Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADJUSTABLE TOOL SUPPORT FOR DRILL PRESSES OR THE LIKE
This invention relates to an adjustable support
adapted to carry and assist in the positioning of drills or
similar tools at the location where the drill or other tool
is to operate on a workpiece. As the invention has been
devis~d for use particularly in relation to hand operated
heavy duty drillsl it will be described in that conte~t in
the following description. It is to be appreciated however
that other tools which require accurate positioning in
relation to a workpiece may take the place of the drill
which is described in the following specification.
Hand operated drills which are of sufficiently heavy
capacity to be used with twist drills which will form holes
of three quarters of an inch or larger diameter are commonly
used in workshops or on building construction sites to
produce holes, for example, in steel plates or beams, to
enable passage through the formed hole of a bolt, tube or
other component of the structure being formed. One
particular application is in the assembly of the steel
framework used to make up the chassis of a truck or similar
vehicle.
Various problems are encountered in the use of such
drills due to the need to accurately locate and maintain the
alignment of the drill in relation to the workpiece while
the drilling operation proceeds. Many locations in which
holes must be drilled do not provide convenient access for
the person (or sometimes persons) operating the drill so
that a considerable portion of the time involved in
producing the hole may be spent in locating, maintaining the
position during drilling, and then relocating the drill.
It has previously been proposed to provide heavy
drills with a connected electromagnet which will maintain
the location of the drill in relation in to a ferro-magnetic
workpiece. Ho~ever, such attachments are limited in their
applicability by the location of the hole or holes which
must be drilled as well as the materials from which the
workpiece may be constructed.
37 It is an object of the present invention to provide an
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adjustable drill support which will assist in ov~rcoming the
problems of the prior art by providing a portable support
which can be adjusted in a plurality of areas, thus orming
a particularly versatile and useful item of equipment.
Accordingly the present invention provides a tool
support stand including at least three legs carrying a
mounting block; an outer support sleeve slidably supported
and a~ially movable within the mounting block between upper
and lower limits; an inner support sleeve slidably supported
by and a~ially movable within the outer support sleeve
between upper and lower limits; an hydraulic cylinder and
ram mounted coa~ially within the support sleeves with the
lower end of the cylinder connected to the lower end of the
outer support sleeve below the lower limit of travel for the
inner support sleeve and the upper end of the ram connected
to the upper end of the inner support sleeve whereby the
inner support sleeve can be moved within the outer support
sleeve, the hydraulic cylinder being operatively connectable
to an hydraulic pump assembly by hydraulic supply and return
lines; an au~iliary drive mechanism operable to effectively
e~tend the stroke of the ram by moving the outer sleeve
upwardly within the mounting block; and carrying means
connected to the upper end of the inner support sleeve to
carry the tool with which the support stand is to be usedc
The support stand of the invention includes at least
three, preferably four, less carrying a mounting blockO For
ready portability, each leg is preferably supported at its
base by wheel, more preferably a swivelled castor wheel.
The mounting block supported by the legs is preferably
held by the legs with its a~is substantially perpendicular
to the floor or other surface on which the legs are
supported. For convenience the following description and
claims will refer to the mounting block and other components
of the support stand as being in the position where the a2is
of the mounting block is vertical. The mounting block
slideably supports an outer support sleeve which is axially
moveable within the mounting block. In turn, the outer
38 support sleeve itself slideably supports an inner support
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sleeve which is a~ially moveable within the outer support
s leeve .
An hydraulic cylinder and ram are mounted coaxially
within the support sleeves with the lower end of the
cylinder connected to the lower end of the outer support
sleeve below the lower limit of travel for the inner support
sleeve. The upper end of the ram or piston which travels
within ~he hydraulic cylinder is connected adjacent the
upper end of the inner support sleeve. The hydraulic
cylinder is connected to an hydraulic pump assembly by
hydraulic supply and return lines. The hydraulic pump
assembly is preferably hand operated to apply pressure
within the hydraulic cylinder and to release the applied
pressure as desired.
The support stand of the present invention further
includes an auxiliary drive mechanism operable to
effectively exten~ the stroke of the hydraulic ram. In a
preferred form of the present invention the au~iliary dr;ve
mechanism includes at least one and preferably two chain and
sprocket assemblies. In each chain and sprocket assembly,
one end of the chain is fi~ed to the e~terior of the
mounting block and runs from this fi~ed connection over a
sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the base o~ the outer
support sleeve to e~tend to a point where the othe-r end of
the chain is mounted within the inner support sleeve. The
operation of the hydraulic cylinder and ram and its
cooperation with the chain and sprocket auxiliary drive
mechanism will be described later in this specification with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
The support stand of the present invention ~uxther
includes a carrying means co~nected to the upper end of the
inner support sleeve to carry the drill or other tool with
which the support stand is to be used. Preferably the
carrying means is attached so as to be rotatable about the
a~is of the support sleeves. The carrying means may simply
consist of a plate allowing attachment of a mounting bracket
drive means hereinater described. However, in one form of
38 the invention the carrying means includes an extension arm
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which enables the drill mounted on the mounting bracket to
be used in locations which would not otherwise be accessible
if the carrying means is simply in the form of a plate to
which the mounting bracket drive means is attached.
Where the carrying means includes an e~tension arm, it
is preferable that the end of the e~tension arm remote from
the mounting brac~et and its drive means is provided with a
counter balance to the weight of the mounting bracket and
drill which will be located~ in use, at or near the other
end of the e~tension arm. The extension ar~ may also be
provided with spring or other damping means to counter rapid
movement of the drill or other mechanisms at the end of the
e~tension arm and thus improve the stability of the
equipment as a whole.
As indicated above, a mounting bracket drive means is
preferably attached, for e~arnple by welding, to the carrying
meansO The mounting bracket drive means preferably consists
of a worm drive assembly which may be hand operated to turn
the mounting bracket in a plane substantially parallel with
the axis of the support sleeves.
The mounting bracket which is driven by the mounting
bracket drive means is adapted to cooperate with a mounting
collar or similar device attached to the body of the dr;ll
with which the support stand is to be used. Preferably the
mounting bracket includes a column about which a mount;ng
collar attached to the drill body is adjustably rotatable
but the bracket and collar can be adapted for a single fi~ed
position at any desired location relative to each other
The preferred form of drill to be used in association
with the support stand of the present invention includes a
magnetic drill stand assembly incorporating an electromagnet
which can be activated to hold the drill in position
relative to a ferromagnetic workpiece, once the drill has
been placed in the desira~ position relative to the
workpiece. However, it is to be understood that the drill
support of the present invention is not dependent for its
utility upon use with a magnetic drill stand assembly, as
38 other means can be employed to maintain the relative
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positions of the drill assembly and the workpiece during
operation of the drill. For e~ample, one or more
mechanically actuated suction cups could be used to maintain
the drill assembly position relative to a non- ferromagnetic
workpiece.
In order that the invention can be more clearly
understood, one preferred form of drill support will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings which
show the drill support when used with a magnetic drill
stand assembly. It is to be understood however that the
accompanying drawings are provided for the purposes of
illustration only and that the features of these drawings
are not to be construed as limiting the generality of the
foregoing description.
In the drawings:
Figure l is an elevation view showing the drill stand
and associated drill assembly with the drill stand in an
extended position;
Figure 2 is a further elevation taken at 90 to the
elevation view of Figure l and showing the support stand in
its contracted position;
Figure 3 i~ a plan view of the drill support as shown
in Figure l;
Figure 4 is a detail view, partly in section, showing
the attachment of the au~iliary drive m~chanism.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in the
accompanying drawings, the support stand l includes four
legs 2 each supported at its base by a castor wheel 3. Legs
2 are attached to mounting block 4 within which outer
30 support sleeve 5 is slideably mounted. Inner support sleeve
6 is in turn slideably mounted within outer support sleeve
5. Hydraulic cylinder and ram 7, 8 are mounted a~ially
within the support sleeves with the lower end of the
cylinder 7 being mounted at 9, adjacent the base of the
outer support sleeve 5 and the ram 8 being mounted at lO,
adjacent the top of the inner support sleeve 6.
Hydraulic pump assembly 11 including pump handle 12
3a and supply/return lines 13 are adjustably connected to
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one of legs 2 by bracket 1~. Th~ adjustable bracket 14 enables
movement of the pump assembly as by raising from the
position shown so that the handle 12 will be more accessible
when the support stand is in an e~tended position.
Sprockets 15 are mounted adjacent the lower end of
outer support sleeve 5 and carry respective chains 16, the
opposite ends of which are attached respectively to mounting
block 4 at 17 and adjacent the lower end of inner support
sleeve 6 at 18.
In order to e~tend the support stand from the position
shown i~ Figure 2 to the position shown in Yigure
hydraulic pump assembly 11 (which is omitted for simplicity
in Figure 2) is operated to force ram 8 from cylinder 7. As
ram 8 raises the inner support sleeve 6 to which it is
connected, the connection of chains 16 to the lower end of
the inner sleeve 6 acts through sprockets 15 and the fi~ed
attachment of the other end of the chain 16 at 17 to the
mounting block 14 to draw outer support sleeve 5 upwardly
through mounting block 4. The effective movement of ram 8
within hydraulic cylinder 7 is thus substantially doubled.
The lifting mechanism thus described provides for
vertical adjustment of the support stand and thus gives a
primary means of locating the drill chuck and the tip of the
twist drill which it carries, relative to the workpiece.
The inner and outer support sleeves 5, 6 may be protected if
desired by an e~pandible sleeve 19 as shown in the drawings.
Carrying means consisting of plate 20 is rotatably
attached through bolt and nut 21 to the top of inner support
sleeve 6. The rotatable attachment of carrying plate 20
permits adjustment of the plate in the normally horizontal
plane perpendicular to the a~is of the support sleeves. Nut
21 can be locked into position when the location of plate 20
is detPrmined.
Mounting bracket drive means including worm drive
assembly 22 is fi~ed to carrying plate 20 as by welding an
appropriate part of the assembly to the plate. The worm
drive assembly 22 includes handwheel 23, handle 24, gear
38 housing 25 and drive spindle housing 2~. The drive spindle
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is connected to mounting bracket 27 which in the illustrated
embodiment comprises a column slideably mountahle within the
bore of connector bracket 28 and which can be fi~ed in
relation to the connector bracket by locknut 29.
Connector bracket 28 forms part of magnetic drill
stand assembly 30 and, as illustrat,ed, this asse~bly
includes an oppositely mounted connector bracket 31 to
permit left handed connection of the dxill assembly to
mounting bracket 27~ Drill assembly 30 further includes
operating wheel 32 enabling the drill 33 to be raised or
lowered by rack and pinion mechanism 34. The attachme~t of
magnetic drill stand assembly 30 to a ferromagnet;c
workpiece is achieved through electromagnet 35 once the
desired position of the drill relative to the workpiece has
been achieved by movement of the various adjustment features
in the drill assembly and in the support stand of the
present invention.
As previously indicated, height adjustment is provided
by the movement of the hydraulic ram and the inner and outer
support sleeves while angular adjustment in a horizontal
plane can be achieved by movement of the carry;ng means
about its point of attachment to the upper end of the inner
support sleeve. Additional or alternative angular
adjustment can be obtained by movement of the drill assembly
about the vertical a~is of th~ mounting bracket.
In the embodiment illustrated, the relati~e size of
the mechanisms employed in this area of the assembly allow
for adjustment of the drill position through 105 in a
horizontal plane between the two e2tremes indicated in
broken lines in Figure 3. It will be appreciated that the
amount of adjustment obtainable in this area will depend
both on the size and relative location of the drill and of
the worm drive assembly 22 attached to the carrying plate.
In addition and as illustrated in Figure 1, 360
adjustment of the drill assembly in a vertical plane can be
achieved by rotating the drill assembly through the mounting
bracket drive means. As illustrated, this adjustment is
38 achieved by turning the handwheel 29 of the worm drive
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assembly so as to turn the drive pinion and the associated
mounting bracket 27 which carries the drill assembly.
The present invention thus provides a drill support
which is adjustable in a plurality of different ways so as
to bring the drill assembly which it supports into a
useful working position, providing access to workpieces
which would otherwise be inaccessib:Le for a properly
supported drill. The drill support of the invention further
provides a readily portable device which enables operation
of a heavy drill by a single person without the strain and
fatigue presently associated with such operation.
Accordingly, use of the present drill support permits more
rapid and efficient drilling of heavy workpieces and thus
improves the safety and economy with which such operations
can be performed.
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