Multiple bit power drill

A multiple bit tool comprising:

• a) a housing;
• b) a cylindrical magazine mounted in said housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis, said magazine provided with an array of parallel longitudinal bores open at either end thereof;
• c) a plurality of bit elements, each said bit element being removably located in one of said bores, each said bit element having a bit at one end and a surface perpendicular to the length of the bit at the opposite end, and an annular groove formed in said bit element transversely to the length of the bit adjacent the opposite end;
• d) a chuck assembly having a central bore for receiving a bit and means for releasably securing said bit in said assembly;
• and
• e) means for ejecting one of said bit elements from a bore and inserting said bit element into said bore in said chuck assembly, said ejection means being movable between a first rearward position withdrawn from said magazine and in which said magazine is free to rotate, to a second forward position in which said ejection means extends through one of said bores in said magazine to push a bit element out of said bore, said ejection means comprising a surface for contacting the end surface of said bit element and a hook element which is adapted to pass freely through said groove of said bit element in the direction transverse to the length of said bit, and to bear against said the rearward surface of said groove of said bit element when said ejection means is retracted;
• wherein said housing comprises a bit guiding means fixed to said housing and extending into said grooves of said bit elements and provided with an aperture in the vicinity of said ejection means to allow passage of said ejection means through said guiding means, whereby said groove of a bit element is engaged by said guiding means when said magazine is rotated to guide said bit element into a position wherein said hook element of said ejection means is located in said groove when said bit element is adjacent said aperture and said ejection means is in said first position.

A multiple bit power drill comprising:

• (a) a housing;
• (b) a cylindrical magazine mounted in said housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis, said magazine provided with an array of parallel longitudinal bores open at either end thereof;
• (c) a plurality of drill bit elements, each said bit element being removably located in one of said bores, each said bit element having a drill bit at one end and a surface perpendicular to the length of the bit at the opposite end, and an annular groove formed in the bit element transversely to the length of the bit adjacent the opposite end;
• (d) a chuck assembly having a central bore for receiving a drill bit element and means for releasably securing said bit element in said assembly;
• (e) motor means for rotating said chuck assembly;
• (f) means for ejecting one of said drill bit elements from a bore and inserting said bit element into said bore in said chuck assembly, said ejection means being movable between a first rearward position withdrawn from said magazine and in which said magazine is free to rotate, to a second forward position in which said ejection means extends through one of said bores in said magazine to push a bit element out of said bore, said ejection means comprising a surface for contacting the end surface of said bit element and a hook element which is adapted to pass freely through said groove of said bit element in the direction transverse to the length of said bit element when said ejection means is in said first position, and to bear against the rearward surface of said groove of said bit element when said ejection means is moved from said second position to said first position;
• and
• (g) bit retaining means fixed to said housing and adapted to retain said bit element in a position wherein said hook element of said ejection means is located in said groove when said bit element is adjacent said ejection means and said ejection means is in said first position, said retaining means provided with an aperture in the vicinity of said ejection means to allow passage of said ejection means through said retaining means.

A multiple bit tool comprising:

• (a) a housing;
• (b) a cylindrical magazine mounted in said housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis, said magazine provided with an array of parallel longitudinal bores open at either end thereof;
• (c) a plurality of bit elements, each said bit element being removably located in one of said bores, each said bit element having a bit at one end and a surface perpendicular to the length of the bit at the opposite end, and an annular groove formed in said bit element transversely to the length of the bit adjacent the opposite end;
• (d) a chuck assembly having a central bore for receiving a bit and means for releasably securing said bit in said assembly;
• (e) means for ejecting one of said bit elements from a bore and inserting said bit element into said bore in said chuck assembly, said ejection means being movable between a first rearward position withdrawn from said magazine and in which said magazine is free to rotate, to a second forward position in which said ejection means extends through one of said bores in said magazine to push a bit element out of said bore, said ejection means comprising a surface for contacting the end surface of said bit element and a hook element which is adapted to pass freely through said groove of said bit element in the direction transverse to the length of said bit, and to bear against said the rearward surface of said groove of said bit element when said ejection means is retracted;
• (f) bit retaining means fixed to said housing for retaining said bit element in a position wherein said hook element of said ejection means is located in said groove when said bit element is adjacent said ejection means and said ejection means is in said first position, said retaining means being provided with an aperture in the vicinity of said ejection means to allow passage of said ejection means through said retaining means.