Interface unit for drills

• US 5,094,570 A
• Filed: 10/19/1990
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Altron Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Altron Automation, Inc.
• Inventors: McNees, Ronald G., LaCombe, Arnold E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIGGS, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US07/601,366
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 408/10, 408/130, 408/129, 408/11, 173/19, 173/9, 173/159, 173/152, 173/163, 251/129.15, 251/150, 137/552.5, 137/624.11, 137/596, 91/454, 91/526, 91/397, 91/167 R
• US Class Current: 408/130
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 37/00 Metal-working machines, or constructional combinations thereof, built-up from units designed so that at least some of the units can form parts of different machines or combinations; Units therefor in so far as the feature of interchangeability is important features relating to particular metal-working operations, see the relevant subclass, e.g. B23P23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/268 depending upon the position of the tool or work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/6757 Fluid means

Abstract

A universal interface unit is provided for use with a pneumatic drill having an axially extendable tool holder, the interface unit being adaptable for use with `valve in head` type and `thru head` type pneumatic drills of different sizes. The interface unit includes a compact housing which fastens to the pneumatic drill and houses one or more proximity sensors for sensing the position of extendable tool holder and also houses valves for controlling air flow to the extend and retract ports of the drill. The proximity sensors sense the position of the extendable tool holder and send signals to a remote controller. The valves receives signals from the remote controller and communicate with the drill extend and retract ports to control the tool holder position. The valves are plumbed to be easily convertible for use with either the `valve in head` type of `thru head` type pneumatic drills by removing two plugs and changing a fitting. One or more unique air fittings are used to hold the interface unit to the pneumatic drill with a minimum of parts. The air fitting includes pipe threads for mating with the pneumatic drill extend and retract ports and also includes external standard threads for receiving a nut which secures a mounting plate to the drill. The interface unit is secured to the mounting plate in a manner which to locates the proximity sensors adjacent the proximity sensor targets located on a shaft connected to the extendable tool holder. A single universal bracket is designed to be used with different sizes of drills.

Claims

1. An interface unit for use with a pneumatic drill, the drill including an axially extendable tool holder and having tool holder extend and retract ports, the interface unit facilitating control over the axially extendable tool holder by a programmable controller unit located remote from the drill, the interface unit comprising:

a housing;

means for mounting the housing to the drill;

means for sensing the position of the axially extendable tool holder, the means for sensing mounting to the housing and communicating with the remote controller unit;

at least one valve located in the housing for communication with the extend and retract ports; and

means for controlling said at least one valve from a remote controller unit.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 including means for adapting the interface unit for use with `thru head` type drills and `valve in head` type drills.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the valve includes a first and second control port and a removable plug, the first control port adapted to communicating supply air when connected to `thru head` type drills and adapted to venting air when connected to `valve in head` type drills, and the second control port being adapted to venting air when connected to `thru head` type drills and to being closed off by the removable plug to prevent venting of air when connected to `valve in head` type drills.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein the housing includes a hole and the second control port is located adjacent the hole so that the removable plug may be inserted and removed from outside the housing.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said at lease one valve includes first and second valves located in the housing, the first valve communicating with the extend port and the second valve communicating with the retract port.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the valve is an electrically operated solenoid valve.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the housing to the drill includes at least one air fitting adapted to engaging one of the extend and retract ports, the air fitting including means to secure the housing to the drill and further including an internal passageway for communicating with one of the extend and retract ports.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein the air fitting is substantially tubular and includes an upper and lower portion, the lower portion including external pipe threads for sealingly engaging one of the retract and extend ports, the upper portion including external threads;

a mounting plate is suitably shaped to matingly fit around the air fitting, the mounting plate being securely attached to the housing; and

a nut is suitably shaped to thread onto the upper portion of the air fitting to hold the mounting plate securely to the drill.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein the upper portion of the air fitting also includes flats to facilitate installation of the air fitting onto one of the extend and retract ports.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 where the mounting plate includes means for adjustment to facilitate use of the mounting plate on different sizes of drills.

11. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein the drill has multiple sides, and the housing includes a bracket suitably shaped to position the housing on a side different from the extend and retract ports to facilitate use of the interface unit in tight quarters.

12. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for sensing includes at lease one proximity sensor.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 including at least one adjustable target which correspondingly moves with the axially extendable tool holder, the target cooperating with the proximity sensors to indicate the position of the tool holder.

14. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for sensing includes a quick disconnect mounted in the housing for detachably connecting communication cables from the remote controller to the means for sensing and means for controlling the valves.

15. An interface unit for use with a pneumatic drill, the drill including an axially extendable tool holder and having tool holder extend and retract ports, the interface unit facilitating control over the axially extendable tool holder by a programmable controller unit located remote from the drill, the interface unit comprising:

a housing;

means for mounting the housing to the drill;

at least one valve located in the housing for communication with the extend and retract ports, said at least one valve further including means for adapting the interface unit to be used with `thru head` type drills and means for adapting the interface unit to be used with `valve in head` type drills; and

means for controlling the valves from a remote controller unit.

16. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein said at least one valve includes first and second valves located in the housing, the first valve communicating with the extend port and the second valve communicating with the retract port.

17. The device as defined in claim 16 wherein the first and second valves each include a first and second control port and a removable plug, the first control port being useful for communicating supply air when connected to `thru head` type drills and useful for venting air when connected to `valve in head` type drills, and the second control port being useful for venting air when connected to `thru head` type drills and closed off by the removable plug to prevent venting of air when connected to `valve in head` type drills.

18. The device as defined in claim 17 wherein the housing includes a hole and the second control port is located adjacent the hole so that the removable plug may be inserted and removed from outside of the housing.

19. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein the valve is an electrically operated solenoid valve.

20. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein the means for mounting the housing to the drill includes at least one air fitting adapted to engage one of the extend and retract ports, the air fitting including means to secure the housing to the drill and further including an internal passageway for communicating with one of the extend and retract ports.

21. The device as defined in claim 20 wherein the air fitting is substantially tubular and includes an upper and lower portion, the lower portion including external pipe threads for sealingly engaging one of the retract and extend ports, the upper portion including external threads;

a mounting plate is suitably shaped to matingly fit around the air fitting, the mounting plate being securely attached to the housing; and

a nut is suitably shaped to thread onto the upper portion of the air fitting to hold the mounting plate securely to the drill.

22. The device as defined in claim 21 wherein the upper portion of the air fitting also includes flats to facilitate installation of the air fitting onto one of the extend and retract ports.