Patent Publication Number: US-2023143720-A1

Title: Tie drill and lag screw inserter device for the rail industry

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/100,649, filed Nov. 20, 2020, entitled Tie Drill and Lag Screw Inserter Device for the Rail Industry, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/938,772, filed Nov. 21, 2019, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the rail industry and, more particularly, to one or more devices for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and inserting a lag screw. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, there are limited methods for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and inserting a lag screw. Presently, two different and distinct tools are used for each of these operations. A tie drill tool is used to drill a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie. A lag screw inserter tool is then utilized to insert and put the lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. The current methods and tools use hydraulics and internal combustion engine. The weights for each of the tools can be over 60 pounds for each type of tool. There is a need for a portable device configured to easily drill a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie or to insert and put a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. Currently, there also are no battery-operated tie drill and lag screw inserter devices that operate as one tool. A single tool capable of both drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and inserting a lag screw would be a great improvement. 
     Aspects of this disclosure relate to a portable device for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. The portable device may comprise a tie drill device, a lag screw inserter device, or a device capable of functioning as both a tie drill device and a lag screw inserter device. In various embodiments, the portable device may include a replaceable and removable drill, a handle, and a quick connect system to connect the drill to the portable device. The drill may comprise an electric-powered drill with a rechargeable battery that provides power to the portable device. In various embodiments, the portable device may include a gear ratio and gear reduction system configured to allow a user to change speed and torque settings for the portable device independent from the drill. The portable device may also include a preset distance system setting with a knob and a spring-guided mechanism with preset distances to assist the user with setting the distance. The portable device may also include a leveling plate to ensure that each drill bit and lag screw is aligned and installed vertically and a removable drill guard to protect the drill. 
     In various embodiments, the portable device may include a handle assembly configured to connect the removable drill to the portable device. In some embodiments, the handle assembly may be configured to connect the removable drill to a drive shaft of the portable device. The handle assembly may include a drill face plate and one or more fastening straps to removably secure the drill to the portable device. The handle assembly may also include one or more side plates to connect the handle assembly to the body of the portable device. In some embodiments, the handle assembly may include a drill guard structure configured protect the removable drill when connected to the portable device. 
     In some embodiments, the portable device may include two quick connect/disconnect components: a first quick connect/disconnect component configured to make the drill removable and replaceable and a second quick connect/disconnect component configured to receive a drill bit or a lag screw socket. The second quick connect/disconnect component may enable the portable device to be used as a tie drill device or a lag screw inserter device by interchangeably connecting either a drill bit or a lag screw socket to the portable device. As such, in some embodiments, the portable device may allow a user in the rail industry to use one tool to perform two different and distinct functions. When a drill bit is connected to the portable device, the portable device may allow a user to drill a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie. The user may then disconnect the drill bit and connect a lag screw socket to the portable device in order to insert a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. 
     These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the invention disclosed herein will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG.  1    depicts a side view of a portable device for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  2    depicts a side perspective view of the portable device for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  3    depicts a side perspective close-up view of the bottom portion of the portable device configured for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  4    depicts another side perspective view of the portable device configured for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  5    depicts a perspective view of an example embodiment of the portable device configured as tie drill device, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  6    depicts a side view of the example embodiment of the portable device configured as tie drill device, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  7    depicts another side view of the example embodiment of the portable device configured as tie drill device, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  8    depicts a side perspective view of the portable device configured for inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  9    depicts a perspective view of an example embodiment of the portable device configured as a lag screw inserter device, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  10    depicts a side view of the example embodiment of the portable device configured as a lag screw inserter device according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  11    depicts another side view of the example embodiment of the portable device configured as a lag screw inserter device, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIGS.  12 A- 12 C  depict perspective views of an example T-handle assembly of the portable device, according to one or more aspects described herein; 
         FIG.  13 A  and  FIG.  13 B  depict perspective views of an example drill guard assembly for the T-handle assembly of the portable device, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
     
    
    
     These drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. For clarity and ease of illustration, these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description of various examples of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example parts, structures, systems, and steps in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of example parts, structures, systems, and steps may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three-dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention. 
     This invention relates to a portable device  100  for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. The portable device  100  may comprise a tie drill device, a lag screw inserter device, or a device capable of functioning as both a tie drill device and a lag screw inserter device. In various embodiments, portable device  100  may be battery-powered (or battery-operated) device. In other words, portable device  100  may be battery operated and use battery operation as opposed to hydraulics. In various embodiments, powering portable device  100  with a battery eliminates weight and difficulties associated with hydraulic devices and tools. 
       FIG.  1    depicts a side view of a portable device  100  configured for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein.  FIG.  2    depicts a side perspective view of the portable device for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein. As illustrated in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the portable device  100  may include a replaceable and removable drill  110  with a handle  114  and a quick connect system  116 . In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include a gear ratio and gear reduction system  120  configured to change the torque and speed independently from drill  110 . In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include a spring-guided mechanism  140  that provides a pre-set distance system  142  with an adjustable knob  144  that are configured to allow a user to drill down a preset (or predetermined) distance. The spring-guided mechanism  140  may span from one or more offsets  102  between a top offset plate  104 A and a bottom offset plate  104 B as part of the portable device  100 . In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include a removable drill guard  150  for use with, and to protect, a drill bit (e.g., drill bit  132 ). The removable drill guard  150  may be located approximate a bottom of the one or more offsets  102  and the bottom offset plate  104 B. A leveling plate  160  may be located approximate a bottom of the removable drill guard  150 . In various embodiments, the spring-guided mechanism  140  and/or the leveling plate  160  may be utilized to ensure the drill bit  132  and the lag screw socket  134  are vertical and aligned when in use. 
     In various embodiments, drill  110  may comprise an impact drill, driver, wrench, or similar tool, such as electronic, pneumatic, or other such drill-type tool configured to perform similar functionality as a battery-operated drill-type tool. In various embodiments, drill  110  may include a battery  112 . In various embodiments, battery  112  of drill  110  may comprise a rechargeable battery. Battery  112  may be configured to provide power to portable device  100 . In some embodiments, portable device  100  may be powered via additional and/or alternative power means, such as via AC power, replaceable fuel cell, and/or other stored/created electric power techniques known in the art. In some embodiments, portable device  100  may be integrally-powered by a DC motor, servo motor, or stepper motor. In some embodiments, portable device  100  may be powered by a set of batteries (AC or DC) or battery packs. In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include or be connected to a battery management system. For example, portable device  100  may be powered by a set of batteries (AC or DC) or battery packs and/or include or be connected to a battery management system as described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/092,317, entitled “BATTERY-OPERATED SPIKE DRIVER,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include two quick disconnect components: quick connect system  116  and quick connect and disconnect connector  130 . In various embodiments, quick connect system  116  may be configured to make drill  110  removable and replaceable. In some embodiments, portable device  100  may also include quick connect and disconnect connector  130 . Quick connect and disconnect connector  130  may be configured to receive a drill bit  132  or a lag screw socket  134 . Quick connect and disconnect connector  130  may enable portable device  100  to be configured as a tie drill device or a lag screw inserter device by interchangeably connecting either drill bit  132  or lag screw socket  134  to portable device  100 . As such, in some embodiments, portable device  100  may allow a user in the rail industry to use one tool to perform two different and distinct functions. When drill bit  132  is attached via the quick connect and disconnect connector  130 , portable device  100  may allow a user to drill a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie. The user may then disconnect drill bit  132  and connect lag screw socket  134  via quick connect and disconnect connector  130  in order to insert a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. 
     In various embodiments, drill  110  may be attached to gear ratio and gear reduction system  120  via quick connect system  116 . In various embodiments, gear ratio and gear reduction system  120  may include a torque and speed setting independent from the drill  110 . The gear ratio and gear reduction system  120  may then be connected to the drill bit  132  and/or the lag screw socket  134 . In embodiments in which portable device  100  comprises a device capable of functioning as both a tie drill device and a lag screw inserter device, portable device may include quick connect and disconnect connector  130 . As described herein, the quick connect and disconnect connector  130  may allow switching and quick connection and disconnection between the two different tools—the drill bit  132  and the lag screw socket  134 . In the foregoing embodiment, drill  110  may be attached to gear ratio and gear reduction system  120  via quick connect system  116 , and the gear ratio and gear reduction system  120  may then be connected to quick connect and disconnect connector  130 . 
       FIG.  3    depicts a side perspective close-up view of the bottom portion of portable device  100  configured for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein.  FIG.  4    depicts another side perspective view of portable device  100  configured for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein.  FIGS.  5 - 7    depict an example embodiment of portable device  100  configured as tie drill device, according to one or more aspects described herein. As described herein, portable device  100  may comprise a tie drill device, a lag screw inserter device, or a device capable of functioning as both a tie drill device and a lag screw inserter device. Accordingly, the portable device depicted in  FIGS.  3 - 7    may comprise a tie drill device or a device capable of functioning as both a tie drill device and a lag screw inserter device that is depicted in a configuration in which a drill bit (e.g., drill bit  132 ) is attached to portable device  100  via quick connect and disconnect connector  130 . 
       FIG.  8    depicts a side perspective view of the portable device configured for inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie, according to one or more aspects described herein.  FIGS.  9 - 11    depict an example embodiment of portable device  100  configured as a lag screw inserter device, according to one or more aspects described herein. As described herein, portable device  100  may comprise a tie drill device, a lag screw inserter device, or a device capable of functioning as both a tie drill device and a lag screw inserter device. Accordingly, the portable device depicted in  FIGS.  8 - 11    may comprise a lag screw inserter device or a device capable of functioning as both a tie drill device and a lag screw inserter device that is depicted in a configuration in which a lag screw socket (e.g., lag screw socket  134 ) is attached to portable device  100  via quick connect and disconnect connector  130 . 
     In various embodiments, portable device  100  may include a handle assembly. For example, portable device  100  may include a T-handle assembly  170  and/or one or more other components the same as or similar to the components of railroad spike remover  100 ,  300 , and  500  described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/734,125, entitled “RAILROAD SPIKE REMOVER,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
       FIGS.  12 A- 12 C  depict perspective views of an example T-handle assembly  170  of portable device  100 , according to one or more aspects described herein. As illustrated in FIGS.  12 A- 12 C, a T-handle assembly  170  of portable device  100  may be configured to connect drill  110  to portable device  100 . For example, in some embodiments, T-handle assembly  170  may be configured to connect drill  110  to a drive shaft of portable device  100  in order to rotate the drive shaft. In various embodiments, a top end of a drive shaft of portable device  100  may have a drive element to allow a user to engage the drive shaft with the T-handle assembly  170  and the drill  110  (e.g., which may comprise a tool such as a high-impact torque wrench or similar device to rotate the drive shaft). As described herein, drill  110  may include a rechargeable battery pack  112 . The drive element may have a hexagonal shape to be engaged by a standard hexagonal high impact socket  172  on T-handle assembly  170 . In some embodiments, standard hexagonal socket  172  may be 0.5 inches or larger. A battery-operated drill-type apparatus (i.e., drill  110 ) or an air hammer attached to a pneumatic supply could be utilized as the rotating tool, thereby engaging the drive shaft and rotating the drive shaft to move the drive shaft up and down. In various embodiments, T-handle assembly  170  may also be configured to allow drill  110  to be easily removed by a user and removed for storage. 
     In various embodiments, T-handle assembly  170  may include a drill face plate  174  to hold the drill  110 . The drill face plate  174  may be connected to a handle plate  176  extending perpendicular to the drill face plate  174 . In some embodiments, handle  114  may be extend perpendicular and be connected to the handle plate  176 . In various embodiments, a handle grip  178  may surround the handle  114  and may be made of a foam material. One or more fastening straps  180  and one or more side plates  182  may be utilized to connect the T-handle assembly  170  to the body of portable device  100 . The one or more fastening strips  180  may be designed to be quick-connect straps to quickly disconnect the drill  110  from portable device  100 . The one or more side plates  182  may extend from and connect to the drill face plate  174 . The one or more straps  180  may surround and secure the drill  110  to the drill face plate  174 , thereby securing the drill  110  to the body of portable device  100 . Additionally, the drill  110  may be attached to an impact socket  172  which then connects to the drive element of the drive shaft of portable device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, T-handle assembly  170  may include a drill guard structure  190 .  FIG.  13 A  and  FIG.  13 B  depict perspective views of an example drill guard assembly  190  for a T-handle assembly  170  of portable device  100 , according to one or more aspects described herein. Drill guard structure  190  may be connected to T-handle assembly  170  and provide a guard for drill  110 . Drill guard structure  190  may include a case over the drill  110  while allowing the user to hole the drill  110 . Drill guard structure  190  may include side panels that extend the length of the drill  110  and a back panel that covers the battery area. Drill guard structure  190  may also include front panels that cover the rotating section of the drill  110 . 
     In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include an integral and removably attachable means to move and position device  100  utilizing slide plate and/or wheels to minimize lifting requirements for the device, thereby improving usability and efficiency, while also improving safety and decreasing potential of injury. 
     In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include a quick-change feature that can be a quick connect/disconnect feature, or alternately be integral to the device  100  allowing operator switching between the dual function modes (for both the gear box and the drill/socket elements). 
     In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include a feed component configured to feed screws into portable device  100  via a cartridge, chute, tape, or other means connected to portable device  100 . In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include a feature to set the screw in the drilled hole via impact or press, as part of portable device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include a tracking component configured to track usage of the device  100 . For example, the tracking component may be configured to track a number of holes drilled, a number of lags driven, an amount of time to drill or drive each, an amount of time per number of holes drilled and/or driven, and/or one or more other measurements and/or metrics related to the usage of portable device  100 . In some embodiments, the tracking component may be configured to track an amount of uses since last maintenance, a power/charge level (i.e., indicating when to replace battery and/or drill/motor), diagnostics, preventative maintenance, and other data for product improvement. These tracking features may be electronic and/or a based on a manual/mechanical counter. 
     In some embodiments, portable device  100  may decrease weight by utilizing materials and alloys such as carbon fiber to replace structural components. 
     In some embodiments, portable device  100  may include an integral light to improve user visibility. In some embodiments, the integral light may be configured to turn on automatically during drill and lag operation and/or tum on manually based on user input (e.g., by flipping a switch on portable device  100 ). 
     The present disclosure is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of examples. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of the various features and concepts related to the disclosure, not to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the examples described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.