MODULAR MACHINING SYSTEM

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a modular machining system.

Technical background

Drilling in concrete is heavy work, inter alia as the machines that are used e.g. when making holes in concrete floor beams in buildings by drilling should be very stable in order to be able to handle the great stresses that the machines are exposed to, and are thus also heavy and difficult to move when one is to make a number of holes in different places in the concrete floor beams, especially when the moving is to take place using hand power. In order for concrete drilling machines to be easier to move, concrete drilling machine designs have been developed consisting of modules that may be assembled together. The concrete drilling machine may thereby be disassembled into modules that thereafter may be reassembled together one by one when the machine is to be moved from one drilling site to another whereafter one again reassembles the modules into a drilling machine at the new drilling site.

A modular concrete drilling system of the kind mentioned above is e.g the GEARMEC FCS- system from the 1980:s, where the system comprises a fastening unit in the form of a base plate, a on the base plate mountable column, a on the column mountable feeder housing, a on the feeder housing mountable drive unit. On the drive unit is thereafter mounted the drill which may have a diameter of between approximately 50 mm up to approximately 1500 mm. The drive unit which is driven by an electric motor or a hydraulic motor and comprises a multi-step gear box to adapt the drilling speed to different drill diameters, drives the drill around. By that a gear wheel in the feeder housing is in engagement with a gear rack on the column, and by that the operator may turn the gear wheel in the feeder housing using a handle, the necessary feed movement which feeds the drill bit into the concrete is obtained. In order to drill with this system in other directions than in the axial direction of the column, a number of further components in the form of a on the column mountable angle head and a on

RECORD COPY - TRANSLATION (Rule 12,4;>

the angle head mountable second column are needed, where the feeder housing in turn is mounted on the second column.

A problem with the above mentioned modular concrete drilling system is thus that a number of additional components are necessary in order to be able to drill holes in different directions in relation to the plane of the fastening unit.

Summary of the invention

The problem of that a large amount of components are necessary in order to be able to drill holes in different directions in relation to the plane of the fastening unit is solved according to the invention by arranging a modular machining system according to claim 1 and by a feeder housing and a drive unit according to claim 14 and 15, respectively.

By that the system and the feeder housing and the drive unit, respectively, comprise the characteristics of claim 1 and 14 and 15, respectively, the advantage of achieving a machining system which is quick and easy to mount and to adjust in order to be able to perform machining of concrete, steel, and similar materials that are difficult to machine is attained. By that the number of components that are necessary in order to attain the function to be able to perform machining, as e.g. drilling holes, in different directions in relation to the plane of the fastening unit are fewer than before, the system becomes lighter than previous modular concrete drilling machine systems at the same time as fewer steps have to be performed when rigging up the system which is time saving. Furthermore, one may by according to claim 2 replacing the drill bit with e.g. a drive wheel for wire sawing or a blade use the machining system to drill and/or to saw with a wire and/or to saw with a blade if so desired which makes it possible for the system to replace a concrete drilling machine, wire saw and circular saw. Further is attained by what is stated in claim 5 the advantage of that no additional components are necessary in order to be able to perform machining in different directions in relation to the plane of the fastening unit.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, where same reference numerals are used for similar parts, and in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a view of a modular machining system according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 shows schematically a view of the modular machining system shown in figure 1,

Figure 3 shows schematically a feeder housing for two different feed movements according to the invention,

Figure 4 shows schematically a feeder housing according to figure 3,

Figure 5 shows schematically a view of a second embodiment of a machining system according to the invention,

Figure 6 shows schematically a view of a third embodiment of a modular machining system according to the invention,

Figure 7 shows schematically a view of a fourth embodiment of a modular machining system according to the invention, and

Figure 8 shows schematically a view of a fifth embodiment of a modular machining system according to the invention.

Description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows schematically a view of a modular machining system 2 comprising a fastening unit 4, preferably a base plate, preferably with wheels 6, 8 in order to be able to easier move the machining system 2, a column 10, a feeder housing 12, and a drive unit 14. In this embodiment, a drill bit 16 is driven by the drive unit 14, but the drive unit 14 may preferably be arranged to drive at least one machining device, preferably among the group of drill bit,

saw wire and blade, where the three embodiments mentioned above will be described more in detail below. The different modules will be described separately more in detail below.

The fastening unit 4 may be a base plate according to what has been mentioned above when describing the technical background, but the fastening unit 4 may as an alternative be of another kind than a base plate as long as one using the fastening unit 4 may keep the machining system 2 in place during use.

The assembly method for the machining system 2 for drilling in the surface 18 on which the fastening unit 4 is placed is described below with the preferred sequence of the steps comprised therein. However, at the assembly, the sequence of the machining system may be chosen freely and be executed in another order than the one described if desired:

- Firstly, the fastening unit 4 is mounted on a support surface 18 which in this embodiment is the surface 18 which shall be machined by drilling, where this surface 18 usually is a floor, a ceiling or a wall. This mounting occurs preferably by that the fastening unit is arranged with at least one hole 20, preferably an elongated hole 20, through which a fastening means 22 such as e.g. a screw, bolt or similar is passed in order to thereafter be fastened to the surface 18 on which the fastening unit 4 is placed. Preferably, at least one adjusting screw 24 is arranged i a preferably threaded hole 26 in the fastening unit 4 in order to be able to set a desired distance between the fastening unit 4 and the support surface 18, but in practice two or more adjusting screws are arranged to allow for a simpler adjustment,

- If the column 10 and the fastening unit 4 are not arranged non-detachable from each other, the column 10 is thereafter mounted on the fastening unit 4. The column 10 may be stationary or pivotably arranged on the fastening unit 4 irrespective of it is detachable or not. Preferably, the column 10 and the fastening unit 4 are arranged detachable from each other, but in an alternate embodiment they may be arranged as an unit and be non-detachable from each other.

- Thereafter, the feeder housing 12 is mounted on the column 10.

- then, the drive unit 14 is mounted on the feeder housing 12, and

- Finally, the drill bit 16 is mounted at the drive unit 14. When using another machining device than drill bit 16, this step is replaced by the step of mounting the machining device in question at the drive unit 14.

By that the number of assembly steps are few, a quick assembly of the machining system 2 is attained.

When the machining system 2 is assembled, the machining in question such as e.g. drilling may take place, in this embodiment in the support surface 18 . The column 10 may be lengthened with an optional number of extension profiles 28 as long as requirements of stability and safety are observed. If greater stability is desired, a telescopic tube 29 may be arranged at the column 10 to support the machining system 2 against e.g. a ceiling in a room where the system has been set up. When using the telescopic tube 29, this is firstly rough adjusted by that one pulls out the telescopic tube 29 until it is close to e.g. the ceiling, whereafter one inserts a locking pin 76 in a hole 78 which is arranged in the column 10 or in a extension profile 28. Hereby, a screw jack is locked in a position within the column 10 and/or the extension profile 28. After locking of the screw jack in position this may be operated through a, preferably adjacent, hole 80, 82, 84 in the column 10 or the extension profile 28 so that one with the assistance of a tool such as e.g. a sleeve may fine adjust the telescopic tube 29 until it bears with desired pressure against e.g. the ceiling. The extension profiles 28 which preferably have the same cross-section as the column 10 are fastened at the column 10 and at each other in optional way, e.g. by pins arranged in holes. The column is arranged with a guide 9 arranged to guide the movement of the feeder housing 12.

Figure 2 shows schematically a view of the modular machining system 2 shown in figure 1, where the drive unit 14 and the therewith driven drill bit 16 are pivoted 90° in comparison with what is shown in figure 1, this by that the feeder housing 12 is arranged in two parts 30, 32 that are pivotable in relation to each other. This pivoting is preferably arranged to be able to occur step-less, or optionally in a number of steps, which allows one to drill in any angle in relation to the surface of the fastening unit 4. When drilling at an angle to the column 10 which stands on the fastening unit 4, the feeder housing 12 and thereby also the drive unit 14 with the thereon mounted drill bit 16 may be fed by motor drive, preferably electric motor drive, to optional height. In stead of that the feed movement is executed using at least one feed motor, also feeding by hand of previously known kind, e.g. by handle, handle crank or similar, may be used.

The assembly method for the machining system 2 for drilling in a surface 34 which is not the same surface as the support surface 18 for the fastening unit 4 is the same as for drilling in the support surface 18 according to what has been described for figure 1 however with the difference that a further step of pivoting the drive unit 14 and thereby the drill bit 16 to that angular position in which one desires to drill is added.

By that the feeder housing 12 comprises two parts 30, 32, the drive unit 14 may be moved further away from the column 10 by that a spacer device 35 (shown with broken lines in the figure) is mounted between the two parts 30, 32 of the feeder housing 12 which allows for use of even larger drill bits 16. The spacer device 35 comprises an extension shaft for the driving of the gear wheel in the housing part 30, where the extension drive shaft is arranged both with internal and external coupling so that an optional number of spacer devices 35 may be mounted after each other without prohibiting the driving of the gear wheel in the housing part 30.

The drive unit 14 has two prismatic guides 36, 38 and may as previously mentioned for the column 10 be lengthened in its rear end with a optional number of extension profiles 40 to increase its possible length of feed. A guide 38 facing towards the column 10 is heavier dimensioned in order to be able to carry the great stresses that may arise when drilling, and also when sawing, and a front guide 36 is arranged to be used by various auxiliary devices that are described in more detail below. One possibility is that in the drive unit 14 and/or in an extension profile 40 build in all drive electronics to an automatic feeding unit where the system communicates with the drive unit 14 and automatically handles the adjustment of the feed force. Hereby, the machining system and its feed may be controlled via wireless control. The drive unit 14 comprises motor, gear box and drive electronics in order to be able to vary the output rotation speed on an output shaft of the drive unit 14 arranged to drive the drill bit 16. The drive unit 14 has when performing the feed movement a possibility to move in relation to the feeder housing 12 which is a decisive difference in comparison to previous solutions. The drive unit 14 performs in this way the feeding via the feeder housing 12 which thus may be either movably mounted on both the column 10 and the drive unit 14 or stationary mounted on the column 10 and movably mounted on the drive unit 14 . The feeder housing 12 has a feed motor that via at least one gear wheel on the feeder housing 12 and a

gear rack 41 on the column 10 and/or a gear rack 43 on the drive unit 14 feeds the drive unit 14 when drilling and sawing which will be described in more detail below. By this solution, a number of components which are necessary in order for the feeding to function in the known solution described in the preamble of the description are eliminated.

A collector 42 for water and/or dust and/or similar mat be arranged around the drill bit 16 when drilling in sensitive spaces such as already decorated office premises etc. Hereby is avoided that the drilling water / waste water that exits from the drill hole 44 is spread in an uncontrollable way in the space where the machining system 2 is set up for drilling. The front prismatic guide 36 on the drive unit 14 may be arranged to keep the collector 42 in place against a floor, wall, ceiling, or the like, i.e. against the surface where one drills the hole 44. The collector 42 may hereby be adjusted using a travelling carriage 46 which runs along said guide 36 and the collector 42 may be kept tight against the surface which one drills in using e.g. a gas spring, water pressure, or a counterweight. Another possibility is to control the travelling carriage with a gear drive and an electrical motor.

In order to be able to set the exact position for the drill bit 16 in an easy way, an attachment which runs on the front guide 36 and which marks where the centre for the drill bit will be positioned on the surface where the hole 44 is intended to be drilled may be arranged. Also lighting, holder for a vacuum cleaner, and a support for a drill bit arranged to rotate with very high rotational speeds may be arranged in similar way on a travelling carriage which runs along the front guide 36.

Spindle units of different kinds may be arranged between the drive unit and the drill bit in order to alter the gear reduction for different drill bits with different diameters, where the gear reduction is increased with larger diameter of the drill bit. When drilling, a drill bit is preferably mounted on the spindle using a quick coupling.

The feeder housing 12 has a feed motor that via a gear wheel on the feeder housing 12 and a gear rack 41 on the column 10 and/or a gear rack 43 on the drive unit 14 feeds the drive unit

14 when drilling and sawing which will be described in more detail below.

Figure 3 shows schematically a feeder housing 12 for two different feed movements, where the column and the drive unit are aligned with each other according to what is shown in figure 1. In the figure is also shown a feed motor 48 that via a gear wheel 50 on the feeder housing 12 and a gear rack on the drive unit may feed the drive unit when drilling and sawing. A similar gear wheel driven by another feed motor 52 is arranged on the other side of the feeder housing 12 whereby one via a gear rack on the column may feed the drive unit when drilling and sawing. The feeder housing 12 according to this embodiment comprises two parts 30, 32 and at least one feed motor 48, 50, i.e. that both gear wheels may be arranged to be driven by the same feed motor. As can be seen, the two parts 30, 32 of the feeder housing 12 are made as travelling carriages. As the gear wheel drive shaft is arranged in the centre of rotation of both of the feeder housing parts 30, 32 one may feed the drive unit irrespective of at what angle the housing parts 30, 32 are pivoted in relation to each other. Instead of performing the feed movement using at least one feed drive device 49 in the form of a feed motor 48, 50, also a hand feed drive device 49 of previously known kind, e.g. using a handle, may be used.

Figure 4 shows schematically a feeder housing 12 according to figure 3 for two different feed movements, where the column and the drive unit are set at an 45° angle in relation to each other, this in order to illustrate the step-less adjustment of the angle between the column and the drive unit. In the figure is also shown a feed motor 48 that via a gear wheel 50 on the feeder housing 12 and a gear rack on the drive unit may feed the drive unit when drilling and sawing. A similar gear wheel 51 driven by another feed motor 52 is arranged on the other side of the feeder housing 12 via a gear rack on the column may feed the drive unit when drilling and sawing. The feeder housing 12 according to this embodiment comprises two parts 30, 32 and at least one feed motor, i.e. that both gear wheels may be arranged to be driven by the same feed motor. As can be seen, the two parts 30, 32 of the feeder housing 12 are made as travelling carriages.

Figure 5 shows schematically a view of a second embodiment of a machining system 2 where the drive unit 14 performs the feeding via the feeder housing 12 which is firmly but detachably mounted on the column 10 and movably mounted on the drive unit 14, whereby the feed movement is performed by feeding of the drive unit 14 in relation to the feeder housing 12.

Figure 6 shows schematically a view of a third embodiment of a modular machining system 2 comprising a fastening unit 4, preferably with wheels 6, 8 in order to be able to easier move the machining system 2, a column 10 , a feeder housing 12, and a drive unit 14. In this embodiment, a wire saw is driven by the drive unit 14. The drill bit described in figures 1-2 is in this embodiment exchanged for a drive wheel 54 for wire sawing. In an embodiment, a saw wire 55 runs around the drive wheel 54 and over two pivotable wire guiding devices 58, 60, that in this embodiment comprise pivotable pivoted wheels 59, 61 that are fixed at the column 10 via a mechanical joint 63, and possibly further over from the modular machining system 2 separated wire guiding devices e.g. I the form of pivoted wheels that guide the wire 55 to and from the object to be sawed. The feed movement which in this case tensions the wire 55 is performed by the feeder housing. In this embodiment, the drive unit 14 is mounted perpendicular to the column 10.

In another embodiment not shown, the spindle unit is exchanged for an angular drive and the drive wheel is mounted in this case on the spindle of the angular drive.

Further wire guiding devices as e.g. pivoted wheels may be mounted on a separate feeder housing that runs on the front guide of the drive unit.

By a feed movement of the drive unit 14 in longitudinal direction, the wire drive wheel 54 may be adjusted sideways. In this way, it is easy to perform parallel cuts by that the drive unit 14 is moved in longitudinal direction to different positions.

By pivoting the drive unit 14 with an angle of 90° , also cuts directed perpendicularly to those described above may be performed whereby it becomes very easy to make square-shaped holes such as e.g. for windows or doors.

By arranging the feeder housing 12 with a motor driven circular feed movement and by arranging so that the wire 55 is guided so that it runs out from the drive wheel 54, through a pilot hole arranged at the centre of a hole which is to be cut out, further thereafter is deflected radially out to the periphery of the hole that is to be cut out and thereafter back through the

concrete at the periphery of said hole which is to be cut out one may saw out holes of differing sizes by moving the drive unit 14 radially.

Figure 7 shows schematically a view of a fourth embodiment of a modular machining system 2 comprising a fastening unit 4, preferably with wheels 6, 8 in order to be able to easier move the machining system 2, a column 10, a feeder housing 12, and a drive unit 14. In this embodiment, a wire saw is driven by the drive unit 14. The drill bit described in figures 1-2 is in this embodiment exchanged for a drive wheel 54 for wire sawing. In this embodiment, a saw wire 55 runs around the drive wheel 54 and over two pivotable wire guiding devices 58, 60, which in this embodiment comprise pivotable pivoted wheels 59, 61, and possibly further over from the modular machining system 2 separated wire guiding devices e.g. in the form of pivoted wheels that guide the wire 55 to and from the object to be sawed. Between the drive wheel 54 and one of the wire guiding devices 60 is arranged a wire stock 68 in the form of an arrangement with at least an upper roller 70 and at least one lower roller 72 which are arranged to be movable away from each other by that a travelling carriage 74 that runs along the front guide 36 of the drive unit 14 is moved in the direction upwards in the figure, i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the column 10, whereby a tensioning of the wire 55 is performed.

By a feed movement of the drive unit 14 in longitudinal direction, the wire drive wheel 54 may be adjusted sideways. In this way, it is easy to perform parallel cuts by that the drive unit 14 is moved in longitudinal direction to different positions.

Figure 8 shows schematically a view of a fifth embodiment of a modular machining system 2 comprising a fastening unit 4, preferably with wheels 6, 8 in order to be able to easier move the machining system 2, a column 10, a feeder housing 12, and a drive unit 14. In this embodiment, a blade 62 is driven by the drive unit 14. The drill bit and the spindle described in figures 1-2 are in this embodiment exchanged for a pivoting arm 64. The blade is fed in longitudinal direction by the feeder housing 12 along the column 10 and the blade is fed in to and out of engagement with the object to be cut by a pivoting arm 64. The blade 62 may be moved sideways in an easy way and be pivoted 180° for different distances or 90° for perpendicular cuts in the same way as has been described for the wire saw above, i.e. that by a

feed movement of the drive unit 14 in longitudinal direction, the blade 62 may be adjusted sideways. In this way, it is easy to perform parallel cuts by that the drive unit 14 is moved in longitudinal direction to different positions. When the blade 62 is arranged in a position at 90° angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the column 10, one may by pivoting the column 10 around its own axis perform a sideways feed movement of the blade 62.

For non-parallel cuts, the machining devices mentioned in the different above embodiments may be pivoted at an optional angle, preferably in a step-less way.

The invention thus relates to a modular machining system comprising a fastening unit 4, a column 10, a feeder housing 12, and a drive unit 14, where the drive unit 14 is arranged to drive at least one machining device 16, 55, 62 and where the machining system 2 comprises means arranged to drive the drive unit 14 in relation to the feeder housing 12 to perform a feed movement for the machining device 16, 55, 62. The invention also relates to a feeder housing 12 and a drive unit 14 for a modular machining system 2, respectively.