Portable Tie Drill and Lag Screw Inserter With Quick-Change Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods in the rail industry require separate heavy tools for drilling holes through plates and into wooden ties and inserting lag screws, with no portable, battery-operated devices capable of performing both functions efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A portable, battery-powered device that combines the functions of a tie drill and lag screw inserter, featuring a removable drill with a quick connect system, gear ratio, and spring-guided mechanism, allowing for both drilling and screw insertion with reduced weight and hydraulic limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate heavy tools are used for drilling and lag screw insertion, then the tools can perform their respective functions effectively, but the weight and portability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two previously separate tools (drill and lag screw inserter) into a single integrated device. The drill assembly and lag screw inserter assembly share a common housing, battery power source, and structural framework, allowing workers to perform both drilling and lag screw insertion with one tool rather than carrying two separate 60+ pound tools
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions through different assemblies: the drill assembly with drill bit for hole drilling, and the lag screw inserter assembly with lag screw and anvil for screw insertion. The device can switch between these functions by reconfiguring the removable drill bit and lag screw components
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate tools are used for drilling and lag screw insertion, then each tool can be optimized for its specific function, but the number of tools and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of separate drill and lag screw inserter tools into one integrated device with a common housing, power source, and structural components, reducing the number of tools from two to one while maintaining both drilling and insertion capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into distinct removable assemblies: a drill assembly with drill bit for drilling operations, and a lag screw inserter assembly with lag screw and anvil for insertion operations. These segmented assemblies can be removed and replaced independently, allowing functional versatility while maintaining a unified device structure
3Power
If hydraulic systems are used in heavy tools, then sufficient power is available, but the weight and portability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional hydraulic power system with an electric motor driven by a battery pack. This substitution eliminates the need for hydraulic fluid, pumps, and associated heavy components, significantly reducing tool weight while maintaining sufficient power for drilling and lag screw insertion operations through direct electric-to-mechanical energy conversion
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable device (100) is disclosed for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. The portable device may include a handle (114) and a removable drill (110) with a rechargeable battery (112) that provides power to the portable device. The portable device includes a gear ratio and gear reduction system (120) configured to allow a user to change speed and torque settings for the portable device independent from the battery-powered drill. The portable device may include a quick connect/disconnect component (130) configured to enable the portable device to be used as a tie drill device or a lag screw inserter device by interchangeably connecting either a drill bit or a lag screw socket to the portable device.