Self mountable and extractable ultrasonic/sonic anchor

• US 7,156,189 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Administrator of The US Government As Represented By The
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Bar-Cohen, Yoseph, Sherrit, Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): NASH, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US11/001,465
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 173/91, 173/112, 173/113, 173/122, 173/221, 173/166, 173/171, 173/131, 173/102, 173/103, 310/323.18, 310/323.19, 175/55, 175/56
• US Class Current: 173/91
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/002 Mountain boots or shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 29/08 Hand equipment for climbers
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/108 Piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 37/00 Boring by making use of ultrasonic energy essentially using abrasive material B24B, e.g. B24B1/04

Abstract

Self drilling anchors and related methods and apparatus. In one embodiment an apparatus comprises a drill bit, a hammer mechanism for hammering the drill bit in a first direction and in a second direction, and a selection mechanism for controlling whether, at a given point in time, the drill bit is hammered in the first or second direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a drill bit, a hammer mechanism for hammering the drill bit in a first axial direction and in a second axial direction, opposite to the first axial direction, the hammer mechanism comprising at least a first mass and first impact surface to hammer the drill bit in the first axial direction and at least a second mass and second impact surface to hammer the drill bit in the second axial direction and a selection mechanism for controlling whether, at a given point in time, the drill bit is hammered in the first or second axial direction;

wherein the drill bit is elongated and the first and second axial directions are opposite each other along the length of the drill bit; and

the hammer mechanism comprises the first mass and the first impact surface and the second mass and the second impact surface with the first and second masses moveable relative to and along a center line of the drill bit and wherein impact of the first mass on the first impact surface results in a force exerted on the drill bit in the first direction and impact of the second mass on the second impact surface results in a force exerted on the drill bit in the second direction; and

wherein the first and second masses are positioned on opposite sides of a vibrating element, which, when vibrating, causes the first mass to oscillate between the vibrating element and the first impact surface or causes the second mass to oscillate between the vibrating element and the second impact surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the selection mechanism comprises the vibrating element;

the vibrating element is positioned between and moveable relative to the first and second impact surfaces such that movement of the vibrating element relative to the first and second impact surfaces simultaneously moves it closer to one and further from the other of the first and second impact surfaces; and

if the vibrating element is closer to the first impact surface than to the second impact surface the drill bit is hammered in the first axial direction and if the vibrating element is closer to the second impact surface than to the first impact surface the drill bit is hammered in the second axial direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the vibrating element and the first and second masses are positioned within a cavity at least partially defined by the first and second surfaces wherein the cavity is part of a drill bit assembly comprising the drill bit such that movement of the cavity and the first and second surfaces coincides with movement of the drill bit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the apparatus further comprises an actuator for generating vibrations and a horn for amplifying the generated vibrations, and the vibrating element is at least part of the horn and the horn extends from the actuator into the cavity of the drill bit assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the drill bit assembly comprises a central bore extending along its length and separated from the drill bit cavity.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the vibrating element vibrates at a frequency of at least 5 kHz.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a hand held device sized, dimensioned, and shaped for use by a climber while climbing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein, while the drill bit is held stationary, the apparatus can withstand an external force of X Newtons applied to an end of the apparatus opposite of the drill bit, and in a direction perpendicular to the drill bit, without any element of the apparatus fracturing or plastically deforming, and X is at least 400.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus can withstand a moment of at least 50 N m.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drill bit, hammer mechanism, and selection mechanism are part of a drill assembly used to anchor the apparatus to a surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the drill assembly is one of a plurality of assemblies adapted to anchor the apparatus to a surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the drill bit can be moved between a retracted position wherein the drill bit does not extend into the surface and an extended position wherein the drill bit does extend into the surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus comprises at least one foot and the drill bit or a drill bit assembly comprising the drill bit extends through a bottom surface of the at least one foot when in the extended position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus comprises at least three feet and at least one drill assembly for each foot.