Extendable pilot for barrel cutter |
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申请号 | US14967915 | 申请日 | 2015-12-14 | 公开(公告)号 | US09677360B2 | 公开(公告)日 | 2017-06-13 |
申请人 | Terex USA, LLC; | 发明人 | John Pantzke; | ||||
摘要 | A system and method for boring a hole in rock with a digger derrick; which utilizes a hollow stem auger, a kelly bar, and a core barrel with a top support member with a hole therein for receiving the kelly bar with a detachable central pilot bit thereon which is translatable up and down with respect to the core barrel as the kelly bar and auger are manipulated. The kelly bar is selectively positionable with respect to the auger so as to allow the ability to retract the pilot bit inward into the core barrel and to shorten the separation between the pilot bit and the auger. | ||||||
权利要求 | I claim: |
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说明书全文 | This application claims the benefit of the filing date of the non-provisional patent application with the same title and filed by the same inventor on Sep. 28, 2012, and having Ser. No. 13/631,860 and the filing date of the provisional patent application with the same title and filed by the same inventor on Sep. 30, 2011, and having Ser. No. 61/541,167, which application are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present invention generally relates to digger derricks and more particularly to core barrels or barrel cutters used with digger derricks. The present invention is related to digger derrick core barrels such as those made by Terex Utilities. Some core barrels have been outfitted with central pilot bits. While these core barrels with pilot bits have enjoyed considerable success in the industry, they do have some drawbacks. In some applications, it may be desirable to use the pilot bit at the early stages of boring a hole and not at later stages. In such cases, it has been known to stop the drilling process to remove the core barrel, with pilot bit attached, from the partially dug hole in the ground and then remove the pilot bit and resume drilling. This process takes time, requires the presence of a person who is skilled enough to remove the pilot bit, and requires a storage place for the pilot bit. Consequently, there is a need for improvement in core barrels with pilot bits. It is an object of the present invention to provide an economically efficient method and system for boring holes with a core barrel. It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a core barrel which is configured to couple directly to an auger on a digger derrick. It is another feature of the present invention to include a core barrel with an extendable pilot bit. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a unified multi cutting edge replaceable bit head. It is an advantage of the present invention to provide for reduced time when boring and configuring a digger derrick to and from a core barrel with pilot bit configuration. The present invention is an interruption-less system and method for boring holes which are designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The invention comprises: a shaft configured to be coupled to a source of rotary power; a core barrel having a barrel top and a barrel bottom and configured to rotationally couple to said shaft so said shaft is free to translate within said core barrel in a direction from said barrel top toward said barrel bottom; and a pilot bit coupled to said shaft, so that said pilot bit is free to translate within said core barrel in a direction from said barrel top toward said barrel bottom. The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to Now referring to The bottom end 119 of the kelly bar 110 is coupled directly to a female coupler 130 with a pin receiving hole 115 therein which is coupled to and forms a part of a unified replaceable pilot bit 103. In operation, the present invention can perform as follows: The top end 111 of kelly bar 110 is inserted into the hollow stem 170 of the auger 160 and coupled thereto. The bottom end 119 of kelly bar 110 is disposed inside the core barrel 180 and has a pilot bit attached thereto. The auger/core barrel combination is moved into place and the auger is rotated causing the core barrel to rotate. The auger is moved downward and the pilot bit is forced deeper into the core barrel 180. The core barrel is contacting the ground but is free to move vertically along the kelly bar until the pilot bit has reached its furthest extent (beyond the bottom of the core barrel 180) when the bottom of the auger 160 mates with top of the core barrel 180, at which time force is being applied to the core barrel which then begins to engage the ground more consistently. Once the core barrel has cut a substantial hole (ring) in the ground or rock, the connection between the auger 160 via hole 172 and the kelly bar 110 is moved from hole 112 to hole 113. This reduces the potential for bending the kelly bar 110. It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof. |