Geometrical instruments – Straight-line light ray type – Combined
Patent
1994-07-07
1995-11-14
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
Geometrical instruments
Straight-line light ray type
Combined
33638, 33626, B27G 2300
Patent
active
054654920
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to manually manipulated tools for driving an element such as a drill bit, stud or fastener along a drive axis into the surface of a workpiece. More particularly, the invention concerns a device for providing a visual indication of the angular disposition of the drive axis relative to the surface.
BACKGROUND
When using such tools it is usually necessary to maintain the working axis of the tool at a certain angular relationship (usually perpendicular) to the surface of a workpiece. In the case of a drill bit for example, the bit must be maintained at this angle throughout the entire drilling operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,043 and GB 2 053 750 both disclose an indicator device having: adjacent to the position at which an element is to be driven into said surface, said head including a socket having a part-spherical bearing surface; and second portion in sliding engagement with said first portion to move in a direction which is parallel to the drive axis of the tool, said second portion having a part-spherical bearing surface which is closely received in said socket to form a universal-type pivotal coupling.
In both of these earlier proposals the head is coupled to a remote indicator arrangement disposed adjacent to the tool, to indicate when the drive axis of the tool is perpendicular to the workpiece surface. There is a serious risk of swarf and other debris becoming lodged in the coupling arrangement, which would seriously impair the operation of the device. In addition, the user is not able to focus simultaneously on the indicator and the workpiece surface, making the device difficult to use.
An aim of the present invention may be viewed as being to eliminate these drawbacks of the earlier devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention proposes that the part-spherical bearing surfaces are provided with indicia means for indicating the angular disposition of said drive axis relative to said workpiece surface.
The provision of indicia directly on the bearing surfaces has the following advantages: failure due to dirt contamination. are simultaneously within the field of vision of the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a general view of an indicator device of the invention,
FIG. 2 is a general exploded view of the indicator head of the device, and
FIGS. 3(a) to (f) are plan views of the indicator head under various conditions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to FIG. 1, the device includes a split clamp ring 10 which is dimensioned to fit about the handle boss of a standard pistol grip power drill (not shown). The clamp ring has a fixing boss 11 for attachment of an auxiliary handle, and is secured to the drill by tightening a clamping nut and bolt 12 to draw together the ends 13 and 14 of the clamp ring.
A tubular rod 15 is inserted between the ends 13 and 14 to extend parallel to the drive axis about which the drill bit rotates. The clamping nut 12 can be slackened sufficiently to permit the rod 15 to be axially adjusted relative to the ring 10, and the nut tightened to lock the rod in position. An outer tube 16 is a close sliding fit on one end of the rod 15 to carry an indicator head 17. A guide rod 16' (FIG. 2) slidably extends from the head 17 through the tube 16 and tubular rod 15. The tube 16 contains a compression spring 18, located about the guide rod 16', which acts against the rod 15 to urge the head 17 away from the tool. The spring thus returns the head 17 to a datum position shown, determined by engagement of a stop 23 on the opposite end of guide rod 16' with the end of tubular rod 15. The rod 15 carries a depth gauge scale 19 which co-operates with the end face 22 of the tube 16 so that when the head 17 is urged axially towards the clamp ring 10 the distance moved from the datum position
REFERENCES:
patent: 2407845 (1946-09-01), Nemeyer
patent: 2483060 (1949-09-01), Niedelman et al.
patent: 3707043 (1972-12-01), Jones
patent: 4193203 (1980-03-01), LeGrand et al.
Bennett G. Bradley
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Dorman Ira S.
Five Star Enterprises Limited
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