Axially separating drill bucket

#This application relates to the field of equipment used in drilling large foundation holes for buildings and bridges and more specifically to a unique axially separating drilling bucket mechanism. The current invention provides a drilling bucket assembly along with a drill head apparatus that improves the operation by which a drilling operator can remove dirt from a drilling device. With the combination of a drilling head and bucket, the unit can be raised to the surface where the bucket portion is moved up or down from the drill head to empty the excavated material.

#Foundation drilling has evolved over time and continues to be an essential operation for all construction of bridges, buildings, and skyscrapers. Without proper holes for the drilled foundation piles, a building or bridge could be destroyed in the event of an earthquake. In an effort to improve the production and quality of drilled foundations, there has been huge investment, and advancement, in the equipment and tools of the trade.

#Some of the most common tools used by foundation drillers are the separate digging, and cleanout buckets. Digging buckets are used to dig through hard layers of dirt and rock and are known for their ability in keeping fluid within the hole as clean as possible and to keep holes true and straight as possible. Augers are used for digging large holes but have no efficient means of moving wet material to the surface. Cleanout buckets are used to clean the bottom of the holes during the digging process to remove any loose rocks and soil to ensure a clean solid bottom surface for a foundation.

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the Axially Separating Drill Bucket and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

#FIG. 1 depicts a perspective drawing of the Axially Separating Drill Bucket being lowered into a hole by the means of a drill rig.

#FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the Axially Separating Drill Bucket with a single external scissor action movement having the drill head in upper position.

#For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the Axially Separating Drill Bucket, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the design and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

#Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts of the Axially Separating Drill Bucket 10 are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 a perspective drawing of the Axially Separating Drill Bucket 10 being lowered into a hole 12 by the means of a drill rig 14 with the Kelly bar 16 extending through the rotating sombrero 18 below the rotational drive mechanism 20.

#FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the Axially Separating Drill Bucket 10A with a single external scissor action movement 22 on the outside of the drill bucket above the steel cap plate 24 where the actuator member 26 translates through an elongated slot 50 of the drive box section 30 to pivotally attach to the first scissor section 32 that rotates about a pivot 34 attached to the drill stem 36. At the distal end of the first scissor section 32 is a pivoting link 38 attached to a pivot lug 40 fixed to the upper surface of the steel cap plate 24. When the Axially Separating Drill Bucket 10A is raised above the surface the actuator member 26 makes contact with the stationary sombrero 18 exerting a downward force raising the side wall casing 48. The elongated slot 50 in the drive box section 30 keeps the mechanism from being clogged when in operation. A long vertical key 52 is part of the drill stem 36 that engages in a key slot 46 in the steel cap plate 24 securing the side wall casing 48 to the drill stem 36 when the Axially Separating Drill Bucket 10A is rotated. A pusher plate 54 can be permanently attached to the drill stem 36 in order to push the material out of the drill bucket central cavity 56 when side wall casing 48 is separated.