Including Tool-guide (or Bushing) Patents (Class 408/97)
  • Patent number: 5947654
    Abstract: The drill/countersink nosepiece assembly of the present invention permits the fabrication of a precise hole and countersink in a structural assembly workpiece in a single operation with the aid of a drill plate or other hole template. The small size of the nosepiece tip enables multiple holes to be closely spaced without interference between drill plate engagement slots. A close fit between the shaft of the rotating drill/countersink bit and the inner surface of the sleeve prevents the bit from wandering upon repeated or heavy use. The drill/countersink nosepiece comprises a combination drill/countersink bit to be received by a drill motor chuck, a bushing to be received by a fixed housing portion of the drill motor, a sleeve telescopically mounted within the bushing, a spring within the bushing to bias the sleeve forward, and fingers or other features at the end of the sleeve for engaging an alignment slot in a drill plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas O. Blankenship, James L. Morrison, Brian J. Martinek, Dan B. Hoelter
  • Patent number: 5947657
    Abstract: A drill jig assembly for accurately supporting a drill relative to a workpiece is provided that includes a drill having a cylindrical shank, a chuck having a cylindrical exterior, and a hydraulically-operated collet for detachably gripping the drill shank, a housing tube for slidably and rotatably supporting the cylindrical exterior of the chuck, and a drill guide mounted on the distal end of the housing tube. The drill guide is formed from a carbide bushing having a pilot bore for rotatably receiving the cylindrical shank of the drill and maintaining a pilot concentric alignment between the bushing and the shank during a drilling operation. The use of hydraulic chuck in combination with the pilot bore of the carbide bushing allows the drill to accurately bore holes in a workpiece to very tight tolerances in a one-step, extend and retract drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Steve P. Lipohar, William C. Magill, William B. Tunis
  • Patent number: 5899644
    Abstract: A support apparatus for a hand guided drill tool, especially a drill tool having diamond cutting elements, is provided. The support apparatus includes a movable support arm having at its free end a stand off piece for receiving and guiding a drill bit relative to a surface to be drilled. The movable support arm is telescopically movably mounted to a base element which has a travel stop member for engaging the support arm to prevent further extension thereof beyond its fully extended position. A damping element comprised of two plate shaped elastomeric portions is mounted on the support arm to damp the engagement of the support arm by the travel stop member and thereby avoid undesirable damage and collision noises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Buck, Thomas Dahler, Helmut Kratt
  • Patent number: 5893687
    Abstract: When a spindle unit 1 rises to a tool change position P1 of a printed-circuit board drilling apparatus, a pair of cam followers 27, which have been spaced downward from a pair of operating pins 38, are brought into engagement with conical portions 39 of the operating pins 38 and caused to move toward each other. As a result, a pair of opening/closing arms 24 that are provided under a pressure foot 20 and that serve as suppressing members for preventing floating of the printed-circuit board are moved away from their suppressing positions A in which the opening/closing arms 24 are kept closed by the force of a spring 28, to their retracted positions B. Consequently, forward end portions of the opening/closing arms 24 are positioned outside a tool passage zone S through which a tool post passes when a tool is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Howa Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Oketani, Tadashi Uemura
  • Patent number: 5893686
    Abstract: This invention relates to a housing having a shaft with a drill bit for tapping a pressurized fluid pipe. A saddle having a valve is attached to a pipe. A housing having a shaft passing therethrough is threaded to the valve. A drill bit is attached to one end of the shaft and a drill is connected to the other end of the shaft. The housing has a chamber in which the drill bit is retracted before connecting the housing to the valve. With the valve in the open position, the shaft is extended until the drill bit engages the pipe. The drill rotates the drill bit and cuts a hole in the pipe. The housing is sealed such that fluid entering the housing chamber does not escape along the shaft. The shaft and drill bit is then withdrawn into the housing chamber and the valve closed. The housing is then removed from the valve and a branch pipe connected thereto. The valve is then opened to fluidly connect a branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Donald R. Weiler
  • Patent number: 5876156
    Abstract: A printed circuit board working machine includes a spindle which holds a cutting tool and is movable to bring the tool into contact with and away from a printed-circuit board to be worked. A device for pressing down the printed-circuit board comprises a support mechanism associated with the spindle of the working machine for relative movement thereto, a plurality of holding sections movably supported by the mechanism and a driving mechanism for the holding sections. The holding sections are formed with holes of different sizes, respectively. When working operation, after the support mechanism causes the holding sections to move away to a position free from interference with the tool, the driving mechanism moves the holding sections to align one of the through holes, corresponding to a size of the tool to be used, with the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi Seiko, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Yamaura, Tamio Otani, Akira Irie
  • Patent number: 5807034
    Abstract: A suction grip for holding a pneumatic power tool to the surface of sheet material for drilling and counterboring holes contains a plate and a releasibly fastened cylindrical member. The plate contains a shallow region on a front face that abuts the work surface and serves as a vacuum region. The cylindrical member contains a hollow passage that receives, alternately, an alignment tool to center that passage over a locator hole in the worked material and to support a self collating pneumatic drill for drilling the worked material. A collection of collars which may be interchanged on the plate serves as a kit, permitting use with different drills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Aaron Perlmutter, Samuel Lee Babikian
  • Patent number: 5807036
    Abstract: An adjustable drill jig for precisely locating and drilling one or more holes in a workpiece such as a kitchen cabinet component (side panel, door, drawer, etc.) or the like. The adjustable drill jig is versatile in its applications and is composed of components that can be readily assembled (or disassembled) to form various modifications of the drill jig for different applications. The adjustable drill jig is composed of at least one elongated element with at least one rule on a surface thereof, at least one adjustable drill guide which has a drill bushing therein and is slidably movable along the length of the elongated element, and a stop plate attached to an element which is slidably movable along the at least one elongated element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Tad K. Lostlen
  • Patent number: 5800099
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for using a portable tool for assisting the making of holes in installed pipes, such as water pipes and the like, to prepare for interconnected piping. Such system preferably utilizes a hole saw guide bushing which is contained in a clamp-head at the end of the fixed jaw of a "Vise-Grip.TM."-like device. Such clamp-head accommodates various sizes of guide bushings and hole-saws for making various size holes in various size pipes. Other features assist accurate hole positioning, e.g., horizontal and vertical levels, center marks, and V-shaped holding surfaces on the clamp-heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Michael S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 5791835
    Abstract: A holding fixture for use in drilling pocket joints in a workpiece with a drill bit which includes a work table having a transverse rail and a transverse slot near the front side, a toggle clamp fixed to the work table to hold down the workpiece, a fixed guide member fixedly secured to the work table between the transverse rail and the transverse slot near one end, and a movable guide member supported on the work table and moved along the transverse rail and the horizontal sliding rod and horizontal locating sliding bar of the fixed guide member, each of the guide members having a top head, a bottom base supported on the work table, an oblique through hole through the top head, a back open space at the back side between the top head and the bottom base in communication with the oblique through hole for receiving wood chips from the workpiece during drilling, a guide sleeve fixedly mounted in the oblique through hole for guiding the drill bit, and a smoothly curved notch on the bottom base for supporting and g
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventors: Vance Chiang, Chao-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 5791834
    Abstract: A door drilling fixture for drilling a long straight longitudinal hole in a door. The fixture includes an elongated frame having a U-shaped cross-section for mounting about the hinged edge of a door and an arm projecting from and pivotally engaged to the frame for guiding a long drill bit. The door is placed between the right and left sections and the door edge flat against the center section of the U-shaped frame. Two hold-down bolts thread through upper and lower portions of the left section of the U-shaped frame to press the door against the right section of the U-shaped frame. Slots in the frame mechanically isolate the upper and lower portions of the left section from the middle portion of the center section. The arm houses two spaced apart drill bushings having a center line for rotationally engaging and guiding the drill bit through the drill bit aperture and into the edge of a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventor: Raymond E. Zehrung
  • Patent number: 5785466
    Abstract: A tool for aligning a portable boring bar for reboring of a bore at a location relative to a further bore including at least first and second "H"-shaped rigid guide members that are hingedly connected to permit their outboard ends to be selectively spaced apart. Each guide member includes first and second side members adapted to be disposed on opposite surfaces of an equipment component which is to be rebored, each side member for the first guide member having an outboard end designed to be aligned with a first bore, and each of the side members of the second guide member being designed to be aligned with a further bore spaced apart from the first bore. The tool serves as an alignment tool and/or as a mount for the drive unit of a portable boring bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: George C. Haynes
  • Patent number: 5746552
    Abstract: An adjustable depth drill bushing assembly in which the concentricity of the drill bushing and the mounting bushing is maintained by providing flat cylindrical mating surfaces between the drill bushing and mounting bushing, even when threads are present in the mating area. Cooperating structure is provided between the two bushings which permits both precise axial adjustment and rigid interengagement. The drill bushing is adapted to move axially of the mounting bushing in the released configuration, and is rigidly locked in place in the engaged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventors: Gary Tsui, James B. Tran, Tony J. Alba
  • Patent number: 5743684
    Abstract: An adjustable drill hole jig which allows a carpenter easy and quick customization of the drill hole jig to conform to the particular hole positioning required of the drilling job at hand, in particular the drilling of threaded fastener holes into cabinet doors for the purpose of attaching handles thereto. The drill hole jig according to the present invention is composed, generally, of: a base having an L-shaped guide edge, a first guide abutment for restingly engaging a workpiece surface, and a first guide opening; a primary armature having a second guide opening wherein the primary armature is guidably slidable along a first axis in the first guide opening; and a secondary armature guidably slidable along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, in the second guide opening. The secondary armature is provided with a plurality linearly arranged guide holes for guiding drilling of holes in a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Rex Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Lewis L. Rex
  • Patent number: 5743683
    Abstract: A tool for removal of rivets includes three main sections--a tubular body section, a base, and a drive shaft assembly. The drive shaft assembly includes an upper portion to be received in the chuck of a rotational source of power and a lower portion to be received in the bore of the tubular body. An internally threaded drill receiving socket is disposed at a lower end of the lower portion of the drive shaft. The body section includes a coil spring for retracting the drill and a drill stop bushing for limiting the depth of penetration of the drill bit into the rivet. The base includes an upper disc and a larger diameter lower disc and three equally spaced tubular legs connect the upper disc to the lower disc. The bottom of the base includes a non-slip polymeric pad for contacting a work surface surrounding the rivet and stabilizing the cutting path of the drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: E-Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Skaggs
  • Patent number: 5713225
    Abstract: A padlock holder is provided for receiving the body of a padlock and maintaining the padlock body at a predetermined location within the holder. When the padlock body is at that location the tumbler mechanism of the padlock is in registry with a hole formed in the holder. A drill bit is positioned in the opening to drill through the padlock body and the tumbler mechanism so that the padlock can be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Floyd Bert Smith
  • Patent number: 5653562
    Abstract: Apparatus for facilitating drilling or similar machining operations upon a workpiece, the apparatus including a vertically directed vee shaped recess (15) for interchangeably receiving and centring tool guide arrangements (18) for the tools required to be used for machining the workpiece; and means (19) for cramping a selected tool guide arrangement (18) against the mutually inclined faces of the vee shaped recess (15); and with a vee shaped recess (14) whose apex (17) is directed transversely of the apex (16) of the vee shaped recess (15) and intersects the apex (16) of the vee shaped recess; a workpiece support means (26) mounted for displacement towards and away from the vee shaped recess (14) in such manner that a workpiece (27) placed upon the workpiece support means (26) can be brought into firm contact with the faces of the vee shaped recess (14), and means for positionally locating a workpiece upon the workpiece support means (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventors: Harry William Norton, Stephen Arthur Withington
  • Patent number: 5634746
    Abstract: A system for maintaining normality of a tool nose to a workpiece supported on a floor assembly jig adjacent to a carriage on which the tool nose is mounted while the carriage is negotiating a bend in the floor assembly jig includes a support system for supporting the carriage on a rail for longitudinal travel along the rail. The support system has two longitudinally spaced bearing blocks and a slide on each bearing block for mounting the carriage on the bearing blocks for lateral movement of the carriage toward and away from the rail. Each bearing block includes a bearing base in which is journaled a plurality of rollers in rolling contact with a horizontal upwardly facing surface on the rail for rolling vertical support of the bearing base on the rail, and also has at least one roller in rolling contact with a laterally facing surface on each side of the rail for lateral support of the bearing base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: The Boeing Co.
    Inventors: Paul E. Ffield, John W. Schooff, Steven C. Van Swearingen
  • Patent number: 5630682
    Abstract: A drill bit assembly has a housing having a central passageway including a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber. The pressure chamber is connectable with a pressure source and the vacuum chamber is connectable with a vacuum source. The pressure chamber and vacuum chamber are in fluid communication with each other. A bearing assembly has an outer race rigidly mounted within the pressure chamber and an inner race for frictionally engaging the drill bit. A bracket mounts the housing with the drill bit extending through the central passageway. A seal is formed between the pressure chamber and the vacuum chamber as fluid, such as air, from the pressure source flows into the pressure chamber to the vacuum chamber for exhausting to the vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Tooling Technology Centre Inc.
    Inventor: Leslie T. Davey
  • Patent number: 5628592
    Abstract: A drilling mechanism for drilling one or more holes in a workpiece includes a collet for securing the drilling mechanism to a hole formed in a fixture mounted in front of the workpiece. The collet is slidable rearwardly along a tapered nosepiece to be elastically expanded outwardly into tight frictional contact with the fixture hole. The collet comprises a clamping part and a separate displacement part connected thereto. A contact interface is formed by the clamping and displacement parts for transmitting rearward forces from the displacement part to the clamping part. The contact interface extends for 360 degrees about the center axis of the collet. Longitudinal play is provided between the displacement and clamping parts so that when the collet is to be moved forwardly and released from the fixture, the displacement part is initially moved longitudinally relative to the clamping part to apply a radially inward force to the clamping part for disengaging the clamping part from the fixture hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil D. Ringer
  • Patent number: 5590986
    Abstract: A drill jig for locating holes to be drilled in a workpiece includes an elongated guiding block, a guiding rod and a positioning block. A plurality of through-bores are formed in the guiding block and are longitudinally aligned. A bushing and a positioning pin extend removably through two of the through-bores. Each of the threaded holes is provided with a locking screw so that the bushing and the positioning pin can be releasably locked in the two through-bores by the corresponding locking screws. The guiding rod is connected to a side face of the guiding block and extends in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guiding block. The positioning block has an abutting plate depending from the bottom face of the positioning block, a threaded bore formed in the top face of the positioning block, and a through hole through which the guiding rod slidably passes. The through hole communicates with the threaded bore in a direction that is transverse to the axis of the threaded bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Bor-Chang Juang
  • Patent number: 5584838
    Abstract: A femoral nail which can be implanted in a bone has a transverse hole, and an arrangement is provided for generating a magnetic field which has a maximum strength along an axis of the transverse hole and which decreases in strength in directions radially away from the axis. A drill guide for axially aligning a drill with the transverse hole has an axial drill opening through it, and first and second sensor arrangements are provided at axially spaced locations on the drill guide and each have a plurality of sensors which are at angularly spaced locations and are spaced radially from the opening through the drill guide. An arrangement responsive to the first and second sensor arrangements detects a deviation of the drill opening in the drill guide from coaxial alignment with the axis of the hole in the member, and provides an operator perceptible indication of a radial direction from the drill opening to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Mehmet Rona, Douglas J. Ely, James A. Evans, Matthew S. Alves, Lisa D. Sertic, Christopher D. Philipp
  • Patent number: 5482411
    Abstract: A device utilizing positive and negative fluid pressure and the plurality of tandem operating components for securely clamping a drill motor to a drill plate in order to drill precisely positioned holes in a workpiece includes an annular mandrel and annular collet concentrically disposed about the cutting tool. A first end of the collet includes a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers while the mandrel has a tapered end portion having a larger external diameter than the center cylindrical portion of the mandrel. A plurality of pistons are also coaxially disposed about the cutting tool and within piston subchambers defined within the piston housing of the clamping device to extend and retract the mandrel and the collet. Once extended, the longitudinally extending fingers of the collet overlie the center cylindrical portion of the mandrel. Thus, the clamping device may be inserted through an aperture defined in a drill plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: John R. McGlasson
  • Patent number: 5358361
    Abstract: A self-feed drill assembly (10) for forming an opening within a work piece (20). The drill assembly (10) includes a power driven drill (12) having a rotating cutting element (18) and a mounting fixture (14) for maintaining the relative position of the power driven drill with respect to the work piece (20). The mounting fixture (14) includes a nose piece housing (22), a foot mount housing (24) and a means for releasably joining the nose piece housing and the foot mount housing in an axially coupled position. The nose piece housing (22) defines a first chamber (26) adapted to receive a leading portion of the power driven drill (12) and the foot mount housing (24) defines a second chamber (28) adapted to receive the nose piece housing and in communication with the first chamber such that at least the rotatable cutting element (18) extends through the first chamber, the second chamber and the foot mount housing to contact the work piece (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: GenCorp Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Jurski
  • Patent number: 5349979
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a self-contained line tapping and clamping device for removing fluids from a refrigeration system. The apparatus includes a main inner shaft, and an outer tubular shaft slidably fitting over at least a portion of the inner shaft. A pair of opposing clamp arms are provided, one carried by the lower portion of the inner shaft and the other carried by the outer shaft. The clamp arms align by relative movement of the inner and outer shafts. One of the clamp arms carries a piercing device which includes a piercing point for piercing a line supported by the other clamping arm such that the piercing point is aimed directly at the line. A threaded actuating device including a mechanism for rotating the actuating device is provided for urging the two arms together as they move relative to each other to thereby cause the piercing point to pierce the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Instant Pierce, Inc.
    Inventors: Terri Zeien, Richard Rahn
  • Patent number: 5322396
    Abstract: A hand-held clamping drill guide including a pocket hole drill guide and a hand-held clamp. The pocket hole drill guide is rotatably attached to the end of one of two opposed C-shaped arms. The C-shaped arms are movable between an open position and a clamped position by the clamp handles. The clamp face on the other arm is pivotally attached to the end of the arm. The drill guide may be provided with more than one hole for drilling adjacent pocket holes. The clamp may be held and operated by a single hand to secure the pocket hole drill guide against a workpiece for drilling pocket holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Trend-Lines, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul N. Blacker
  • Patent number: 5322083
    Abstract: An elongate body includes a first fixed jaw fixedly and orthogonally mounted to the body, having a second sliding jaw, with the fixed jaw and the sliding jaw arranged to secure a pipe therebetween, such as the first jaw includes a piercing head. The piercing head includes a conduit structure in pneumatic communication with further conduit structure directed through the first jaw and body extending through the body, such that the body includes a further projection portion arranged for securement to conductive tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Rick A. Olivier
  • Patent number: 5318391
    Abstract: A work holder is provided for modifying an automatic transmission such that clutch pistons within the automatic transmission receive a unidirectional valve therethrough rather than the associated clutch drum as is typically the case. The work holder includes a base with a horizontal upper surface having a central disk which is sized to fit and retain one clutch piston to the base when the central disk is in one orientation and another clutch piston when the central disk is in another orientation. With the clutch piston securely attached to the work holder, a drill bit guide mounted on the work holder directs a stepped drill bit so that it may bore a hole through the clutch piston for passage of hydraulic fluid therethrough. Two drill bit guides are provided, one for each clutch piston, which each direct one of two of the drill bits to the appropriate location. Once the holes are drilled in each clutch piston a check ball and seat combination are located within each hole thus made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Linda L. Breiner
    Inventor: James S. Breiner
  • Patent number: 5299894
    Abstract: An end effector adapted for attachment to and accurate positioning by a robot is provided for positioning a channel-shaped workpiece at a desired position and drilling an accurately located positioning hole in the workpiece. The end effector includes a conventional speeder unit with a Morris taper that can be grasped by the robot and rotated for transfer of torque to the speeder unit. A top plate is attached to the speeder unit and has a central opening to receive a drill collet extending downward from said speeder unit for drilling the holes in the workpiece. A base plate is connected to the top plate by guide rods which are pressed into bores in the base plate and extend through linear bearings in the top plate for self-parallel movement relative to the top plate. A pair of nuts mounted on the top plate is threadedly engaged with a pair of lead screws connected to the base plate so that vertical movement of the base plate will push the lead screws through the nuts and rotate the lead screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Peter D. McCowin
  • Patent number: 5281058
    Abstract: A doweling template for accurately drilling holes in a work piece utilizing a structural member. The structural member includes first and second sets of parallel bores which are orthogonally oriented relative to one another. First and second guides align the first and second sets of parallel bores with the work piece, respectively. Each of the guides is removably fastened to planar sides of the work piece to permit usage of the doweling template in restricted work areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Harvey C. Hill
  • Patent number: 5281056
    Abstract: An indexing coupling for a drill includes a hollow inner race, a hollow outer race, and a sleeve member. The hollow inner race and hollow outer race are affixed to one another by a plurality of ball members which are positioned by a plurality of detents in the hollow inner race. The balls also extend into holes in the hollow outer race. When the balls are positioned within the holes in the hollow outer race and within the detents in the hollow inner race by the sleeve member, the hollow inner race and the hollow outer race are rigidly connected one with respect to the other. When the sleeve member is moved the ball members become disengaged from the hollow inner race thus allowing indexing of the outer race with respect to the hollow inner race. This indexing of the hollow outer race with respect to the hollow inner race allows selective rotatable indexing of the drill housing with respect to the nose piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Lawson, Jay G. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5277526
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling depth machining in a space and with the use of jigs, includes a body having two sliding parts biased by a spring and suitable for a drilling tool, with some clearance. One part is provided with couplings for assembling on a machine-tool, and the other is provided with a presser and a drill guide. Another spring which is suitable for keeping the tool centered is included and a relative stroke between the two sliding parts is longer than the drilling stroke of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: JOBS S.p.A.
    Inventor: Armando Corsi
  • Patent number: 5257654
    Abstract: A biscuit joiner 11 has a pair of selectively usable retractable antiskid pin subassemblies 13, 15 for increasing the frictional resistance of the shoe assembly 23 with a workpiece when making a cut in the workpiece. Pins 19, 21 are biased forwardly to an extended position by a spring 45. To permit selective use of the pins 19, 21, a retractor 47 retains pins 19, 21 in a retracted position. Retractor 47 preferably comprises a cam 59 and a cam follower 61 and is actuated and deactuated by rotation of pins 19, 21 within chambers 43. Each pin tip 55 has a plurality of peripheral points 73-76 which are particularly effective for reducing skidding on a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick R. Bean, Glenn A. Pettet, Scott D. Price
  • Patent number: 5163792
    Abstract: A clamp structure mounts a workpiece between an underlying saddle plate and an uppermost bushing head, wherein the bushing head includes a slidably received guide bushing directed therewithin in coaxially oriented alignment with a saddle bore directed within the saddle to provide for alignment of drilling directed through the workpiece. The invention further includes the bushing head and saddle clamp arranged and mounted on pivoting jaw structure arranged for clamping of the workpiece therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Donald E. Slavik
  • Patent number: 5087156
    Abstract: A printed circuit board boring machine bores printed circuit boards stacked on a table, by a drill while pressing the printed circuit boards with a pressure foot. A piece having a hole through which the drill may pass is detachably mounted on a tip end portion of the pressure foot with a center of the hole being aligned with an axis of the drill. The piece may be attached to the pressure foot before the boring work so that the boards and the piece may be simultaneously bored by the drill while the hole in the piece may be used as a guide for the boring work of the boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi Seiko Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kanaya, Tamio Otani, Kunio Arai
  • Patent number: 5081763
    Abstract: An automated drilling station for use in a computer controlled manufacturing system comprising an adjustable frame structure for releasably clamping a work piece in a planar work position, a chuck assembly adapted to operatively receive a selected drill bit, a drive train for selectively moving the chuck assembly on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the work position, feed racks for storing a plurality of drill bits of various predetermined sizes, a robot assembly for transferring a selected drill bit between the feed racks and the chuck assembly at a transfer station remote from the work position, a drive train for selectively translating the chuck assembly between the transfer station and work position and between locations on one side of the work piece aligned with predetermined drilling locations in the work position and a selectively rotatable turret having bushings of various sizes disposed about the periphery thereof for selective disposition in opposed relation to the chuck assembly at each predet
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Everett E. Jones
  • Patent number: 5054968
    Abstract: An improved automatic feed drill including a housing, a rotatable tool spindle located for reciprocating movement in the housing, driving means located in the housing operably connected with the spindle for rotating and reciprocating the spindle in feed and retraction movements, and structure for supporting the spindle including a nose assembly secured with the housing around the drilling end of the spindle having a telescoping section with a bore concentric with the spindle, and a bearing on the spindle drilling end fitted in sliding relation in the nose bore for piloting the spindle and a drill connected thereto during reciprocating movement of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Eckman
  • Patent number: 5018912
    Abstract: A drilling jig for staircase rails includes a base plate having a first block fixed thereto and a second block adjustably mounted thereon. Rotatably adjustable drill guides with bushings are provided on the first and second blocks to permit adjustment of the guides to a predetermined angle to the base plate. A demountable section of the base plate can be removed to permit drilling of a rail at a point close to an obstruction, such as a knule post. A third block is adjustably disposed on said demountable base plate section and include an adjustable aligning pin guide. The jig is preferably part of a kit which includes a set of drill bits of various sizes, each bit having an elongated shank of the same diameter adapted to fit the bushings of the drill guides. The jig kit further includes a set of aligning pins sized to match the drill bits, the pins having a common shank size to fit the third block aligning pin guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: By George Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: George J. Reitz
  • Patent number: 4978256
    Abstract: A drill fixture for holding and aligning a bead like object, such as a pearl, relative to a drill bit for accurately drilling a bore in the object includes an elongate main body having a base at one end and a clamping member threaded on its opposite end. A pair of like elongate drill guide bushings are respectively mounted in the base and clamp member in opposed coaxial alignment with each other. The opposed ends of the bushings project into an externally accessible recess in the main body and, by actuation of the clamp member, an object to be drilled may be clamped between concave seats on the opposed ends of the bushings in axial alignment with drill guide bores extending through the bushings. The bushings are formed of a relatively firm resilient material to firmly clamp the object without marring the surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Rio Grande-Albuquerque, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wellington, Louis Bell
  • Patent number: 4969781
    Abstract: A hand tool for the preparation of an off-set bore relative to a countersunk recess in a structural plate member wherein a pilot sleeve with a central bore slidably support an upper hollow sleeve that is spring biased away from the pilot sleeve. A bushing secured to the upper portion of said hollow sleeve also retains a drill bit that extends in to the pilot sleeve while the shank end is connectable to a drill for rotation and axial movement with the hollow sleeve relative to the pilot sleeve to drill a through bore in the plate member whose axis is off-set relative to a tapered countersunk conical recess in the plate member. The lower end of the pilot sleeve has a tapered annular surface or conical recess whose central axis is off-set relative to the axis of the central bore of said pilot sleeve, and a handle is secured to the pilot sleeve to position and hold the hand tool in the countersunk recess of the plate member as it is drilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventors: Alan J. Fahrner, Thomas S. Betchel
  • Patent number: 4955766
    Abstract: A holding fixture for drilling pocket joints with a stepped drill bit. The fixture includes an L-shaped body member having a guide leg that carries an angularly disposed drill guide channel and a clamp leg that supports a clamping mechanism for securing a wooden workpiece flush against the planar surface of the guide leg. The drill guide channel has an upper stop flange and a lower end that terminates flush with the planar surface of the guide leg at a point spaced above the junction of the guide leg and the clamp leg. The stepped drill bit is secured in the chuck of a portable drill and an adjustable stop collar is positioned on the bit. The stop collar engages the stop flange so that the end of the bit is prevented from contacting the surface of the clamp leg. The wooden workpiece is secured flush to the planar surface of the guide leg by the clamp and the pocket and pilot hole are drilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventor: Craig A. Sommerfeld
  • Patent number: 4948308
    Abstract: A drill tool is mounted to a robotic arm and is capable of operating in limited access space. The drill is driven by a motor shaft capable of exhibiting simultaneous linear and rotational motion. A right angle drill head is slidably mounted to a support and is driven by the motor shaft so that the drill bit moves toward a work piece while it rotates. A cylinder-driven clamp has its jaws coaxially aligned with a drill bit and is capable of clamping several pieces together, the latter constituting a work piece. One of the clamp jaws has a bushing which serves as both a drill guide and a clamp jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Ottavio Giannuzzi, Christopher J. Scheuing
  • Patent number: 4911587
    Abstract: A drilling machine for drilling holes in the ends of rails for a railway track to receive fishplate bolts, has a base 12 on which is provided a former 20 adapted to the profile of the rail 10. A clamping jaw 18 is connected by a clamping mechanism 16 for clamping the base 12 to the rail. An electric drill 20 is slidably supported on a column 14 on the base 12. An annular hole cutter 26 on the drill spindle 24 drills a hole through the web 40 of the rail 10. The former 30 accurately locates the drilling axis laterally with respect to the rail 10 and a respective end of the former 30 can be aligned with the rail end when clamping the machine to the rail in order that the drill axis will be accurately located longitudinally of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Rotabroach Limited
    Inventor: Ralph Stych
  • Patent number: 4896663
    Abstract: A hand-held drill jig is utilized to locate and maintain a central axis through a head and an associated neck of a femur enabling a blind hole to be drilled into the femoral head oriented to the central axis. The drill jig is adjustable to accommodate a broad range of sizes of femurs and can be readily attached to, then removed from, the femur. A positioning mechanism is provided to firmly engage both the outer peripheral surface of the femoral head and the femoral neck. This operation renders associated drill bushing immobile relative to the femur and orients its longitudinal axis with the central axis. A drill bit is then capable of being guided through the drill bushing and into cutting engagement with the femoral head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim Corporation
    Inventor: Mark V. Vandewalls
  • Patent number: 4842453
    Abstract: A guide apparatus for drilling oblique holes comprises a fixture for supporting a wood stock at an adjustable angle to a reference surface, and a guide assembly for positioning a drill bit attached to a drill driving mechanism over the end of the wood stock and for guiding the reciprocation of the drill bit to enable the drill bit to enter the surface of the wood stock adjacent the end obliquely and to pass out of the end to form a hole for receiving a screw. The guide assembly is adjustable to vary the maximum travel of the drill bit towards the wood stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: West Products
    Inventors: James G. Raines, Harry Coleman
  • Patent number: 4793747
    Abstract: Spindle jig mechanism for use in drilling spindle apertures in stair rails, the mechanism including a mounting block adapted to extend along the underside of a stair rail and having a transversely extending cylindrical cavity for receiving a cylindrical support for a tubular guide for a drill to be employed with the jig mechanism. Provision is made for multiple jig mechanisms having a plurality of mounting blocks, each adapted to position different tubular drill guides adapted to cooperate with drills of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventor: George J. Reitz
  • Patent number: 4790695
    Abstract: A modular drill jig and method of making same, characterized by parallel base, tool and bushing plates which have precision machined flat and adjacent right angle edge faces defining orthogonal reference planes and axes for aiding in fast, precision lay out of the locations of drill guide bushings and other tooling in the drill jig. The plates are removably assembled in modular fashion on common guide posts. The bushing and tool plates are movable relative to each other for clamping a part to be drilled between opposed parallel clamping faces of such plates. In the manufacture of the drill jig, the adjacent right angle edge faces on the plates enable fast and precision lay out of bores for the guide posts in the plates, such precision lay out ensuring proper vertical alignment of the plates and enabling the desired movement of the tool plate without binding thereof on the guide posts while maintaining the opposed clamping faces of the bushing and tool plates parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: Robert R. Abernethy
  • Patent number: 4764060
    Abstract: Disclosed is a quick-change nosepiece (10) for a power drill (27) capable of telescoping by very small increments in the longitudinal direction, of angular or rotational displacement, and of quick and easy engagement and disengagement so as to provide access to the drill bit (29). Alternatively, a nosepiece (10) may be changed with one of greater or lesser length to correspond to the length of the drill bit (29) as the bit is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventor: Sudershan K. Khurana
  • Patent number: 4668134
    Abstract: A turret coupling (13) for locking a tool (10) in a desired angular position relative to a workpiece (16), where the tool is locked onto the workpiece by a fixture (19) through a nose piece (12), is comprised of a sleeve (13a) notched on the rim. The sleeve is closely fitted over the lower end of the tool, or a nose adapter (25), and held by a retainer (13b) threaded into the tool or the adapter. A latch key (24) locks the tool to the sleeve. To reposition the tool relative to the nose piece, a shaft (28) is lifted by a lever (26) having a return spring (22) under a button (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: P. V. Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: Pierre G. Vindez
  • Patent number: 4605345
    Abstract: A protective device for a fabric or other soft wall covering upon the drilling of a hole therethrough into a support wall behind the covering has a sleeve which closely surrounds the drill bit, a spring braced against the sleeve and a roller bearing to permit immobilization of the sleeve as the drill bit rotates and is axially displaced in the latter. The sleeve has a circular array of pins projecting from its face turned away from the chuck and adapted to penetrate the wall covering. A light supplementary spring can be provided on this side of the sleeve as well to compress the wall covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Inventor: Michel Giughese