US 5,058,688 A · Convertible vibratory or rotary core drill apparatus

Abstract

A convertible drill apparatus for applying force to a probe capable of operating in either a vibratory drilling mode wherein the apparatus is adapted to drive the probe into the material to be drilled or a rotary drilling mode wherein the apparatus drives the probe into the material to be drilled by rotation of the probe. The apparatus comprises a drill stand, vibratory drive for imparting a vibratory motion to the probe, rotary drive for imparting a rotary movement to the probe, a vibratory drive probe coupling for coupling the probe to the vibratory drive, a rotary drive probe coupling for coupling the probe to the rotary drive, a support for supporting and containing the coupling, a carriage assembly for mounting the support to the drill stand in sliding up and down fashion, and carriage drive for lifting or lowering the carriage assembly. The invention can be easily converted from vibratory drilling modes to rotary drilling modes and back by exchanging the vibratory drive with the rotary drive. By converting from vibratory drilling mode to rotary drilling mode, the drill apparatus can drive the probes through rock, soil, asphalt or other material which would hamper vibratory drilling alone.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Drill apparatus convertible between a vibrational drilling mode in which the apparatus is adapted to apply a vibrational force to a first drill probe and a rotary drilling mode in which the apparatus is adapted to apply a torsional force to a second drill probe comprising:

a) a drill stand;
b) a carriage assembly mounted to the stand in a vertically sliding fashion;
c) carriage drive means for driving the carriage assembly up and down by application of vertical force thereto;
d) vibratory drive means mountable within the carriage assembly for applying a vertical vibratory force to the first probe when the vibratory drive means is mounted within the carriage assembly;
e) rotary drive means mountable within the carriage assembly for applying a torsional force to the second probe when the rotary drive means is mounted within the carriage assembly;
f) vibratory drive probe coupling means mounted to the vibratory drive means for coupling and decoupling the first probe to the vibratory drive;
g) rotary drive probe coupling means mounted to the rotary drive means for coupling and decoupling the second probe to the rotary drive means;
h) the rotary drive means and the vibratory drive means being interchangeable to permit the apparatus to be converted between a rotary drilling mode and a vibrational drilling mode;
and
i) support means mounted within the carriage assembly for supporting the vibratory drive probe coupling means within the carriage assembly when the vibratory drive means is mounted therein and for supporting the rotary drive probe coupling means within the carriage assembly when the rotary drive means is mounted therein.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Convertible vibratory or rotary core drill apparatus

Life of this patent

Convertible vibratory or rotary core drill apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14