Method and apparatus for improving operation of masonry saws and drills

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for sawing or drilling concrete or like material comprises use of a fluid flow device for transmitting a stream of water from a pressurized water supply to the cutting elements of a masonry saw or core drill and for injecting a speed-enhancing compound into the stream of water, with the compound being injected under the influence of a venturi-induced suction force created by the stream of water as it flows through the device. Preferably the device includes means for varying the rate at which the speed-enhancing compound is sucked into the water stream.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for improving the rate at which a driven cutting device penetrates a masonry material such as concrete, granite or other rock, sandstone, fired brick or a like material using a core drill, said method comprising: 
 passing a cooling stream of water to said cutting device; and    injecting a speed-enhancing composition into said stream of water by a venturi-induced suction force.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said driven cutting device is a saw.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said driven cutting device is a core drill.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said stream of water is passed to said cutting device by means of an injection device having a through passageway with a constriction therein, and said venturi-induced suction force is produced by said stream of water flowing through said constriction.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  herein said composition is introduced into said passageway via a side port in said device.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said composition flows into said side port from a supply vessel via a flow control valve.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said speed-enhancing composition is a solution of a surfactant.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said surfactant is an anionic compound.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said surfactant is cationic compound.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said surfactant is a non-ionic polymer capable of hydrogen bonding with water to produce charge-neutralizing positive charge dipoles.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said non-ionic polymer is a polyalkylene oxide or a polyacrylamide-based non-ionic polymer.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for improving the rate at which a driven cutting device penetrates a masonry material such as concrete, granite or other rock, sandstone, fired brick or a like material using a core drill, said apparatus comprising: 
 water-directing means for directing a flow of water to said cutting device; and    a venturi liquid injection device having a water flow-through passageway, inlet and outlet ports communicating with said passageway, and an injection port communicating with said passageway, said outlet port being connected to said water-directing means, said inlet port being adapted to be connected to a water supply and said injection port being adapted to be connected to a supply of a liquid speed-enhancing composition;    said injection device being designed so that a stream of water flowing under pressure in said passageway from said inlet port to said outlet port will produce a venturi-induced suction force in said injection port sufficient to cause injection of a liquid speed-enhancing composition into said passageway via said injection port when said injection port is connected to a supply of said composition.    
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein said injection passageway has a constriction and said suction force is produced by the flow of water under pressure through that constriction.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein said driven cutting device is a saw.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein said driven cutting device comprises a core drill.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  further including flow control valve means associated with said injection port for varying the rate at which liquid is injected into said passageway by said venturi-induced suction force.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said injection device comprises a housing having said through passageway and said injection port, and said flow control valve is attached directly to and supported by said housing.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein said flow control valve means comprises an injection orifice and means for varying the effective size of said injection orifice.