Adjustable insert seat and wedge assembly for an indexable boring cutter

Claim 1

An adjustable insert seat and wedge assembly for an indexable cutting tool, said cutting tool being generally circular and adapted to be rotated about its central axis, said cutting tool having at least one pocket disposed at an opening of the periphery thereof, said pocket having opposed parallel leading and trailing walls, said pocket further including a bottom wall disposed perpendicular to said leading and trailing walls, and wherein said insert seat and wedge assembly comprises: a wedge means having leading and trailing planar surfaces, with said leading surface being disposed at an angle relative to said trailing surface, and with said trailing surface of said wedge means being disposed in abutting relationship with said trailing wall of said pocket of the cutting tool; first screw means engaged with said wedge means and said cutting tool such that when said screw means is rotated, the radial location of said wedge means relative to the central axis of said cutting tool is varied; an indexable insert having front and rear planar surfaces and a plurality of edge faces disposed therebetween; an insert seat having opposed leading and trailing surfaces, with the leading surface of said insert seat being disposed in abutting relationship with the leading wall of said pocket, and with the trailing surface of said insert seat having an undercut portion such that said insert seat is generally L-shaped in configuration, said undercut defining planar leading and rear locating supports, and wherein said insert is receivable in said insert seat with the front surface of said insert abutting the leading locating support of said insert seat, with one edge face of said insert abutting the rear locating support of said insert seat and with another edge face of said insert abutting the bottom wall of said pocket of said cutting tool, and with the leading locating support of said insert being disposed at an angle relative to the leading surface of said insert seat with the angular disposition between the leading locating support of said insert seat and the leading surface of said insert seat equaling the angular disposition between the leading and trailing surfaces of said wedge means, and wherein the leading surface of said wedge means abuts the rear surface of said insert, and with said trailing planar surface of said wedge means being parallel to said leading surface of said insert seat, and with said leading planar surface of said wedge means being parallel to said leading locating support of said insert seat, thereby enabling the locking of said insert in place; and second screw means threadably engaged with said insert seat and said cutting tool such that when said second screw means is rotated the radial location of said insert seat relative to the central axis of said cutting tool is varied, whereby the radial position of said insert seat may be varied by adjusting said first and second screw means.