GB2293120A

GB2293120A - Grip and twist bit

Info

Publication number: GB2293120A
Application number: GB9418474A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Coulton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-14
Filing date: 1994-09-14
Publication date: 1996-03-20
Also published as: GB9418474D0

Abstract

An attachment is secured in a power drill in place of a conventional drill bit. When rotated, centrifugal forces cause two masses 10 to move away from the central X - Y axis which in turn causes two connecting rods 11 to pivot about axis 12 and thereby close two teeth 13 together. The resulting effect is any object or objects between the teeth 13 will be gripped and twisted. <IMAGE>

Description

Grip and Twist Bit This invention relates to an attachment that is secured in a power drill in place of a conventional drill bit. When rotated the teeth of the attachment close by using centrifugal forces and have a gripping and then a twisting effect on any object between the teeth.

The uses to which this attachment, hereafter called the grip and twist bit, may be used are immense. The simplest involves gripping and twisting an object such as the end of a multi core wire prior to fixing or soldering into position.

Fixing together two or more items by passing a loop of wire around them and then twisting the two ends of the loop around each other is an action used regularly in many industrial applications. The normal procedure is to use hand held pincers to grip the two ends of the loop and then rotate the pincers until the wire loop closes up and secures together the items within the loop. A typical example of when this method of fixing is regularly used in the construction industry, when steel reinforcement bars are fixed together to create a specific shaped cage structure. This type of cage is used as reinforcement in most concrete structures both above and below ground and the normal procedure in constructing the cage is still by using hand pincers to twist loops of wire.A large structure such as a bridge may contain tens of thousands of twisted wire loops to fix together the reinforcement bars, all presently done by hand. Another example of when this type of fixing is regularly used on a large scale is when erecting mesh fencing. A number of horizontal wire lines are fixed to vertical posts at various heights above the ground, the mesh is then supported, by twisted wire loops, to each of the horizontal line wires at regular intervals.

According to the present invention, there is provided an attachment called a grip and twist bit that is secured in a power drill, where a drill bit is usually inserted. When the drill rotates the teeth of the grip and twist bit close together by centrifugal forces thereby clamping any object or objects between the teeth. Once clamped the rotating action twists the object or objects between the teeth.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Shows a section through the grip and twist bit.

Figure 2 Shows one shape the teeth could be, should sharp teeth be required.

Figure 3 Shows one shape the teeth could be, should blunt or flat teeth be required.

Referring to the drawings, the grip and twist bit consists of a cylindrical central rod shaft, one end of which will be inserted into the drill chuck, while on the other end is fixed a shorter length of rod forming a T piece.

On each end of the smaller rod are fixed the connecting rods 11. The fixing of these connecting rods is by way of a pin which allows the connecting rod to pivot about the axis point 12. Each of the connecting rods 11 have a sphere shaped mass weight 10 on one end and on the other end the teeth 13.

When the grip and twist bit is rotated, clockwise or anticlockwise, around the central X-Y axis the mass weights 10 are caused by centrifugal forces indicated by FC, to move out in a direction perpendicular to the central X Y axis. The collecting rods 11 are pivoted at an off centre axis point 12 and therefore act as a lever in transferring a much greater magnitude of force to the teeth 13 indicated by FM, in a direction towards the central X-Y axis.

In summary of the preceding paragraph, as the grip and twist bit spins the mass weights 10 move out from the central X-Y axis causing the connecting rod 11 to pivot about the axis point 12 and thereby closing the teeth that exerts a clamping force on any item between the teeth. Once gripped the rotation continues about the central X-Y axis and twists any object or objects between the teeth If the grip and twist bit is being used to twist the two ends of a loop of wire around each other in order to secure the objects placed within the loop, then the procedure is to place the two ends between the teeth, start the drill rotating, this causes the teeth to close and grip the two ends which results in the two ends of wire being twisted around each other until the loop of wire has constricted in on itself and tightly secured whatever objects are within the loop.Once the wire is twisted to its maximum the operator can either stop the drill rotating or continue rotating which will sever the surplus ends from the wire loop.

To ensure the teeth return to the open position once rotation has ceased an elasticised band can be placed around the grip and twist bit, at the position where the mass weights 10 are fixed to the connecting rods 11.

The size of the clamping force can be varied by any of the following methods:1. Altering the drill rotation speed 2. Altering the position of the mass weights 10 along the connecting rod 11. This could be done by threading the weights 10 onto threaded connecting rods thereby allowing the clamping force FC to be easily varied. Locking nuts are used to secure the mass weights in the desired position.

3. Should a much greater variation be required in the clamping force FC then the actual mass of the weights 10 could be increased or decreased depending whether a respective larger or smaller clamping force FC is required. The larger mass weights could be tlireaded onto the same connecting rods 11.

A variation in the clamping force FC is necessary when for instance a large diameter wire needs clamping with a much greater force than smaller diameter wire which would be severed before being twisted if too greater clamping force FC were to be exerted.

The overall size of the grip and twist bit will depend on the application the tool is to be used for.

The grip and twist bit can be constructed with the two teeth being either sharp 14, or blunt 15 depending upon the application the tool is to be used for. If the teeth are constructed with flat heads then the tool can be used for differing applications than if the teeth are constructed with sharp heads.

When used outdoors the grip and twist bit is ideally used with a hand held, cordless, rechargeable battery powered electric drill.

Claims

Claim 1 - A grip and twist bit that comprises of a central rod with two connecting rods attached with pins which form ajoint allowing them to pivot about an axis point. Each of the connecting rods have mass weights on one end and clamping teeth on the other. When the grip and twist bit is rotated, preferably with the use of a powerdrill, the mass weights move out from the central rod by using centrifugal forces. As the mass weights move out, the connecting rod pivots about the axis point and causes the clamping teeth to close. The objects between the teeth are gripped and the continuing rotation has a twisting effect.

Claim 2 - A grip and twist bit as claimed in claim 1 but with clamping teeth that are not sharp but blunt.

Claim 3 - A grip and twist bit as claimed in Claim 1 but with clamping teeth that are not sharp but flat.

Claim 4 - A grip and twist bit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 which, for the purpose of varying the clamping force the connecting rod is threaded on the other end from the teeth so as to allow the position of the mass weights to be adjusted along the connecting rod.

Locking nuts are used to secure the mass weights in the desired position.

Claim 5 - A grip and twist bit as claimed in Claim 4 which is supplied with a selection of varying mass weights which allow the clamping force to be varied over a much greater range.

Claim 6 - A grip and twist bit substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.