Machine guard

• US 20080072704A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schempp, Robert S., Clark, E-Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/608
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 1/02 Fixed screens or hoods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 408/71 Safety device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/44 with means to apply transient, fluent medium to work or product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/45 including Tool with duct
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/98 Drill guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30392 with means to protect operative or machine [e.g., guard, safety device, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/304032 Cutter or work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/219 Guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2191 for rotary member

Abstract

A guard for a power-feed drill having a fluid inducer protects an operator from coming in contact with a rotating drive assembly. The drive assembly is enclosed by a cylindrical housing having a slotted opening through which a fluid inducer connection extends. The guard comprises a rotatable tube concentrically disposed within the housing and sleeved over the drive assembly so as to cover the opening presented by the slot. The fluid inducer connection passes through a helical groove in the tube.

Claims

1. A safety guard for a drill having a rotating spindle assembly and a fluid inducer connector displaced during drill feed through a slot in a housing covering the spindle assembly, comprising:

a cylindrical tube rotatably disposed within the housing and sleeved over the spindle assembly to guard an operator from contact with the spindle assembly through the slot, the tube including a helical groove through which the fluid inducer connector extends.

2. The safety guard of claim 1, wherein the tube is captured between opposing shoulders within the housing.

3. The safety guard of claim 1, wherein the helical groove has a pitch such that the groove makes approximately one revolution around the tube over the length of the tube.

4. The safety guard of claim 1, wherein the groove has a width marginally greater the width of the fluid inducer connector.

5. The safety guard of claim 1, wherein the length of the tube is greater then the length of the slot.

6. The safety guard of claim 1, wherein the groove has a pitch such that the groove traverses across the slot only once over the length of the slot.

7. The safety guard of claim 1, wherein the groove extends through one end of the tube to define a groove opening at the one tube end.

8. The safety guard of claim 1, further comprising a cover connected to the fluid inducer connector and overlying the housing, the cover protectively covering portions of the groove adjacent the fluid inducer connector

9. A guard for a machine tool having a linearly displaceable tool drive covered by a protective shield and provided with a fluid supply connector, the fluid supply connector being displaceable within and extending through a slot in the shield, comprising:

a tube concentrically disposed between the shield and the tool drive, the tube having a sidewall covering the slot in the shield to prevent operator contact with the tool drive, the tube including a curved groove therein through which the fluid connector extends.

10. The guard of claim 9, wherein the groove is helical.

11. The guard of claim 9, wherein the helical groove has a pitch such that the groove makes approximately one revolution around the tube over the length of the tube.

12. The guard of claim 9, wherein the groove has a width marginally greater the width of the fluid connector.

13. The guard of claim 9, wherein the length of the tube is greater then the length of the slot.

14. The guard of claim 9, wherein the groove has a pitch such that the groove traverses over the slot only once over the length of the slot.

15. The guard of claim 9, wherein the connector bears against an edge of the tube defining the groove, and displacement of the fluid connector within the slot rotates the tube.

16. The guard of claim 9, wherein the groove extends through one end of the tube to define a groove opening at the one tube end.

17. The guard of claim 9, further comprising a cover connected to the fluid supply connector and displaced therewith, the cover overlying the shield and protectively covering portions of the groove adjacent the fluid supply connector

18. For use with a portable drill having a powerfeed rotating drive for linearly displacing a rotary drill tool, a protective shield surrounding the drive and having a slot therein, and a fluid connector passing through the slot for coupling the drill tool with a supply of fluid, a guard for protecting a drill operator from contact with the rotating drive through the slot, comprising:

a guard body covering the slot and disposed between the shield and rotating drive, the guard body having a curved groove therein through which the connector transversely extends, the connector being displaceable through a length of the groove as the rotary drive linearly displaces the tool.

19. The guard of claim 18, wherein the body is a tube.

20. The guard of claim 18, wherein the curve is a helix.

21. The guard of claim 18, wherein the helical groove has a pitch such that the groove makes approximately one revolution around the tube over the length of the guard body.

22. The guard of claim 18, wherein the groove has a width marginally greater the width of the fluid connector.

23. The guard of claim 18, wherein the length of the guard body is greater than the length of the slot.

24. The guard of claim 20, wherein the helical groove has a pitch such that the groove traverses over the slot only once over the length of the slot.

25. The guard of claim 18, wherein the connector bears against an edge of the guard body defining the groove, and displacement of the fluid connector within the slot rotates the guard body.