Systems and methods for automated drilling of high aspect ratio, small diameter holes in remote, confined spaces
US12241370B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 2022 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/005
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A compact drill assembly, a drilling system and a method for automatically drilling small diameter holes of arbitrary depth. The compact drill assembly includes a housing having a geometry that allows insertion into the confined space and a rotatable drilling spindle that includes an actuated locking collet assembly arranged and disposed to selectively secure and release a composite bit. A bit conveying arrangement is configured to convey the composite bit along the non-confined dimension and along the confined dimension through the actuated locking collet assembly. A drill drive is arranged and disposed to advance the rotatable drilling spindle along the confined dimension. The method includes conveying a composite bit along the non-confined dimension and along the confined dimension through the compact drill assembly and advancing the composite bit along the confined dimension to drill into a surface along an edge of the confined space.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.