Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a portable apparatus for safely drilling holes in any drum, cylinder or similar sealable container, and more particularly, through remote operation and without moving the drum. Further, this invention may be quickly set up and operated by a single person in remote field locations and powered by commonly used firefighter and emergency crew SCBA&#39;s. (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) It also has the capability of being set up on uneven terrain and offers infinite positioning of the drill bit about the drum allowing for penetration through the most advantageous location. 
   Unlabeled, deteriorated, over pressurized drums and similar chemical containers come in a multitude of sizes and shapes, and pose a hazzard to both the environment and personnel. Often these can lead to a “boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion” (BLEVE). If handled improperly, or left to deteriorate, they can explode or rupture thereby exposing hazardous chemical contents into the environment. The safest way to handle these containers is to depressurize them in situ. Currently, this is done by shooting the container with a gun, by having someone manually attempt to open the bung or valve, or by moving the drum to another situation where an apparatus for piercing the container is located. Each of these methods increases the potential for a sudden release of the container&#39;s contents into the environment. 
   Besides the BLEVE&#39;d containers, another use for this invention arises from the LPG cylinders commonly used in the manufacture of illegal drugs. Here the illegal activities are often located in congested urban areas. Handling of these hazardous containers is regulated by 29 CFR Ch. XVII 1910.120 (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) which mandates that prior to transportation by the proper authorities, any container with visible bulging, swelling or audible sound must be depressurized. This leaves the job of depressurizing and venting these containers to the police, firefighters and emergency crew members. A safe, quick, simple and situation specific adaptable method for depressurizing these containers is needed. 
   Previous drum penetration devices lack the portability, pneumatic adaptability and one man operation offered by the present invention. They are thus usually fixed where there is a power supply. The prior art competitors require these dangerous drums to be moved onto a platform of the device, require the physical constraint of the drum, or clamp rigidly onto the drum. All of these actions require contact with the drum and thus actually increase the risk of explosion or content release by agitation of the drum. Simply stated, this invention provides the least intrusive method of releasing the pressure in the drum. Further, the prior art devices require their own sources of power for operation, cannot adjust to all sizes of containers, and do not have an infinitely adjustable penetration location. Although there are numerous drawbacks with the prior art inventions, the greatest problem is they cannot perform the depressurization without somehow increasing the risk of initiating a rupture or explosion. These drawbacks have prevented the widespread usage of such devices. 
   This new invention involves a much less invasive technique that utilizes a portable pneumatic drill with an infinitely adjustable stand that can be positioned anywhere about any BLEVE&#39;ed container regardless of where the container&#39;s location. Such flexibility of operation greatly enhances operator safety and overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum drilling apparatus that can be operated by emergency crew members with minimal intrusiveness and possibility of further damage to BLEVE&#39;ed drums. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide an improved drum drill that is lightweight, quickly assembled and capable of solo setup and operation. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide less intrusive method of depressurizing BLEVE&#39;ed drums that is capable of being performed on any sized drum and in any physical location. This is accomplished using an infinitely adjustable drill positioning device. 
   It is still a further object of this invention to provide for drum drilling apparatus that is capable of being powered by standard issue emergency crew equipment such as SCBA. 
   It is yet a further object of this invention to provide for a drum drilling apparatus that has explosive shielding, electrostatic grounding, CCD wireless tv remote viewing, and remote operation capabilities to minimize the possibility for harm to emergency crew personnel. 
   The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the drum drill apparatus arranged about a standard 55 gallon drum and with an explosion shield installed. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear side view of the drum drill apparatus illustrating the control panel. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the suction ring. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the suction ring. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an adjusting knob. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a T-handle bolt. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the drum drill apparatus with a wireless remote control start switch. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the drill mount plate. 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of the drill mount plate. 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the drill mount plate. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the drill mount plate. 
       FIG. 12  is a front view of the drill mount plate showing a left tilt. 
       FIG. 13  is a front view of the drill mount plate showing a right tilt. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of the drum drilling apparatus on uneven terrain. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of the drum drilling apparatus with the wheel and skid assembly and CCD wireless tv remote controllable camera. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the drum drilling apparatus with the wheel and skid assembly and CCD wireless tv remote controllable camera. 
       FIG. 17  is an illustrative view of an unextended drill. 
       FIG. 18  is an illustrative view of an extended drill. 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the LPG tank adaptor. 
       FIG. 20  is a front side view of the drum drilling apparatus adapted for use with an LPG Cylinder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The drum drilling apparatus of the present invention, comprises a lightweight, portable frame with adjustable telescoping tubular legs supporting a platform adapted to house a pneumatic control panel and a remotely controlled pneumatic drill that has vertical travel capability. The drill is connected to the platform by a vertically angular adjustable mounting plate, such that a drill bit is capable of penetrating any container at right angles to the container&#39;s top surface or bung. With the adjustable features mentioned, this apparatus is capable of infinite adjustment about any container centered within the frame. The source of pressurized air can come from the cylinder of an emergency worker&#39;s self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)or from a gas powered compressor. From the preferred embodiment there are additional features that may be used, as dictated by the situation. Such features are wheels and skid tubes, a suction/purge and sample adapter, and explosive protection. Alternate embodiments incorporate adapters for drilling into liquid propane gas (LPG) cylinders, and wireless remote control operation. The drill assembly and control panel are commercially available units and their specific configuration or operation is not part of the present invention. 
   The most practical advantage of this apparatus is that it is portable enough for one person to erect about a target container in a remote location with uneven terrain. This erection does not require the target container to physically disturbed. Once erected, this apparatus can be powered with only standard emergency crew equipment. The advantages of this invention as applied to use in perforating containers, is best illustrated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the drum drill apparatus arranged about a standard 55 gallon drum and with an explosion shield installed, the general arrangement of the various elements of the drum drilling apparatus can be seen. Frame  2  holds platform  4  positioned above target container  1  by telescopic engagement between platform supports  6  which are slidingly engaged over leg  8  and front platform tube  10  or rear platform tube  12 . Legs  8  have feet  60  for stabilization, and to serve as an anchor point for frame  2  when stakes (not illustrated) are driven into the underlying terrain, passing through feet orifices  62 . 
   Platform support  6  is made from two pieces of square tubing. Leg tube  14  is affixed perpendicularly to platform tube  16 . Leg tube  14  is sized so as to allow sliding engagement over the smaller tube of leg  8 . Similarly, platform tube  16  is sized so as to allow engagement and telescopic adjustment within larger front platform tube  10  or rear platform tube  12 . Bolts  20  are mechanically affixed to leg tube  14 , front platform tube  10 , rear platform tube  12 , and adjusting tube  84 . 
   Locking knobs  18  threadingly engage bolts  20  such that clockwise rotation advances pin  22  (see  FIG. 5 ) into leg orifice  24  or substantially identical orifices on platform tube  16  (not illustrated). This engagement serves to lock platform  4  at the desired height on legs  8  and to lock legs  8  at the desired width to accommodate target container  1 . Side strengthening tubes  80  span between legs  8 . Adjusting tubes  84  are affixed to the distal ends of side strengthening tubes  80  and are sized so as to slidingly adjust over legs  8 , locking by engagement between locking knobs  18  and structure tube holes  86 . Explosion blanket  82  is mechanically attached to structure tubes  25  of platform  4  by mechanical fasteners  200 . 
   Platform  4  is of a generally planar configuration. It has four structure tubes  25  affixed in a square configuration with two parallel mounting tubes  26 , attached perpendicularly between two of the parallel structure tubes  25 . Upon the mounting tubes  26  are mechanically attached a first mount plate  28  and second mount plate  30 . Between the mounting tubes  26  and the structure tubes  25  are structural strengthening tubes  32 . These serve to add rigidity to the platform. First mount plate  28  and second mount plate  30  are substantially identical, and both define mount plate bolt holes  34 . Drill assembly  36  is bolted to pivot plate  56  of drill assembly mounting bracket  38  through pivot plate bolt holes  58  (see  FIGS. 8–11 ). Drill assembly mounting bracket  38  is then secured to first mount plate  28  by threaded engagement between T-bolts  40  (see  FIG. 6 ) and bolt holes  34  with T-bolts  40  passing through mounting bracket holes  42  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
   Drill bit  66  is chucked into drill  36  and passes through splash plate  64  via splash plate orifice  70 . 
   Rear platform tube  12  has control panel mounting brace  44  mechanically fastened along its longitudinal axis so as to project upward and perpendicular to the plane of platform  4 . Pneumatic control panel  46  is bolted to brace  44  with T-bolts  40 . Pressurized air is supplied to control panel  46  from SCBA cylinder  48  through tubing  62 . 
   Static grounding clamp  50 , grounding wire  54 , and grounding stake  52  (see  FIG. 2 ) are in electrical continuity by mechanical, non-insulated connection to metal platform  4 . 
   Looking at  FIG. 2 , a rear side view of the drum drill apparatus, control panel  46  can be clearly seen. SCBA cylinder  48  provides pressurized air to regulators system  64  through tubing  62  which routes the compressed air to operation switch  68 . Operation switch  68  is connected to valve tee  72  by second tubing  74 . Plunger  152  of operation switch  68  is attached to push disk  148 . Valve tee  72  is hard piped to linear actuator air supply module  76  and drill motor air supply module  78 . Suction ring  88  is attached to splash plate  64  such that the longitudinal axis of ring  88  projects normally from splash plate  64 . Flexible suction ring seal  90  is attached to suction ring  88 . Cam fitting  92  and inert gas/sample line  94  project from suction ring  88 . Inside back strengthening tube  156  is slid into outside back strengthening tube  158  and locked into position with locking knob  18 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  together, the details of suction ring  88  can be seen. Suction ring  88  is of a block configuration that defines central passage  96  and attachment holes  98 . Bolts pass through attachment holes  98  and splash plate holes  100 . ( FIG. 1 ) Suction ring seal  90  is a hollow cylindrical flexible seal mechanically attached to suction ring  88 . Cam fitting  92  and inert gas/sample line  94  are friction fit into passages of suction ring  88  that have their longitudinal axis perpendicular to central passage  96 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the drum drill apparatus with a wireless remote control start switch. Here, push disk  148  of operational switch  68  has been replaced by wireless actuator  150 . This wireless actuator  150  is adapted to receive signals from a remote electronic transmitter (not shown) and respond by depressing plunger  152  so as to start the operation of drill assembly  36 . Pressurized air is provided from regulators  65  to switch  68  through second tubing  74 . (Best illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) Note, at this time pressurized air has also been provided through valve tee  72  to air supply module  76 . When plunger  152  is depressed the pressurized air is allowed to travel through switch  68  and continue through third tubing  75  to limit switch air supply module  78 . Limit switch air supply module  78  in turn provides pressurized air to bottom limit switch  170  and top limit switch  174 . Operation of the limit switches when conditioned appropriately provides pressurized air to air supply module  76 . Air supply module  76  in turn provides pressurized air through pneumatic line  160  to spin air motor  162  and turn drill bit  66 . Raising plunger  152  stops the flow of pressurized air through switch  68 . 
   Looking at  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7  together it can be seen that the pressurized air paths from SCBA cylinder  48  through tubing  62  to regulators  65  are to both linear actuator air supply module  76  thru fifth tubing  77 , and drill motor air supply module  78  through valve tee  72 . Drill motor air supply module  78  provides pressurized air to air motor  162  through fourth tubing  79  dependent upon the position of plunger  152  of switch  68 . Linear actuator air supply module  76  provides pressurized air to linear actuator  166  via pneumatic line  160 . 
   Looking at  FIGS. 8–13  the drill assembly mounting bracket&#39;s  38  construction and operation can best be seen. Side plates  102  are mechanically attached to base plate  104  and front plate  106  so as to maintain all plates in an approximately perpendicular arrangement. Base plate  104  has bracket holes  42  for mounting to either first mount plate  28  or second mount plate  30 . Spacer  110  and lock pin base  112  project normally from front plate  106  and are sandwiched between front plate  106  and pivot plate  108 . Bolt  114  passes through first pivot hole  116 , second pivot hole  118  and third pivot hole  120  and is threaded into nut  122 . Arced circumferential slot  124  accommodates locking pin  126  which threadingly engages into threaded lock pin orifice  202  passing through lock pin base  112 . Shoulder  128  of locking pin  126  bears against pivot plate  108  generating enough friction to lock the position of pivot plate  108  relative to front plate  106 . When locking pin  126  is loosened, pivot plate  108  may tilt left ( FIG. 12 ) or right ( FIG. 13 ). The amount of tilt travel of pivot plate  108  is limited by the length of slot  124  which bears against locking pin  126  when engaged with pin base  112 . Pivot plate bolt holes  58  allow drill assembly  36  to be bolted to pivot plate  108 . 
     FIG. 14  shows a side view of the drum drilling apparatus on uneven terrain. Legs  8  remain vertically parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the plane of platform  4 , but the engagement of locking knobs  18  through leg tubes  14  and adjusting tubes  84  of side strengthening tube  80  are into different leg orifices  24 . 
     FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate a side view of the drum drilling apparatus with the wheel and skid tube assembly and CCD wireless TV remote controllable camera installed. Wheel and skid tube assembly  130  is made from a modified strengthening tube  132 . It has spacer tubes  134  mounted near the distal ends that are adapted to hold a skid tube  136  approximately parallel to the modified strengthening tube  132 . The skid tubes have radiuses  142  at their distal ends. Wheel mount plates  138  are mechanically affixed between the modified strengthening tube  132  and the skid tube  136 . Wheels  140  are bolted to wheel mount plates  138 . The wheel and skid tube assemblies  130  are removably attached to legs  8  by end tubes  154 . This uses the same mechanical locking arrangement as is provided between the side strengthening tubes  80  and legs  8 . 
   Camera  144  resides on camera base  146  which is mechanically attached to platform  4 . 
   Now, to describe the overall operation we refer to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  16  to  20 . All components are brought to the location of the container to be vented by drilling. If the terrain will accommodate wheels, or if the terrain is soft or muddy, the wheel and skid assembly  130  may need to be used. The wheels allow for the drum drill apparatus to assembled at a location away from the target container  1  and then wheeled to target container  1 . If the ground is soft, skid tube  136  will provide additional surface area to better bear the weight load of the apparatus. This will prevent feet  60  of legs  8  from sinking into the ground and causing an uneven or partially unsupported platform  4 . The skid tubes, having ends with radiuses  142 , also allow for the sliding of the assembled apparatus into position about target container  1  if the surface is too soft to allow wheels  140  to carry the full weight of the assembled apparatus. Two legs  8  are slidingly inserted into end tubes  154  of each of the wheel and skid assemblies  130  and locking knobs  18  are tightened. Similarly, side strengthening tubes  80  are connected to legs  8 . Note that both the wheel and skid assemblies  130  and the side strengthening tubes  80  are of a fixed length and thus not adjustable. There are now a pair of unconnected leg assemblies. On one of the leg assemblies inside back strengthening tube  156  is slid over one leg  8 , and on the other leg assembly outside back strengthening tube  158  is slid over another leg  8 . Outside back strengthening tube  158  is slid over the inside back strengthening tube  156 , and after telescopically adjusting for the width of target container  1 , locking knob  18  is tightened to prevent movement. Leg tubes  14  of platform supports  6  are slid over legs  8 . Frame  2  is now fully assembled. 
   If needed, suction ring  88  with suction ring seal  90 , is bolted to splash plate  64 . Leg tubes  14  are slid into front platform tube  10  and rear platform tube  12 . The two leg assemblies (which comprise frame  2 ) are now connected. The width between the connected leg assemblies is telescopically adjustable between the leg tubes  14  and the front platform tube  10  and rear platform tube  12  in the same fashion as performed with inside back strengthening tube  156  and outside back strengthening tube  158 . Frame  2  and platform  4  are now assembled. 
   The height of platform  4  relative to target container  1  is set by raising platform  4  and tightening locking knobs  18  to engage the appropriate leg orifices  24 . Platform height is set so that suction ring seal  90  contacts the top surface of the target container  1 . (Note, that this is also the method by which legs  8  are adjusted to compensate for uneven ground.) 
   Drill assembly  36  is generally left bolted to pivot plate  108  such that t-bolts  40  need only be inserted through bracket holes  42  and threadingly engaged with mount plate bolt holes  34  to attach drill assembly  36  to platform  4 . In a similar fashion, control panel  46  is attached to mounting brace  44  with t-bolts  40 . Pneumatic line  160  is connected between drill assembly  36  and control panel  46 . In a similar fashion pneumatic line  160  is connected between linear actuator  166  and control panel  46 . SCBA cylinder  48  is connected to control panel  46  by tubing  62 . Grounding stake  52  is pounded into the ground and grounding clamp  50  is clipped onto the target container  1 . Camera  144  is mounted on platform  4  such that its viewing angle is correct. Drill bit  66  is chucked into drill assembly  36 . The drill bit lengths are provided such as to be of the proper length for operation when platform  4  is set with suction seal ring  90  contacting the top surface of target container  1 . 
   If suction rig  88  was installed, either a standardized, commercially available vacuum system (not illustrated) would be connected to cam fitting  92  and used to vent the escaping airborne gaseous or particulate contents of target container  1  or an inert cover gas cylinder would be connected so as to provide a supply of inert gas to blanket central passage  96 . The inert gas would eliminate any potential mechanical or static electrical sparks thus preventing any ignition and subsequent explosion of combustible vapors. The vacuum system may be fitted with the appropriate filtration media to capture the contents of target container  1 , whether particulate or gaseous. 
   Now, if needed, explosion blanket  82  is attached to frame  2  by mechanical fasteners  200  that are incorporated onto platform  4 . At this point, the drum drill apparatus in its assembled state is moved around target container  1  and the operator may proceed to drill the container. If not, the drum drill apparatus may be wheeled or slid into position around the container. 
   The operator now either depresses push disk  148  of operation switch  68  or sends a wireless signal to wireless actuator  150  to depress plunger  152  of operation switch  68 , depending upon which configuration of remote operation is being used. Both of these actions result in a movement of plunger  152  to send a pneumatic signal to drill motor air supply module  76  (via the appropriate conditioning of top limit switch  174  and bottom limit switch  170  as discussed earlier). Drill motor air supply module  76  in turn provides the appropriate pressurized air to drill assembly  36  via line  160 . Air motor  162  spins drill chuck  164  and causes linear actuator  166  to extend spinning drill chuck  164  downward as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . Drill bit  66  will contact target container  1  and linear actuator  166  will continue to exert enough downward force to drill through the top surface of target container  1 . Once there is a through hole, linear actuator will continue to drive drill chuck downward until bottom limit switch  170  contacts bottom stop  172 . Bottom limit switch  170  is in pneumatic communication with drill motor air supply module  76  of control panel  46  such that activation of switch  170  stops the supply of air to drill assembly  36  stopping the spinning of air motor  162  and causes linear actuator  166  to retract spinning drill chuck  164  as shown in  FIG. 17  until top limit switch  174  contacts top stop  176 . 
     FIG. 20  shows an alternate embodiment wherein suction ring  88  is not present. When drilling liquid propane gas cylinders (LPG)  178  there is an additional obstacle to overcome in the form of the lifting handle  180 . To overcome this physical obstacle, LPG adapter  182  is bolted to splash plate  64  through adapter holes  184  in LPG base  186 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 19  it can be seen that LPG adapter  182  has down tube  188  affixed normally to base  186 . Drill guide  192  has shoulder  198  that matingly conforms to inner recess  196  of down tube  188 . A long drill bit is used (not shown) and sized such that when chucked in drill assembly  36  the drill bit will extend through drill guide orifice  194 . This serves to support the drill bit and prevent it from “wandering” when drilling at long distances from drilling apparatus  36 . View holes  190  allow the operator to confirm that the bit is chucked tightly and still revolving. 
   In operation, generally there is an absorbent pad placed over the splash plate to ensure there is no contamination from dripping liquids off of the drill bit upon return from drilling. This is not illustrated. 
   While generally the frame  2  and platform  4  is made of aluminum for weight reasons, they may be made of carbon fiber, another metal or metal alloy or a polymer. Operation and construction would be substantially the same, except if the frame were of a non electrical conducting material then there would need to be a direct connect between grounding clamp  50  and grounding wire  52 .

Technology Category: 7