in an accurate radial position and in an accurate and constant positive rake angular relationship with said reamer body regardless of the radial position of said outer cutting edge. 
     
     
       2. A reamer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping plate comprises only a single element securable directly to the reamer body by fastener means. 
     
     
       3. A reamer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping plate comprises two or more elements, each of said elements being securable directly to the reamer body by fastener means, and each of said elements directly and clampingly engaging said blade. 
     
     
       4. A reamer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade supporting face is positively raked at 10° relative to said radial plane. 
     
     
       5. A reamer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposite face of said slot is angled. 
     
     
       6. A reamer comprising a reamer body, a single adjustable, axially-elongated blade with an axially-elongated front cutting face, an axially-elongated outer cutting edge, and an axially-elongated rear planar face thereon, wherein said front cutting face is defined by a planar surface disposed in a first plane parallel to one of a second plane encompassing the rear planar surface of the blade or a third plane intersecting said second plane parallel to the rear planar surface of the blade along a line disposed outside of the cutting diameter of the tool, said blade being clamped by a clamping plate in a generally axially-extending slot in the periphery of said reamer body, said clamping plate extending over substantially the axial length of said blade, said slot having a planar positive rake blade supporting face as one stationary surface of said slot and extending generally axially in said slot in said reamer body and being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said reamer body, said planar supporting face in said reamer body being generally flatly engaged directly by said axially-elongated rear planar face of blade for slidable adjusting movement of said blade therealong perpendicular to said axial movement and being disposed in a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of said reamer body and through said outer cutting edge of said cutting face of said blade so that the radial position of said outer cutting edge of said blade is adjustable along a first plane parallel to said planar supporting face and parallel to a second plane extending through the longitudinal axis of said reamer body and disposed at a positive angular relationship relative to said radial plane, said radial position of said outer cutting edge of said blade being adjustable by a pair of screws spaced apart along the reamer body and in threadable engagement therewith, one of said screws abuttingly bearing on said blade at or adjacent each end of the blade, and said clamping plate wedgingly engaging the front cutting face of the blade and clampingly urging said blade into said generally flat direct engagement of said rear planar face with said planar supporting face in said reamer body in order to maintain said outer cutting edge in an accurate radial position and in an accurate and constant positive rake angular relationship with said reamer body regardless of the radial position of said outer cutting edge. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  A method of assembling a reamer for reaming a work piece using a reamer blade and a reamer having a reamer body assembly rotatable about a generally longitudinally-extending axis and having a generally axially-elongated slot formed in said reamer body assembly and defined by at least one generally planar supporting face, said reamer blade comprising an axially-elongated front planar face, an axially-elongated radially outer cutting edge, and an axially-elongated rear planar face, said reamer blade being receivable and securable in the slot in the reamer body assembly, said reamer blade being radially adjustable and removable from the slot in the reamer body assembly, at least one of said front planar face and said rear planar face being engageable with the planar supporting face in the reamer body assembly, systematically disposing said front planar face of said blade in a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly and through said radially outer cutting edge and in a positive rake angle relationship relative to the radial plane when said reamer blade is received and secured in the slot in the reamer body assembly, and securing said reamer blade to said reamer along its entire length. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said reamer blade is configured so that said radially outer cutting edge is disposed at a radial position radially outward of the radially outermost portion of the reamer body assembly when said reamer blade is secured and received in 
     
     
        the slot in the reamer body assembly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9.  A method of assembling a reamer for reaming a workpiece comprising a reamer body assembly and a reamer blade systematically securable and removable in said reamer body assembly which is rotatable about a generally longitudinally-extending axis and has a generally axially-elongated slot formed in said reamer body assembly and defined by at least one generally planar supporting face, said reamer blade comprising an axially-elongated front cutting face, an axially-elongated radially outer cutting edge, and an axially-elongated rear planar face, said reamer blade being receivable and securable in the slot in the reamer body assembly, at least one of said front cutting face and said rear planar face being engageable with the planar supporting face in the reamer body assembly, disposing said front cutting face in a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly and through said radially outer cutting edge and in a positive rake angle relationship relative to the radial plane when said reamer blade is received and secured in the slot in the reamer body assembly, systematically and adjustably receiving and securing said reamer blade in the slot in the reamer body assembly at a plurality of positions, enabling adjusting of the radial position of said radially outer cutting edge along a plane that is in said non-parallel relationship with the radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly and through said radially outer cutting edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said front cutting face is defined by a planar surface disposed in a first plane parallel to one of a second plane encompassing said rear planar face or a third plane intersecting said second plane along a line disposed radially outward of the radial position of said radially outer cutting edge when said reamer blade is secured and received in the slot in the reamer body assembly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A method according to claim 7, wherein said front cutting face and said rear planar face are generally parallel to one another, said reamer blade 
     
     
        having a generally trapezoidal lateral cross-section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A method according to claim 7, wherein said reamer blade has an axial length substantially longer than the width of said front cutting face or said rear planar face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A method of assembling a reamer for reaming a workpiece comprising the selective securing of one of a plurality of reamer blades each adapted to be selectively secured to a reamer body assembly for rotation therewith about a longitudinal axis, each said reamer blade having an axially-elongated front cutting face, an axially-elongated radially outer cutting edge on said front cutting face, and an axially-elongated rear planar face generally parallel to said front cutting face, a plane defined by said cutting edge and the longitudinal axis of the reamer body intersecting the plane containing said rear planar face at a position radially outward of the reamer body when said reamer blade is systematically secured thereto, said reamer blade being radially adjustable and in a non-negative rake angle relationship relative to the radial plane, and securing each blade placed in said reamer at a first location and securing each said blade placed in said reamer at a second spaced apart location to secure each said blade along the entire length thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said reamer blade is configured so that said front cutting face is generally planar and is disposed substantially in a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly and through said radially outer cutting edge when said reamer blade is secured to the reamer body assembly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said reamer blade is adapted to be adjustably secured to the reamer body assembly at a plurality of adjusted positions wherein the radial position of said radially outer cutting edge is adjustable along a plane having a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly and through said radially outer cutting edge at said adjusted 
     
     
        positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  A method according to claim 13, wherein said front cutting face is defined by a planar surface disposed in a first plane parallel to one of a second plane encompassing said rear planar face or a third plane intersecting said second plane along a line disposed radially outward of the radial position of said radially outer cutting edge when said reamer blade is secured to the reamer body assembly. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  A method according to claim 13, wherein said reamer blade has a generally trapezoidal lateral cross-section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A method according to claim 13, wherein said reamer blade has an axial length substantially longer than the width of said front cutting face or said rear planar face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A method according to claim 13, wherein said reamer blade is configured so that the radially outer cutting edge is disposed at a radial position radially outward of the radially outermost portion of the reamer body assembly when said reamer blade is secured thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A method of assembling a reamer for reaming a workpiece comprising at least one reamer and at least one reamer blade for said reamer, said reamer having a reamer body assembly rotatable about a generally longitudinally-extending axis and having a generally axially-elongated slot formed in said reamer body assembly and defined by at least one generally planar supporting face, said at least one reamer blade comprising an axially-elongated front cutting face, an axially-elongated radially outer cutting edge, and an axially-elongated rear planar face generally parallel to said front cutting face, said reamer blade being adjustably receivable and securable in the slot in the reamer body assembly, said radially outer cutting edge being disposable at a radial position radially outward of the radially outermost portion of the reamer body assembly when secured in the slot therein, at least one of said front cutting face and said rear planar face being adjustably engageable with and removably engageable from the planar supporting face in the reamer body assembly so that the radial position of said radially outer cutting edge is adjustable along a plane that is in a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly and through said radially outer cutting edge and so that said front cutting face is disposable in a non-negative rake angle relationship relative to the radial plane when said reamer blade is systematically received and secured in the slot in the reamer body assembly, a plane defined by said cutting edge and the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly intersecting the plane containing said rear cutting face at a position radially outward of the reamer body assembly when said reamer blade is received and secured in the slot in the reamer body assembly, comprising of the steps of placing said blade in said reamer; disposably adjusting said blade relations to said workpiece, and securing said blade at spaced apart locations to secure 
     
     
        said blade along the entire length thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  A method according to claim 20, wherein said front cutting face is defined by a planar surface disposed in a first plane parallel to one of a second plane encompassing said rear planar surface or a third plane intersecting said plane along a line disposed radially outward of the radial position of said radially outer cutting edge when said reamer blade is secured and 
     
     
        received in the slot in the reamer body. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  A method according to claim 20, wherein said reamer blade has a generally trapezoidal lateral cross-section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A method according to claim 20, wherein said reamer blade has an axial length substantially longer than the width of said front cutting face or said rear planar face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A method according to claim 20, wherein said reamer blade is adapted to be adjustably secured to the reamer body assembly at a plurality of adjusted positions wherein the radial position of said radially outer cutting edge is adjustable along a plane having a non-parallel relationship with a radial plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the reamer body assembly and through said radially outer cutting edge at said adjusted positions. .Iaddend.