Apparatus and process for removing chips from blind holes

• US 3,897,604 A
• Filed: 11/19/1973
• Issued: 08/05/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerald A. Weimer
• Original Assignee: Gerald A. Weimer
• Inventors: Weimer, Gerald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/416,810
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 15/304,315,344,345,346,347,404,406,409 138/121
• US Class Current: 15/344
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/006 by sucking and blowing simultaneously

Abstract

An apparatus for removing chips from a blind hole has a blowpipe which is projected into the hole so that when high pressure air is discharged from the blowpipe, the chips in the hole are dislodged and propelled toward the open end of the hole. The apparatus further has a contractable bellows, the end of which bears against the workpiece in surrounding relation to the hole. The bellows leads to a container in which the chips are collected and a vacuum is induced in the container by a venturi arrangement or other suitable device so as to create an airstream which conveys the dislodged chips through the bellows and to the container.

Claims

1. A tool for removing material from a hole in a workpiece, said tool comprising:

a base containing a supply passage connected to a source of high pressure air and a return passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, the base also having a venturi cavity and an apertured vacuum tube in communication with the venturi cavity, the base further having a venturi nozzle directed into the venturi cavity and connected with the supply passage so that air is discharged at high velocity from the nozzle into the venturi cavity and creates a partial vacuum in the venturi cavity and the vacuum tube;

a rigid container attached to the body and enclosing the vacuum tube and the outlet end of the return passage, the container being considerably larger in cross-section than the vacuum tube and further being sealed to the base so that the vacuum is also induced in the interior of the container and in the return passage;

a blowpipe projected from the base through the inlet end of the return passage;

a bellows surrounding the blowpipe and being collapsible in the axial direction, one end of the bellows being secured to the body at the inlet end of the return passage so that the vacuum will also exist in the bellows;

a guide encircling the blowpipe for a short axial distance and being attached to the other end of the bellows to position said other end generally concentrically with respect to the blowpipe irrespective of the axial position of said other end along the blowpipe, whereby when the blowpipe is inserted into the hole the bellows will contract and when air is introduced into the suPply passage it passes through the blowpipe to dislodge material in the hole with the material so dislodged being conveyed through the bellows and the return passage to the container where it is collected.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum tube has apertures in its sidewall, and further comprising a filter material surrounding the vacuum tube and covering the apertures therein.

3. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the guide comprises at least one collar encircling the blowpipe and being movable axially thereon, a sleeve connected securely to the other end of said bellows, and arms connecting the collar and sleeve and maintaining the sleeve generally concentric with respect to the collar and blowpipe.

4. A tool according to claim 3 wherein the sleeve has vent apertures to vent the interior thereof to the surrounding atmosphere.

5. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the blowpipe has a bushing attached firmly to its one end and the bushing is received in the supply passage of the base;

and wherein the base is further provided with a set screw which screws down against the bushing and secures the bushing and blowpipe in the base.

6. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the base also has a discharge tube projecting therefrom and into the container parallel to the vacuum tube, and the return passage extends through the discharge tube.

7. A tool for removing material from a hole in a workpiece, said tool comprising:

a body having supply passage and a return passage with the return passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, both of which open out of the body;

a valve connected to a source of high pressure air and to the supply passage for admitting high pressure air to the supply passage when actuated;

a blowpipe secured to and projecting beyond the body, the blowpipe at its one end being connected with the supply passage so that high pressure air admitted to the supply passage enters the blowpipe and is discharged therefrom, the blowpipe projecting through the inlet end of the return passage;

a rigid and impervious collection container sealed to the body and enclosing the outlet and of the return passage;

venturi means in the body and connected with the supply passage for inducing a partial vacuum in the container and the return passage when high pressure air is admitted to the supply passage;

a bellows connected to the body and enclosing the inlet end of the return passage thereon so that the vacuum is also induced in the return passage, the bellows encircling the blowpipe and being collapsible in the axial direction so that the distance the blowpipe projects beyond the bellows can be varied; and

guide means at the opposite end of the bellows for maintaining the blowpipe generally centered with respect to said opposite end of the bellows as the bellows expands and contracts.

8. A tool according to claim 7 wherein the guide means comprises at least one collar fitted around the blowpipe so that it may move axially thereon, a sleeve fitted into said opposite end of the bellows, and arms extended between the collar and sleeve to maintain the sleeve concentric about the collar.

9. A tool according to claim 8 wherein the sleeve projects beyond said opposite end of the bellows for abutment against the workpiece around the hole in the workpiece;

and wherein the portion of the sleeve located beyond the bellows is provided with apertures which vent the interior of the sleeve to the surrounding atmosphere.

10. A tool according to claim 7 wherein the venturi means comprises a bore having one end vented to the atmosphere and along its side being in communication with the interior of the container, and a nozzle in the body and directed axially into the bore from the opposite end thereof, the nozzle being connected with the supply passage so that high pressure air will flow through the nozzle and into the bore and induce a partial vacuum in the bore.

11. A tool according to claim 10 wherein the bore beyond the nozzle is filled with a porous matErial to reduce the noise of air issuing from the nozzle.

12. A tool according to claim 10 and further comprising a vacuum tube attached to the body and having its interior in communication with the bore along the side of the bore, the tube having at least one opening which is covered with a filter material.

13. A tool for removing material from a hole in a workpiece, said tool comprising a body having supply passage and a return passage with the return passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, both of which open out of the body;

a valve connected to a source of high pressure air and to the supply passage for admitting high pressure air to the supply passage when actuated;

a blowpipe secured to and projecting beyond the body, the blowpipe at its one end being connected with the supply passage so that high pressure air admitted to the supply passage enters the blowpipe and is discharged therefrom, the blowpipe projecting through the inlet end of the return passage;

a rigid and impervious collection container sealed to the body and enclosing the outlet end of the return passage;

vacuum means connected with the container for inducing a partial vacuum in the container and return passage;

a bellows connected to the body and enclosing the inlet end of the return passage thereon, the bellows encircling the blowpipe and being collapsible in the axial direction, so that the distance the blowpipe projects beyond the bellows can be varied; and

guide means at the opposite end of the bellows for maintaining the blowpipe generally centered with respect to the opposite end of the bellows as the bellows expands and contracts, the guide means including a sleeve which is connected to the opposite end of the bellows and has a foward margin positioned to abut against the workpiece around the hole therein when the blowpipe is inserted into the hole, the sleeve having apertures therein adjacent its forward margin for venting the interior of the sleeve to the surrounding atmosphere.