GB2500710A

GB2500710A - Drilling tool for trepanning a ring shaped channel

Info

Publication number: GB2500710A
Application number: GB1205749.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin Wee Sem
Original assignee: SCC MARKETING Ltd
Current assignee: SCC MARKETING Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-30
Filing date: 2012-03-30
Publication date: 2013-10-02
Also published as: GB201205749D0; GB2500710A8

Abstract

A drilling tool 20 for trepanning a ring-shaped channel into a first surface. The drilling tool is arranged to rotate around an axis, R, and comprises one or more teeth 22, 24 radially spaced from the axis. The teeth are arranged to cut into a surface in a first direction, F. The drilling tool also comprises an abutment surface 26 arranged perpendicular to the first direction so as to contact the surface and thereby prevent the one or more teeth 22, 24 from cutting further into the surface. The drilling tool may be used for drilling holes in vehicle bumpers. Also claimed is a method of use for drilling holes in a vehicle surface such as a bumper in order to install proximity (parking) sensors.

Description

DRILLING TOOL

This invention relates to a drilling tool, particularly but not exclusively, a tool for drilling holes in vehicle bumpers, and other vehicle surfaces, in order to install proximity sensors for sensing how close the vehicle is to other object(s) in order to assist with manoeuvring the vehicle, for example during parking.

These types of proximity sensors are usually fairly small. The drilling operation is therefore delicate, and it is highly desirable to obtain a smooth, clean finish following installation of the sensor such that there are no undesired marks or scratches on the vehicle surface. For example, some sensors have a circular face having a radius of about 10mm. Such sensors are useful, especially for use with large vehicles, when parking or when reversing. The sensors are usually part of a larger system which provides alerts to a diver of the vehicle in the event that a potential obstacle is nearby.

Audible and/or visible alerts can be provided if an obstacle is within a threshold distance of the sensor, for example.

During the manufacture of a vehicle, it is relatively easy to fit such sensors into the surface of a bumper by drilling from a rear surface of the bumper (which would not usually be exposed after the vehicle is ready for use and on the road'). The sensors are installed into the bumper before the bumper is installed onto the vehicle. In this way, a perfect, factory-fitted' finish can be provided. Such a finish usually includes providing the outer surface of the sensor substantially flush with the surface of the bumper. Clearly, during manufacture such high standards of finishing are consistently expected for each and every sensor being fitted.

There is significant post-manufacture demand for retro-fitted proximity sensors. When retro-fitting (i.e. after manufacture) a proximity sensor to a vehicle surface, such as a bumper, the engineer fitting the sensor does not have easy access to all of the surfaces of the vehicle bumper. In particular, the fitter may only have access to the front surface of the bumper. Carefully installing the sensors can take a long time.

There can be pressure on the fitter to quickly fit a proximity sensor since a parking system typically includes many sensors provided at different locations on the bumper.

Typically, a hole will be drilled in through the front of the vehicle bumper for each proximity sensor to be installed. It can be difficult to obtain a smooth finish. Usually, the fitted proximity sensor does not sit flush with the surface of the vehicle bumper, but instead sits proud of it (i.e. it protrudes). This is because these sensors (see figure 1 for a schematic drawing of an example) typically have a lip 10 surrounding a body portion 12. The lip has a thickness, t, and this lip protrudes from the surface of the vehicle bumper after it is fitted.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a drilling tool for drilling a ring-shaped channel of a desired configuration into a first surface, the drilling tool being arranged to rotate around an axis and comprising one or more teeth radially spaced from the axis and arranged to cut into a surface in a first direction, the drilling tool also comprising an abutment surface arranged to contact the first surface and thereby to prevent the one or more teeth from cutting further into the first surface.

Advantageously, it is possible to quickly and repeatably drill accurately a ring-shaped channel having a configuration which allows a lip of a proximity sensor to be fitted flush within it. A person drilling a hole in a vehicle surface has an automatic and easy guide to prevent drilling excessively or drilling insufficiently. Contact with the vehicle surface, i.e. the first surface, both prevents further drilling and provides an indication to the person drilling that the channel has been correctly formed.

Preferably the abutment surface faces the first surface. The abutment surface may be perpendicular to the first direction. The abutment surface may comprise a smooth surface. Advantagcously, whcn the abutment surfacc comcs into contact with the first surface there will not be any significant marking on the first surface. Preferably the abutment surface comprises a planar surface. Advantageously, the first surface (e.g. a vehicle bumper surface or a vehicle body surface) is also likely to be flat, and so providing the abutment surface at 900 relative to the direction of cutting encourages maximum resistance of the drilling tool in the cutting direction.

Preferably the abutment surface is sufficiently large to, in use, overcome momentum of the drilling tool in the first direction caused by action of the cutting teeth.

Advantageously, the large abutment surface creates a large contact area with the first surface and so the likelihood of unintended continued cutting in the first direction, following contact between the first surface and the abutment surface, is minimised.

Preferably the radially outermost extent of the abutment surface is radially located at or within the radially outermost extent of the cutting teeth. Advantageously, the abutment surface will contact the first surface within the ring-shaped channel formed therein. Advantageously, where the installation of the proximity sensor in the bumper includes further drilling of a central hole to house a sensor of the type shown in Figure 1, i.e. a sensor having a central body portion, the abutment surface may cause some marking on the vehicle bumper -it is therefore preferable for this marking to be within the accurately formed ring-shaped channel since the area within the ring-shaped channel (i.e. within the radial location of the cutting teeth) is subsequently to bc hidden from view or cut out via furthcr drilling. Expressed in other words, the 011C or more cutting teeth may be radially at least as far from the axis as the outermost extent of the abutment surface.

This feature ensures that there is no undesired scuffing or marking of the bumper outside the ring-shaped channel. Such scuffing or marking might be caused during contact of the abutment surface with the first surface.

Optionally, the radially outermost extent of the abutment surface is radially located at or beyond the radially innermost extent of the or each cutting tooth.

Advantageously, if the abutment surface extends further than the innernmst extent of the or each cutting tooth, then good stability is provided when the abutment surface comes into contact with the surface being drilled into, and the cutting action is to be prevented.

Optionally, the or each cutting tooth radially overlaps the abutment surface.

In contrast, if the abutment surface is radially spaced from the cutting tooth, a less stable prevention of further cutting into the bumper/other surface may be provided.

Preferably, the drilling tool comprises an elongate drilling pin coaxial with the axis.

Such a drilling pin might be of a standard construction, such as a standard drill bit.

The elongate drilling pin may extend in an axial direction, further from the abutment surface than thc tccth. Advantagcously this can provide extra stabilily during the drilling process. The initial cutting carricd out by the clongate drilling pin in the first direction can be used as an aid to centring the drilling operation at the correct point, and also, or alternatively, as an aid to ensuring that the cutting direction is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the vehicle bumper, particularly by the time that the cutting teeth reach the vehicle bumper surface.

The clongate drilling pin may be attached to the rest of the drilling tool by pin attachment means, such as a threaded member, such as a screw. Preferably, the threaded member runs at 900 relative to the long axis of the elongate drilling pin. The elongate drilling pin may be a standard pin or drill bit.

Preferably, the drilling tool comprises a cylindrical body. The planar end of the cylindrical body may comprise the abutment surface. The cylindrical body may have a coaxial cylindrical aperture for receiving the attachable elongate drilling pin. The elongate drilling pin may be a standard pin or drill bit. The teeth of the drilling tool may be radially spaced equidistant from the axis. Advantageously, this provides more than one tooth cutting at the same radial location relative to the axis. There is therefore less strain upon a single tooth.

The plurality of teeth may be regularly spaced around the axis. Advantageously, this provides a balanced, symmetrical arrangement of teeth and so minimises the likelihood of wear and tear. Optionally, the, or each, cutting tooth is attached to the drilling tool by cutting tooth attachment means, such as a threaded member, such as a screw. The threaded mcmbcr is preferably provided running at 90" relative to the cutting direction.

The desired configuration may comprise a desired depth. The desired configuration may comprise a desired width. The desired configuration may con1prisc a desired inclination relative to the first surface.

The desired configuration may comprise a depth of about 1 mm, a width of about 2 mm, and an inclination of 900 relative to the first surface. It will be appreciated that the skilled person can easily adapt the technology to other dimensions. For example the desired configuration may comprise a depth of less than 5 mm, a width of less than 10 mm, and an inclination of 80 to 100' relative to thc first surface. It will also be appreciated that these dimensions are small and therefore delicate operations are required for a good finish to the drilling operation. This is one reason why the invention is particularly useful.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of adapting a vehicle surface, such as a vehicle bumper surface, comprising using the drilling tool of the above-mentioned aspect to form, in the vehicle surface, a ring-shaped channel of the desired configuration.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing a sensor, having a ring-shaped lip surrounding a body portion, into a first surfacc of a vehicle comprising: using the drilling tool of the above-mentioned aspect to drill a ring-shaped channel of a desired configuration, corresponding to the ring-shaped lip, into the first surface, inserting the sensor such that the lip is received in the channel.

Advantageously, an accurate and quick method of forming a desired channel in a bumpcr surface is provided. This method is particularly useful for installing proximity sensors after manufacture of a vehicle, when the bumper is in place and installed on the vehicle, thus limiting access to all surfaces of the bumper.

Preferably, the method of this aspect further comprises the step of drilling a hole radially within the ring-shaped channel, and wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the sensor such that the body portion is receivcd in the hole.

Preferably, the desired configuration of the desired ring-shaped channel is such that the lip fits flush within the channel. Advantageously, the sensor then fits flush Withil1 the bumper surface and a factory-fitted' finish is provided.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure Ia shows a schematic plan view of a proximity sensor to be fitted using this invention; Figure lb shows a schematic side view of a proximity sensor to be fitted using this invention; Figures 2a to 2e show different views of a drilling tool according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 3a to 3b show different views of a tooth of a drilling tool according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4a to 4b show different views of a body of a drilling tool according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 5a to Sb show different views of an elongate drilling pin for use with embodiments of this invention; Figure 6 is a flowchart showing steps of a method of adapting a vehicle surface according to an embodiment; Figure 7 is a flowchart showing steps of a method of installing a sensor according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figure I, there is shown a proximity sensor 8 having a ring-shaped lip 10 surrounding a body portion 12. The sensor has a T' shape. In other embodiments the sensor might have the ring-shaped lip, but the body portion might be flatter, with much less depth -for example, the sensor may be shaped like a disc.

Referring to Figure 2, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided, a drilling tool 20 for drilling a ring-shaped channel of a desired configuration into a first surface. In this example, the ring-shaped channel is to be drilled into the surface of a vehicle bumper. The drilling tool 20 is arranged to rotate around an axis, R, and comprises two teeth 22, 24. The teeth 22, 24 are radially spaced from the axis and arranged to cut into the surface of the bumper in a first direction, arrow F. In other embodiments only one tooth may be provided. In further embodiments, more than two teeth may be provided.

The drilling tool 20 also comprises an abutment surface 26 that is arranged to contact the surface of the vehicle bumper, in use, and thereby to prevent the teeth 22, 24 from cutting further into the first surface than desired. As explained previously, in order to obtain a high quality finish when installing a proximity sensor it is necessary to accurately and consistently drill a channel into the first surface. In use, the teeth, 22, 24 will cut into the first surface in the first direction, F, and will be prevented from furthcr cutting into thc surfacc oncc thc abutmcnt surfacc 26 contacts thc first surfacc.

This providcs a convenient, cfficicnt method of rcpcatedly providing accuratcly drilled channels of a desired configuration.

Each cutting tooth, 22, 24 is substantially identical in tIns example. Each cutting tooth comprises a leading cutting edge 30, 32 and a sloped surface 34, 36 sloping away from thc leading cutting edge 30, 32. In this way the drilling tool 20 efficiently cuts into the material of the first surface.

In order to provide substantial and significant contact to ensure that the further progress of the cutting teeth 22, 24 into the first surface is prevented to a sufficient extent, the abutment surface 26 comprises a smooth planar surface facing perpendicular to the first direction, and so, in use, facing the first surface.

The abutment surface 26 is large enough to, in use, as the drilling tool rotates, overcome the momentum of the drilling tool in the first direction caused by action of the cutting teeth 22, 24 and the expected action of the person drilling. The resistance offered by the contact between the abutment surface 26 and the first surface, in use, will not be overcome by reasonable operation of the drilling tool 20. When a person drilling in the first direction F using the drilling tool 20 has drilled accurately a channel of the correct configuration, he or she will receive tactile feedback when the abutment surface 26 contacts the first surface. At this point, the drill can be withdrawn leaving a ring-shaped channel of the desired configuration.

Providing an abutment surface 26 having these properties leads to another advantage too. If the person drilling, by virtue of human error, does not initially apply pressure to drill exactly in the first direction, F, then the abutment surface 26 will meet the first surface at a slight angle (i.e. not quite perpendicular). Further to the nature of the abutment surface 26 (i.e. its planar, perpendicular nature), the drilling tool 20 will self-correct' itself as the drilling takes place. During this type of lopsided' drilling operation, a part of the edge of the abutment surface 26 will meet with the first surface before other parts of the abutment surface meet the first surface. This particular edge of the abutment surface will act briefly as a pivot point as further pressure is applied by the person drilling in generally the first direction, F, and the relative orientation of the drilling tool 20 relative to the surface will be corrected until

S

the abutment surface 26 is perpendicular to the first direction F, which itself is perpendicular to the surface of the vehicle bumper. This particular feature is particularly evident since the extent to which the furthermost extremity of the cutting tooth 22 or 24 extends from the abutment surface 26 is small relative to the diameter of the drilling tool 20. Therefore when the cutting tool 20 begins to self-correct itself, it will (10 so quickly and strongly.

In this embodiment the drilling tool 20 has a cylindrical body 40. The teeth 22, 24 are formed integrally with the cylindrical body 40. In other embodiments the teeth 22, 24 may be formed separately and securely attached to the body. The abutment surface 26 is formed by one end of the cylindrical body 40.

Referring to Figures 3a to 3b and 4a to 4b, another embodiment of the invention provides a drilling tool 50 that comprises a body portion 52 that is similar to the body portion 40 of the first embodiment and attachable teeth 60 that are similar to the teeth 22, 24 of the first embodiment. The major difference between the drilling tool 20 and the drilling tool 50 is that the teeth are detachable in the second embodiment. The teeth 60 have a threaded counter bore 62 running through them such that when they are correctly aligned with a corresponding threaded counter bore 64 provided on the body portion 52, a threaded member such as a screw, can be used to securely link the teeth 60 to the body portion 52 to provide the drilling tool 50.

The drilling tool 20 of the first embodiment can be gripped, in some examples, directly by a drill, which then rotates the drilling tool to provide its cutting effect. In other examples of the first embodiment and in relation to the second embodiment shown in Figures 3a to 3b and 4a to 4b there is provided an elongate drilling pin 70 (see Figure Sb) that is attachable to the drilling tool 20 or 50. Further description, for conciseness, will be in relation to use of the elongate drilling pin 70 in conjunction with the drilling tool 50 only. In this embodiment the elongate drilling pin 70 is a standard nIl bit. The elongate drilling pin 70 includes a drilling tip 72 and a shaft 74.

Along the shaft 74 there is provided a notch 76. The drilling pin 70 can be passed through a coaxial cylindrical aperture 80 which extends through the body portion 52 of the drilling tool 50. The body portion 52 includes a threaded bore 78 running through it such that when the notch 76 of the elongate pin 70 is correctly aligned with the cylindrical body 52, a threaded mcmbcr, such as a scrcw, can be passcd through the threaded bore 78 to securely attach the pin 70 to the body 52.

There is thus provided a drilling tool 50 having an elongate drilling pin coaxial with the axis. The drilling pin extends in an axial direction, further from the abutment surface 82 than the cutting teeth 60. Typically, the cutting teeth 60 extend about one millimctrc from the abutmcnt surface 82. The elongate drilling pin 70 extends about or 15 millimetres from the abutment surface in the first direction, in use. As a result of the pin extending much further than the cutting teeth, it is possible for a person drilling to use the elongate pin to more easily accurately centre and orientate the drilling tool before the cutting surface and abutment surface are cngaged with the first surface.

The cutting teeth are radially located at least as far from the axis, R, as the outermost part of the abutment surface. This is because it is desired to avoid marking, scuffing or otherwise damaging any part of the vehicle bumper surface outside the area being drilled. When the abutment surface comes into contact with the first surface, some marking may occur thercfore an efficient method of providing a quality finish to the drilling operation and a subsequent sensor installation is provided.

In this example, the abutment surface extends beyond the innermost extent of the cutting teeth to provide stability when the abutment surface comes into contact with the first surface.

In some embodiments, the drilling tool 20, 50 is an attachment which can be used with a standard drill bit. In other embodiments, the drilling tool 20, 50 can be used on its own without a standard drill bit, or with a non-standard drill bit. Variations will be apparent to the skilled person.

In embodiments in which more than one tooth is provided, the teeth are radially spaced equidistant from the axis so that the desired channel is being cut by more than one tooth -this provides a sharing of the load between the teeth.

Also in some preferred examples, the plurality of teeth are regularly spaced around the axis. For example in thc embodiments described above, the two teeth are separated by 180°. Where three teeth are provided, they may be separated by 120°' etc. This provides a symmetrical arrangement that is likely to minimise wear and tear on any specific tooth due to exposure to uneven forces.

In one example the desired configuration for the ring-shaped channel comprises a depth of about 1 mm, a width of about 2 mm and an inclination of 90° relative to the first surface.

Referring to Figure 6, there is provided a method 90 of adapting a vehicle surface, such as a vehicle bumper surface, comprising using 92 the drilling tool of this invention to form, in the vehicle surface, a ring-shaped channel of the desired configuration.

Referring to Figure 7 a method 100 of installing a sensor, having a ring-shaped lip surrounding a body portion, into a first surface of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises using 102 the drilling tool of this invention to drill a ring-shaped channel of a desired configuration, corresponding to the ring-shaped lip, into the first surface. The method 100 further comprises inserting 104 the sensor such that the lip is received in the channel.

Where sensors of the type shown in Figure 1 are to be installed, the method 100 also comprises the step of drilling a hole radially within the confines of the ring-shaped channel and subsequently the inserting step also comprises inserting the sensor such that the body portion is received in thc hole.

The ring-shaped channel is configured and accurately formed so that the lip of the sensor will sit flush within the channel, and a high quality installation will be provided. In particular, an outwardly facing surface of the sensor will sit flush with the surface of the vehicle, e.g. the bumper surface, within which it is installed.

It will apparent to the skilled person that various modifications can be made to this invention without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, diffcrent configurations of teeth might be provided, different numbers and different arrangements of teeth might be provided. The abutment surface may not be a continuous surface or a single surface. The abutment surface might include gaps.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drillmg tool for drilling a ring-shaped channel of a desired configuration into a first surface, the drilling tool being arranged to rotate around an axis and comprising one or more teeth radially spaced from the axis and arranged to cut into a surface in a first direction, the drilling tool also comprising an abutment surface arranged to contact the first surface and thereby to prevent the one or more teeth from cutting further into the first surface.
2. The drilling tool of claim wherein the abutment surface is perpendicular to the first direction.
3. The drilling tool of claim I or claim 2 wherein the abutment surface comprises a planar surface.
4. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the abutment surface comprises a smooth surface.
5. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the abutment surface is sufficiently large to, in use, overcome momentum of the drilling tool in the first direction caused by action of the cutting teeth.
6. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the radially outermost extent of the abutment surface is radially located at or within the radially outermost location of the or each cutting tooth.
7. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the radially outermost extent of the abutment surface is radially located at or beyond the radially innermost extent of the or each cutting tooth.
8. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the or each cutting tooth radially overlaps the abutment surface.
9. The drilling tool of any preceding claim comprising an elongate drilling pin coaxial with the axis.
10. The drilling tool of claim 8 wherein the elongate drilling pin extends, in an axial direction, further from the abutment surface than the teeth.
11. The drilling tool of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the elongate drilling pin is attached to the rest of the drilling tool by pin attachment means, such as a threaded member.
12. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the drilling tool comprises a cylindrical body.
13. The drilling tool of claim 12, when dependent on any of claims 3 to 11, wherein a planar end of the cylindrical body comprises the abutment surface.
14. The drilling tool of claim 12 or claim 13, when dependent on claim 11, wherein the cylindrical body has a coaxial cylindrical aperture for receiving the attachable elongate drilling pin.
15. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the teeth are radially spaced equidistant from the axis.
16. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the plurality of teeth are regularly spaced around the axis.
17. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the, or each, cutting tooth is attached to the drilling tool by cutting tooth attachment means, such as a threaded member.
18. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the desired configuration comprises a desired depth.
19. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the desircd configuration comprises a desired width.
20. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein thc desired configuration comprises a desired inclination relative to the first surface.
21. The drilling tool of any preceding claim wherein the desired configuration comprises a depth of about 1 mm, a width of about 2mm, and an inclination of 90 degrees relative the first surface.
22. A method of adapting a vehicle surface, such as a vehicle bumper surface, comprising using the drilling tool of any preceding claim to form, in the vehicle surface, a ring-shaped channel of the desired configuration.
23. A method of installing a sensor, having a ring-shaped lip surrounding a body portion, into a first surface of a vehicle comprising: using the drilling tool of any of claims Ito 21 to drill a ring-shaped channel of a dcsircd configuration, corresponding to the ring-shaped lip, into the first surface, inserting the sensor such that the lip is received in the channel.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of drilling a hole radially within the ring-shaped channel, and wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the sensor such that the body portion is received in the hole.
25. The method of claim 23 or claim 24 wherein the desired configuration of the ring-shaped channel is such that the lip fits flush within the channel.
26. A drilling tool or method substantially as herein described and with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.