Concrete drilling system and related methods

Abstract

A drilling system ( 10 ) for drilling holes into concrete includes a drilling tool ( 20 ) attached to a frame ( 22 ) that can be secured to a drilling surface (S) of any orientation and permits (1) manual, (2) manual-power-assisted, or (3) stand-mounted, hands-free operation of the drilling tool ( 20 ). The system ( 10 ) utilizes air pressure, vacuum, gas regulating system, or even magnetism, to secure the frame ( 22 ) of the drilling tool ( 20 ) to the surface (S) and to control the movement of a drill bit ( 34 ) with respect to the surface (S). A fluid delivery system ( 80 ) is used to facilitate certain actions of the drill bit ( 34 ) and to effectively remove debris resulting from drilling from the drilling site. Also disclosed are related methods of drilling holes into concrete that reduce noise, mess, and debris resulting from drilling.

I claim:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for drilling holes, including: a motorized drilling device mounted on a first portion of a frame, said frame having a base portion securable to a drilling surface, said first portion and said base portion being slidably engaged with each other, and means acting between said first portion and said base portion to articulate said drilling device with respect to the drilling surface, said base portion including at least one compartment that confronts the drilling surface, and a vacuum selectably acting on said at least one compartment to provide said securement of said base portion to said drilling surface.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which said apparatus further includes a watertight drilling chamber positionable over the drilling surface, said chamber having at least one port to permit a drilling liquid to be pumped to and from a site of contact between a drill bit of said drilling device and said drilling surface.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , in which said chamber is formed in part by a watertight seal between said base portion and said drilling device, said seal permitting said articulation of said drilling device with respect to the drilling surface.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means acting between said first portion and said base portion includes at least one pressure-actuated piston to control the relative position of a drill bit of said drilling device with respect to the drilling surface.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  including a fluid delivery system to deliver fluid to the contact site at which said bit contacts said drilling surface, wherein said fluid delivery system includes a fluid reservoir; a filter; and means for pumping said fluid from said reservoir to said watertight chamber and from said drilling site through said filter to said fluid reservoir.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which said bit has a hollow core to permit flow of said fluid through said bit to said contact site, said fluid thereby also flowing into said watertight drilling chamber between said base portion and said drilling device.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said chamber is capable of temporarily retaining debris from drilling, in which said chamber includes a port connected to a suction device to remove said debris from said contact site.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  or  claim 6  or  claim 7  in which said fluid delivery system is completely carried on a portable stand.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  in which said portable stand includes a movable extension member secured thereto, said drilling device being affixed to said extension member, said extension member being selectively extendable and retractable to position said drilling device independently of said means acting between said first portion and said base portion to articulate said drilling device with respect to the drilling surface.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  in which said movable extension member has a rotatable seat in which said drilling device is mounted, whereby said drilling device can be selectively rotated into a desired position in connection with said securement of said base portion to said drilling surface.  
     
     
         11 . A drilling tool including: a motor for turning a drill bit; said drill bit being mounted in a frame, said frame having at least one piston to control the distance between said drill bit and a drilling surface, said frame further including a base with at least one sealing element to form an air tight chamber, said air tight chamber including a port attached to a vacuum source to secure said frame to said drilling surface and to position said drill bit at a selected site for drilling into said drilling surface.  
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 11  including: a compartment separated from said chamber and positioned about said drilling site, said compartment capable of retaining debris from drilling a hole.  
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 12  wherein said compartment is operably attached to a suction device to facilitate removal of said debris from said compartment.  
     
     
         14 . A frame for a drill including: a base with a sealing chamber to secure said frame to a drilling surface; a mounting section in which the drill is fixed; a debris removal chamber for containing and facilitating removal of debris from an area being drilled; and at least one piston to move the drill with respect to the drilling surface.  
     
     
         15 . The frame of  claim 14  wherein said frame is operably attached to a portable station, said portable station further including a power regulation assembly and an air pressure control system to control the operation of said at least one piston.  
     
     
         16 . The frame of  claim 15  wherein said air pressure control system includes a vacuum device to reduce the air pressure within said sealing chamber when said base is positioned against the drilling surface.  
     
     
         17 . The frame of  claim 15  or  claim 16  wherein said portable station includes a water delivery system to provide water to the area being drilled and to urge a slurry of water and debris away from the area being drilled.  
     
     
         18 . The frame of  claim 17  in which said water delivery system includes a water tank; at least one pump to force water from said water tank toward the area being drilled; and at least one other pump to urge the slurry from said debris removal chamber to a filter and then to said water tank.  
     
     
         19 . A portable base for a drilling machine including: a power control system; an air pressure control system attached to the drilling machine; and a recirculating water flow control system to recirculate water from a water storage apparatus through a drill bit attached to the drilling machine.  
     
     
         20 . The base of  claim 19  further including a support member having an extendible arm to position the drilling machine against a drilling surface.  
     
     
         21 . The base of  claim 20  wherein said extendible arm includes a rotatable head to receive the drilling machine to permit rotation of the drilling machine with respect to the area being drilled.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for drilling holes including: a portable stand having a power control unit to control operation of a drilling device, said drilling device having a motor; a motor mount to hold said motor; an adapter attached to said motor; a bit attached to said adapter; and a frame having a base to secure said frame to a drilling surface and having at least one piston connected to a pressure regulation system to control the action of said at least one piston wherein said at least one piston controls the relative distance between said bit and said drilling surface.  
     
     
         23 . A method of drilling a hole, including the steps of: 
 a) positioning a base of a frame of a drilling device against a surface to be drilled, said base including a vacuum chamber positionable against the surface so that said surface forms part of said chamber;    b) activating a vacuum source operably connected to said vacuum chamber to secure said frame to said surface to be drilled;    c) activating a drill bit in said drilling device; and    d) advancing said drill bit toward said surface to be drilled by actuating at least one piston operating between a first part and a second part of said frame.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  in which said surface to be drilled is made of concrete.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  or  claim 24  including the step of activating at least one pump to urge water from a water source to said drill bit.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  including the steps of: 
 a) collecting a mixture of water and debris around said drill bit as said drilling is occurring; and  
 b) aspirating said mixture away from said drilling site and into a filter whereby said water can return to said water source after said mixture passes through said filter to remove said debris from said mixture.  
 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus for drilling holes, including: a portable frame selectively positionable adjacent a surface to be drilled; a drill mounted in a first portion of said frame, said frame having a second portion securable to the surface to be drilled, and means acting between said first and second portions for controlled articulation of said drilling device with respect to the drilling surface.  
     
     
         28 . Apparatus for drilling holes, including: a motorized drilling device mounted on a first portion of a frame, said frame having a base portion securable to a drilling surface, said first portion and said base portion being slidably engaged with each other, and means acting between said first portion and said base portion to articulate said drilling device with respect to the drilling surface.  
     
     
         29 . A drill bit for drilling holes, including: a shank portion having a first end and a second end, said first end engageable with a drill motor, and said second end configured to contact a drilling surface; said shank portion having a hollow bore therethrough exiting at said second end, said exit providing an opening at said second end; said opening providing means for creating an unobstructed hole in said drilling surface.  
     
     
         30 . The drill bit of  claim 29 , wherein said second end of said drill bit includes an axis about which the bit rotates during drilling, in which said opening in said second end of said drill bit does not include the center of said axis.  
     
     
         31 . The drill bit of  claim 29 , wherein said opening in said second end of said drill bit extends from an edge of said second end and beyond the center of said second end.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which said apparatus further includes a drill bit having a first end and a second end, said first end engageable with a drill motor, and said second end configured to contact a drilling surface; said shank portion having a hollow bore therethrough exiting at said second end, said exit providing an opening at said second end; said opening providing means for creating an unobstructed hole in said drilling surface.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which said drilling device is affixed to a movable extension member secured to a portable stand, said extension member being extendable and retractable to position said drilling device independently of said means acting between said first portion and said base portion to articulate said drilling device with respect to the drilling surface.