Method and system for determining the wear of a drill bit in real time
First Claim
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1. A method for ascertaining the wear of a drill bit during the performance of a drilling operation on a workpiece comprising the steps of:
- monitoring with a position monitoring device positions of said drill bit prior to engagement with and after emergence from said workpiece;
determining a first rotational speed of said drill bit at the position indicated by said position monitoring device prior to engagement with said workpiece;
storing temporarily said first rotational speed of said drill bit;
determining a second rotational speed of said drill bit at the position indicated by said position monitoring device following emergence of said drill bit from said workpiece;
measuring the elapsed time between said first and second rotational speed determinations;
determining the amount of energy expended during said drilling operation from said first and second rotational speed determinations and said elapsed time; and
generating a measure of the wear of said drill bit from said energy determination.
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Abstract
A method and a system are disclosed for determining the wear of a drill bit in real time. At a predetermined point prior to engagement of the drill bit with the workpiece, a first rotational speed of the drill bit is ascertained. Upon exit of the drill bit from the workpiece a second rotational speed is determined. Measurement of these two rotational speeds enables a determination to be made of the loss of energy resulting from the drilling operation. This loss in energy is used to produce a measure of drill bit wear.
38 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for ascertaining the wear of a drill bit during the performance of a drilling operation on a workpiece comprising the steps of:
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monitoring with a position monitoring device positions of said drill bit prior to engagement with and after emergence from said workpiece; determining a first rotational speed of said drill bit at the position indicated by said position monitoring device prior to engagement with said workpiece; storing temporarily said first rotational speed of said drill bit; determining a second rotational speed of said drill bit at the position indicated by said position monitoring device following emergence of said drill bit from said workpiece; measuring the elapsed time between said first and second rotational speed determinations; determining the amount of energy expended during said drilling operation from said first and second rotational speed determinations and said elapsed time; and generating a measure of the wear of said drill bit from said energy determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus for ascertaining the wear of a drill bit during the performance of a drilling operation on a workpiece, the apparatus including:
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means for monitoring positions of said drill bit prior to engagement with said workpiece and after emergence from said workpiece; means, responsive to said position monitoring means, for determining a first rotational speed of said drill bit at the indicated position prior to engagement with said workpiece and a second rotational speed of said drill bit at the indicated position after emergence from said workpiece; means for storing temporarily said first rotational speed of said drill bit; means for measuring an elapsed time between said first and second rotational speeds; means, responsive to said speed determining means, said rotational speed storing means and said time measuring means, for determining the amount of energy expended during said drilling operation based on said first and second rotational speeds and said elapsed time, said means further generating a measure of the wear of said drill bit based on said energy determination. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification