Beam hole puncher
OwnerZachary Baileyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic beam hole punch for punching at least one hole in a beam can include a punching motor, a punch actuated by the motor, and a movable punching clamp configured to secure the punching motor to the beam. The clamp includes a first portion, a second portion, a body, a first guide, a second guide, a travel distance sensor, and a support. The first and second portions contact the top of the beam, while the body provides a space for the top of the beam. The first guide and second guide are coupled to the first portion and contact the first face and side of the beam respectively. The travel distance sensor is coupled to either the first or second guide, and the support is coupled to the second portion.
Claims17
An automatic beam hole punch for punching at least one hole in a beam having a top that is intended to be punched and a side abutting the top, the beam hole punch comprising:
- a punching motor at least partially encased in a punching motor housing;
- a punch coupled to the punching motor wherein the punching motor actuates the punch;
- a movable punching clamp coupled to the punching motor housing and configured to secure the punching motor to the top, the punching clamp comprising:
- a first portion secured about the punching motor and configured to contact a top first face of the top when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a second portion configured to contact a side first face of the side when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a body fixed between the first portion and the second portion that has a space in which the top may reside when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- at least one first guide rotatably coupled to the first portion by at least one leg configured to contact the first face when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a second guide couple to the first portion configured to contact the side first face when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a travel distance sensor coupled to the first guide or the second guide;
- and
- a support coupled to the body configured to contact side second face of the side when the clamp is supported to the beam, the support having a gap through which the punch passes when the motor actuates the punch.
A method for punching at least one hole in a beam using an automatic beam hole punch, the beam having a top that is intended to be punched and a side abutting the top, the method comprising:
- providing a movable punching clamp comprising:
- a first portion configured to contact a first face of the top when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a second portion configured to contact a second face of the top when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a body fixed between the first portion and the second portion that has a space in which the top may reside when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a first guide rotatably coupled to the first portion by at least one leg configured to contact the first face when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam;
- a second guide couple to the first portion configured to contact the side when the beam hole punch is connected to the beam
- a travel distance sensor coupled to the first guide or the second guide;
- and
- a support coupled to the second portion configured to contact the second face of the top when the clamp is supported to the beam, the support having a gap through which the punch passes when the motor actuates the punch;
- attaching the punching clamp to the top at a first location and adjusting the length of the at least one leg to secure the clamp to the beam;
- aligning the punch with the desired punching location on the beam using a first guide or a second guide coupled to the clamp;
- actuating a punching motor to drive the punch through the top of the beam at the first location;
- and
- moving the punch clamp to a second location and actuating the punching motor to drive the punch through the top of the beam at the second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.