Micro-peck feed drill clutch
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorBlake Forrest Babcock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a spindle, a pecking mechanism, and a clutch mechanism coupled to the pecking mechanism. The spindle includes a drill tool and the spindle is configured to be fed in a first direction during a drilling operation. The pecking mechanism is configured to retract the drill periodically during the drilling operation. The clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the pecking mechanism during a portion of the drilling operation. The clutch mechanism is configured to constrain the rotation of the washer such that the spindle drill is retracted a predefined distance periodically.
Claims10
An apparatus, comprising:
- a spindle comprising a drill tool, wherein the spindle is configured to be fed in a first direction during a drilling operation;
- a pecking mechanism, wherein the pecking mechanism is configured to retract the drill periodically during the drilling operation;
- a clutch mechanism coupled to the pecking mechanism, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the pecking mechanism during a portion of the drilling operation;
- a feed gear configured to feed the spindle in the first direction during the drilling operation;
- wherein the pecking mechanism comprises:
- a bearing proximate the feed gear;
- and
- a washer proximate the bearing, wherein:
- a longitudinal distance across the washer oscillates around a perimeter of the washer from maximum length to a minimum length;
- and
- the washer comprises a side that is substantially flat;
- and
- wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to constrain the rotation of the washer relative to rotation of the bearing and the feed gear such that the spindle drill is retracted a predefined distance periodically.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a spindle comprising a drill tool, wherein the spindle is configured to be fed in a first direction during a drilling operation;
- a pecking mechanism, wherein the pecking mechanism is configured to retract the drill periodically during the drilling operation;
- a clutch mechanism coupled to the pecking mechanism, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the pecking mechanism during a portion of the drilling operation;
- a feed gear configured to feed the spindle in the first direction during the drilling operation;
- and
- wherein the pecking mechanism comprises:
- a bearing proximate the feed gear;
- and
- a washer proximate the bearing opposite of the feed gear, wherein:
- a longitudinal distance across the washer oscillates around a perimeter of the washer from maximum length to a minimum length;
- and
- the washer comprises a side opposite the bearing that is substantially flat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.