# US 2009/0260239 A1 · Rotary Boring Tool Alignment and Depth Indication System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260239 A1 - Document ID: US20090260239A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/426,191 - Filed: 2009-04-17 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-17 - Inventors: John Cerwin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260239A1 ## CPC - G01C 15/002: {Active optical surveying means (optical plumbing G01C15/105)} - B23B 49/006: {Attached to drilling machines} - B25H 1/0092: {by optical means} - B23B 2260/004: Adjustable elements - B23B 2260/0482: Depth controls, e.g. depth stops - Y10S 33/21: with laser - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B25H: WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, e.g. FOR MARKING-OUT WORK; STORAGE MEANS FOR WORKSHOPS (storing or packaging B65) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A system for a rotary boring tool that enables a user of the tool to align the tool perpendicularly with respect to a work surface of a work piece. In one embodiment the system enables a user to gauge distance or depth drilled into the work piece. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An alignment and depth indication system with respect to a tool having a rotating means for rotating a drill bit, said rotating means having a longitudinal axis, comprising: first and second light sources; and a means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means, whereby wherein said first and second light sources respectively produce first and second light beams, wherein said first light beam is projected at an adjustable acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, and said second light beam is projected parallel to said longitudinal axis, whereupon rotation of said rotating means and when said rotating means is held perpendicular to a work surface of a work piece said first and second beams of light project inner and outer concentric circles of light on the work surface thereby confirming that the tool is being held at a perpendicular angle with respect to the work surface, wherein said acute angle can be selected such that said first light beam defines the outer concentric circle of light, and wherein the distance between the outer and inner circles of light corresponds to a desired drill depth, whereupon drilling into the work surface the desired drill depth is achieved when the outer concentric circle of light merges with the inner circle of light to produce a single circle of light on the work surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The alignment and depth indication system of claim 1, wherein said means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means is a circular substantially transparent disk mounted transversely to said tool with respect to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The alignment and depth indication system of claim 1, wherein said means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means is a circular body of generally planar shape mounted symmetrically and transversely to said tool with respect to said longitudinal axis, said circular body having a top surface, wherein said first and second light sources are mounted on said top surface of said circular body, wherein said at least one additional light source is mounted on said top surface of said body, wherein at least one of said additional light sources projects a light beam parallel to said longitudinal axis to provide the tool with at least two light beams parallel to said longitudinal axis such that with respect to a work piece having at least two features of interest a tool operator can manually rotating said circular body to line up parallel light beams with respect to at least two features of interest on the work piece to facilitate the tool operator in placing a drill bit at a desired point on the work piece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The alignment and depth indication system of claim 1, wherein said means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means is a disk having a means for producing air flow to blow drill bit debris away from the tool. ### Claim 5 An alignment and depth system with respect to a tool having a rotating means for rotating a drill bit attached to a cutting-tool holder, said rotating means having a longitudinal axis, wherein said tool is used to drill holes in a work surface of a work piece, comprising: first and second light sources; and a means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means such that said first and second light sources are located in the same transverse plane with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein said first and second light sources respectively produce first and second light beams, wherein said second light beam is projected parallel to said longitudinal axis, wherein during normal operation of said alignment system the first and second light beams combine with a work surface to create a 45°-45°-90° right angle triangle, and whereupon rotation of said rotating means and when said rotating means is held perpendicular to a work surface of a work piece said first and second beams of light project inner and outer concentric circles of light on the work surface thereby confirming that the tool is being held at a perpendicular angle with respect to the work surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The alignment and depth system of claim 5, wherein said means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means is a disk having a means for producing air flow to blow drill bit debris away from the tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The alignment and depth system of claim 5, wherein said first and second light sources are positioned on the same side of the cutting-tool holder, wherein said first light source is orientated such that said first light source is orientated to project said first light beam to at least partly avoid the drill bit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The alignment and depth system of claim 5, wherein said first and second light sources are positioned on the same side of the cutting-tool holder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The alignment and depth system of claim 5, wherein said first and second light sources are positioned on the same side of the cutting-tool holder, and wherein said cutting-tool holder is a chuck. ### Claim 10 An alignment and depth indication system with respect to a tool having a rotating means for rotating a drill bit, said rotating means having a longitudinal axis, comprising: first and second light sources; and a means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means, whereby wherein said first and second light sources respectively produce first and second light beams, wherein said first light beam is projected at an acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, and said second light beam is projected parallel to said longitudinal axis, whereupon rotation of said rotating means said first and second light beams project first and second circles of light on a work surface such that when the drill bit of the tool is perpendicular to the work surface the diameters of said first and second circles of light are equal in magnitude and therefore overlap thereby confirming to an operator that the tool is drilling perpendicularly with respect to the work surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The alignment and depth indication system of claim 10, wherein said means for operably coupling said first and second light sources to said rotating means is a disk having a means for producing air flow to blow drill bit debris away from the tool.