FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tool for receipt in a drill chuck of a power drill or other power device. The tool is designed to releasably receive a plurality of rotary implements such as a drill bits or screw bits which can be moved from a storage position on the tool to an aligned drive position received in a drive shaft of the tool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Power drills and in particular power hand drills are extremely convenient and are commonly used as a power screwdriver. The chuck of the drill is often a keyless chuck allows rapid securement and release of a screw bit or drill bit as opposed to a conventional key drill chuck. Various power drills have included adjacent the hand grip a separate storage area for maintaining one or more screw bits when not in use. It is also known use screw bits that are reversible having different screw bits at each end. It is also known to provide a magnetic screw bit holder which is separately received in the drill chuck. The holder has a socket at one end for releasably engaging a cooperating bit. The screw bit is typically slide inserted into the socket and is removable by hand. This magnetic screw bit accessory reduces the time required to attach the desired screw bit or to replace screw bits. It is less desirable for drill bits as the drill bits tend to pull out of the accessory when the drill bit is being pulled out of the material.
This type of fast securement and release arrangement has proven quite popular and screw bits and drill bits have been sold in a kit form for easy insertion in the drill bit accessory. Although such systems are more convenient than separate securement of the drill bits or screw bits, the kit of the various bits is not always immediately available or requires the user to interrupt the task to allow selection and attachment of the next bit. This attachment procedure is awkward and time consuming and is a particular problem when the replacement bit is not readily available or is dropped during replacement. There are many tasks which are completed by use of a power drill where the user is constantly alternating between two different bits such as a particular size drill bit and a particular screw bit or between two different types of screw bits, etc. Some workers faced with this problem use two different drills.
The present invention provides a tool for a power drill which overcomes a number of these disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A drill accessory according to the present invention comprises an elongate drive shaft having an implement receiving socket at one end thereof and a drive end for engaging a drill chuck at an opposite end. The drill accessory further includes an implement receiving collar mounted on an intermediate portion of the drive shaft to allow rotation of the drive shaft without rotation of the implement receiving collar. The implement receiving collar has at least three implement Receiving recessor each sized for receiving and temporarily storing an implement which is also receivable in said implement receiving socket of said drive shaft.
The implement receiving collar has an outer hand grip area which preferably shields the implements when received in storage position. The collar due to its bearing mounting on the drive shaft can be used as a drill support. In this way, a user can support the drill adjacent the chuck by holding the implement receiving collar.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the implement receiving collar has an implement receiving carrier associated with each implement receiving recess. Each implement receiving carrier is movable from an implement storage position to an implement in use position.
Each implement receiving carrier in the storage position locates an implement received therein to one side of the drive shaft. Each implement receiving carrier in the in use position, allows rotation of an implement received in the carrier and aligns the implement with said a drive shaft socket. The implement is received in said socket and rotates with the drive shaft without rotation of the implement receiving carrier.
According to an aspect of the invention, each implement receiving carrier is pivotally secured to the implement receiving collar and is pivotally moved between the storage position and the in use position.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the tool includes a plurality of implements and each implement is releasably receivable in any of the implement receiving carriers.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, each implement is retained in said implement receiving carrier by a releasable spring latch.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each implement received in any of the implement receiving carriers, is slidably displaceable within the implement receiving carrier.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each implement receiving carrier has a distal end with an implement receiving port and a pivot securement end opposite the distal end. The pivot securement end is pivotally attached to the implement receiving collar.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each implement receiving carrier has an elongate shank connecting the distal end and the pivot securement end and the distal end has an outwardly extending flange which includes the implement receiving port.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the outwardly extending flange in the in use position of the implement receiving carrier aligns the implement receiving port with the implement receiving socket of the drive shaft.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the outwardly extending flange of each implement receiving carrier in the storage position, positions the outwardly extending flange generally perpendicular to a side of said implement receiving caller and immediately adjacent thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing the drill accessory;
FIG. 2 is top view of the drill accessory;
FIG. 3 is partial sectional view of a carrier and a releasably retained implement;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the holding spring on the carrier;
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a carrier with an implement being inserted or released from the carrier;
FIG. 6 is the section view of the drill accessory with a two spring lock;
FIG. 7 is the top view of the drill accessory with a two spring lock;
FIG. 8 is the cross sectional view of the first spring of the two spring lock on the drive shaft;
FIG. 9 is the sectional view of the drive shaft of the drill accessory with the two spring lock;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the drive shaft of the drill accessory with the two spring lock with an implement in a holding position;
FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of the drive shaft for a slide magnetic holding;
FIG. 12 is an assembly drawing showing the releasable lock spring lock system;
FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of the drive shaft with the releasable spring lock system;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the drill accessory with movable carriers;
FIG. 15 is a top view of the drill accessory with movable carriers;
FIG. 16 shows the movement of the carrier with a working implement to a drive position;
FIG. 17 shows the working Implement received in the drive shaft;
FIGS. 18, 19, 20 and 21 show movement of the carrier from a retained storage position towards an implement drive position;
FIG. 22 is a partial sectional view of the drive shaft showing the angled spring retaining slot;
FIG. 23 is an end view of the drive shaft of FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the collar;
FIG. 25 is a side view of the collar;
FIG. 26 is a sectional view of a movable carrier;
FIG. 27 is a top view of the movable carrier of FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is a partial side view showing a spring holding arrangement for maintaining the collar against rotation;
FIG. 29 is a partial view of the spring holding arrangement on a drill;
FIG. 30 is a side view of a spring of a spring latch arrangement for maintaining implements; and
FIG. 31 is a top view of the spring shown in FIG. 30.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The drill accessory 2 is a revolver rack and can be used with any power drill or power screwdriver having a suitable means for rotating of the elongate drive shaft 4. It is particularly suitable for use with battery powered hand drills having a keyless chuck. The revolver rack 2 allows different implements to be received in the revolver rack for fast replacement of one implement with another implement. For example, a user may load the revolver rack with a particular screw bit and a particular screw drill and can alternate between these two implements while both implements remain conveniently available on the revolver rack.
The revolver rack 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an elongate drive shaft 4 with an implement receiving socket 6 and a drive end 8 for insertion in a drill chuck or for connection with a drive source. The implement receiving socket 6 can be hexagonal in cross section for receiving a similar shaped implement and allowing rotation thereof with rotation of the drive shaft. Preferably the implements are slide inserted or removed from the receiving socket 6. Preferably the implements are held in the receiving socket by a magnetic attraction between the socket and the implement. In a preferred embodiment a spring latch retaining mechanism is also provided.
The revolver rack 2 includes an implement receiving collar 10 mounted by means of bearings 5 to the elongate drive shaft 4. The two ball bearings allow the collar 10 to be held against rotation during rotation of the drive shaft 4. Thus the implement receiving collar is not driven during rotation of the drive shaft. With this arrangement any implements which are received in the collar 10 do not rotate with rotation of the drive shaft. Typically the user uses the collar 10 as a hand grip to steady the drill in use. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 30, a spring arrangement stops any sympathetic rotation of the collar. The elongate drive shaft 4 includes a stop collar 224 which cooperates with the stop shoulder 244 of the implement receiving collar 10. The collar 10 also includes fixed end cover 284. With the support barrel 246, the stop shoulder 244, the stop collar 224 and the fixed end cover 284, the two ball bearing 5 are maintained between the drive shaft 4 and the receiving collar 10. This allows the receiving collar to be easily held regardless of the rotational speed of the drive shaft 4. Thus the user can grip the collar and use the collar as a support position during use of the drill.
The implement receiving collar 10 includes six implement receiving carriers 20. Each carrier 20 is fixed by pins 301 to the receiving collar 10.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, one of these carriers includes an implement 24 which could be a screw bit, drill bit, drill socket, etc. Each implement includes a tool end 28 and a drive end 26 for engagement with the implement receiving socket 6. The implement 24 is slidably displaceable in the receiving carrier 20.
Thus the user can select and insert the particular implements he requires for a particular job and load them into the tool.
To load an implement into the drive shaft, The user removes the implement from the carrier by holding the drive end 26 and overcoming the force of the holding spring 40. The implement is then aligned with the drive shaft and inserted into the implement receiving socket 6. The implement 24 is basically releasably captured on the carrier 20 by means of the holding spring 40 which moves between an engaging position and a release position.
In FIG. 3, the holding spring 40 is inserted into the groove 25 of the implement 24 whereby the implement is releasably captured on the carrier. The holding spring 40 only extends slightly into the implement receiving socket 24 allowing a user to easily insert and remove an implement while providing sufficient force to retain the implement in the drive socket.
FIG. 4 shows the releasable arrangement of the holding spring 40 and the retention of implement 24 in the carrier 20. The holding spring 40 has a retaining portion 41 and two spring arms 43. Spring arms 43 engage the outer portion of the carrier 20 and urge the retaining portion 41 to a locked position shown in FIG. 4. The insertion or removal of an implement causes a cam surface of the implement to move the retaining portion 41 outwardly to a release position. FIG. 3 shows the retaining portion 41 received within the retaining groove 25 of the implement 24.
As shown in FIG. 2, the implement receiving collar preferably has six implement receiving carriers although three or four carriers may be suitable for many applications. The revolver rack 2 allows quick engagement and release of a particular implement carried on the revolver rack. Thus the user can alternate between one or more implements that he has preloaded into the carrier for the particular application. The holder 3 includes 6 carriers 20 each having an implement receiving port 32. Rotation of the holder 3 allows the user to select the desired implement.
The revolver rack of FIGS. 1 and 2 is a simplified arrangement where the user merely inserts the particular implement 24 once the implement 24 has been pulled out from its carrier and hand inserted of into the drive socket. This action is reversed for removal of the implement. Once removed from the drive socket, the implement can be inserted into its carrier and remains available in the storage position as shown in FIG. 1.
The collar of FIG. 1 shows separate attachment of carriers to the collar. It is also possible to have a collar which includes implement receiving sockets. For example, the collar could be injection molded and the implements merely insertable in or removable from sockets.
As can be appreciated, during actual use only one implement will be moved to the drive position and the five other implements will be in the storage position. The actual holder 3 can be held by the user and the receiving collar 10 will not rotate with the drive shaft. This allows the user to operate the drill using both hands for support. One hand is holding the grip of the drill and the other hand is holding the collar 3 of the revolver rack. This two hand operation provides extra stability.
The use of a magnetic force as the only securement of the implement in the drive socket has certain disadvantages particularly for drill bits. The force of magnet does not have sufficient strength to hold a drill bit in the drive socket when the drill bit is being removed from a drilled hole. The drill bit has the tendency of withdrawing from the drive socket and remaining within the hole. A releasable spring latch arrangement is used to hold the implement in the drive socket and thereby overcome this problem.
The two spring retention arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 overcome this problem.
As shown in FIG. 6, the revolver rack 2 includes a releasable spring 60 and a holding spring 64. The elongate drive shaft 4 has an angled slot 66 which receives the bar end 601 of the releasable spring 60. The revolver rack includes a releasing ring 68, which can be pushed toward the angled slot 66. This action causes the bar end 601 of the releasable spring 60 to be moved along the angled slot 60 and out of the groove 69 on the implement thereby releasing the implement (See FIGS. 11 and 12 for details). The compression force of spring 610 urges the implement out of the implement socket 6. The movement of the releasing ring 68 towards the spring 60 causes the bar end 601 to be displaced in the angled groove 66 and thereby be withdrawn from the retaining groove 69 of the implement. The implement is then forced by spring 610 to move towards a releasable position.
If there is nothing to prevent the implement from leaving the socket, the implement will be ejected out of the revolver rack and may fall to the ground. This is not convenient for the user. In order to solve this problem, a holding spring 64 is added.
FIG. 8 shows the holding spring 64 secured about the drive shaft 4. The spring has a bar segment 82 which is received in the holding groove 92 of the drive shaft 4.
In FIG. 9, it is evident that the depth of the holding groove 92 is less than the depth of the angled slot 66, so the force of the holding spring 64 is less and easily overcome by a user applied pulling force. Thus a user can hand remove the implement from the receiving socket. The spring 64 prevents the implement being freely ejected out of the drive shaft and provides a convenient catch position.
In FIG. 10 the implement 24 has been released as the bar end 601 has been forced outwardly due to movement along the angled groove 66 whereby the implement is no longer captured in the drive socket. The implement 24 is forced by spring 610 to move out of the drive socket. This outward movement is limited by the second holding spring 64 which engages groove 69 as the implement is being forced out of the drive socket. In the fully receiving position of the implement 24, spring 64 is forced radially outwardly and is biased against the implement. The spring 64 engages the groove 69 as it moves past the spring during release of the implement. Thus spring 64 acts as a stop or catch during release of the implement and allows hand removal of the implement.
FIG. 10 shows the holding spring 64 preventing the implement 24 from leaving the receiving socket of the drive shaft by engaging the groove 92. The spring 64 only partially extends into the receiving slot and only partially engages the edge of the implement and allows hand withdrawal or insertion of the implement.
By adding holding spring 64, the implement remains in the receiving socket after initial release from the spring latch 60. The partially released implement is then removed from the socket by the user and stored in the carrier or collar.
In FIG. 11, there is another variation of the holding spring. The holding spring is replaced with magnet secured by a screw 110. The magnet will attract the released implement in the receiving socket to hold it within the socket.
FIGS. 12 and 13 is a detail of the releasable spring 60 and its mechanism.
In FIG. 12 the bar end 601 of the releasing spring 60 is inserted into the angled slot 66 on the drive shaft 4. When loading the implement, the bar end is pushed along the angled slot outwardly and the implement is locked by the bar end 601. When releasing the implement, the releasing ring 68 is pushed along the drive shaft, the bar end 601 is moved outwardly due to engagement with the angled slot. The implement is urged out of the receiving socket 6 by the spring 610.
FIG. 13 shows a partial section view of the releasable lock system.
Once releasing ring 68 is pushed along the drive shaft 4, it forces the bar end 601 of the releasable spring 60 to retreat along the angled slot 66 and move out of the groove 69 on the implement 24. The implement is then free to move out of the drive socket 6 and the implement is preferably pushed by the spring 610.
The revolver rack 2 requires the user to move the implement from storage position to the working position. This requires not dropping the implement and locating an empty carrier for a used implement.
In FIGS. 14 and 15 a modified revolver rack is shown with six movable carriers 80. The implement receiving collar 10 holds the six implement receiving carriers 80. Each carrier 80 is secured by a pivot connection 82 to the collar. Each implement 24 is slidably displaceable in the receiving carrier 80 and the implement is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis while being supported by the port 32 of the carrier 80.
To load an implement into the drive shaft, the appropriate carrier is rotated about a pivot point 82 to position the implement in line with the drive shaft and then the implement and its carrier are moved downwardly and the implement is moved into engagement with the implement receiving socket 6. The carrier's pivot connection 82 is moved along the long groove 162 (FIG. 16), with both the carrier and its implement moving downwardly together. The working position of a carrier is shown in FIG. 17. The carrier 80 has been rotated from a storage position to an operative position and remains attached to the particular implement. Each carrier 80 rotates about the pivot connection 82 defining an offset pivot axis perpendicular to the elongate drive shaft 4.
FIG. 16 shows the engagement ready position of the carrier 80 with a typical implement 24. The pivot connection 82 is free to move along the long groove 162.
FIG. 17 shows the implement 24 engaged with the drive shaft 4. The carrier 80 is in working position.
The user merely engages the particular implement 24 once the carrier has been positioned in front of the drive shaft and forces the implement into engagement with the drive socket. For removal of the implement, the user actuates the pair of the releasing buttons 85. The implement is automatically pushed out of the receiving socket with the carrier by the spring 610. Once removed from drive shaft, the carrier with the implement can be rotated approximately 180 degrees to the storage position as shown in FIG. 14.
To prevent the carrier and its implement from accidentally spinning out its storage position, each carrier has its own individual lock as shown in FIGS. 18, 19, 20 and 21. A spring bias arrangement provides a force maintaining this storage position.
In FIG. 18, the collar 10 includes a recess 132 which holds the lock tip 304 of the carrier 80 to form a lock system for the carrier. As shown in the lock tip 304 is pushed into the recess 132 of the collar 10 by the lock spring 138 through the pivot connection 82. The pivot connection is blocked by the welding pad 242 on the collar 10. (see FIGS. 24 and 25).
FIG. 19 shows the carrier 80 moved to the left causing the pivot connection 82 to compress the spring 138 inside the elongate hole 135. The lock tip 304 is moved out of the recess 132.
FIG. 20 shows the carrier is rotated by the pivot connection 82.
FIG. 21 shows the spring 138 is reset and the pivot connection 82 is pushed to the end of the elongate hole 135. The carrier can be rotated around the pivot connection 82.
To lock the carrier, the user compresses the spring 138 and moves the carrier locking tip into the recess hole 132.
FIG. 22 is a partial section view of the drive shaft 4 with an angled slot 66. The drive shaft includes a receiving socket 6 and a stop shoulder 224.
FIG. 23 is an end view of the drive shaft shown in FIG. 22 showing the implement receiving socket.
FIG. 24 is the partial sectional view of the collar 10 having a block pad 242. After the pivot pin 82 is received in the elongate groove 162 with its associated carrier, the block pad 242 can be welded with the collar.
FIG. 25 is a top view of the collar 10 with 2 block pad 242.
FIGS. 26 and 27 shows a section view and a top view of a carrier 80. The carrier 80 includes a pivot position 135 at one end of the arm 272. An outwardly extending flange 266 is angled generally at a perpendicular direction to the arm 272. The outwardly extending flange 266 includes the circular implement receiving port 21 which allows the rotation of the implement in the carrier. The groove 262 holds the carrier holding spring 40 (see FIG. 3), thus the implement can be secured with the carrier. The arm 272 has a central long hole 268 which retains a spring for the carrier's lock system. The elliptical hole 135 retains the pivot connection 82 and allows the pivot connection to move within the elliptical hole to compress the lock spring in order to unlock or lock the carrier to the storage position.
FIG. 28 shows details of the accessory spring holding system. There can be circumstances when it is not convenient or desirable to have the user hold the collar against rotation. An accessory spring 282 is used to address this possibility. The user places the accessory spring 282 between the end cover 284 (see FIG. 1) of the revolver rack and the drill body 286. The accessory spring 282 provides a friction force opposing rotation of the collar.
The mounting of the accessory spring is shown in FIG. 29. The user installs the collar. The small end 292 is located either side of the drive shaft. The opposite end 296 engages the drill body. A spring arm 293 connects the two ends.
FIG. 30 shows a front view of the releasable spring.
FIG. 31 shows a top view of the releasable spring.
The revolver rack allows a user to select various implements necessary for a particular task to be loaded into the tool. Each implement is conveniently movable from a storage position to an operative position. In a preferred embodiment this movement of the implement occurs while remaining captured on the tool. This arrangement keeps all necessary implements readily available and the user can quickly change from one implement to a different implement. Problems associated with dropping implements or difficulty in locating and loading implements quickly are overcome.
The implement carrying collar is rotatably supported on the drive shaft and is preferably held in a stationary position during rotation of the drive shaft.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Grant
7250023
