Patent Publication Number: US-11028644-B2

Title: Drill with a boom arm and a self-aligning support system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an articulated boom arm method and apparatus for moving a drill from a stored position to a ready to work position. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Current state of the art drilling apparatus consist of a powered motor and a drill bit mounted to a mast. The mast is mounted to a sturdy base. The drill is generally mounted to the mast via a carriage. The carriage can move the attached drill up and down the mast. 
     The apparatus described above is generally manually lifted from a storage position to a work position and then manually leveled in preparation to drill a hole. 
     The human operator generally stands on the mast base for the purpose of adding weight to the mast base in order to keep the drill bit from walking and moving horizontal while attempting to drill a vertical hole. 
     The above described drilling system is hazardous to the employees back and general body condition. Lifting the mass of steel or being thrown from the mast base during the drilling process are dangerous to the operator. 
     The above described drilling system is not a safe, convenient and efficient way for moving the drilling apparatus from a stored position to a ready to drill work position or for securing it during the drilling process. 
     State of the art large truck mounted core drilling and well drilling apparatus consist of a drill mounted to a mast via a carriage. The mast assembly uses the truck as it&#39;s base. At best the mast can tilt on the truck base. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a drill mounted to a mast via a carriage and the mast being mounted to a vehicle via a self aligning apparatus whereby the drill mast may be securely attached to the vehicle during transport and the drill mast can also be efficiently moved to a ready to drill position including self adjusting of the drill to the surface to be drilled without manually lifting the drill, carriage or the mast. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention for the boom arm in combination with the self-aligning apparatus to return the drill, carriage and mast to its original secure storage position on the vehicle. 
     It is yet another objective of the invention to provide added down pressure on the mast base during the drilling process for the purpose of keeping the drill bit such as a concrete core drill bit from walking or moving in respect to the desired new hole while tempting to drilling the hole. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to store a drilling liquid under pressure on the vehicle for cooling and or lubricating the drill bid during the drilling operation. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a powered, efficient apparatus means for attaching and removing the drill, mast, and articulated boom arm to and from a vehicle. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to have the powered articulated boom arm serve as a robotic arm with the ability to position and hold a concrete core drill bit perpendicular to a desired surface to be drilled even if the desired surface to be drilled is an inclined surface or a vertical surface. 
     It is yet another objective of the invention to contain, collect and remove contaminants such a dust, solids and or liquids from the drilling process area; such as dust, grindings and water which are present at or near a concrete core drilling activity. A drill bit area containment apparatus in combination with a vacuum producing apparatus methods of containing, collecting and removing contaminants such a dust, solids and or liquids from the drilling process area. 
     It is yet another objective of the invention to collect data which is relevant and or associated with the drilling operation to include but not be limited to data associated with drill speed, bit rotations, bit pressure, contaminant production, contaminant concentrations, RFID for identifying who is the operator, GPS for locating the place that the hole was drilled, GIS for positioning a hole in respect to a utility and real time transmitting of the data to other interested parties, such as to a cell phone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the current invention. 
     The above described objectives and others are met by a method comprising a device which mounts a drill to a mast via a carriage and the mast and mast base is mounted to a vehicle via a compressible apparatus and an articulated boom arm whereby the drill mast may be securely attached to the vehicle during transport and the drill mast can also be efficiently moved to a ready to drill position including self leveling to the drill surface without manually lifting the drill, carriage, mast or mast base. 
     The boom may comprise one or more arms for moving the mast base, mast, carriage and drill in a position substantially perpendicular to a surface which is to be drilled. A vertical lift apparatus such as a hydraulic cylinder, air cylinder, linear actuator or the likes may be used for moving the mast up and down in a vertical direction. The boom arm may also include a powered knuckle joint so that the boom arm apparatus functions as a robotic arm. 
     A self-aligning apparatus such as a ball &amp; socket, compression apparatus or the like may be attached between the mast and the boom arm for the purpose of allowing the mast to position its self substantially perpendicular to the surface to be drilled when the boom arm movement apparatus presses the mast base against the surface to be drilled. 
     The compression apparatus may comprise a wire compression spring, an air spring, an air bag, a rubber cushion or the like. 
     The compression apparatus in combination with the boom arm further accomplishes the task of adding weight and or pressure to the mast base during the drilling process thus securing the stability and location of the drill bit during the drilling activity. 
     A griping apparatus may be attached to the mast base for the purpose of securing the location of the drill bid during the drilling activity. 
     The gripping apparatus may include suction, rubber, abrasive substances or the like. 
     Prominent features of the present invention have been broadly outlined above in order that the detailed description that follows may be understood. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     A vacuum producing apparatus in combination with a containment apparatus will contain, collect, store and remove contaminants from the drill bit operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  Is a side elevation view illustrating a drill apparatus mounted to a vehicle. The drill apparatus is shown to include a drill, a carriage, a mast and a mast base. A vehicle shown to attach to a first end of a boom arm and a second end of the boom arm is shown to be a vertically mounted hydraulic or air cylinder. (a linear actuator could be used instead of the cylinder) The rod end of the cylinder is considered to be the second end of the boom arm. A wire compression spring is shown as an example for a compressible apparatus for attaching the second end of the boom to the drilling apparatus. The wire compression spring is shown to allow the hydraulic cylinder rod to force the drill apparatus against a surface which is to be drilled thus securing the stability of the drill apparatus against the drilling surface. The wire compression spring also compensated for slope and elevation differences between the vehicle and the surface to be drilled. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a drill mounted to a mast via a carriage and the mast being mounted to a vehicle via a compressible apparatus in combination with an articulated boom arm and a trailer receiver hitch. The vehicle is a trailer with a motor powering an energy source for operating the drill. A bladder tank is shown to be storing a drill liquid under pressure. The drill mast base is shown to be in a retracted position located part way between a stored position and a drilling position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 2  but in this example multiple compression springs are used and a robotic articulated boom arm is used. A vacuum producing apparatus is shown for capturing dust, solids &amp; liquid which are present during the concrete core drilling process. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view illustrating the drill apparatus stored on a dolly. The drill apparatus used the hydraulic cylinder to raise or lower the drill apparatus to an equilibrium so that the drill apparatus along with the boom arm apparatus could be easily removed from a vehicle receiver hitch. An electronic data management and data collection, storage and transmitting system is also illustrated. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 1  but in this example a ball and socket are used for assisting in the self-aligning of the drill to the drill surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Using the drawings, illustrations of the present invention will now be explained. 
       FIG. 1  Is a side elevation view illustrating a drill apparatus  26  mounted to a vehicle receiver  13 . The drill apparatus  26  is shown to include a drill  20 , (Drill: a powered motor with a shaft that is adapted to attach and rotate a bit.) a carriage  19 , a mast  3  and a mast base  1 . A drill bit  21  (Bit: a small piece, part, or quantity of something.) may be attached to the drill  20 . The drill bit  21  may be a concrete core drill bit  21 , an auger bit  21 , a screw bit  21 , a socket  21  for loosening or tightening a nut or bolt, a utility valve key  21  for opening or closing a valve, or the like. The drill  20  may be chosen from an electric powered drill  20 , an air powered drill  20 , a hydraulic powered drill  20  or the like. A vehicle receiver  13  for a hitch  11  is shown to receive and attach to a first end of a boom arm apparatus  25  (Boom Arm: An arm used to support an apparatus). Although the hitch  11  is illustrated as a quick coupler to a quick receiver  13 ; the hitch  11  may be chosen from multiple other methods of attaching and or bolting a boom arm to a vehicle. The first end of the boom arm apparatus  25  is shown to be a hitch  11  and a second end of the boom arm apparatus  25  is shown to be a telescoping cylinder  6  which has been mounted vertically (a telescoping cylinder  6  may be hydraulic cylinder, an air cylinder, a linear actuator or the like.) The rod end or second end  5  of the telescoping cylinder  6  is considered to be the second end of the boom arm apparatus  25 . The boom arm apparatus  25  is illustrated to include a hitch  11 , a telescoping cylinder  6  and a rod end  5 . A self-aligning apparatus  2  is illustrated as a compression spring  2  and is shown as an example for a self-aligning apparatus  2  for attaching the second end  5  of the boom arm apparatus  25  to the drilling apparatus  26 . In  FIG. 5  the self-aligning apparatus  2  is illustrated as a ball and socket  2 B. The rod end  5  of the cylinder  6  forces the drill apparatus  26  against a surface  27  which is to be drilled thus securing the stability of the drill apparatus  26  against the drilling surface  27 . The self-aligning apparatus  2  transmits force from the cylinder  6  to the drill apparatus  26 . The self-aligning apparatus  2  compensates for slope differences between the vehicle and the surface  26  to be drilled. (The self-aligning apparatus  2  can be chosen from a wire spring, an air spring, an air bag, a rubber bladder, a compressible rubber, a ball and socket or the like.) 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of a boom arm apparatus  25  in which the boom arm apparatus  25  further includes the added feature of being an articulated boom arm. (Articulated: having two or more arms connected by a rotate able joint) The articulated boom arm  25  includes arms  7  &amp;  9  and rotate able joints  8  &amp;  10 . Mast base  1  is shown to have a gripping pad  22  attached to its under side for the purpose of reducing movement between the mast base  1  and the drilling surface  27 . The gripping pad  22  can be an abrasive sand paper like substance, a rubber, a suction cup, a vacuum apparatus or the like. Leveling screws  4  are shown for the purpose of adjusting the orientation of the mast base  1  to the drilling surface  27 . Controls  18  may include all control functions required for operating the drilling apparatus  26  and the boom arm apparatus  25 . 
     Boom arm  25  uses hitch  11  for bolting the boom arm  25  to vehicle  14 . (Vehicle: an apparatus used for transporting people or goods, especially on land, such as a car, truck, trailer or cart.) The vehicle  14  is illustrated as further including a motor  23 , for powering an energy supply source  16  which can be chosen from a hydraulic pump  16 , an air compressor  16 , an electric generator  16  or the like  16 . A Reel  17  is illustrated as a means for transporting energy from the energy supply source  16  to the boom arm apparatus  25  and or the drilling apparatus  26 . A bladder tank  23  is illustrated as a method of storing and supplying a drill cooling and or lubrication liquid  23 A to the concrete core drill bit  21 . Air  23 C is compressed within tank  23  as drill liquid  23 A is added to the bladder tank  23 . A diaphragm  23 B separates air  23 C from drill liquid  23 A. Drill liquid  23 A is stored under pressure via the compressed air  23 C which is stored on the other side of diaphragm  23 B. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates drilling apparatus  26  lifted from the drilling surface  27  via the boom arm apparatus  25 . The boom arm apparatus  25  can then move the drilling apparatus  26  to a secure &amp; latched transport position near the hitch  11 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a powered robotic articulated boom arm  28  as another example of a boom arm apparatus  25 . Set screw  12  is shown attached to hitch  11  for the purpose of securing and stabilizing hitch  11  to receiver  13 . The second end of the powered robotic articulated boom arm  28  is shown attached to the drilling apparatus  26  via multiple compression apparatus  2 . Dust, solids, and liquids present during the concrete sawing process are captured by the vacuum recovery apparatus  35 . The dust, solids and liquids contaminants which are present near the core drill bit  21  are contained within the core drill contaminants housing  30 . A hose or conduit  31  conveys the contaminants to a vacuum container  32  via a vacuum producing apparatus  34 . A filter  33  may be used for keeping the contaminants in the vacuum container  32 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the drill apparatus  26  and the boom arm apparatus  25  positioned on a dolly  24  detached from the vehicle receiver  13 . By using the controls  18  and the cylinder  6  the drilling apparatus  26  can be lowered onto the dolly  24  and an equilibrium can be established between hitch  11  and receiver  13 . Once receiver  13  is removed from hitch  11  the controls  18  in combination with cylinder  6  can lower the boom arm apparatus  25  thus establishing as stable secure transportable method for storing the complete drilling apparatus  26  with its boom arm apparatus  25 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates a process control and data collection, storage and transmitting apparatus  40 . System  40  may include RFID, GPS, graphic GIS data display and system performance data gathering &amp; transmitting. Data collection, storage and transmitting apparatus  40  will accomplish the collection of data which is relevant and or associated with the drilling operation to include but not be limited to data associated with drill speed, bit rotations, bit pressure, contaminant production, contaminant concentrations, RFID for identifying who is the operator, GPS for locating the place that the hole was drilled, GIS for positioning a hole in respect to a utility and real time transmitting of the data to other interested parties, such as to a cell phone. 
       FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 1  except that a ball &amp; socket  2 B are illustrated as the means for self alignment of the concrete core drill apparatus  26  in respect to the surface to be drilled  27 . 
     The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe an example of the invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The illustrations were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application. The preceding description is intended to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims. 
     If, for any reason this application is not believed to be in full condition for allowance, applicant respectfully request the constructive assistance and suggestions of the Examiner pursuant to M.P.E.P. 2173.02 and 707.07(j) in order that the undersigned can place this application in allowable condition as soon as possible and without the need for further proceedings.