Drilling apparatus
US9446455B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 2014 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T408/665
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A drilling apparatus for drilling from inside a conduit having at least one service entrance is described. The drilling apparatus comprises a robot; an elongated flexible appliance having a first end and a second end, the elongated flexible appliance connected to the robot; a rotatable drill head connected to the second end of the elongated flexible appliance; the elongated flexible appliance driven by the robot to extend the rotatable drill head inside the service entrance by at least 8 cm and to retract the rotatable drill head out of the at least one service entrance. The apparatus further comprises means to bend the elongated flexible appliance to orient the drill head connected thereto perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.