Apparatus and method for reducing airborne dust

Abstract

A device (10) for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole (12), the device including a cover (14) for covering the hole and an aperture (16) for allowing a pump (18) to pass gas through the cover and into the drilled hole to blow dust from the hole, with the cover acting to shield a user from the dust.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING AIRBORNE DUST

[0002] PRIORITY CLAIM

[0003] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Australian Application No. 2023900802, which was filed on March 22, 2023, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates dust reduction during construction. More specifically, the present invention relates to airborne dust reduction in a drilling operation during construction.

[0006] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0007] It is known to anchor objects to a substrate chemical anchoring and / or mechanical anchoring in the case of chemical anchoring this includes a chemical and a device to be secured in a drilled (example, the device being a threaded rod or reinforcing bar) in the case of mechanical anchoring, this may be achieved by way of expansion anchors or screw anchors (for example, the kinds of anchors sold under the trademarks of DynaBolt or AnkaScrew).

[0008] In both cases, with chemical anchoring and mechanical anchoring, a hole is drilled in the substrate. The applicant has determined that the quality of the anchoring may be dependent on the cleanliness of the drilled hole and, specifically, the absence of dust in the hole.

[0009] To deal with the anchorage problems associated with dust in a drilled hole, it has been previously proposed to use a dustless drilling system or a so-called "brush, blow technique". Dustless drilling is a thorough solution but has the disadvantage of being relatively expensive, requiring special drill bits and typically an expensive plug-in vacuum system. Advantageously, with a dustless drilling system, no cleaning of the hole is required after drilling. In the "brush, blow technique", a hole is drilled using a traditional drill, leaving a large amount of dust inside. This dust is blown out from the hole, however the applicant has this technique has the disadvantage of being problematic to the health of workers in the vicinity owing to airborne dust which can cause significant health issues.

[0010] It has also been previously proposed to provide a dust reduction device to be used when drilling a hole. Such devices may be in the form of a dust extraction adapter which uses a vacuum to extract dust during a drilling operation. However, the applicant has identified that these devices merely reduce dust from above the substrate surface while drilling and do not clean the drilling hole. In particular, such devices allow dust to remain within the drilled hole.

[0011] The applicant has identified that silica dust is harmful when breathed. It is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand, so a person can breathe in the silica dust without even being aware. This can lead to silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, and lung cancer. It has been estimated that approximately 587,000 Australians have been exposed to silica dust while working. It is also estimated that around 5700 of these workers will develop lung cancer over the course of their life. Those at greatest risk include construction workers and engineers.

[0012] The applicant has determined that it would be beneficial for there to be provided an improved apparatus for reducing airborne dust during the cleaning of holes drilled in substrates such as concrete.

[0013] Examples of the present invention seek to provide an airborne dust reduction or prevention apparatus which alleviates or at least ameliorates one or more disadvantages of existing methods and apparatuses used in drilling operations.

[0014] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole, the device including a cover for covering the hole and an aperture for allowing a pump to pass gas through the cover and into the drilled hole to blow dust from the hole, with the cover acting to shield a user from the dust.

[0016] Preferably, the cover is arranged such that the pump is operated from above the cover to blow gas into the drilled hole from a conduit terminating in the drilled hole. More preferably, the cover includes a receiving portion for receiving a body of the pump, and wherein the conduit extends through the aperture from the pump to terminate in the drilled hole.

[0017] In a preferred form, the cover is substantially conical. More preferably, the aperture is centrally located relative to the substantially conical cover. The receiving portion may be centrally located relative to the substantially conical cover. In other examples, the cover may take different forms such as with a square or rectangular base or with cylindrical form, for example a tapered cylinder or a non-tapered cylinder.

[0018] Preferably, the substantially conical cover terminates in a lower edge. More preferably, the lower edge is circular. The lower edge may have at least one cutaway formed therein to allow passage of gas.

[0019] In one form, the gas is air.

[0020] Preferably, the receiving portion is arranged to conform to the body of the pump to form a seal so as to prevent dust from passing between the device and the pump.

[0021] It is preferred that the aperture enables a conduit of the pump to extend through the cover. More preferably, the conduit has at least one aperture in a wall of the conduit. Even more preferably, the at least one aperture is spaced from an end of the conduit such that, when the end of the conduit rests on a base of the hole, said at least one aperture is arranged to direct gas from the conduit against a wall of the hole.

[0022] In one form, the conduit has a plurality of apertures in a wall of the conduit.

[0023] Preferably, an end of the conduit has at least one cutaway for preventing blockage of an outlet at a tip of the conduit against a base of the drilled hole.

[0024] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole, including a pump for pumping a gas into the drilled hole to blow dust from the hole, and a shield for shielding a user from the dust, wherein the pump is coupled to the shield such that the pump is operable from behind the shield.

[0025] Preferably, the shield is in the form of a conical cover fitted to the pump. More preferably, the conical cover is arranged to enable a conduit of the pump to extend through the cover and into the drilled hole for blowing dust from the hole.

[0026] In one form, the pump is a manual pump.

[0027] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a drilled hole, including the steps of providing a pump with a shield coupled to the pump; locating a conduit of the pump such that an end of the conduit is in the drilled hole; arranging the shield over the drilled hole to shield a user from the dust; and operating the pump from behind the shield to blow dust from the hole.

[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole in accordance with an example of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 shows a top view of the device;

[0032] Figure 3 shows a side view of the device;

[0033] Figure 4 shows a lower perspective view of the device; Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the device;

[0034] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the device being used in combination with a pump so as to form an apparatus for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole;

[0035] Figure 7 shows an upper perspective view of a device for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole, in accordance with another example of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 8 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 7;

[0037] Figure 9 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 7;

[0038] Figure 10 is a lower perspective view of the device shown in Figure 7;

[0039] Figure 11 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 7;

[0040] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 7 being used in combination with a pump so as to form an apparatus for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole;

[0041] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a device for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole in accordance with yet another example of the present invention; and

[0042] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 13 depicted in use during cleaning of a drilled hole.

[0043] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The applicant has identified that cleaning of a hole is crucial to gaining effective pull-out strength when using chemical anchoring solutions and that holes should also be cleaned when using mechanical anchoring solutions. With chemical anchoring, the cleaning of the hole enables more effective anchoring through the absence of dust. More particularly, the applicant has identified the presence of dust may prevent secure anchoring to a hole, especially where chemical anchoring is used as the chemical product may adhere to the dust rather than to the hole itself. Furthermore, the applicant has identified that cleaning of the dust presents a significant risk to occupational health and safety as the dust may be inadvertently inhaled by the operator attending to the cleaning of the whole as well as others in the vicinity. Moreover it has been determined by the applicant that it would be beneficial for there to be provided a readily accessible apparatus for providing a relatively safe procedure for cleaning of a drilled hole in preparation for chemical and all mechanical anchoring.

[0045] Chemical anchoring may include a chemical settable material as well as a device to be secured in the whole is a threaded rod or reinforcing bar. Examples mechanical anchoring may include expansion anchors and / or screw anchors - for example, anchors of the kind marketed using the branding of DynaBolts, AnkaScrews or similar.

[0046] With reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown a device 10 for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole 12. The device 10 includes a cover 14 for covering the hole 12 and an aperture 16 for allowing a pump 18 to pass gas through the cover 14 and into the drilled hole 12 to blow dust from the hole 12, with the cover 14 acting to shield a user from the dust.

[0047] The cover 14 is arranged such that the pump 18 is operated from above the cover 14 to blow gas into the drilled hole 12 from a conduit 20 terminating in the drilled hole 12 (see Figure 14).

[0048] The cover 14 may be substantially conical in form, tapering outwardly and downwardly from the aperture 16. This conical shaping of the cover 14 may assist in directing the dust ejected by the pump 18 from the drilled hole 12, back downwardly toward a substrate in which the hole 12 is drilled and away from the user being protected from the cover 14. The aperture 16 may be centrally located relative to the substantially conical cover 14. The substantially conical cover 14 may terminate in a lower edge 22 which is circular. With reference to Figure 1 , Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 6, the lower edge 22 may have at least one cutaway 24 formed therein to allow passage of gas. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 6, the lower edge 22 is a plurality of cutaways 24 at regular spacing around a perimeter of the lower edge 22. These cutaways 24 will facilitate passage of gas from under the cover 14 to beyond the cover 14 so as to promote advantageous flow of gas even in scenarios where the lower edge 22 is placed on a surface of a substrate in which the hole 12 is drilled.

[0049] In Figures 1 to 6, the aperture 16 is formed in a raised central nipple 26 which may assist in locating and directing the conduit 20, when the conduit 20 is passed through the aperture 16, as shown in Figure 6. The pump 18 may be in the form of a manual pump having a handle 28 (see Figure 12) which is moved manually by a user in a reciprocating manner so as to pump gas from the pump 18 through the conduit 20. The gas may be in the form of air.

[0050] With reference to Figures 7 to 12, there is shown an alternative example of a cover 14 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The cover 14 shown in Figures 7 to 12 is similar to the cover 14 shown in Figures 1 to 6 and like features are depicted with like numerals. However, the cover 14 shown in Figures 7 to 12 does differ in that it has a receiving portion 30 for receiving a body 32 of the pump 18, and in that the cover 14 has a lower edge 22 in which the cutaways 24 of the previous example are absent. With the absence of the cutaways 24, the cover 14 of Figures 7 to 12 may be used in a raised location relative to a substrate in which the drilled hole 12 is formed. That is, the cover 14 may be raised with the lower edge 22 not touching but still sufficiently close to the drilled hole 12 to protect the user from the dust ejected from the drilled hole 12 during operation of the pump 18. With reference to Figure 12, an end portion of the body 32 of the pump 18 is received in the receiving portion 30 of the cover 14, enabling a structural connection with some rigidity between the cover 14 and the pump 18, thus facilitating manoeuvring of the cover 14 by handling the pump 18. The receiving portion 30 is arranged to conform to the body of the pump 18 to form a seal so as to prevent dust from passing between the device 10 and the pump 18.

[0051] As shown in Figure 8, the aperture 16 is located centrally relative to the receiving portion 30 which itself is cylindrical, and the conduit 20 (see Figure 12) extends through the aperture 16 from the pump to terminate in the drilled hole 12. The receiving portion 30 may be centrally located relative to the substantially conical cover, as shown.

[0052] The aperture 16 enables the conduit 20 of the pump 18 to extend through the cover 14 such that an operator is able to operate the pump 18 from behind the cover 14 while pumping air into the drilled hole 12 on an opposite side of the cover 14 so as to be protected from the dust. The conduit 20 may have at least one cleaning aperture in a wall of the conduit 20 to assist in cleaning a wall of the drilled hole 12. In one form, the conduit 20 may have a plurality of cleaning apertures in a wall of the conduit 20, the cleaning apertures being spaced from a distal end of the conduit 20 such that, when the distal end of the conduit 20 rests on a base of the hole 12, the cleaning apertures are arranged to direct air from the conduit 20 against a wall of the hole 12.

[0053] The distal end of the conduit 20 may have at least one cutaway for preventing blockage of an outlet at a tip of the conduit 20 against a base of the drilled hole 12.

[0054] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus comprising the combination of the cover 14 together with the pump 18. Accordingly, that aspect provides an apparatus for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of the drilled hole 12. The apparatus includes the pump 18 for pumping a gas into the drilled hole 12 to blow dust from the hole 12, and a shield (which may be in the form of cover 14) for shielding a user from the dust, wherein the pump 18 is coupled to the shield 14 such that the pump 18 is operable from behind the shield 14.

[0055] The combination of features forming the apparatus are shown in Figure 6 and Figure 12. In the example shown, the shield is in the form of the conical cover 14 fitted to the pump 18. The conical cover 14 is arranged to enable the conduit 20 of the pump 18 to extend through the cover 14 and into the drilled hole 12 for blowing dust from the hole 12. The pump 18 may be in the form of a manual pump, as shown.

[0056] In another aspect, there is provided a method of cleaning a drilled hole 12. The method includes the steps of providing a pump 18 with a shield 14 coupled to the pump 18; locating a conduit 20 of the pump 18 such that an end of the conduit 20 is in the drilled hole 12; arranging the shield 14 over the drilled hole 12 to shield a user from the dust; and operating the pump 18 from behind the shield 14 to blow dust from the hole 12.

[0057] The shield or cover 14 may be in the form of a dust cone, which may come in a variety of sizes and may also come in a variety of diameters. In one example, the dust cone may have a lower edge with a diameter of 200 mm, and may have an aperture which is 16 mm in diameter.

[0058] The method may include the step locating the device 10 with a gap between the lower edge 22 and the substrate in which the hole 12 is drilled so as to allow airflow beneath the lower edge 22, as depicted in the relative positioning in Figure 12. This may be facilitated by providing a lower edge of the apparatus with one or more cutaways 24 so as to provide passages for airflow even where the lower edge 22 of the kind is placed on the surface of the substrate.

[0059] With reference to Figure 13 and Figure 14, the cover / shield / barrier 14 shown in this example may slide onto the conduit tube 20, providing baffles 34 which give a tortuous path for the air / dust / debris to flow through. Since the dust / debris is heavier than air, it can settle within the enclosure beneath the cover 14 and reduce the amount of dust exiting around a perimeter of the cover 14. Dust is then easier to clean up as it is gathered within the enclosure. As will be appreciated, the cover 14 shown in Figure 13 and Figure 14 may have an upper flat surface 36 above a conical side wall of the cover 14. As shown in Figure 13 and Figure 14, the cover 14 may be provided with venting at a higher point. In the example shown, this venting may be provided by the six radially spaced vents located at an upper portion of the tapered side wall, near a location where the tapered side wall connects with the upper flat surface 36. This relatively high location of the venting may facilitate flow of air outward from the cover 14 in the direction shown by the outwardly facing arrow, while minimising or preventing flow of dust which is relatively heavy and may not flow upwardly through the high venting.

[0060] In one example, with reference to the cone-shaped cover 14 shown in Figures 1 to 6, the cover 14 sits on a drilled surface and the pump tube / conduit slides through the cover 14 to suit the hole depth. In another example, with reference to the cone-shaped cover 14 shown in Figures 7 to 12, the cover 14 is attached to the pump, the tube / conduit is fixed to the pump such that the position of the cover 14 is determined by hole depth.

[0061] Accordingly, as will be appreciated from the above, an example of the present invention provides a barrier in the form of a simple cone shaped cover 14 that may be applied to the end of a current pump system. The invention may be embodied in a variety of forms and complexities - the applicant foresees that an advantageous form of the invention may be kept as simple and cheap as possible such that it is able to be added (for example, retrofitted) to a large range of pumps which may increase differentiation from existing products.

[0062] The simple dust cone may be used in a relatively straightforward manner to reduce harmful dust inhalation. When an operator pumps out a drilled hole, the dust is ordinarily forced directly up out of the hole. This dust may typically go several metres high and disperse over a large area - airflow can carry this even further depending on the environment. When the dust cone of an example of the present invention is added it acts as a deflector / barrier in that the dust being forced up hits an underside of the cone. The majority of the dust then falls directly downward, rather than continuing in an upward direction, thus reducing airborne dust.

[0063] Examples of the invention may achieve the following:

[0064] - reduces airborne dust, and may not necessarily be absolutely dust free

[0065] - does not change the pump and blowhole cleaning process

[0066] - inexpensive answer to reducing dust, no vacuum required

[0067] - can be designed to fit the applicant's own pump designs, possibly also being designed to fit existing pump designs

[0068] Embodiments of the present invention may vary in form. The design of the dust cone could be altered to:

[0069] - reduce manufacture cost

[0070] - make it flexible to take up less room when storing, reduce breakages

[0071] - fit different pump styles

[0072] - consider a compressor fitting option

[0073] - size and shape optimisation

[0074] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

[0075] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

[0076] List of Reference Numerals

[0077] Device for reducing airborne dust 10

[0078] Drilled hole 12

[0079] Cover 14 Aperture 16

[0080] Pump 18

[0081] Conduit 20

[0082] Lower edge 22

[0083] Cutaway 24 Nipple 26

[0084] Handle 28

[0085] Receiving portion 30

[0086] Body 32

[0087] Baffles 34 Upper flat surface 36

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A device for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole, the device including a cover for covering the hole and an aperture for allowing a pump to pass gas through the cover and into the drilled hole to blow dust from the hole, with the cover acting to shield a user from the dust.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , whereby the cover is arranged such that the pump is operated from above the cover to blow gas into the drilled hole from a conduit terminating in the drilled hole.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover includes a receiving portion for receiving a body of the pump, and wherein the conduit extends through the aperture from the pump to terminate in the drilled hole.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover is substantially conical.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the aperture is centrally located relative to the substantially conical cover.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receiving portion is centrally located relative to the substantially conical cover.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the substantially conical cover terminates in a lower edge.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lower edge is circular.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the lower edge has at least one cutaway formed therein to allow passage of gas.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gas is air.

11. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving portion is arranged to conform to the body of the pump to form a seal so as to prevent dust from passingbetween the device and the pump.

12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the aperture enables a conduit of the pump to extend through the cover.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the conduit has at least one aperture in a wall of the conduit.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one aperture is spaced from an end of the conduit such that, when the end of the conduit rests on a base of the hole, said at least one aperture is arranged to direct gas from the conduit against a wall of the hole.

15. A device as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the conduit has a plurality of apertures in a wall of the conduit.

16. A device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein an end of the conduit has at least one cutaway for preventing blockage of an outlet at a tip of the conduit against a base of the drilled hole.

17. An apparatus for reducing airborne dust during cleaning of a drilled hole, including a pump for pumping a gas into the drilled hole to blow dust from the hole, and a shield for shielding a user from the dust, wherein the pump is coupled to the shield such that the pump is operable from behind the shield.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the shield is in the form of a conical cover fitted to the pump.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the conical cover is arranged to enable a conduit of the pump to extend through the cover and into the drilled hole for blowing dust from the hole.

20. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the pump is a manual pump.21 . A method of cleaning a drilled hole, including the steps of providing a pump with a shield coupled to the pump; locating a conduit of the pump such that an end of the conduit is in the drilled hole; arranging the shield over the drilled hole to shield a user from the dust; and operating the pump from behind the shield to blow dust from the hole.

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