Patent Abstract:
A depth stop attached to a drill for producing precise countersinking in drilled holes. The depth stop produces an accurate and precise countersink in drilled holes by limiting the depth to which a drill bit can drill through a work piece. An audible click occurs for every 7.5 micron change in depth in the preferred embodiment. The depth stop is configured such that attempts to over tighten the lock screw which fixes the depth amount will not damage or deflect the working parts of the device thereby producing accurate and repeatable results.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a depth stop for a drill, and more particularly to a depth stop device which attaches to a drill used in drilling holes in aircraft parts which insures a precise countersink of these holes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In most traditional manufacturing processes, manipulation and processing of products are typically accomplished manually by workers. In the case of modern airplane manufacturing, this manual manipulation and processing frequently includes manually drilling a multitude of holes through titanium and the like. The accuracy of these holes can be highly dependent upon the skill of the worker. It is also necessary, in many applications, to prepare these holes with countersunk sections to enable a fastener to lie generally flush with the surface of the material. Especially in the assembly of aircraft parts, such as wings, numerous holes are required to be drilled. These drilled holes must be precisely countersunk. If they are too deep, for example, structural integrity becomes compromised and cost of producing the parts soar. The fasteners must fit flush to the material surface, and when an improperly drilled hole, meaning that the countersink is too deep, for example, occurs, a significant problem is created, which results in penalties for the manufacturer. Simply stated, a drill which included a device to insure a precise countersink to holes drilled in aircraft parts requiring a countersink, that did not depend on any particular skill of the operator of the drill would be most desirable. To this end, the prior art has produced depth stop embodiments which limit the depth within the work piece that the drill bit can travel. For illustration, a typical such device can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,018 issued to Martinez et al. This device shows an axially oriented tightening screw which engages a sleeve. The sleeve ultimately guides the drill bit to the desired depth within the work piece, being held in place relative to the moving drill bit by the tightening screw. This particular depth stop embodiment has inherent disadvantages which are magnified when the depth of a countersunk hole, for example, must be extremely precise and repeatable. In the first place, in the manual tools suchs as drills, it is desirable that the tool be as light in weight as possible, and, of course this would also include any device attached to the drill such as a depth stop. The sleeve, therefore, that would sense the work piece and limit drilling depth is preferably has a relatively thin wall. In the common arrangement, as the above mentioned patent is an example, the sleeve would be held in place with a screw. The screw is tightened by the operator of the drill once the proper depth of the hole to be drilled is determined. The problems that can occur include deflection of the sleeve due to the force of the screw on the sleeve especially if the screw is “overtightened” by the operator. Deflection of the sleeve which controls the depth of the drilled hole will ultimately result in a lack of precision in the depth stop device. As the precision requirements increase, the deflection issue further comes to the forefront, with the ideal being no deflection of the sleeve while it is held in place and controlling the depth of the drilled hole. Even a slight misalignment of the sleeve can lead to improper countersunk holes in an aircraft part which can result in defective assembly. Over time, even with the most careful and skilled drill operators, the depth stop device shown in the above mentioned United States patent will result in manufacturing problems due to deflection of the sleeve. These problems will occur sooner rather than later as the necessary degree of precision in countersink holes increases in a particular application. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides a solution to the problems outlined above in the prior art, by presenting a depth stop device which allows the drill to produce repeatable, precise countersunk holes in aircraft parts without relying on an unusual degree of skill by the drill operator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In general terms, the invention disclosed herein presents a novel device, namely, a depth stop for use with a drill. It is contemplated that the disclosed depth stop is especially valuable in situations requiring that the drilled hole be precise with respect to its depth. This type of application occurs, for example, in the aircraft industry in the assembly of aircraft parts. More specifically, many holes having a countersink feature are needed to be drilled during manufacture. These countersunk holes, if not drilled to exacting specifications with respect to depth, will increase the cost of manufacture of the aircraft part dramatically. Further, it is desirable in this application to provide a device which prevents an operator of the drill from inadvertently or accidentally damaging the depth stop during the procedure of fixing the depth stop at a predetermined level. In other words, the depth stop will need to be secured or fixed relative to the drill prior to use of the drill. It is critical that the locking means holding the depth stop in place during drilling is of a nature that will not cause misalignment or damage to the device in any way. The operator, using the present invention, is prevented from tightening the depth sensing part of the device to a point which will cause inaccuracy in later usage of the depth stop. 
         [0007]    The depth stop of the present invention includes a tubular member or inner sensing sleeve, which at one end during use, contacts the work piece to be drilled. The inner sensing sleeve has grooves which partially extend over its outer surface. The purpose of these grooves will be discussed subsequently. The inner sensing sleeve has external fine pitched thread which screw into a second tubular part or outer portion of the sensing sleeve concentric with the inner sensing sleeve. The outer portion of the sensing sleeve has internal threads matching the threads of the inner sensing sleeve. The inner sensing sleeve is adjustable within the outer portion of the sensing sleeve by rotation of the inner sleeve. A lock screw and sensing sleeve anti-rotational member is provided which fix the inner sensing sleeve relative to the outer portion of the sensing sleeve. The sensing sleeve anti-rotational member has a set of teeth extending axially therefrom which engage in the grooves of the inner sensing sleeve to fix the inner sensing sleeve in place during use of the device. The lock screw has external threads which engage an internally threaded aperture of the outer portion of the sensing sleeve. The threaded aperture extends radially from the outer portion of the sensing sleeve. A spring is located between the lock screw and the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member, resting over protrusions of the lock screw and sensing sleeve anti-rotational member. As the lock screw is rotated, the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member moves toward the inner sensing sleeve due to the presence of the spring. Ultimately, when the lock screw is rotated to a locked position, meaning that the inner sensing sleeve is prevented from any axially movement relative to the outer portion of the sensing sleeve, the teeth of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member engage the grooves of the inner sensing sleeve preventing rotation of the inner sensing sleeve relative to the outer portion of the sensing sleeve. The inner sensing sleeve is locked in position in this configuration as the teeth of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member can move slightly axially but not enough to cause disengagement from the grooves of the inner sensing sleeve. The travel of the drill bit into the work piece thereby can be limited as one end of the inner sensing sleeve contacts the work piece. The inner sensing sleeve can be unlocked relative to the outer portion of the sensing sleeve by rotation of the lock screw in the opposite direction allowing the teeth of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member to completely disengage from the grooves of the inner sensing sleeve. 
         [0008]    In the above described configuration, it should be noted that the force applied to the inner sensing sleeve by the lock screw is modulated due to the presence of the spring between the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member and the lock screw. The teeth of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member fit into the grooves of the inner sensing sleeve and prevent rotation of the inner sensing sleeve, but only minimal pressure is transmitted to the inner sensing sleeve. The inner sensing sleeve, therefore, cannot be inadvertently deflected or in any way damaged during the locking process regardless of how tight the lock screw is made. Further, the lock screw has a shoulder which contacts the threaded aperture when the lock screw is fully tightened preventing further movement of the outer portion of the lock screw within the threaded aperture. When fully tightened, the teeth of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member cannot put significant pressure on the inner sensing sleeve and potentially damage it, nor can the teeth back out far enough to allow rotation of the inner sensing sleeve. The inner sensing sleeve, and therefore the depth, is set in place with minimal force on the inner sensing sleeve. The inner sensing sleeve is not “loaded up” with force from a lock screw which can produce mechanical misalignment or deflection resulting in the inability of the device to produce accuracy. To adjust the depth of the inner sensing sleeve relative to the drill and work piece, the lock screw is rotated to an open position allowing the inner sensing sleeve to be rotated inwardly or outwardly to the desired depth of the particular application. When the inner sensing sleeve is rotated in this manner, the spring located between the lock screw and the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member causes an audible click as the teeth of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member slip over the grooves of the inner sensing sleeve thereby signaling a change in depth. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device can be set up so that the audible click occurs once for each 7.5 microns of depth change. This audio cue greatly assists the operator in arriving at the desired predetermined depth. The depth stop device can be attached to the end of a drill. Preferably, the drill would have cavities which can receive pins extending from longitudinally from the depth stop device. An adjustable clamping band can radially secure the depth stop device to the end of the drill when the pins are disposed in the aforementioned cavities. 
         [0009]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a depth stop device which allows the precise drilling of countersunk holes. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a depth stop device having a sensing sleeve which cannot be misaligned or damaged by the locking means of the device. 
         [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a depth stop device for use in drilling countersunk holes which can repeatedly produce holes of a precise depth. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a depth stop device having a sensing sleeve fixed in position by a locking screw which cannot be misaligned or deflected by over tightening the locking screw. 
         [0013]    These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is an elevation view partially in cross section of a depth stop in accordance with the present invention as it would fit on a typical drill with parts of the drill not shown for clarity in identifying the depth stop. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   b  is a cross sectional view through line B-B of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0016]      FIG. 1   c  is a detail view of the circled section labeled C of  FIG. 1   b.    
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the depth stop of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   a  is a cross sectional view taken through line A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 2   b  is a detailed view of circular section B of  FIG. 2   a  showing the configuration of the device when the inner sensing sleeve can be adjusted. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the depth stop of the present invention similar to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3   a  is a sectional view taken through line A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3   b  is a detailed view of circular section B of  FIG. 3   a  showing the configuration of the depth stop of the present invention when the inner sensing sleeve is locked in place. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4   a  is an elevation view partially in cross section of a depth stop in accordance with the present invention as attached to a drill. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4   b  is a cross sectional view taken through line B-B of  FIG. 4   a.    
           [0025]      FIG. 4   c  is a detailed view of section C of  FIG. 4   b.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    Referring to the Figures, especially  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c,  the depth stop in accordance with the present invention can be described. In  FIGS. 1   a - c,  parts of the drill have been omitted to more clearly distinguish the depth stop itself.  FIG. 1   a  shows a depth stop assembly, generally designated as  10 , having an inner sensing sleeve  12  and an outer sensing sleeve  14 . Inner sensing sleeve is threaded into outer sensing sleeve  14  with fine pitched thread. The inner sensing sleeve  12  has external threads which match internal threads of outer sensing sleeve  14 . Inner sensing sleeve  12  can be adjusted relative to outer sensing sleeve  14  by rotation of the inner sensing sleeve  12  while keeping the outer sensing sleeve fixed. A lock screw  16  and sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  are used to hold the inner sensing sleeve  12  in position relative to the outer sensing sleeve  14 . Lock screw  16  has a projection  17  extending axially from one end, and sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  also has a projection  19  extending axially from one end toward the lock screw. More details of this arrangement to hold the inner sensing sleeve  12  relative to the outer sensing sleeve  14  will be disclosed subsequently. A partially threaded aperture  20  is provided and extends in the radial direction within the outer sensing sleeve  14 . The aperture  20  receives the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  in its non threaded portion, designated as numeral  22 , and the lock screw in its thread portion, designated as  24 . A roll pin  25  is provided which secures the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  to the outer sensing sleeve  14 . The sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  is received in this manner to prevent inadvertent loss of that part from the depth stop assembly if lock screw  16  is removed completely from the partially threaded aperture  20 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to the  FIGS. 2   a - c,  and  3   a - c  particularly, it can be seen that sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  has teeth  26  extending axially from one end opposite the projection  19 . The teeth  26  engage in longitudinal grooves  28  of inner sensing sleeve  12 . Grooves  28  partially extend over the outer surface of inner sensing sleeve  12 . The teeth  26  of sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  when engaged in longitudinal grooves  28  of inner sensing sleeve  12 , can hold the inner sensing sleeve  12  in place relative to the outer sensing sleeve  14 . A spring  30  is provided which fits between the end of the lock screw  16  and the end of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  closest to the lock screw  16  over projection  17  of the lock screw  16 , and over projection  19  of sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18 . In this configuration, as the lock screw  16  is rotated inwardly, the spring  30  urges sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  toward the inner sensing sleeve  12  until the teeth  26  of sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  engage the grooves  28  of inner sensing sleeve  12 . When the lock screw is  16  is fully tightened, teeth  26  of sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  cannot disengage from grooves  28  of the inner sensing sleeve  12 . The inner sensing sleeve  12 , therefore, cannot rotate and is positively locked into position. The shoulders  32   a,    32   b,  of lock screw  16 , when lock screw  16  is fully tightened, rest on the ends of the threaded portion  24  of the partially threaded aperture  20 . Further, when the lock screw  16  is fully tightened, a gap  21  exists between the projection  17  of the lock screw  16  and the projection  19  on the end of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18 . This gap  21  is small enough to prevent the teeth  26  of sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  from disengaging from grooves  28  of inner sensing sleeve  12  so that the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  is locked in position. The gap  21  is always present, regardless of the position of the lock screw  16 , effectively preventing lock screw  16  from directly pushing on sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18 . The force transmitted by sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18 , therefore, to the inner sensing sleeve  12  is always less than the force necessary to deflect or damage the inner sensing sleeve  12 . The depth stop assembly  10 , has a way to avoid damage to the inner sensing sleeve  12  regardless of the operator&#39;s handling of the lock screw  16 . It is impossible to over-tighten the lock screw  16  and thereby damage the inner sensing sleeve  12 . The countersink depth is established with a minimal force on the inner sensing sleeve  12  resulting in countersink depth accuracy over time. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4   a  (with more drill parts shown relative to  FIG. 1   a ) shows the depth stop assembly  10  attached to a typical drill, generally designated as  33 , used to make countersunk holes in airplane parts. The depth stop assembly  10  is clamped by clamping band  34  to the drill housing  36 . Depth stop pins  38   a,    38   b,  extend from the depth stop assembly  10  and fit within suitable cavities within the drill housing  36 . The drill bit  40  will be extended from drill housing  36  to drill a hole until shoulders  42   a,    42   b,  within the drill housing  36  contact depth stop pins  38   a,    38   b  respectively. The depth of the drilled hole can by regulated by extending inner sensing sleeve  12  relative to outer sensing sleeve  14 . When the lock screw  16  is backed off, and the teeth  26  are not fully engaged in grooves  28  of the inner sensing sleeve  12 , slight contact between the teeth  26  of sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  and the grooves  28  of inner sensing sleeve  12  occurs. When the inner sensing sleeve  12  is rotated relative to the outer sensing sleeve  14 , this slight contact of teeth  26  with grooves  28  creates an audible “click” due to the spring  30 . The spacing of grooves  28  of inner sensing sleeve  12  and teeth  26  determine the distance the inner sensing sleeve  12  travels for each click heard. If the teeth  26  and the grooves  28  are spaced relatively widely, a longer travel of inner sensing sleeve  12  relative to outer sensing sleeve  14  will occur and the inner sensing sleeve  12  will extend farther outwardly from the depth stop assembly  10 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the teeth  26  of the sensing sleeve anti-rotational member  18  and the grooves  28  of the inner sensing sleeve  12  will be configured so that an audible click occurs of each 7.5 micron change in countersink depth. This audible cue is helpful to the operator in arriving at the final desired depth of countersink. 
         [0029]    In operation, the depth stop assembly would be fastened to a drill  33  by clamping band  34  as shown in  FIG. 4   a.  The depth stop assembly would rest on a work piece designated as  44  extending through a template  46 . As shown in  FIG. 4   a,  the template  46  also rests on the work piece  44 . The operator would proceed by first drilling a hole in the work piece with the countersink drill bit  40 . The drilled hole would then be measure, and the inner sensing sleeve  12  rotated relative to the outer sensing sleeve  14  to precisely determine the depth of the countersunk hole. As mentioned previously, an audible click will occur at every 7.5 microns change in depth to assist the operator in arriving at the exact desired depth of countersink. The inner sensing sleeve  12  can then be fixed in place by tightening the lock screw  16 . Once the lock screw is tightened, the inner sensing sleeve  12  is fixed in place and the hole can be drilled with precision. The drill bit  40  will extend from the drill housing  36  until depth stop pins  38   a,    38   b,  contact shoulders  42   a,    42   b,  respectively, of drill  33 . The depth of the countersunk hole will be determined by the depth stop assembly  10 . It should be noted that the inner sensing sleeve  12 , outer sensing sleeve  14 , and depth stop pins  38   a,    38   b  are all “free floating” and reference only the surface of the work piece  44  for depth of countersink, without being effected by any tooling or work piece  44  deflection during the drilling operation. 
         [0030]    This invention may be embodied in other forms without departing form the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all change which comes within the meaning and range of equivalency of claims is intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1