WO2010098680A1

WO2010098680A1 - A drill press table

Info

Publication number: WO2010098680A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2010/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Douglas Vazey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-28
Filing date: 2010-02-24
Publication date: 2010-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-28

Abstract

The invention consists in a drill press table or the like having a plate. The plate has thereon means to receive an elongated member and there is a selected position on the plate such as an aperture in the plate. The longitudinal axis of the aperture passes through substantially a mid point of the means to receive an elongated member, and the aperture is positioned in the plate such that when the plate is correctly mounted on a drill press the aperture is, or can be, placed such that the longitudinal axis of the drill bit is substantially co-incident with the longitudinal axis of the aperture.

Description

Title

A drill press table.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a drill press table for use with a drill press.

Background Art

Drill press tables have remained substantially unchanged for many years yet difficulties in use remain. For example when drilling a member such as a rod, shaft, pipe, dowel, tube or other item which is not square or rectangular in cross section, it is difficult to drill accurately in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the member at a top dead centre position. Also drilling using a hole saw or other similar drill requires the use of dunnage to receive the drill bit or saw after it exits the material to be drilled.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a drill press table that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect the invention consists in a drill press table or the like having a plate, the plate having thereon means to receive an elongated member, which means define a longitudinal axis, there being a selected position on the plate, the selected position being at substantially a mid point of the means to receive an elongated member, and the selected position being positioned in the plate such that when the plate is correctly mounted on a drill press in use the selected position is, or can be, placed such that the longitudinal axis of the drill bit is substantially co-incident with the selected position and the longitudinal axis of the means to receive an elongated member lies on an arc defined by the distance between the centre of the column of the drill press and the longitudinal axis of the drill bit.

Preferably wherein when the drill press table is correctly assembled on a drill press the selected position substantially defines top dead centre of the elongated member. Preferably the selected position is the centre of an aperture or depression in the plate.

Preferably, the means to receive an elongated member is a groove across the upper face, in use, of the plate.

Preferably, the groove is substantially "v" shaped in transverse cross section.

Preferably, the elongated member is a rod, pole, shaft, tube, pipe, dowling, or the like member

Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the groove and the longitudinal axis of the aperture are substantially at right angles one to the other.

Preferably, the drill press table further includes connection means to enable the drill press table to be connected to a drill press in use.

Preferably, connection means enable the plate to swing in arcuate manner or to rotate about the column of the drill press.

Preferably, the connection means allow the distance of the plate from the column to be adjusted.

Preferably, one or more positions are provided in the plate, the further positions and the selected position lying on an arc having its centre at substantially the longitudinal axis of the column.

Preferably the plate is provided with a mark such that when that mark is directed in use at the drill press column the means to receive an elongated member will be substantially correctly positioned as a tangent to the arc defined by the distance between the centre of the column of the drill press and the longitudinal axis of the drill bit.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a drill press having attached thereto a drill press plate according to any one of the preceding paragraphs. To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drill press in a first preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figures 2 to 4 are plan views of a drill press plate according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Figure 5 is a view as in Figure 1 of a second preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figures 6 to 9 are views as in Figures 2 to 4 of the second preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 10 is a view as in Figure 4 showing accuracy of the construction,

Figure 11 is an enlargement of part of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a view as in Figure 10 of the second preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 13 is an enlargement of part of Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a view as in Figure 5 showing tray underneath the drill press plate,

Figure 15 is a view as in Figure 14 but with the tray removed,

Figure 16 is a cross-section on "A-A" in figure 7, - A -

Figure 17 is a cross-section on "B-B" in figure 7,

Figure 18 is a cross-section on "C-C" in figure 7,

Figure 19 is an underneath view of the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 6 to 9,

Figure 20 is an underneath view of a base part for use in the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 6 to 9,

Figure 21 is a side elevation of the base part shown in figure 20,

Figure 22 is an exploded side elevation of an assembled embodiment of the invention as shown in figures 6 to 9, and

Figure 23 is an assembled side elevation of the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 22.

Best Mode For Carrying Out The Invention

The following description will describe the invention in relation to preferred embodiments of the invention, namely a drill press plate. The invention is in no way limited to these preferred embodiments as they are purely to exemplify the invention only and that possible variations and modifications would be readily apparent without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a drill press 1 having a base 2, a column 3, a head 4, a motor 5, a chuck 6 and a bit 7. A drill press plate 10 is mounted on a supporting arm 11 which engages the column 3, for example by way of collar 12. The collar 12 allows the plate 10 to swing in arcuate fashion about the column and to be locked by way of lock device 14. An arc is indicated at 15 in Figures 2 to 4. The arm 11 may also allow movement of plate 10 inwardly and outwardly with respect to the column 3 as indicated by arrows 16.

The table 10 has means to enable an elongated member to be mounted on the table 10. This means may take the form of a groove running across the table 10 such as groove 20 which has a "v" shaped transverse cross section although other cross-sectional shapes able to retain an elongated member may be used if desired. However "v" shaped is easy to construct and works well in practice. The elongated member may be a pipe, rod, shaft, tube, dowling, or like member usually not of square or rectangular cross section although the construction could be used with square or rectangular members if desired. Typically the cross section of the member would be round but other shapes such as oval could be used in the construction.

The groove 20 is positioned so that the longitudinal axis of the groove 20 forms substantially a tangent to the arc 15 when the plate 10 is correctly assembled on the drill press. A selected position is provided on the plate 10 to allow the plate to be correctly aligned for the desired drilling to be performed, particularly drilling at top dead centre of an elongated member such as a pipe. In the preferred form of the invention the selected position is provided by an aperture 22 provided in the means to receive an elongated member, such as groove 20. The aperture 22 is positioned at the bottom of the groove 20 and the tangent to the arc 15 (when correctly assembled) passes substantially through the mid point of the groove 20. When the plate 10 is properly assembled on the column 12 a line drawn from the mid point of the aperture 22 to the centre of column 12 forms substantially a right angle with the longitudinal axis of groove 20. The arc 15 is therefore the arc formed by rotating the plate 10 about the column 12 such that the aperture 22 will pass directly below the drill bit 7.

Thus the selected position is positioned in the plate 10 such that when the plate 10 is correctly mounted on a drill press in use the selected position is, or can be, placed such that the longitudinal axis of the drill bit is substantially co-incident with the selected position and the longitudinal axis of the means to receive an elongated member lies on an arc defined by the distance between the centre of the column of the drill press and the longitudinal axis of the drill bit.

The plate 10 may include other apertures such as a standard drilling hole 23 and an enlarged aperture 24 to, for example, receive the bit of a hole saw. The apertures 23 and 24 also lie on the arc 15. Thus if top dead centre is not required these other apertures can be utilised for drilling as and when desired. Figure 2 shows a position where the aperture 23 is positioned under the drill bit 7 for normal drilling. By loosening the lock device and swinging the plate 10 about the column 3 the position of the plate can be moved to the position of Figure 3 which will allow the drilling of larger holes using a hole saw bit 26. Further movement of the plate 10 to the position shown in Figure 4 allows a hole to be drilled by the drill bit 7 through the elongated member. The table 10 can be positioned by moving it until the bit 7 is centrally located with respect to the hole 22. The elongated member is then placed in the groove 20 and the drill bit 7 lowered. The drill bit 7 will then drill a hole through the elongated member at top dead centre and will substantially accurately drill the hole through the member.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11 it can be seen that even it the drill bit 7 is a little off centre longitudinally the accuracy is still good. If an 8 mm drill bit 7 is used in a hole 22 of say 16 mm diameter the accuracy of the hole made by bit 25 will be to within about 0.02 mm.

Further apertures 27 and 28 may be provided in plate 10 for clamping and weight saving. If desired the underside 29 of the plate 10 may be flat, or with closely spaced slots or grooves so as to enable a good surface for a clamp to engage if required. Figures 16 and 18 shows a plate wherein the underside 29 of the plate 10 is recessed to provide a peripheral rib 30.

Figure 5 shows a drill press 1 provided with a plate 10 mounted on an arm 11 which allows swinging, in and out movement and rotation of the plate 10. Such a construction provides an extra lock device 32 to lock the rotation of the plate 10. In this embodiment plate 10 has holes 22, 23 and 24 as before but also shows a further hole 35 which can be provided if desired. The plate 10 also carries two distinct markings such as "DR" and "CTR". A groove 20 is provided as before. A method of providing the in and out movement of plate 10 is described with reference to figures 19 to 23.

Referring to Figure 6 the marking "DR" is positioned adjacent the mid point of column 3, which position may carry a marking if desired, with aperture 23 below drill bit 25. If the arm 11 and plate 10 are swung to the position of Figure 7 the aperture 35 is below drill bit 25. If the arm 11 and plate 10 are moved to the position of Figure 8 the large aperture 24 allows use of a hole saw 26. If the plate 10 and arm 11 arm moved so that the hole 22 is below the drill bit 25 and the plate 10 then rotated so that the marking "CTR" points to the mid point of column 3 then the position of Figure 9 is achieved in which the groove 20 is again tangential to the arc 15 allowing top dead centre to be achieved as for Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, if the positioning of "CTR" is about 5 degrees off centre then for an 8 mm bit 25 in a 16 mm hole 22 the error in positioning of the drill hole will be about 0.17 mm longitudinally of the elongated member.

Thus the plate is provided with a mark, "CTR", such that when that mark is directed in use at the drill press column the means to receive an elongated member will be substantially correctly positioned as a tangent to the arc defined by the distance between the centre of the column of the drill press and the longitudinal axis of the drill bit.

The apertures 22, 23, 24, and 35 are described as passing fully through plate 10 but could be in the nature of depressions if desired. The selected position could be simply a mark at the desired position such as at the bottom of the "v" shaped groove 20 and on arc 15. However if the apertures do pass fully through the plate 10 then a tray 40 (figure 14) can be mounted below plate 10 to catch any drillings or lube falling through the apertures. The tray 40 may have a central tube 41. which can be mounted on a pin or shaft 42 extending downwardly from plate 10. A holding device such a toggle lock 43 is provided to hold tray 40 in position. Any other useful mounting construction for the tray 40 may be used.

Figure 16 shows an elongated member 45 in position in groove 20. The elongated member is able to be drilled at top dead centre by using the techniques above described. Also shown is a central boss 46. The boss 46 is also shown in figure 28 and in the embodiment described herein is somewhat elongated in the direction transverse to groove 20. Each side of the aperture 22 is a further aperture 48 which may be tapped to receive bolt.

Beneath the groove 20 is a reinforcing rib 50 which may meet and engage the boss 46. The rib 50 provides additional strength to the plate 10 below the groove 20. A plate or gasket 51 is positionable across the underside (in use) of the boss 46.

A base part 55 is provided which has a central shaft 56 which preferably is in the form of a tube as shown in figure 20. As the tube will underlie the aperture 22 in use a passage for the exit of drilled material and lube is again provided. The base part 55 also includes an engagement part 57 in to provide a pair of outwardly extending arms 58. Each arm 58 has an open ended slot 59 in its end. The slots 59 could be replaced by elongated closed slots if desired. Bolts 60 pass through slots 59, through the plate or gasket 51 and into the tapped apertures 46. Washer and/ spring washer combinations 61 may also be provided. The shaft 56 is able to be engaged with the arm 11 and secured by the clamping mechanism 32. If the bolts 60 are loosened the plate may be moved a little with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 56. Thus clamp 14 if loosened allows the arm 11 and plate 10 to be swung about the column 3. Loosening the clamp 14 allows the plate 10 to be rotated and loosening the bolts 60 allows in and out movement of the plate 10 with respect to the column 3.

Industrial Applicability

In use the plate can be simply adjusted as above described to position an elongated member 45 in the desired position for drilling at a desired transverse position. Usually this position will be top dead centre. Once set up the drilling can be repeated easily along the length of the elongated member 45 or for other elongated members. The other apertures in the plate can be used for other purposes such a hole drilling.

Advantages

1 The construction allows top dead centre particularly of members with a curved surface to be readily found.

2 The plate allows the use of drills and hole saws without the use of dunnage.

3 The rotating drill press plate allows a "dial up" construction to use the top dead centre facility.

4 The plate in the preferred form is easy to use with clamps.

5 The construction allows the use of a catch tray.

6 The invention can be supplied as part of the drill press or can be supplied as retro-fit addition to the drill.

Variations

The construction could be provided with means to locate the tray in the desired positions such as ball and indentation stops.

Positioning of the table could be determined by shape of the table rather than markings. For example the table could have substantially square corners. The tables could be manufactured in a form that does not require adjustments to be made.

Slots could be provided in place of the groove.

Physical stops could be provided to limit the swing of the plate about the column.

Throughout the description of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprising" and "comprises", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is hereinbefore described.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A drill press table or the like having a plate, the plate having thereon means to receive an elongated member, which means define a longitudinal axis, there being a selected position on the plate, the selected position being at substantially a mid point of the means to receive an elongated member, and the selected position being positioned in the plate such that when the plate is correctly mounted on a drill press in use the selected position is, or can be, placed such that the longitudinal axis of the drill bit is substantially co-incident with the selected position and the longitudinal axis of the means to receive an elongated member lies on an arc defined by the distance between the centre of the column of the drill press and the longitudinal axis of the drill bit.

2. A drill press table or the like as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the drill press table is correctly assembled on a drill press the selected position substantially defines top dead centre of the elongated member.

3. A drill press table or the like as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the selected position is the centre of an aperture or depression in the plate.

4. A drill press table or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, the means to receive an elongated member is a groove across the upper face, in use, of the plate.

5. A drill press table or the like as claimed in claim 4 wherein the groove is substantially "v" shaped in transverse cross section.

6. A drill press table or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, the elongated member is a rod, pole, shaft, tube, pipe, dowling, or the like member

7. A drill press table or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, the longitudinal axis of the groove and the longitudinal axis of the aperture or depression are substantially at right angles one to the other.

8. A drill press table or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, .the drill press table further includes connection means to enable the drill press table to be connected to a drill press in use.

9. A drill press table or the like as claimed in claim 8 wherein, connection means enable the plate to swing in arcuate manner or to rotate about the column of the drill press.

10. A drill press table or the like as claimed in either one of claims 9 and 10 wherein, the connection means allow the distance of the plate from the column to be adjusted.

11. A drill press table or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, one or more positions are provided in the plate, the further positions and the selected position lying on an arc having its centre at substantially the longitudinal axis of the column.

12. A drill press table or the like as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, the plate is provided with a mark such that when that mark is directed in use at the drill press column the means to receive an elongated member will be substantially correctly positioned as a tangent to the arc defined by the distance between the centre of the column of the drill press and the longitudinal axis of the drill bit.

13. A drill press table or the like substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A drill press having attached thereto a drill press plate according to any one of the preceding claims.