EP2042280A1 - Sheet-drilling tool - Google Patents

Abstract

The tool has a longitudinal rod (2) slidingly mounted in a guiding tube (1). A drilling point (3) is held in the tube between a proximal end (1a) and a distal end (1b) of the tube, in a raised position of the rod. The drilling point is passed over the distal end, in a lowered position of the rod. Adjusting and supporting units (5) are constituted by a V-shape section (6) fixed at the distal end by transversely oriented along a transversal axis (II-II). The section defines a dihedron raised opposite to the tube, and includes a bisector plane (P) having a longitudinal axis (I-I) of the tube.

Description

The present invention relates to a manual sheet metal drilling tool, particularly suitable for drilling sheets for roofing roofs.

To cover a roof of a building, more and more sheet metal is used on structural elements of the building. These sheets are of various shapes: flat or corrugated for example.

In order to make them weather-resistant and / or compatible with aesthetic color requirements, these sheets most often include a coating such as a galvanized coating or a color lacquer.

These sheets are fixed by means of large screws passing through the sheet to engage in a wooden frame element located below the sheet. To seal the roof covering, a plastic washer is placed between the screw head and the sheet.

The installation of the screws requires the prior completion of holes in the sheet. The holes must be of sufficient diameter to allow the threaded body of the screw to pass, and the diameter must be small enough for the head of the screw to bear against the sheet.

To do this, we use electric drills equipped with a drill diameter. The disadvantage of drills, and more generally rotary drill tools, is the creation of a ZAT (heat-affected zone) in the vicinity of the hole. The creation of a ZAT deteriorates the coating of the sheet and thus impairs the sealing of the roof covering by promoting its corrosion.

In addition, when using drilling tools with drills such as a drill, it creates a metal chip at high temperature. During its evacuation, this chip comes into contact with the coating of the sheet and burns locally, creating again ZAT which will be as many areas predisposed to corrosion.

In addition, the supply of energy (electric, pneumatic, ...) necessary for the operation of a drill is generally complicated on a roof and makes dangerous the intervention of the roofer by the presence of son or electrical cables in contact sharp metal elements such as sheets.

Finally, the use of drilling tools such as a drill requires the prior completion of a pointing with a needle to prevent that during drilling the drill skids and deteriorates the sheet.

This increases the number of operations required, and therefore the time required to install the sheets for roofing a roof.

To avoid using a drilling tool such as a drill, you can use a pointed sharpened chisel on which the roofer hits with a mass.

The use of the chisel and the mass however requires a certain dexterity on the part of the roofer, who works on an inclined part.

When the roofer hits a blow with its mass on the chisel, there is a strong risk that the tip of the chisel skids and damages the coating of the sheet at a place other than where a screw is provided. And the chisel can even sometimes cross the sheet from side to side at an undesired location, forcing the complete replacement of the accidentally damaged sheet.

Finally, drilling with a chisel can be very difficult, if not impossible, in places where portions of sheets (up to the number of four) overlap to provide the roof's waterproof coverage.

The problem of making the holes in the sheets with a chisel or drill is more particularly sensitive in the case of corrugated sheets, for which the holes must be made at the top of the waves to prevent water stagnates in the vicinity of the holes and screw heads.

The document US 3,777,399 discloses a manual sheet metal drilling tool according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a tool is bulky, suitable for drilling a single type of corrugated sheet and too unwieldy by a user perched on a roof.

A first problem proposed by the invention is to design a manual sheet drilling tool that is itself feasible at low cost, which can be handled simply and effortlessly, and that allows to drill one or more sheets simultaneously without risk of skidding or deterioration of the coating of the sheet or sheets.

Simultaneously, the invention seeks to eliminate any risk of accidental scratching of the sheet metal or drilling in an undesired place.

According to another aspect, the invention aims to enable the reliable and safe realization of a hole at the top of the wave of a corrugated sheet, and whatever the waveform of the corrugated sheet.

The invention also seeks to reduce the hardness of the work of the roofer responsible for making holes in a cover sheet, and improve its safety at work.

Finally, the invention aims to design a manual sheet metal drilling tool for drilling a hole at the top of a wave of corrugated sheet metal in areas that are difficult to access or have limited accessibility, such as roof window edges, chimney edges, or roof edges along a wall.

To achieve these objects, as well as others, the invention provides a manual sheet metal drilling tool according to claim 1.

To drill a hole with such a tool, the distal end of the guide tube is applied against the sheet around the area to be pierced, the longitudinal rod is lifted and lowered abruptly so that the piercing tip enters the sheet. . Thus, the guide tube ensures the positioning of the bore, and the longitudinal rod is both the perforating element and the striking means that gives the perforating element energy required for drilling.

Such a tool therefore requires no power supply for its use, has a small footprint, and is simple to handle to achieve accurately and reliably drilling one or more sheets simultaneously without damaging their coating around the hole.

The support and centering means, shaped to bear against the sheet metal to be drilled and able to oppose any lateral displacement of the distal end of the guide tube relative to the sheet to be drilled, eliminate any risk that the distal end of the guide tube comes to skid on the sheet during the stroke of the longitudinal rod. It avoids scratching the coating of the sheet, and especially it avoids drilling the sheet in a bad place.

The V-shaped support and centering means are efficient, very simple to produce, inexpensive and compact. These make it possible to perform precise and safe drilling at the top of a wave of corrugated iron, whatever the shape of the wave, ensuring perfect versatility of the tool. Indeed, during use, place the dihedral entering with its central edge aligned on the top of the wave, the dihedron overlapping the wave.

And the use of a simple V-shaped profile allows the roofer access to delicate and difficult to access places such as roof windows, chimney edges, or angles between a roof and a wall where it is important to secure the sheet for critical sealing reasons.

Advantageously, the V-shaped section may extend in the transverse direction in at least one direction away from the guide tube and in at least a length of about 15 centimeters.

Preferably, the V-shaped profile may comprise, in its reentrant dihedron, a thickness of an elastically compressible material intended to come into contact with the sheet to be drilled. This makes it possible to hold on waves of various shapes, and it further reduces the risk of slippage of the distal end of the guide tube on the sheet.

• la pointe de perçage a une forme conique,
• des moyens de butée interdisent le coulissement de la tige longitudinale dans le tube de guidage au-delà de sa position basse.

Advantageously, it can be provided that:

• the piercing tip has a conical shape,
• stop means prohibit the sliding of the longitudinal rod in the guide tube beyond its lower position.

Such a tool makes it possible to make holes of determined diameter just sufficient to ensure the passage of the threaded body of the screw and to allow the head of the screw to abut against the sheet at the periphery of the hole.

Preferably, stop adjustment means may be provided for adjusting the axial position of the lower position of the longitudinal rod in the guide tube.

It is thus possible, with one and the same tool, to make holes of different diameters.

According to one embodiment, the guide tube may extend in a length of about 70 to 110 centimeters, preferably about 90 centimeters. The tool thus has an axial length sufficient to allow the roofer to work standing without having to bend down and get up with each hole drilling.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un mode de réalisation d'un outil manuel selon l'invention, avec la tige longitudinale en position haute ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de face de l'outil de la figure 1, avec la tige longitudinale en position basse ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail en perspective des extrémités distales du tube de guidage et de la tige longitudinale ;
• les figures 4 et 5 illustrent une utilisation de l'outil des figures 1 à 3 dans le cas du perçage d'une tôle ondulée pour la couverture d'un toit ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe partielle d'un autre mode de réalisation d'un outil manuel selon l'invention ; et
• la figure 7 est une vue de la pointe de perçage de l'outil manuel de la figure 6.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

• the figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a hand tool according to the invention, with the longitudinal rod in the high position;
• the figure 2 is a front view of the tool of the figure 1 , with the longitudinal rod in the low position;
• the figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the distal ends of the guide tube and the longitudinal rod;
• the figures 4 and 5 illustrate a use of the tool of Figures 1 to 3 in the case of drilling a corrugated sheet for the roof covering;
• the figure 6 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of a hand tool according to the invention; and
• the figure 7 is a view of the piercing tip of the manual tool the figure 6 .

1. 1). La tige longitudinale 2 comporte une extrémité distale 2b munie d'une pointe de perçage 3, et une extrémité proximale 2a munie d'une poignée 4 restant en permanence accessible hors du tube de guidage 1.

On the Figures 1 and 2 is shown an embodiment of a manual sheet metal drilling tool according to the invention. The tool comprises a longitudinal guide tube 1, extending between a proximal end 1a and a distal end 1b, along a longitudinal axis II. The tool also has a longitudinal rod 2 slidably disposed in the guide tube 1 and movable in the guide tube 1 between a low position ( figure 2 ) and at least one high position (FIG.

1. 1). The longitudinal rod 2 comprises a distal end 2b provided with a piercing tip 3, and a proximal end 2a provided with a handle 4 remaining permanently accessible from the guide tube 1.

In the upper position of the longitudinal rod 2 ( figure 1 ), the piercing tip 3 is contained in the guide tube 1 between the distal end 1b and proximal ends 1a of the guide tube 1. In the lower position of the longitudinal rod 2 ( figure 2 ), the piercing tip 3 protrudes beyond the distal end 1b of the guide tube 1.

When using such a tool, as illustrated on the figure 4 , the user holds the guide tube 1 near its proximal end 1a while the distal end 1b of the guide tube 1 bears against the sheet 11 to be pierced. The distal end 1b of the guide tube 1 is precisely positioned at the location where a hole is to be made. The user, holding the longitudinal rod 2 by the handle 4 in the up position ( figures 1 and 4 ), forcefully moves the longitudinal rod 2 towards its lower position ( figure 2 ). The piercing tip 3 then protrudes beyond the distal end 1b of the guide tube 1 to pierce the sheet 11. Until the moment when the piercing tip 3 comes into contact with the sheet 11 , the longitudinal rod 2 is accurately and reliably guided by the longitudinal guide tube 1: there is no risk for the user to drill the sheet 11 by mistake in an undesired place.

The drilling of the sheet 11 is done "cold" without rotary drilling tool such as a drill in contact with the sheet, and therefore without creating a ZAT (Zone Affected Thermally) likely to promote corrosion of the sheet 11. The tool is simple to handle and inexpensive to manufacture.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 , the guide tube 1 comprises, in the vicinity of its distal end 1b, support and centering means 5 shaped to bear against the plate 11 to drill and able to oppose any lateral displacement of the end distal 1b of the guide tube 1 relative to the sheet 11 to be drilled. In this way, it eliminates any risk of scratching the coating of the sheet 11 to be pierced and any risk of accidental drilling in an undesired place.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 , the support and centering means 5 consist of a V-shaped section 6 fixed in transverse orientation along a transverse axis II-II ( figures 1 and 3 ) at the distal end 1b of the tube guidance 1. The V-shaped profile 6 defines a dihedral recess opposite to the guide tube 1 and whose bisecting plane P contains the longitudinal axis II of the guide tube 1.

Such support and centering means 5 make it possible to drill the sheet 11 simply and reliably at the top of a wave 12 when the sheet 11 is corrugated, irrespective of the shape of the wave 12 Such use will be described later by means of figures 4 and 5 .

As we see more particularly on the figure 1 , the V-shaped section 6 extends in the transverse direction (transverse axis II-II) in a direction away from the guide tube 1 by a length I of about 15 centimeters.

We see more particularly on the figure 3 that the V-shaped profile 6 comprises, in its reentrant dihedron, a thickness e of a material 7 elastically compressible.

It is more particularly illustrated on the figure 3 that the piercing tip 3 has a conical shape. Stop means 8 are provided ( figure 2 ) to prohibit the sliding of the longitudinal rod 2 in the guide tube 1 beyond its low position.

The abutment means 8 comprise the handle 4 of the longitudinal rod 2 and the proximal end 1a of the guide tube 1. Said handle 4 bears directly or indirectly against the proximal end 1a of the guide tube 1 when the longitudinal rod 2 is in the low position ( figure 2 ).

The abutment means 8 are thus made in a simple manner, and make it possible to reliably immobilize the longitudinal rod 2 in the low position in order to repetitively produce bores of the same chosen diameter. The diameter produced is the diameter of the cross section of the conical piercing tip 3 which is engaged in the plate 11 in the low position.

In the embodiment illustrated on the Figures 1 and 2 the handle 4 comprises a thrust flange 9 directly or indirectly abutting against the proximal end 1a of the guide tube 1, said thrust flange 9 having transverse dimensions greater than those of the handle 4. The guide tube 1 comprises meanwhile a proximal end 1a of diameter D substantially equal to the cross section of the handle 4.

The proximal end 1a of the guide tube 1 thus has a sufficient area to distribute the thrust forces of the handle 4. The thrust flange 9 of the handle 4 also contributes to this distribution of thrust forces and protects the hand the user located on the handle 4 against any risk of pinching. Another protective flange may be provided at the proximal end 1a of the guide tube 1 to protect the other hand of the user.

Finally, the diameter D of the proximal end 1a is chosen to allow the user to easily and comfortably grip the guide tube 1, which guide tube 1 has over most of its length L a diameter d smaller than the diameter D so as not to excessively burden the tool.

To allow the attachment of sheets with screws of different diameters, it is advantageous to be able to make holes of different diameters. It is possible to provide for this purpose stop adjustment means 10 ( figure 1 ) adapted to adjust the axial position of the lower position of the longitudinal rod 2 in the guide tube 1. On the figure 1 , the stop adjustment means 10 comprise one or more spacers 10a and 10b, which can be of different heights h1 and h2. The struts 10a and 10b are able to be inserted selectively, alone or in stack, in overlap around the longitudinal rod 2 between the handle 4 and the proximal end 1a of the guide tube 1. The struts 10a and 10b are, for example, example, in the form of washers respectively drilled at their center with a hole 100a and 100b whose diameter D1 is slightly greater than the diameter d1 of the longitudinal rod 2 and is smaller than the diameter D.

We consider again the figures 4 and 5 , which illustrate the use of the tool according to the invention for drilling a corrugated sheet 11 for which holes must be made at the top of one of its waves 12.

As we see more particularly on the figure 5 , the sheet 11 is corrugated with waves 12 having a generally trapezoidal shape.

In a first step, the piercing tool is arranged in the position illustrated on the figure 4 , with the V-shaped section 6 overlapping the wave 12 to be pierced. The V-shaped section 6 carries indirectly against the sheet 11: the elastically compressible material 7 comes into contact with the plate 11 to be drilled to avoid any risk of damage to its coating by metal-to-metal contact.

The user holds the guide tube 1 in position at its distal end 1b. It can advantageously press with its foot on the upper edge of the V-shaped section 6. There is thus no risk that the V-shaped section 6 and the distal end 1b of the guide tube 1 move in a direction or a other when drilling the sheet 11.

The user holds the proximal end 1a of the guide tube 1 with one hand while his second hand holds the longitudinal rod 2 by the handle 4 in the up position.

The user positions and maintains accurately on the wave 12 the distal end 1b of the guide tube 1. In the case of the figure 4 , the user coincides the longitudinal axis II with the middle of a beam 13 into which will enter the fastening screw of the plate 11.

The user then slips vigorously or even throws the longitudinal rod 2 into the guide tube 1 to its lower position while maintaining in position the guide tube 1 and the V-shaped section 6 using his foot. and from his first hand.

In the low position, the piercing tip 3 of the longitudinal rod 2 pierces the plate 11 ( figure 5 ). Advantageously, the piercing tip 3 slightly penetrates into the beam 13, as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 , to facilitate centering and penetration of the fixing screw of the sheet 11 at the beginning of its screwing.

Once the plate 11 is pierced, the user removes the drilling tool to set up a fixing screw of the plate 11.

The support and centering means 5 of the Figures 1 to 5 suitable for most of the usual waveforms, but may take a form not limited to that shown in Figures 1 to 5 and which can be adapted case by case to the shape of the wave 12 of the sheet 11 to be pierced.

To facilitate the drilling of the sheet 11 and several superposed sheets, the movable assembly comprising the handle 4 and the longitudinal rod 2 may have a mass of about three kilograms. With such a mass, the user has to apply a weak force to move the longitudinal rod 2 from its upper position to its lower position to communicate to the mobile assembly sufficient energy to pierce the sheet 11.

The longitudinal rod 2 may advantageously be made of metal, for example steel. The piercing tip 3 can receive a hardening treatment. Alternatively, the piercing tip 3 may be an element of hard material attached to the end of the longitudinal rod. The guide tube 1 can also be made of metal, for example from a steel tube.

The transverse axis II-II along which the V-shaped section 6 extends is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis II in which the longitudinal rod 2 slides, which allows the user to drill the sheet 11 perpendicularly to its surface. : Here again there is the risk that the piercing tip 3 skids laterally on the plate 11.

The guide tube 1 extends along a length L of about 70 to 110 centimeters, preferably about 90 centimeters. Such length L allows the user to work standing on the roof slope without having to perform successive bending and extensions between each hole to perform. The drudgery of the work of the user is thus greatly reduced, which also contributes to the safety of the user who travels when working on roof slopes that may have a steep slope.

On the Figures 6 and 7 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention wherein the longitudinal rod 2, and more particularly its piercing tip 3, is held captive in the guide tube 1 after assembly of the tool.

For this purpose, the handle 4 and the piercing tip 3 are attached by screwing to each respective end of the longitudinal rod 2 and have cross sections of dimensions greater than the through hole 14a of a gripping sleeve 14 immovably fixed. on the proximal end of the guide tube 1. The sliding of the longitudinal rod 2 - drill point 3 - handle 4 is limited between the two extreme positions, namely the drilling position ( figure 6 ) in which the handle 4 abuts against the grip sleeve 14, and an extension position in which the piercing tip 3 abuts against the grip sleeve 14.

The piercing tip 3 is thus held captive in the guide tube 1. In the event of an unexpected fall of the tool from a roof, the longitudinal rod 2 and the guide tube 1 can not be separated by a simple relative sliding movement. . There is thus no risk that the piercing tip 3 is left bare and injures a user.

To disassemble the tool, the longitudinal rod 2 is pulled out of the guide tube 1 until a transverse hole 3a of the piercing tip 3 is in correspondence with a transverse hole 1c provided in the guide tube 1 A locking pin (such as a screwdriver) is then engaged simultaneously in the holes 3a and 1c to block any rotational movement between the piercing tip 3 and the guide tube 1. A maneuvering rod (such as a other screwdriver) is then engaged in a hole 2c provided in the longitudinal rod 2 (the hole 2c is then located outside the guide tube 1) to rotate in longitudinal axis II the longitudinal rod 2 relative to the piercing tip 3.

It is thus possible to separate the longitudinal rod 2 and the piercing tip 3 to disassemble the tool or to change the piercing tip 3.

In this embodiment, the friction is reduced because limited firstly to the contact between one or two annular zones 3b and 3c of the piercing tip 3 and the guide tube 1, and secondly to the contact between the hole 14a and the longitudinal rod 2.

In all the embodiments illustrated on the Figures 1 to 7 , the sheet metal drilling tool is devoid of elastic return means (such as a spring) reminding the longitudinal rod 2 in the high position. This avoids the user having to apply an additional force to overcome the resilient biasing means. This saves the user unnecessary efforts and may unbalance the roof slope where he works.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (12)

Manual sheet metal drilling tool, comprising: - a longitudinal rod (2) movable between a low position and at least one high position, with a distal end (2b) provided with a piercing tip (3), and with a proximal end (2a) provided with a handle (4) - support and centering means (5) shaped to bear against the plate (11) to drill and able to oppose any lateral movement of the tool relative to the sheet (11) to be drilled, characterized in that - It comprises a longitudinal guide tube (1), extending between a proximal end (1a) and a distal end (1b), in which is slidably mounted the longitudinal rod (2) whose handle (4) remains in position. permanently accessible from the guide tube (1), in the upper position of the longitudinal rod (2), the piercing tip (3) is contained in the guide tube (1) between the distal (1b) and proximal (1a) ends of the guide tube (1), in the lower position of the longitudinal rod (2), the piercing tip (3) protrudes beyond the distal end (1b) of the guide tube (1), the support and centering means (5) consist of a substantially V-shaped profile (6) fixed in transverse orientation (II-II) to the distal end (1b) of the guide tube (1), and defining a recessed dihedron opposite to the guide tube (1) and whose bisecting plane (P) contains the longitudinal axis (II) of the guide tube (1). Sheet metal drilling tool according to Claim 1, characterized in that the V-shaped section (6) extends in the transverse direction (II-II) in at least one direction away from the guide tube (1) and at least one length (I) of about 15 centimeters. Sheet metal drilling tool according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the V-shaped profile (6) comprises, in its re-entrant dihedron, a thickness of an elastically compressible material (7) intended to come into contact with the sheet (11) to be drilled. Sheet metal drilling tool according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that : the piercing tip (3) has a conical shape, - Stop means (8) are provided to prevent sliding of the longitudinal rod (2) in the guide tube (1) beyond its low position. Sheet metal drilling tool according to Claim 4, characterized in that the abutment means (8) comprise the handle (4) of the longitudinal rod (2). and the proximal end (1a) of the guide tube (1), which handle (4) bears directly or indirectly against the proximal end (1a) of the guide tube (1) in the lower position of the longitudinal rod (2). ). Sheet metal drilling tool according to claim 5, characterized in that: - The handle (4) comprises an abutment flange (9) directly or indirectly abutting against the proximal end (1a) of the guide tube (1), said abutment flange (9) having transverse dimensions greater than those of the handle (4), - The guide tube (1) has a proximal end (1a) of diameter (D) substantially equal to the cross section of the handle (4). Drilling tool according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it comprises stop adjustment means (10) able to adjust the axial position of the lower position of the longitudinal rod (2) in the tube guide (1). Drilling tool according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop adjustment means (10) comprise one or more spacers (10a, 10b) capable of being inserted selectively, alone or in stack, overlapping around the longitudinal rod ( 2) between the handle (4) and the proximal end (1a) of the guide tube (1). Sheet metal drilling tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the moving assembly comprising the handle (4) and the longitudinal rod (2) has a mass of about three kilograms. Sheet metal drilling tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the guide tube (1) extends along a length (L) of about 70 to 110 centimeters, preferably about 90 centimeters. Sheet metal drilling tool according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that , once assembled, the longitudinal rod (2) and the guide tube (1) can not be separated by a simple sliding movement. relative. Sheet metal drilling tool according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it does not have elastic return means of the longitudinal rod (2) in the high position.

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