Tapered drill bit and automated process
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames A. Hammond, Jr., Steven L. Arana
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tapered drill bit having a proximal end and a distal end includes a shank extending from the distal end at least partially towards the proximal end of the tapered drill bit and a body coupled to the shank. The body includes a tapered portion and the body extends from the shank to the proximal end of the tapered drill bit. The tapered drill bit further includes at least one flute extending from the proximal end along a portion of the body. The tapered drill bit also includes a conduit extending from an inlet aperture at the distal end to an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture is formed through the at least one flute.
Claims20
A tapered drill bit for forming a tapered hole, the tapered drill bit having a proximal end and a distal end, said tapered drill bit comprising:
- a shank extending from the distal end at least partially towards the proximal end of the tapered drill bit;
- a body coupled to the shank, the body comprising a tapered portion and the body extending from the shank to the proximal end of the tapered drill bit;
- a plurality of flutes extending from the proximal end along a tapered portion of the body, wherein each one of the plurality of flutes spirals along the tapered portion and terminates at a non-tapered portion of the body, wherein the tapered portion has a first reamer diameter adjoining the non-tapered portion of the body, the first reamer diameter matching a diameter of the non-tapered portion of the body;
- and
- a conduit extending from an inlet aperture at the distal end to an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture is formed through a respective one of the plurality of flutes.
An automated system for reaming tapered holes, comprising:
- a drilling machine;
- a tapered drill bit, the tapered drill bit having a proximal end and a distal end, said tapered drill bit comprising:
- a shank extending from the distal end at least partially towards the proximal end of the tapered drill bit;
- a body coupled to shank, the body comprising a tapered portion, the body extending from the shank to the proximal end of the tapered drill bit;
- a plurality of flutes extending from the proximal end along a tapered portion of the body, wherein each of the plurality of flutes spirals along the tapered portion and terminates at a non-tapered portion of the body, wherein the tapered portion has a first reamer diameter adjoining the non-tapered portion of the body, the first reamer diameter matching a diameter of the non-tapered portion of the body;
- and
- a conduit extending from an inlet aperture at the distal end to an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture is formed through a respective one of the plurality of flutes;
- and
- a cutting fluid dispensing system configured to dispense cutting fluid into the conduit.
A method of reaming a plurality of tapered holes, the method comprising:
- drilling a first tapered hole through an entirety of a stack-up to a first drilling depth with a tapered drill bit;
- while drilling, dispensing cutting fluid through a conduit formed between an inlet aperture and out an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture is located on at least one flute of a plurality of flutes of the tapered drill bit, wherein the at least one flute spirals along a tapered portion of the tapered drill bit and terminates at a non-tapered portion of the tapered drill bit, wherein the tapered portion has a first reamer diameter adjoining the non-tapered portion, the first reamer diameter matching a diameter of the non-tapered portion of the tapered drill bit;
- drilling a second tapered hole through an entirety of the stack-up to a second drilling depth with the tapered drill bit, wherein the stack-up at the first tapered hole is a first thickness and the stack-up at the second tapered hole is a second thickness, and wherein the first thickness is the same as the second thickness;
- and
- while drilling, dispensing cutting fluid out the outlet aperture formed in the conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.