GB2490201A

GB2490201A - Drilling tool for the installation of elongate members in walls

Info

Publication number: GB2490201A
Application number: GB201204939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ken Huddleston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-22
Filing date: 2012-03-21
Publication date: 2012-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-21
Also published as: GB201204939D0; GB2489249A; GB201104797D0; GB2490201B

Abstract

Drilling tool for the installation of elongate members in walls Figure 4.The drilling tool 1 includes an elongate hollow shaft 2 with a proximate end 3 and a distal end 12. The proximate end is connectable to a drill and the distal end is connectable to a drill bit 5 so shaped and dimensioned that the drill bit forms a hole of a diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the shaft. The shaft includes an aperture 6 located at the proximate end of the shaft and adjacent to the means for connection to the drill. An aperture 7 is located at the distal end of the shaft and adjacent to the means for connection to the drill bit. The shaft may include at least two disconnectable portions which may be via a screw thread and resilient sleeve locking means. The tool allows elongate members such as wiring, cabling or pipe work to be installed in or through a wall.

Description

Drilling Tool

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a dri]llng tool, and in particular to a drilling tool for installing elongate members in walls.

Background to the Invention

Stud wails are typically constructed from upright timber studs, strengthened by horizontal timber noggins stretching between the studs. Plasterboard is generally attached to the studs and the wall fmished by applying plaster over the plasterboard.

The presence of horizontal noggins can cause problems when instaffing new pipework or cabllng into a finished stud wall. Although the wall is hollow holes or notches need to be drilled into the noggins to allow cabling or pipework to pass through.

Traditional methods for installing new witing in a stud wall include removing sections of plasterboard at each noggin and dtilling a hole or notch vertically through the noggin. Pipe or wire is then fed through each hole by hand before patching up the holes in the plasterboard. This is time consuming, fiddly, and ruins the finish on the wall.

Another method includes the use of a very long and flexible drill bit. Using a long drill bit the noggins can be dtilled through from above by removing floor boards in the room above.

Alternatively the noggins can be drilled through from below by removing a small section of plasterboard at the bottom of the wall. After the holes have been drilled the wire or pipe must be fed through the holes. This can be difficult since the holes are not necessarily located in line with each other.

U52007/020 1963 describes a driffing tool for inserting cabling through a wall. The tool comprises an elongate shaft with a drill bit at one end. The shaft creates a chaseway in the wall during the drilling process. After driffing through the wall the drill is disconnected from the shaft and cabllng is inserted into the shaft. The drill bit must then be removed in order to pull the cable through the end of the shaft. The tool can then be removed from the wall.

FR2666040 describes a device for piecing partitions located between plasterboard panels. Holes are drilled using an elongate drill bit and then once drilled, wiring is then attachable to the drill bit end of the device and the wiring is then pulled back through the holes as the device is withdrawn from the wall. The disadvantages of using such a tool are that the wire may become detached from the tool as it is drawn through the wall, or the wire may become stretched or otherwise damaged as it is pulled through the wall. A further disadvantage is the wiring must be pulled through in the reverse direction to which drilling has taken place.

It would be desirable to provide an improved tool for installing wiring or pipework into walls.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a drilllng tool for the installation of elongate members in walls comprising an elongate hollow shaft, the shaft having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end being provided with means for connection to a drill and the distal end being provided with means for connection to a drill bit so shaped and dimensioned that the drill bit forms a hole of a diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an aperture located at the proximate end of the shaft and adjacent to the means for_connection to a drill, and an aperture located at the distal end of the shaft and adjacent to the means for connection to a drill bit.

In use an elongate member may be introduced into the hollow shaft though one of the apertures, passed through the hollow shaft, and passed out of the hollow shaft through the other aperture without removal of the drill or the drill bit from the tool.

Preferably, each aperture is located along the length of the elongate hollow shaft.

The elongate members being installed in walls may be cabling, wiring or pipework.

Preferably the shaft comprises at least two disconnectable portions. The proximate end of the shaft may form part of a top portion of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft may form part of a bottom portion. More preferably the drilling tool further comprises a central portion, wherein the central portion is connectable between the top portion and the bottom portion. Additional extension portions may form part of the shaft in order to further extend the length of the drilling tool. The drilling tool is easily transportable since the elongate shaft comprises a number of disconnectable portions.

Preferably the portions of the shaft are connectable together using a screw threaded connection.

Alternatively, the portions of the shaft are connectable using a connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve may be connectable to the portions of the shaft using a screw threaded connection.

Connecting portions of the shaft may be castellated in shape. Castellation of the connecting portions of the shaft allows the two connecting portions to interlock, ensuring a good connection between the two portions.

Alternatively, the portions of the shaft are connectable together using a push-fit connection.

Preferably the aperture located at the distal end of the shaft is chamfered towards the distal end of the shaft. This provides an angled guide which helps to guide elongate members out of the aperture located at the distal end of the shaft.

The drilling tool may include a drill bit. The drill bit may be a flat head drill bit or a cross head drill bit Preferably the proximate end of the shaft further comprises a portion with diameter greater than the diameter of the hole formed by the drill bit. This prevents the tool faffing through the hole after it has been drilled.

The drilling tool of the invention allows elongate members such as wiring, cabling or pipework to be easily installed in, or through a wall. The tool allows the job to be completed quickly and easily by one installer, with minimal damage to the finish of the original wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a driffing tool of the invention; Figure 2a illustrates a front view of a top and bottom portion of a drilling tool of the invention; Figure 2b illustrates a side view of the top and bottom portions of the drilling tool of Figure 2a; Figure 2c illustrates a front view of a central portion of a drilling tool of the invention; Figure 3a illustrates a perspective view of a joint sleeve for use with a dtiffing tool of the invention; Figure 3b illustrates a plan view of the joint sleeve of Figure 3a; Figure 4 illustrates the drilling tool of Figure 1 in use in a stud wall; Figure 5a illustrates an alternative embodiment of a joint assembly for joining portions of the drffling tool together using a connecting sleeve; and Figure 5b is a side on view of the joint assembly of Figure 5a with the connecting sleeve shown cutaway.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As shown in Figures 1, a drilling tool 1 comprises a hollow, elongate shaft 2. In this example the elongate shaft 2 is constructed of three disconnectable portions: a top portion 11, a middle portion 15, and a bottom portion 12. The top end 3 of the tool 1 is shaped such that it is connectable to a drill (not shown). The bottom end of the tool 1 is provided with a drill bit holder 4 designed to hold a drill bit 5. The drill bit 5 must be shaped such that the hole it creates is greater in diameter than the maximum diameter of the shaft 2 in order to allow the shaft 2 to pass through any drilled holes. The shaft 2 is provided with a hole, or aperture 6 situated towards the top end of the tool 1 and a second hole, or aperture 7 situated towards the bottom end of the tool 1, close to the drill bit holder 4. As fflu strated in the Figures these holes 6, 7 are located along the length of the elongate shaft, adjacent to the respective ends of the tool 1. These holes 6, 7 allow passage of wiring or flexible tubing through the hollow shaft 2. Preferably, the second hole 7 is provided with a bevelled or chamfered exit portion 8 which helps to guide the wiring or tubing out of the second hole.

In the example illustrated in Figure 1 the tool is provided with a flange 25 at the top end of the tool, located underneath the hole 6. The flange 25 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the hole to be drilled and serves to prevent the tool 1 from faffing through a drilled hole and into the wall cavity.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the drilling tool is made up of three separate portions 11, 12 and 15 which are connected together. The separate portions 11, 12, and 15 of the drilling tool 1 are illustrated more clearly in Figures 2a-c.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the top and bottom portions 11, 12 of the driffing tool 1. The top portion 11 of the drilling tool is connectable to a drill at one end 3 and is provided with an internally threaded female collar 14 at the other end. The bottom portion 12 of the drilllng tool 1 is provided with a drill bit holder 4 at one end, and a female threaded collar 13 at the other end. These female threaded collars 13, 14 are each connectable to a corresponding male threaded collar 16, 16' located at either end of a central tool portion 15 shown in Figure 2c.

The threaded collars 13, 14, 16, 16' may each be provided with notches 17, 18, 19, 19'. When the top 11, bottom 12 and central 15 portions of the tool are connected together the notches on the collars are aligned when the screw threads are tightened with optimal tightness. For example, notch 17 on collar 13 is aligned with notch 19 on collar 16 when the central tool portion 15 and bottom tool portion 12 are connected together; and notch 18 on collar 14 is aligned with notch 19' on collar 16' when the central tool portion 15 and top tool portion 11 are connected together. A joint sleeve 20 shown in Figures 3a and 3b may then be placed over the connected collars. The joint sleeve 20 includes a locking tab 21 which is shaped such that it locates within the aligned notches. The arms 22 of the joint sleeve 20 are made of a resi]ient material and can easily be placed over the connected collars. The use of a joint sleeve 20 helps to lock the portions of the shaft together, and prevents the joints of the tool from being over-tightened, or loosened.

Although the examples show male/female screw thread connections between the different portions of the shaft of the drilling tool, alternative methods of connection could be envisaged, such as push-fit or bayonet connections. In addition, the location of the male/female thread connections could be reversed or interchanged.

Figure 4 illustrates an installation of wiring using the drilling tool of the invention in a stud wall. The plasterboard is not shown for clarity. The stud wall includes upright timber studs 30, 31, a top horizontal timber 32 and a horizontal timber noggin 33. The installer is driffing down through the wall from the floor above. To begin the job the installer connects a standard power dtill 34 to a drill bit of the same diameter as that of the drilling tool and drills a vertical hole 35 through the top timber 32. The installer next connects a drilling tool to the drill 34, the drilling tool comprising a top portion 11, a bottom portion 12, and a central portion 15. The drilling tool can pass freely through the hole 35 until it reaches the horizontal noggin 33. A vertical hole 36 is then drilled through the noggin 33 using the drilling tool. The drilling tool can pass freely through the hole 36. The tool now reaches the bottom of the wall. Wiring 37 can now be passed through the top hole 6 in the top portion 11 of the drilling tool, through the hollow shaft 2 of the drilling tool, and finally exits the dtiffing tool through the bottom hole 7 in the bottom portion 12 of the drilling tool. There is no need to remove the drill 34 from the tool before inserting the wiring 37 into the top hole 6.

Typically, a hole for receiving an electrical socket box would be cut into the plasterboard towards the bottom of the wail and the wiring 37 would be drawn out through the hole in the plasterboard and wired into the socket in the normal manner. After the wiring 37 has been passed through the drilling tool the tool can be withdrawn, leaving the wiring 37 installed in the wail.

In many cases, especiaily in newly constructed stud wails, the stud wails only contain one horizontal noggin situated roughly in the centre of the wail, as described above. Where more than one noggin is present the installer simply drills a further hole through the additional noggin or noggins. The driffing tool may be extended where required using additional extension portions (not shown). In the example iilustrated extension portions would be required to be provided with a male threaded coilar at one end and a female threaded coilar at the other end. In situations where there is limited height access, for example in a loft space, the drilling tool may be introduced into the wail in sections after the first access hole through the top timber has been dtiiled.

Figures 5a and Sb illustrate an alternative joint assembly for joining portions of the drilling tool together. In this embodiment of the invention portions of the tool 11' and 15' are not screwed together, instead they are connected together using a separate connecting sleeve. The connecting portions 40, 41 of the dtiffing tool are also casteilated in shape to ensure a good connection between the portions of the tool 11' and 15'. The ends of the tool portions 11', 15' which connect together are also each provided with a screw thread. In this example the end of the top portion 11' is externaliy threaded with a left handed screw threaded portion 43, located immediately adjacent to the casteilated portion 40. The connecting end of the middle portion of the tool 15' is externaliy threaded with a right handed screw threaded portion 44, located immediately adjacent to the casteilated portion 41. A connecting sleeve 42 is sized to fit over the end of each portion of the tool 11', 15'. The connecting sleeve 42 is provided with an internal screw thread at both ends. The sleeve 42 is provided with a left handed internal screw thread at one end 45 and a tight handed intemal screw thread at the other end 46. The left hand screw threaded end 45 of the sleeve 42 is partialiy screwed onto the left handed screw threaded end 43 of the top portion 11' of the tool. The right handed screw threaded end 44 of the middle portion 15' of the tool is then introduced into the other end of the sleeve 42, oriented such that the castellated connecting portions 40, 41 interlock. The sleeve 42 is then turned in a clockwise direction, causing the castellated joints 40, 41 to move together as indicated in Figure Sb, forming a tight connection between the two portions 11', 15' of the drilling tool. The same type of joint maybe used to connect the lower portion of the drilling tool to the middle portion (not shown).

The drilling tool of the invention is equaliy suited to the insertion of cables or other elongate members through walls or cavity wails using a suitable masonry drill bit.

Claims

Claims 1. A drilling tool for the installation of elongate members in walls comprising an elongate hollow shaft, the shaft having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end being provided with means for connection to a drill and the distal end being provided with means for connection to a drill bit so shaped and dimensioned that the drill bit forms a hole of a diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an aperture located at the proximate end of the shaft and adjacent to the means for connection to a drill, and an aperture located at the distal end of the shaft and adjacent to the means for connection to a drill bit.
2. A drilling tool according to Claim 1, wherein each aperture is located along the length of the elongate hollow shaft.
3. A drilling tool according to Claim 1 or 2, the shaft comprising at least two disconnectable portions, wherein the proximate end of the shaft forms part of a top portion and the distal end of the shaft forms part of a bottom portion.
4. A drilling tool according to Claim 3, further comprising a central portion, wherein the central portion is connectable between the top portion and the bottom portion.
5. A drilling tool according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the portions of the shaft are connectable via screw thread connections.
6. A driffing tool according to Claim 5, further comprising means for locking the disconnectable portions of the shaft together.
7. A driffing tool according to Claim 6, wherein the locking means comprises a resilient sleeve with a protrusion located on the sleeve, and the disconnectable portions of the shaft comprise notches in which the protrusion on the sleeve locates.
8. A drilling tool according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the portions of the shaft are connectable using a connecting sleeve.
9. A drilling tool according to Claim 8, wherein the connecting sleeve is connectable to the portions of the shaft using screw threaded connections.
10. A drilling tool according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the connecting portions of the shaft are castellated in shape.
11. A driffing tool according to any preceding Claim, wherein the aperture located at the distal end of the shaft is chamfered towards the distal end of the shaft
12. A dtiffing tool according to any preceding Claim, fbrther comptising a dtill bit.
13. A dtiffing tool according to any preceding Claim, the proximate end of the shaft further comprising a portion with diameter greater than the diameter of the hole formed by the drill bit.
14. A driffing tool substantially as shown in and desctibed with reference to the drawings.