Patent Abstract:
A brace or gusset is added to the first and last flight blade of an auger length for stability and reinforcement. The braces are generally box shaped with the flight blade as the box bottom. The brace walls are welded together along with a top panel. The brace is adjacent the auger shaft on one end and complementary shaped on one side to conform to the shape of the flight helix. A deflector is added to the last flight blade to distribute dirt and debris away from the first flight blade on the subsequent auger length. The auger length is reinforced against the twisting torque and compressive forces that occur at the first and last flight blade.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to earth boring equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to an auger bit extension length. Specifically, this invention relates to a novel earthen auger length having a reinforced boring flight at the front end, as well as a reinforced boring flight and soil deflector at the back end. 
   2. Background Information 
   Earthen auger bits are used to bore holes in soil for the emplacement of fence posts, telephone poles, and the like. An earthen auger bit is used with a power mechanism for overall lateral movement to drive the bit into the soil. The power mechanism is also used for axial movement in rotating the bit. From forward movement, as well as axial spinning of the auger blade, the bit penetrates deeper into the soil and rock. 
   Resembling a corkscrew, the bit has six parts: screw, spurs, cutting edges, flight, shaft, and tang. The screw, also called a pilot point, is long and smaller than the flight in diameter; it centers the bit and draws it into the earth. At the working end of the flight there may be sharp points called spurs, which score a circle equal in diameter to the hole, and radial cutting edges that cut material within the scored circle. The flight is helical and the rotation and outward spiraling of the flight results in soil moving back out of the hole along the spiral. The shaft extends along the entire inner diameter of the bit, beginning with the tang and ending with the tip of the screw. The tang can be any shape, but usually square or hexagonal, and fits in either the chuck on the power mechanism, or another auger length used for extending the length of the bore hole. Additional auger lengths are added as the cutting head of the auger penetrates deeper into the earth. The size of the auger length depends on the pitch, thickness, and length of the desired hole. 
   A general auger length can be separated in two parts: a bit, comprising the screw, spur, cutting edges and tang, can be separate from the lengths, comprising the flight, shaft and tang. This enables each length to be interchangeable. The first end of each length comprises a tang receiving hole and the second end of each length comprises a tang. In this method, lengths can be “stacked” on each other as more drilling depth is required, as the first length receives the tang into the tang receiving hole. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In general, the earth auger of the present invention is defined as comprising a pilot point and cutting edges on an auger bit, and a flight, shaft, tang, reinforcement braces and a deflector on an auger length. As the auger penetrates the earth, the flight rotates axially driving the auger deeper and pulling the soil out of the bore hole through the helical rotation of the flight. The leading flight blade undergoes tremendous torque and compressive forces from penetrating the earth and breaking up the soil or rock. 
   The present invention reinforces the lead flight blade by applying a flight brace proximate to the front end of the auger length. This brace adds to the strength of the lead flight and reduces stress and fatigue on the auger length. A flight brace is also added to the last flight blade, thus strengthening the connection area where two lengths are combined and require the most torque reinforcement due to a break in the overall shaft of the auger. This also helps to stabilize the shafts when stacked together and held by the tang and tang receiving hole. A deflection mechanism is also applied to the last flight and proximate the back end of the auger length. The deflector is used to move rock and soil outwardly from the shaft such that it is collected by the next flight blade and prevents soil from contacting the front flight brace of the subsequent auger length. This adds to the overall stability and reinforcement of the first auger flight blade. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a side profile of a mechanically powered earth auger of the present invention with part of the drilling tube cut-away; 
       FIG. 2  is a side profile view of the reinforced earth auger length of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side profile view the reinforced earth auger length of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is back profile view of the reinforced auger length of  FIG. 3 , taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front profile view of the reinforced auger length of  FIG. 3 , taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side profile view of the back end of the reinforced auger length of  FIG. 3 , with portions cut away and part of the coupler shown in phantom; 
       FIG. 7  is a side profile view of the back end of the reinforced auger length of  FIG. 3 , with portions cut away; 
       FIG. 8  is a side profile view of the back end of the reinforced auger big of  FIG. 7 , taken from the opposite side with parts cut away; 
       FIG. 9  is a side profile view of two auger length lengths coupled together, with the coupler shown in phantom, and parts cut away; 
       FIG. 10  is a profile view of the two auger coupling of  FIG. 9 . 
   

   Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The reinforced earth auger length of the present invention is indicated generally at  1  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as an element of an earthen auger machine  3 . Machine  3  is typically disposed in a pit  8  formed in the earth&#39;s soil or ground  6  and configured to bore a hole through ground  6  for the purpose of laying underground pipe in the bored hole. Machine  3  typically bores a hole from within a pit such as pit  8  to another pit which may be spaced several hundred feet away. Machine  3  includes an engine compartment  2  housing an engine (not shown) which powers the forward and axial momentum of a rotational output shaft  5  for rotationally driving the auger length  1 . A tube  4  surrounds the plurality of auger lengths  1  stacked together longitudinally for extending into the hole formed in ground  6  and terminates with cutting head  18  attached at the end of the outermost auger length  1 . 
   Reinforced auger length  1  of the present invention is comprised of a shaft  10 , a flight  14 , a back end  20 , a front end  22 , a back flight brace  32 , a front flight brace  42 , and a deflector  52 . Back end  20  and front end  22  are located at opposite longitudinal ends of auger length  1  and spaced apart. Shaft  10  is generally cylindrical and runs the entire length of auger length  1  and transfers rotational torque to flight  14  from rotational output shaft  5 . Flight  14  is helical and begins at edge  47  at front end  22  and spirally encircles shaft  10 , terminating at edge  37  at back end  20 . Flight  14  includes an inner edge  15  adjacent to shaft  10  along the length of shaft  10 . Flight  14  also includes an outer edge  16 , spaced apart and opposite from inner edge  15 . Front flight brace  42  is proximate front end  22 . Back flight brace  32  and deflector  52  are proximate back end  20 . 
   Back flight brace  32  is herein described in greater detail. Shown in  FIG. 4 , brace  32  is generally a box structure of steel or other strong metal, but may be a solid block of metal if desired. Brace  32  is proximate terminating edge  37  at back end  20  of auger length  1  and shaft  10 . Back flight brace  32  includes a first end  33 , a second end  34 , an adjacent side  35 , a distal side  36 , and a top panel  38 . First end  33  is proximate shaft  10 , with a portion adjacent to shaft  10  and welded thereto. Shown in  FIG. 7 , first end  33  is generally flush with the outer end of shaft  10 , extending along the length of shaft  10  and terminating at flight  14 . Shown in  FIG. 4 and 7 , second end  34  is spaced apart from first end  33  and is generally proximate outer edge  16  of flight  14 . Adjacent side  35  is adjacent to terminating edge  37  of flight  14 , welded thereto in a generally straight weld parallel to terminating edge  37 . Distal side  36  is spaced apart from side  35  and extends from first end  33  of back flight brace  32  to second end  34 . One edge of side  36  is welded to flight  14  and complementary shaped to follow the helix of flight  14  from first end  33  to second end  34 . 
   Outwardly extending ends  33  and  34 , and outwardly extending sides  35  and  36  are welded together to form a box shape. The box bottom is formed from welding the box structure onto flight  14 . The box top is formed from top panel  38  welded onto the extending and outer most edges of  33 ,  34 ,  35 , and  36 . In this way, a reinforcing box is formed on the rearmost flight blade to solidify flight  14  against rotational torque and compressive stress. 
   Front flight brace  42  is herein described in greater detail. Shown in  FIG. 5  front flight brace  42  is substantially similar to back flight brace  32 . Front flight brace  42  is generally a box structure of steel or other strong metal, but may be a solid block of metal if desired. Brace  42  is proximate edge  47  at front end  22  of auger length  1  and shaft  10 , and includes a first end  43 , a second end  44 , an adjacent side  45 , a distal side  46 , and a top panel  48 . Ends  43  and  44 , and sides  45  and  46  are substantially similar to ends  33  and  34 , and sides  35  and  36  and operate similarly on flight  14 . 
   Substantially similar to back flight brace  32 , front flight brace  42  is a box structure formed from welding together ends  43  and  44 , and sides  45  and  46 . The box bottom is formed from welding the box structure onto flight  14 . The box top is formed from top panel  48  welded onto the extending and outer most edges of  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46 . In this way, a reinforcing box is formed on the rearmost flight blade to solidify flight  14  against rotational torque and compressive stress. 
   Deflector  52  is herein described in greater detail. Shown in  FIG. 4 ,  6 , and  8 , deflector  52  is generally a solid and flat block of steel or other strong metal. Deflector  52  is proximate edge  37  at back end  20  of auger length  1  and shaft  10 , and includes a first end  53 , a second end  54 , an adjacent side  55 , and a distal side  56 . Similarly to front flight brace  42  and back flight brace  32 , first end  53  is proximate shaft  10 , with a portion adjacent to shaft  10  and welded thereto. Second end  54  is spaced apart from first end  53  and is generally proximate outer edge  16  of flight  14 . Adjacent side  55  is adjacent to terminating edge  37  of flight  14 , welded thereto in a generally straight weld parallel to terminating edge  37 . Shown in  FIG. 4 , adjacent side  55  is adjacent to terminating edge  37  on the opposite side from back flight brace  32 . Distal side  56  is spaced apart from adjacent side  55  and distal to terminating edge  37 . 
   Auger lengths  1  of the present invention can be joined and securely held together by any general securing mechanism. The preferred method of securing two lengths  1  is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Shaft  10  of each length  1  includes a hexagonal joint hole  27  recessed longitudinally into shaft  10  at front  22  and back  20  end. Joint hole  27  receives approximately one half the length of a coupler  24 . Coupler  24  includes two pin holes  25  and six flat sides  29  which are spaced to form a complementing hexagonal insert for joint hole  27 . Pin holes  25  are spaced apart and parallel to one another, and extend from the center of side  29  of coupler  24  through and out the opposite and parallel side  29 . Pin holes  25  are complementary aligned with a pin hole  26  in shaft  10 , extending through joint hole  27  on each end  20  and  22  of auger length  1 . Pin holes  25  and  26  receive a pin  28 . 
   Shown in  FIG. 9  in phantom, as a means for securing two auger lengths  1 , coupler  24  is inserted into joint hole  27 . Joint hole  27  receives approximately one half the length of coupler  24 , the protruding one half being inserted into second length  1 . Pin  28  is inserted into pin hole  26  in shaft  10  and extended through pin hole  25  in coupler  24 . The length of pin  28  allows it to pass entirely through coupler  24  and out pin holes  25  and  26  on the distal side of coupler  24  and shaft  10 . Pin  28  is then secured with a nut  30 , which tightly holds pin  28  and prevents its removal. Shown in  FIG. 9  in phantom, each end of coupler  24  is inserted into a length  1  and secured through pin holes  25  and  26  to each length  1  by pins  28 . Shown in  FIG. 1 , to facilitate drilling, cutting head  18  is attached to the first length  1  using coupler  24  in same manner as adding another length  1 . 
   In the preferred method of operation, cutting head  18  is attached to front end  22  of length  1 . Back end  20  of length  1  is attached to machine  3  at rotational output shaft  5 . Machine  3  provides lateral movement as well as rotational movement to drive cutting head  18  into the soil. As rotational movement is transferred from output shaft  5  to shaft  10 , flight  14  rotates axially around shaft  10 , bringing soil outward from inside the bore hole due to the helical structure of flight  14 . 
   As machine  3  moves length  1  and cutting head  18  farther into the soil, a maximum distance is eventually reached. If the desired bore hole depth has not yet been achieved, an additional length  1  is added. This is accomplished by manually disconnecting back end  20  of length  1   a  from output shaft  5 , and connecting back end  20  of length  1   b  to output shaft  5 . Back end  20  of length  1   a  is then connected to front end  22  of output shaft  1   b , and the overall length of the structure is increased by the size of length  1   b . Machine  3  is shown in  FIG. 1  with auger lengths  1   a  and  1   b  coupled to extend the depth bore hole. The means for attaching lengths  1  is coupler  24 , which is inserted into joint hole  27  in back end  20  of length  1   a , as well as joint hole  27  in front end  22  of length  1   b . Coupler  24  is secured by way of pins  28  extending through shaft  10  of each length  1   a  and  1   b , and pin holes  25  and  26 . Pins  28  are secured by nuts  30 , which prevent pins  28  from being dislodged without removing nut  30 . 
   As overall length of the structure is increased by adding more lengths  1 , the linear structure of shaft  10  and stability of auger machine  3  is maintained by rear flight brace  32  and front flight brace  42 . Braces  32  and  42  reinforce terminating edges  37  and  47  of flight  14 , respectively, in each length  1 . As flight  14  turns, terminating edges  37  and  47  are located at the transfer point where rotational power from one length  1  is transferred to the next length  1 . This break in the overall longitudinal structure allows rotational torque to stress the trailing and leading terminating edges  37  and  47 . Stress at edges  37  and  47  could lead to shearing or bending of flight  14 , changing the helical shape and disrupting the flow of soil outward from the bore hole. 
   Deflector  52  is located at back end  20  of length  1  at terminating edge  37  of flight  14 . As soil passes along flight  14 , deflector  52  directs soil outward from terminating edge  37  and prevents soil from contacting front flight brace  42  of the subsequent length  1 . This adds to the stability of length  1  by directing soil away from the leading edge  47  of length  1 . 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
   Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4