GB2310625A

GB2310625A - Adaptor for a drill stand

Info

Publication number: GB2310625A
Application number: GB9709369A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Henry Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-21
Filing date: 1993-12-31
Publication date: 1997-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-31
Also published as: GB9709369D0; GB2310625B

Abstract

A pillar 15 of a drill stand is mounted on a flange 41 of an I-beam 37 by opposed jaws 68 and 71 which are slidable along the pillar 15. The jaws are locked in position by screws 73 and 75, alternatively a long bolt may be used to draw the adaptors 68, 71 together.

Description

An Adaptor for a Drill Stand The present invention relates to an adaptor for a drill stand and to a drill stand incorporating the adaptor.

A particular feature of my invention is that the a drill stand can be physically clamped to a metal or plastic joist, beam or column of various dimensions and to enable multiple holes to be drilled through the central web at pre-set distances from the face of the flange, or through the flange at pre-set distances from the edge of the flange, without the need of an electro-magnetic device to hold the drill stand in position. The advantages of my method of drilling multiple holes are: holes can be drilled through non magnetic materials such as stainless steel and the new experimental "super plastic" structures that are at present being erected in Scotland; holes can be drilled in sensitive surroundings such as radar installations, computer factories etc. where electro-magnetic or magnetic apparatus is not acceptable; uneven surfaces sometimes found on metal have no detrimental effect on my clamping method, whereas it may cause difficulty with a magnetic drill stand; no safety chain is required with my clamping method, as is required with magnetic drill stands; and with my clamping method the drill stand would not become detached in the event of a power failure, as would be the case with a magnetic drill stand.

My invention enables multiple holes to be drilled at pre-set positions relative to the edges of flanges of metal or plastic joists beams or columns or through the central web at predetermined distances from the face of the flange, whereas a magnetic drill stand has to be positioned for each and every hole, individually.

The present invention provides an adaptor for a drill stand, the drill stand comprising a pillar and a slide mounted on the pillar for carrying a drill, the adaptor comprising means for clamping the pillar to an I-beam, wherein the clamping means comprises a pair of opposed jaws which fit on the pillar and are slidable relative to one another along the pillar to grip opposite edges of a flange of the I-beam, and means for locking the jaws in position relative to one another.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a method of clamping a drill stand to metal or plastic joists beams or columns in such a way that the drill stand can operate in the horizontal plane, or upside down, when holes can be drilled in overhead applications. It can also be used as a portable drill stand for on-site work by being clamped to any convenient joist, beam or column.

Preferably the drill stand is of standard type, comprising a table and a pillar extending upward from the table. An electric drill is attached to a clamp by a bracket that slides about the pillar towards and away from the table.

To enable the drill stand to operate in the horizontal plane, the table is withdrawn from the pillar by loosening the bolt or screw. Two adaptors with angled fingers are fitted onto the end of the pillar with the fingers facing inwards towards each other, and when in the correct position with the tapered part of each finger enclosing each flange of the joist beam of column, the screws are then tightened, thus holding the drill stand securely in position and ready for drilling to commence.

Other preferred features of the invention are shown in the following description.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adaptor forming one embodiment of the invention shown in use for mounting a drill stand and drilling machine on a metal or plastic joist beam or column.

Figure 1 shows a pillar 15 taken from a standard drill stand as described for example in co-pending published application number 2 278 076 A from which the present application is divided. A sliding part 21 slides on the pillar 15 under the action of lever 25 and carries a drill 23.

Two horizontal adaptors 68 and 71 are placed in position onto the pillar 15 with the angled fingers 77 and 79 facing inwards towards each other. In the interest of clarity one adaptor is shown separated at 15', 71', 75' and 79' The adaptors 68 and 71 are placed in position, enclosing flanges 41 and 49 with the angles fingers 77 and 79, and held firmly as the cap screws 73 and 75 are tightened. Most drill stands 11 have an attachment or cap screw (not shown) to allow the sliding part 21 of the drill stand 11 to rotate around the pillar 15. By slackening this cap screw or attachment the position of the drill 33 can be adjusted to any position within the limitations of the arc (not shown) of any particular drill stand. Some drill stands 11 do not have this facility to rotate the sliding part around the pillar1 5, but the same result can be achieved by slightly loosening the cap screws 73 and 75, and re-tightening when the drill 33 is in the desired position. Using this method the drill 33 can be positioned very close to a wall or other obstruction, if desired.

In use the pressure brought to bear upon the web 67 by the use of the handle 25 will cause a reverse direction of pressure resulting in the angled fingers 79 being drawn very tightly against flange 41, thus making a safety chain unnecessary.

A split bush (not shown) could be fitted inside adaptors 68 and 71, to prevent bruising of pillar 15 when cap screws 73 and 75 are tightened. Bushes (not shown) could be of various sizes to accommodate different diameters of pillars 15, according to the particular model of drill stand being used.

On very heavy industrial use, a long bolt (not shown) could be fitted to adaptors 68 and 71 with a threaded part on adaptor 68 so that the two adaptors could be drawn together in the manner of the action of a vice.

Another embodiment of the invention for drilling the web in the horizontal plane is by clamping onto flanges 81 and 83 in the upside down position. This is of particular interest for over head situations.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An adaptor for a drill stand, the drill stand comprising a pillar and a slide mounted on the pillar for carrying a drill, the adaptor comprising means for clamping the pillar to an I-beam, wherein the clamping means comprises a pair of opposed jaws which fit on the pillar and are slidable relative to one another along the pillar to grip opposite edges of a flange of the I-beam, and means for locking the jaws in position relative to one another.

2. An adaptor for a drill stand according to claim 1, the adaptor further comprising a long bolt fitted to the pair of opposed jaws, one of the jaws being provided with a threaded part to allow the pair ofjaws to be drawn together in the manner of a vice.

3. An adaptor for a drill stand, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.