Installation apparatus and method

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for providing access for cable or conduit installation from a roof top 2 or a basement of a building to the building interior 20. The method comprises the steps of mounting a drilling apparatus 22 on the building roof top and above a wall 6 of the building, or in the basement and below the building wall. The drilling apparatus is then used to drill a bore 26 that extends from the roof top into the wall, or that that extends from the basement into the wall. At least one aperture 28 extending from the building interior into the wall can be provided and the building interior can then communicate with the bore. The drilling apparatus 22 can comprise a drill string 24 comprising a drill bit, a drill motor adapted to drive the drill string and a support frame 32 having a lower portion 34 adapted to be mounted on the roof top or in the basement, and an upper portion 36 adapted to support the weight of the drill string, substantially independently of the drill motor. The support frame can be adapted for vertical displacement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion to lower and raise the drill string during drilling.

1 . A method for providing access for cable or conduit installation from a roof top or a basement of a building to the building interior, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) mounting a drilling apparatus on the building roof top and above a wall of the building, or in the basement and below a wall of the building;    (b) drilling with the drilling apparatus a bore that extends from the roof top into the wall, or that that extends from the basement into the wall;    (c) providing at least one aperture extending from the building interior into the wall; and    (d) communicating the building interior with the bore.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the wall comprises an inner shell and an outer shell separated by a wall cavity, with the drilling step then comprising drilling a bore that extends from the roof top or basement into the wall cavity, and with the at least one aperture communicating the building interior with the bore via the wall cavity.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the wall comprises a plurality of cavities between the inner shell and outer shell, the cavities being separated by one or more floor slabs, with the drilling step then comprising drilling a series of axial bore sections through the roof top and each of the floor slabs or, when commenced from the basement, through each of the floor slabs.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of running a cable or conduit from the roof top or the basement via the bore and aperture to the building interior.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the building comprises a parapet erected above the wall, with the drilling apparatus being mounted above the parapet in use, wherein the drilling step comprises drilling a bore through the parapet and into the wall.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising the step of providing a branch hole at the base of the parapet to facilitate access to the bore from the roof top.  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in claim,  1  further comprising the step of, during the drilling operation, supporting the weight of a drill string in the drilling apparatus, substantially independently of a drill motor of the drilling apparatus.  
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of preparing an unlevel surface to be drilled within the wall by applying a plastic setting medium to the unlevel surface and substantially levelling the plastic setting medium.  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising the step of inserting a tamper via the bore, and tamping the plastic setting medium to be substantially level.  
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  or  9  wherein an opening is made in the wall either from the building exterior or interior to facilitate installation of the plastic setting medium.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  or  9  further comprising the step of centring the drill string by lowering a centre point device into the bore, forming an indent in the plastic setting medium with the centre point device as the plastic setting medium sets and centring a drill string of the drilling apparatus on the indent.  
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of monitoring the drilling operation by means of closed circuit TV cameras within the wall.  
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the closed circuit TV cameras are passed into the wall via a drill pipe of the drilling apparatus or via the empty bore.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of fixing a tube within a bore section.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein slots are provided in the tube and sealant is pressed from within the tube and out via the slots to seal the tube within the bore section.  
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising cutting flaps into the tube and bending the flaps outwardly to engage surfaces at the top and bottom of the base section, or twisting the tube in the bore hole as the sealant is pressed out.  
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the drilling apparatus comprises a drill motor and a drill string, and the drill string comprises a drill pipe and a drill bit.  
   
   
       18 . A drilling apparatus adapted to drill a bore from a roof top or a basement of a building into a wall of the building for cable or conduit access from the roof top or basement, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a drill string comprising a drill bit;    (b) a drill motor adapted to drive the drill string;    (c) a support frame having a lower portion adapted to be mounted on the roof top or in the basement, and an upper portion adapted to support the weight of the drill string, substantially independently of the drill motor;    wherein the support frame is adapted for vertical displacement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion to lower and raise the drill string during drilling.    
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the drill string further comprises one or more sections of drill pipe, with the drill bit being connected to a first such section.  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the support frame upper portion comprises a mounting plate to which the drill motor can be mounted and at least one jack adapted to raise and lower the plate relative to the lower portion.  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  comprising two jacks and two guide pins adapted to uniformly raise and lower the upper portion.  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a thrust bearing supported on the upper portion and adapted to transfer torque from the drill motor to the drill string, with a drill locking chuck being associated with the thrust bearing to lock the thrust bearing.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a closed circuit TV camera adapted to be passed down the drill string to monitor the drilling progress and drilling environment.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a plastic setting medium dispensing device adapted to be passed down the bore and to dispense a plastic setting medium at a surface to be drilled, with a tamper being adapted to be lowered into the bore for tamping the plastic setting medium and creating a substantially level surface, and with a centre point device being adapted to be lowered into the bore and to create an indent in the plastic setting medium as it sets.  
   
   
       25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a compressed air spraying unit adapted to be inserted into the bore and to spray paint onto the interior surface of the bore.  
   
   
       26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a dispensing device adapted to install and seal a tube within a section of the bore, with the tube having a plurality of slots cut therein to allow sealant to be pressed from within the tube to the tube exterior.  
   
   
       27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the dispensing device comprises a draw rod attached to a piston rod and piston, a piston housing slidably and axially mounted on the draw rod and adapted to receive the piston rod, and a boss around the piston housing adapted to receive an end of the tube, wherein the boss, tube and piston define a sealant chamber, and wherein drawing the piston rod into the piston housing presses sealant from the sealant chamber out of the tube via the slots.