Flexible Drill Bit Collar for Precise Bending and Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flexible drill bit assemblies face challenges in accurately positioning the end of the drill bit, leading to potential damage from drilling in undesired locations or directions.

Innovation Solution

A flexible drill bit assembly with a collar that freely rotates and slides along the drill bit shaft, allowing users to apply forces to position and bend the drill bit without additional fasteners, and includes detachable hex shank and hex receiver attachments for easy interchange with power drills and tool heads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional flexible drill bit assemblies are used, then the drill bit can reach difficult locations, but the positioning accuracy is poor leading to potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to reach difficult locationsVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The collar provides tactile feedback to the user as the flexible shaft bends and contacts surfaces, allowing the user to feel resistance changes and adjust positioning accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables precise positioning despite the flexibility of the shaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The collar acts as an intermediary between the user's hand and the flexible shaft, providing a rigid reference point that translates user applied forces into controlled bending of the shaft while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If additional fasteners are used to secure components, then the connection strength increases, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidease of component interchange

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hex shank and hex receiver design provides a universal interface that works for both secure attachment during drilling and easy detachment for component interchange, eliminating the need for separate fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The hex interface allows the components to self-lock during operation through the driving torque, while also enabling easy manual removal by simply applying reverse torque, making the system self-sufficient for both attachment and detachment functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If the collar is fixed to the shaft, then the structural stability increases, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of positioning and bending

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is designed to be dynamically movable along the shaft while maintaining rotational engagement, allowing it to slide to different positions for various drilling angles while remaining stable during actual drilling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The collar is separated from the shaft as an independent component that can move freely along the shaft length, allowing the user to position it at different locations to control bending at different points while maintaining structural integrity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250128338A1Flexible Drill Bit and Kit

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP

AI summary

Various embodiments of a flexible drill bit assembly are provided. The flexible drill bit assembly includes structures that allow users to position and direct the flexible drill bit assembly during use and easily interchange components on the ends of the flexible drill bit shaft without requiring additional fasteners, and the flexible drill bit assembly optionally includes a sleave that slides along a flexible shaft of the flexible drill bit assembly.