Patent Abstract:
A portable adjustable multiple end drill device comprises a rotary power source communicating with a plurality of end drill units. The device includes restraints for holding the rotary power source and a hearing rigidly attached to the restraints for rotating the device. The device includes two end-caps, each of which is connected to a respective arm directly or via at least one modular extension of a respective arm. The end-caps are also connected to guide bars and a splined power transmission shaft. The device imparts a set of rectilinearly aligned work areas of a work piece, which work areas are respectively and simultaneously drilled by the respective drill bits. A rectilinear position of each end drill unit can be adjusted mechanically. Each drill bit holder, or base, holding a respective drill bit or fastener bit is rotated by a system of bearing-journaled drive gears.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to portable adjustable multiple end drill devices for simultaneously drilling a plurality of rectilinearly aligned holes or fastening a plurality of rectilinearly aligned fasteners. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is desirable to expand the drilling capability of a hand-held electric drill. In one known configuration, an electric hand-held drill includes an internal magazine that stores a plurality of drill bits. However, such configurations only allow one drill bit to be used at a time. In another configuration, a turret is used that contains a plurality of chucks. While this configuration is able to hold a plurality of drill bits or fastener bits simultaneously, only one bit can be used at a time to drill a hole or fasten a fastener. In particular, when one drill bit or fastener bit and its chuck are in use, the other drill bits or fastener bits and chucks are stationary. In a further configuration, an operator is able to drill a plurality of rectilinearly aligned holes or fasten a plurality of rectilinearly aligned fasteners simultaneously. However, a disadvantage with this configuration is that distances between all holes must still be manually measured and locations marked using a measuring device and writing utensil. Another disadvantage is that the amount by which the spacing between drill or fastener bits may be adjusted is limited. A further disadvantage is that the operator must hold a multiple-bit drill in place with at least one of his/her hands throughout the entire drilling or driving process, as well as the electric drill supplying power to the multiple-bit drill. 
         [0003]    Moreover, larger units for drilling holes or fastening fasteners that are at great distances from one another require a large number of moving parts, several of which may not even be used in such situations. Additionally, parts that are not heir used cannot be easily removed. Many gears, pivot arms, and chucks are permanently or semi-permanently attached to the multi-bit drill and are not meant to be easily removed when not in use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is a portable adjustable multiple end drill device for simultaneously and conveniently drilling a plurality of rectilinearly aligned holes, or for fastening a plurality of rectilinearly aligned fasteners. This invention features a plurality of end drill units. The operator can move and secure any end drill unit of this device to any metrically designated location along the guide bars with minimal restrictions. The device is powered by an input drill, which is secured to the device using hand-screws, arms, and end-caps, Rotary power is transmitted directly from the input drill, which is a typical electrically- or pneumatically-powered unit, to the main end drill unit by means of an input shaft. The input shaft is rigidly attached to an input gear located inside the main end drill unit. The input gear is mated to a series of gears, these also being located inside the main end drill unit. These gears transmit rotary power from the input drill to the drill bit or fastener bit connected to the main end drill unit and to a spline shaft that is connected to the gears located inside each auxiliary end drill unit being used. The gears located inside each auxiliary end drill unit transmit rotary power from the spline shaft to the drill bit or fastener hit connected to the auxiliary end drill unit. The spline shaft permits simultaneous rotation of all drill bits and/or fastener bits being used with the device while facilitating convenient adjustment of the positions of the end drill units with respect to their common axis. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of this portable adjustable multiple end drill device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation of the multiple end drill device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevation of the multiple end drill device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a bottom elevation of the multiple end drill device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a left side section view of the multiple end drill device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cutaway view of the right-side end-cap. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a cutaway view of the end drill units of this invention, detailing the components used for the securement mechanisms for each end drill unit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is another cutaway view of the end drill units, detailing the gears inside each end drill unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  details drill/fastener bases and compatible drill bits. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the multiple end drill device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  shoe is conventional fastener bits being secured in drill/fastener bases. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. In the description below, like reference numerals and labels are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of  FIGS. 1-11 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a portable adjustable multiple end drill device  1  comprises a large bearing  2 , the outer member of which is rigidly attached to tabbed arms  3 , which are connected to two end-caps  4 ; an upper guide bar  5  with a plurality of rectilinear calibrations  6 ; a lower guide bar  7 ; a spline shaft  9 ; a main end drill unit  10 ; and a plurality of auxiliary end drill units  11 . Each end drill unit  10  and  11  comprises a base  41  used to secure a drill bit  45 . Rotary power is provided by an input drill  13 , which is a typical hand-held unit powered by a line-connected AC motor, a battery-powered DC motor, or a pneumatic motor. The bearing  2  enables rotation of the input drill  13  relative to an axis  59  of an input shaft  30 . The input drill  13  is secured by two drill holders  14 , each connected to a hand-screw  15  by means of a ball-and-socket joint. The hand-screws  15  are turned through threaded holes in vertical bars  16  rigidly attached to the inner member of the bearing  2 . The bearing  2  is restrained by two thumb-screws  17 . The input drill  13  provides power to the device  1  through an input shaft  30 , which is connected to the spline shaft  9  through a gearing system inside the main end drill unit  10 . The spline shaft  9  transmits rotary power from the main end drill unit  10  to each auxiliary end drill unit  11 . Each end drill unit  10  and  11  features four through holes  12 , two pairs on opposite walls, to accommodate the guide bars  5  and  7 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , each end-cap  4  contains two recesses  19  exposing two spring-loaded latches  27  rigidly attached to a knob  28 ; a single latch-less recess  29 ; and a spline shaft bearing  53 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the main end drill unit  10  includes a handle  20  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) having a spring loaded protrusion  60  that extends through a front surface  61  of a casing  64  for main end drill unit  11 . The main end drill unit  10  is secured to guide bars  5  and  7  by a restraining cruciform slab  24  that is urged against indentations  25  formed in guide bars  5  and  7  by the protrusion  60 . In one embodiment, the indentations  25  are located at centers of the guide bars  5  and  7 . Further, the guide bars  5  and  7  may include three indentations. Each auxiliary end drill unit  11  includes as thumb-screw  21  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) having a projecting screw portion  62  that is threadably engaged with a front surface  63  of a casing  65  for respective auxiliary end drill unit  11 . Each auxiliary end drill unit  11  is secured to the guide bars  5  and  7  by a restraining cruciform slab  26 , which is urged against guide bars  5  and  7  via contact between the screw portion  62  and a ball-and-socket joint  18 . Each auxiliary end drill unit  11  may be located as desired relative to the main end drill unit  10 . For example, a first end drill unit  11  may be spaced closer to the main end drill unit  10  than a second end drill unit  11 . Alternatively, the second end drill unit  11  may be spaced closer to the main end drill unit  10  than the first end drill unit  11 . In addition, first and second end drill units  11  may be equally spaced relative to the main end drill unit  10 . Each end drill unit  10  and  11  features viewing windows  22  (also shown in  FIG. 1 ). Each viewing window  22  features a dial  23  of the same width as each of the calibrations  6  of the upper guide bar  5 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the main end drill unit  10  comprises an input shaft  30 , which is held by the chuck of the input power source  13 . The input shaft  30  is rigidly attached to an input spur gear  31 , which is mated to an idler pinion gear  32 . Mated to the idler pinion gear  32  is a face gear  33 , which is rigidly attached to a miter gear  34 . The face gear  33  and miter gear  34  are internally splined, oriented horizontally, and connected to the spline shaft  9 . Mated to the horizontal miter gear  34  is a vertical miter gear  35 , which is rigidly attached to an output shaft  36 . These gears  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 , and  35  are located inside the main end drill unit  10 . Bearings  37 ,  38 ,  39 , and  40  are fixed to the walls of the main end drill unit  10 , secure the aforementioned transmission components, and permit their rotation. Each auxiliary end drill unit  11  comprises the same gears as the main end drill unit  10 , with the exception of the input spur gear  31 , the idler pinion gear  32 , and the face gear  33 . The gears  34  and  35  of each auxiliary end drill unit  11  are located inside  11 . Each auxiliary end drill unit  11  includes an output shaft  36 . None of the auxiliary end drill units  11  have a vertical input shaft  30 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the output shaft  36  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) of each end drill unit  10  and  11  is rigidly attached to a base  41 . The base  41  is a cylinder with two protruding rigid tabs  42 , two spring-loaded detents  43 , and a hexagonal socket  44 . The hexagonal socket  44  includes as powerful magnet or another object or plurality of objects suitable for securing a fastener bit, such as at least one ball detent. A compatible drill bit  45  is rigidly attached to as large diameter circular plate  46  that features two through holes  47 , two slots  48 , and a small protruding stabilization cylinder  49 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , assembly of the multiple end drill device  1  is accomplished according to the following procedure, prior to operation: the main end drill unit  10  is slid over both guide bars  5  and  7  using through holes  12 . The spring-loaded handle  20  of the main end drill unit  10  is then pulled in order to allow the guide bars  5  and  7  to be slid through the main end drill unit  10  without interference from the restraining slab  24  (shown in  FIG. 7 ). Once the viewing window dials  23  of the main end drill unit  10  are aligned with a central rectilinear calibration or zeroth calibration  50  of the upper guide bar  5  and, coincidentally, the indentations  25  of both guide bars  5  and  7  are aligned with the restraining slab  24 , the handle  20  is released to allow the restraining slab  24  to occupy the indentations  25 . This secures the guide bars  5  and  7  to the main end drill unit  10 . The operator may slide a plurality of auxiliary end drill units  11  over the guide bars  5  and  7 . The thumb screw  21  of each auxiliary end drill unit  11  are loosened in order to allow the guide bars  5  and  7  to be slid through each auxiliary end drill unit  11  without interference from the restraining slab  26  (shown in  FIG. 7 ). The operator may then secure each auxiliary end drill unit  11  at any position along the guide bars  5  and  7  by tightening its thumb-screw  21 . If one wishes to secure an auxiliary end drill unit  11  at a particular position along the upper guide bar  5 , one aligns one of the viewing window dials  23  of that auxiliary end drill unit  11  with the guide bar calibration  6  that corresponds to the desired location. Once all end drill units  10  and  11  to be employed have been secured to the guide bars  5  and  7 , the spline shaft  9  is inserted in the internally splined cavity  51  of each end drill unit  10  and  11 . The guide bars  5  and  7  are inserted in the latch recesses  19  of the end-caps  4 . Each of the two ends of each guide bar  5  and  7  contains a recess  52 , which each spring-loaded latch  27  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) then occupies in order to secure both guide bars  5  and  7  to both end-caps  4 . The spline shaft  9  is inserted in the bearing  53  of each end-cap  4 . The tab  54  of each arm  3  is then inserted in the latch-less recess  29  of each end-cap  4 . The chuck of the input drill  13  is tightened once the input shaft  30  of the main end drill, unit  10  is in the chuck. The hand-screws  15  are then turned, pressing the input drill holders  14  against the case of the input drill  13  in order to secure the input drill  13  to the bearing  2 . Each thumb-screw  17  of the bearing  2  is then tightened in order to prevent unwanted rotation of the arms  3  of the device  1  relative to the input drill  13 . If the thumb-screws  17  are loosened, the device  1  may be rotated to various angles with respect to the handle of the input drill  13 , allowing the operator to drill a plurality of rectilinearly aligned holes or fasten a plurality of rectilinearly aligned fasteners at these angles while holding the input drill  13  as comfortably as possible. A plurality of calibrations  55  on the bearing  2  and a dial  56  on each vertical bar  16  indicate to the operator the angle between the handle of the input drill  13  and the common plane of the holes to be drilled. 
         [0022]    Referring to FIG,  9 . each drill bit  45  that the operator wishes to employ is secured to a drill/fastener base  41  of an end drill unit  10  and  11 . The two slots  48  of the plate  46  of the drill bit  45  are aligned with the rigid tabs  42  of the drill/fastener base  41 . The plate  46  is then pressed flush against the drill/fastener base  41 . During this process, the spring-loaded detents  43  are pushed into the base  41 . The stabilization cylinder  49 , which is present to assist the user in properly aligning the drill bit  45 , occupies the hexagonal socket  44 . The drill bit  45  is then rotated while being pressed against the base  41 . such that the through holes  47  of the plate  46  align with the spring-loaded detents  43  in the base  41 . Each detent  43  then emerges through its corresponding hole  47  due to the force from its attached spring (not shown), securing the drill bit  45  in place and preventing unwanted rotation of the bit  45 . The device  1  is thus ready for use in rotary drilling applications. 
         [0023]    In rotary fastening applications, conventional fastener bits such as  57  having hexagonal bases  58  should be used. Referring to  FIG. 11 , each fastener bit  57  that is to be employed may be inserted in a hexagonal socket  44 , as is done with socket screwdrivers, impact wrenches, and most other tools having hexagonal sockets used to hold fastener bits. Although the bases  41  and drill bits  45  are recommended for use in this device  1 , conventional chucks or collets can be built on the end drill units  10  and  11  in lieu of bases  41 . Referring again to  FIG. 10 , removal of an end-cap  4  is accomplished by pulling the latch knob  28  to release the latches  27  (see  FIG. 6 ), and then pulling the end-cap  4  off the arm  3 , guide bars  5  and  7 , and spline shaft  9 . End-caps  4  are removed when one wishes to add or remove end drill units  10  and  11  to or from the device  1  and when one wishes to use a pair of guide bars  5  and  7  and spline shaft  9  of different length and laterally extending arm module in order to augment or compact the device  1 . 
         [0024]    Therefore, the device  1  enables convenient and simultaneous drilling of a plurality of rectilinearly aligned holes or fastening of a plurality of rectilinearly aligned fasteners. In addition, the device  1  allows its operator to conveniently and rapidly adjust drill bit and/or fastener bit locations along a single axis, with minimal restrictions on movements along that axis. The device  1  also indicates to the operator the rectilinear metrical distances between drill bits and/or fastener bits, thus indicating the distances that will separate any and all holes and/or fasteners from each other. Further, the device  1  allows the operator to adjust the orientation of the input electric drill to any angle relative to the common plane of the holes to he drilled or that of the fasteners to be fastened. Additionally, the device  1  allows for convenient addition of end drill units to the device  1  or removal of end drill units from the device  1  that are not in use or needed for an operation prior to drilling holes or fastening fasteners. 
         [0025]    In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8