US 3,941,496 A · Drilling machine for plaster casts or models

Abstract

A drilling machine for drilling holes in plaster casts or models has a frame which supports a stationary drilling platform having an opening therethrough. A motor housing is positioned below the drilling platform and is vertically movable between a rest and a drilling position on two laterally disposed top guide shafts and a centrally disposed bottom guide pin. A motor is mounted in the housing and supports a drill chuck and drill bit which penetrates through the opening to drill a hole in a cast or model on the drilling platform when the housing is moved upwardly to its drilling position. A U-shaped handle pivotally mounted on the frame and engageable with the housing permits manual raising of the housing. Alternately, a pneumatic system is described which includes a piston arrangement for raising the housing to the drilling position independently of the position of the handle. During pneumatic operation, the handle may be locked in its rest position. In each case, the handle is disposed in the region of the drilling platform so that the handle and the cast or model may be simultaneously gripped to secure the model during drilling. An overhanging locating light assembly is spaced over the opening of the drilling platform and vertically aligned therewith so that an indication-- a lit portion where the light beam impinges on the model -- is provided where the hole will be drilled. The beam of light from the locating light assembly can also be used for purposes of dental surveying.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A drilling machine for drilling holes in a plaster cast comprising a frame having a stationary horizontal drilling platform, said drilling platform having an opening therethrough and a top surface adapted to support a cast which is positionable over said opening;

drilling means positioned below said drilling platform and vertically movable between two spaced vertical positions, said drilling means being adapted to receive and support a drill bit, said drill means being arranged to maintain the drill bit below said top surface in one of said positions while passing the drill bit through said opening and above said top surface in the other of said spaced positions to thereby drill a hole in the plaster cast positioned on said top surface covering said opening;
hydraulic actuating means for moving said drilling means from one of said positions to the other of said positions, said hydraulic actuating means comprising a fluid cylinder connected to said drilling means, said fluid cylinder having a movable piston with a shaft movable relative to said cylinder and engageable with said frame in an extended position, fluid regulating means for selectively supplying fluid to said cylinder to extend said shaft from said cylinder into engagement with said frame;
said drilling means including a motor housing, said frame having a lower ledge at least partially disposed below said motor housing, said air cylinder being mounted on said housing, said shaft normally being in a retracted position and being movable to an extended position in response to filling said cylinder with a fluid, said cylinder being arranged to have said engage said lower ledge when fluid is forced into said cylinder, whereby said housing is moved towards said other position.

A drilling machine for drilling holes in a olaster cast comprising a frame having a stationary horizontal drilling platform, said drilling platform having an opening therethrough and a top surface adapted to support a cast which is positionable over said opening;

drilling means positioned below said drilling platform and vertically movable between two spaced vertical positions, said drilling means being adapted to receive and support a drill bit, said drill means being arranged to maintain the drill bit below said top surface in one of said positions while passing the drill bit through said opening and above said top surface in the other of said spaced positions to thereby drill a hole in the plaster cast positioned on said top surface covering said opening;
hydraulic actuating means for moving said drilling means from one of said positions to the other of said positions, said hydraulic actuating means comprising a fluid cylinder connected to said drilling means, said fluid cylinder having a movable piston with a shaft movable relative to said cylinder and engageable with said frame in an extended position, fluid regulating means for selectively supplying fluid to said cylinder to extend said shaft from said cylinder into engagement with said frame;
a handle pivotally connected to said frame and engageable with said drilling means, said handle extending at least partially adjacent the periphery of said drilling platform and adapted to move said drilling means from one to the other of said positions independently of the position of said piston shaft, whereby both said handle and the plaster cast to be drilled can be simultaneously manually gripped and said drilling means can be moved by moving said handle while securing the position of the plaster cast during drilling of the latter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drilling machine for plaster casts or models

Life of this patent

Drilling machine for plaster casts or models

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11