Patent Publication Number: US-2023139940-A1

Title: Retractable drill chuck system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of 63/274,320, filed 1 Nov. 2021 and titled RETRACTABLE DRILL CHUCK SYSTEM, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments relate to a drill chuck system that is capable of detecting the drilling breakthrough of a drill bit and retracting the drill bit before the drill bit breaks through the material that is being drilled into. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A retractable drill chuck system is disclosed that is capable of being attached to a drill and drill bit. The present disclosure can detect the initial breakthrough of the drill bit in a material and is capable of retracting the drill bit right as the drill bit breaks through the material. The system includes torque, force, and acceleration sensors to detect the breakthrough event of a drill bit. The system includes an electromechanical mechanism to retract the drill bit from the material once the breakthrough event has been detected by the system. The retraction mechanism includes a permanent magnet holding solenoid that, when activated, releases stored mechanical energy to allow the drill bit to be retracted. 
     Additional aspects of the drill chuck system includes that it is capable of detecting a breakthrough event of a drill bit; the system including one or more reaction torque sensors wherein the fixed side is attached to the drill side of the device and wherein the floating side is attached to the drill bit side of the device, one or more reaction force sensors wherein the fixed side is attached to the drill side of the device and wherein the floating side is attached to the drill bit side of the device, one or more accelerometer(s) are offset from the center of the device, one or more batterie(s) are used to power the device, one or more controllers are used to read the force, torque and acceleration sensor(s) and determine the drill bit breakthrough event, a shaft mount to attach to a drill and/or rotating spindle, and a drill bit holder. 
     In any aspect or embodiment described herein, the drill chuck system comprises one or more permanent magnet holding solenoid are used in the retraction mechanism of the device, one or more set of linear bearing(s) and linear shaft(s) are used in the retraction mechanism of the device, one or more slide lock(s) are used to control the locking of the retraction mechanism, one or more pivot block(s) are used to control the locking of the retraction mechanism, one or more release pin(s) are used to lock the pivot block(s) in place, one or more armature(s) are used to attach to the permanent magnet holding solenoid(s) by means of magnetism, one or more preload spring(s) are used to apply force to the armature(s), one or more extension spring(s) are used to apply force to retract the drill bit, one or more capacitor(s) are used to activate the permanent magnet holding solenoid(s) 
     In any aspect or embodiment described herein, the drill chuck system comprises one controller used to determine the drill bit breakthrough event detection and control the retraction mechanism activation. In any aspect or embodiment described herein, the drill chuck system comprises one controller used to read the force, torque, and acceleration sensor(s), determine the drill bit breakthrough event, and control the retraction mechanism activation. 
     In any aspect or embodiment described herein, the drill chuck system may also include one or more gyroscopes used in the breakthrough event detection system. In any aspect or embodiment described herein, the drill chuck system comprises one or more gyroscopes used in the breakthrough event detection system in place of the accelerometer(s). 
     In any aspect or embodiment described herein, the drill chuck system comprises one or more electromagnet actuator and/or solenoid actuator used in place of the permanent magnet holding solenoid(s) and armature(s). 
     In any aspect or embodiment described herein, the drill chuck system comprises one or more bushings that are used in the retraction mechanism in place of the linear bearing(s). 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the preferred retractable drill chuck system will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the retractable drill chuck system  100  mounted in a drill  110  with a drill bit  120  installed into chuck system. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the retractable drill chuck system  100  with a drill bit  120  installed into chuck system. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the front side of the retractable drill chuck system  100 . 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the backside of the retractable drill chuck system  100 . 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the backside of the retractable drill system  100  with the shaft mount  210 , shaft mount screws  240 , drill bit mount  220 , drill bit locking screw  230  and drill bit mount mounting screws  280  expanded in the axially direction. 
         FIG.  6    is a side view of the reaction torque/force sensor  290  showing one side fixed  300  and torque and force applied to the other side that is floating  310 . 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a typical reaction torque/force sensor  290  using strain gauges  320  for the measurement of force and torque applied to a floating side  310  and one side of the sensor fixed  300 . 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the retractable drill chuck system  100  with the shaft mount  210 , shaft mount screws  240 , drill bit mount  220 , drill bit mount mounting screws  280  and drill bit locking screw  230  hidden from the view along with the preload spring  350 , permanent magnet holding solenoid  360 , solenoid mount  340  solenoid mount mounting screws  370  and solenoid holding nut  390  expanded axially. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the retractable drill chuck system  100  with the shaft mount  210 , shaft mount screws  240 , drill bit mount  220 , drill bit mount mounting screws  280  and drill bit locking screw  230 , preload spring  350 , permanent magnet holding solenoid  360 , solenoid mount  340  solenoid mount mounting screws  370  and solenoid holding nut  390  hidden from the view along with the, reset ring  250 , reset ring mounting screws  270 , reset shafts  420  and armature  410  expanded axially. The reset arms  430  are shown expanded radially. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the retractable drill chuck system  100  with the shaft mount  210 , shaft mount screws  240 , drill bit mount  220 , drill bit mount mounting screws  280  and drill bit locking screw  230 , preload spring  350 , permanent magnet holding solenoid  360 , solenoid mount  340  solenoid mount mounting screws  370 , solenoid holding nut  390 , reset ring  250 , reset ring mounting screws  270 , reset shafts  420  and armature  410  hidden from the view along with the, reaction torque/force sensor  290 , slide lock  440 , slide lock mount screws  450 , controller board mounting screws  460 , controller board  700 , cap mounting screws  470 , cap  480 , linear bearings  490 , pivot block assembly  600 , linear shafts  500 , and armature  410  expanded axially. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of the pivot block assembly  600  with the extension spring  610  and release pin  620  expanded axially along with the pivot blocks  640 , extension spring locking screw  650  and pivot block pins  660  expanded radially. 
         FIG.  12    is a side section view showing the retractable drill chuck system  100  in the “Extended/Locked” position. 
         FIG.  13    is a block diagram of the controller board  700 . 
         FIG.  14    is a side section view showing the retractable drill chuck system  100  in the “Extended/Unlocked” position. 
         FIG.  15    is a side section view showing the retractable drill chuck system  100  in the “Retracted/Unlocked” position. 
         FIG.  16    is a flowchart showing a method of operating a retractable drill chuck system according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the disclosed embodiments will now be addressed with reference to the figures. Aspects in any one figure is equally applicable to any other figure unless otherwise indicated. Aspects illustrated in the figures are for purposes of supporting the disclosure and are not in any way intended on limiting the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Any sequence of numbering in the figures is for reference purposes only. 
     In the drawings  FIG.  1    shows a retractable drill chuck system  100  mounted in a drill  110 . The retractable drill chuck system  100  is attached to the drill  110  by means of a shaft mount  210 , shown in  FIG.  2   . The drill bit  120  is mounted to the retractable drill chuck system  100  by means of the drill bit mount  220  and drill bit locking screw  230  as show in  FIG.  3   . 
     The shaft mount  210  is attached to one side of the reaction torque/force sensor  290  by means of shaft mount screws  240  as shown in  FIG.  5   . The reaction torque/force sensor  240  measures the reaction torque and force applied to the sensor  240  by taking the difference of torque and forces between a fixed side  300  and a floating side  310  wherein the force and torque is attached to the floating side  310  as shown in  FIG.  6   . The reaction torque/force sensor  240  consists of a plurality of strain gauges  320  in order to output the reaction torque and forces into an electrical signal as shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     In the drawing  FIG.  8   , the solenoid mount  340  is attached to the main body  400  by means of the solenoid mount mounting screws  370 . The permanent magnet holding solenoid  360  is attached to the solenoid mount  340  by means of the solenoid holding nut  390 . The preload spring  350  is place over the permanent magnet holding solenoid  360  and is compressed between the solenoid mount  340  and the armature  410 . The permanent magnet holding solenoid  360  is connected to the controller board  700  by means of a connector  380 . 
     In the drawing  FIG.  9   , the armature  410  is connected to the release pin  620  by means of a thread on the release pin  620 . The reset shafts  420  are connected to the reset arms  430  through the main body  400  by means of a thread on the reset shafts  420 . The reset ring  250  is attached to the reset arms  430  by means of the reset ring mount screw  270 . 
     In drawing  FIG.  10   , the linear bearings  490  and pivot block assembly  600  and held in place between the main body  400  and the cap  480 . The cap  480  is attached to the main body  400  by means of the cap mounting screws  470 . The controller board  700  is attached to the cap  480  by means of the controller board mounting screws  470 . The reaction torque/force sensor  290  is attached to the slide lock  440  by means of the slide lock mounting screws  450 . The linear shafts  500  are placed through the linear bearings  490  and attached to the slide lock  440  by means of a thread on the linear shafts  500 . The extension spring  610  is attached to the slide lock  440  by means of the extension spring locking pin  510  through the slide lock  440 . 
     In drawing  FIG.  11   , the release pin  620  is placed into the pivot block mount  630  axially. The extension spring  610  is attached to the pivot block mount  630  by means of the extension spring locking screw  650 . The pivot blocks  640  are attached to the pivot block mount  630  by means of the pivot block pins  660 . 
     The retractable drill chuck system  100  starts operation in the “Extended/Locked” position as shown in  FIG.  12   . The armature  410  is held in place to the permanent magnet holding solenoid  360  without any electrical power applied to the permanent magnet holding solenoid  360 , which in turn, compresses the preload spring  350  between the armature  410  and the solenoid mount  280 . The slide lock  440  is locked into position by the pivot blocks  640  with a preload force applied from the extension spring  610 . The pivot blocks  640  are unable to rotate as the release pin  620  is pulled into position by the armature  410 . The retractable drill chuck system  100  begins to activate once the drill  110  rotates the retractable drill chuck system  100  and begins drilling through a material by means of the drill bit  120 . The controller board  700  detects the movement of the retractable drill chuck system  100  with on board accelerometers  750  and  760  on the circuit board  710  connected to the controller  740  as shown in  FIG.  13   . As the retractable drill chuck system  100  begins to spin, the controller  740  measures the accelerometers  750  and  760  radial g-force and converts the values into a rotational speed. The controller  740  also begins to read the force and torque values from the reaction torque/force sensor  290 . The controller  740  inputs these values into a neural network algorithm in order to track when the drill bit  120  has started to break through the material. Once the initial breakthrough event has been detected, the controller  740  activates solenoid drive control  770 , in which the battery  720  and capacitors  730  drive enough current into the permanent magnet holding solenoid  360  to release the armature  410 . The battery  720  is charged by an external connection  780 . The controller  740  is programmed through an external connector  780 . 
     Once the armature  410  has been released from the permanent magnet holding solenoid  360 , the armature  410  and release pin  620  are pushed towards the slide lock  440  by means of the preload spring  350  and sets the retractable drill chuck system  100  into the “Extended/Unlocked” position as shown in  FIG.  14   . The pivot blocks  640  are then able to rotate towards the release pin  620 . 
     After the pivot blocks  640  move towards the release pin  620 , the drill bit  120  is now free to move towards the slide lock  440  by means of the extension spring  610  and sets the retractable drill chuck system  100  into the “Retracted/Unlocked” position as shown in  FIG.  15   . The drill bit  120  moves in the axial direction due being rigidly attached to the drill bit mount  220  by means of the drill bit locking screw  230  and the drill bit mount  220  being rigidly mounted to the linear bearings  490  via the solenoid mount  280 , main body  340  and cap  480  as well as the linear shafts  500  being constrained by the linear bearings  490 . 
     Once the retraction has occurred, retractable drill chuck system  100  has to be reset back into the “Extended/Locked” position as shown in  FIG.  12   . This is completed by holding the drill  110  and pushing the reset ring  250  away from the drill  110 . The reset ring  250  moves the armature  410 , by means of the connected reset arm  260  and reset shafts  420 . The pivot blocks  640  move past the slide lock  440  allowing the release pin  620  to pass under the pivot blocks  640 . The armature  410  then reattaches to the permanent magnet holding solenoid  360  by means of magnetism. 
     A flowchart can be used to show a method of operating a retractable drill chuck system according to an embodiment as shown in  FIG.  16   . 
     As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as a processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as network cloud storage, SD cards, flash drives, floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in the particular embodiments, but the present disclosure is not thus limited. Rather, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.