Vacuum Slurry Containment for Core Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current core drilling methods are labor-intensive, prone to slip hazards, and cause damage due to uncontrolled slurry, with existing systems being too light, time-consuming, or expensive, and failing to continuously flush away metal particles, leading to bit wear and motor overload.
Innovation Solution
A water/slurry containment device featuring a flattened donut-shaped base plate with a collector ring and gasket, integrated with a vacuum attachment sleeve to collect and extract water/slurry during drilling, preventing puddle formation and ensuring continuous bit cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clay mixture is used to build a dam around each hole before drilling, then water containment is achieved, but labor intensity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable plastic collar instead of reusable clay dams. The plastic collar is a single-use component that is installed around the hole, used during drilling, and then discarded with the slurry. This eliminates the labor-intensive process of building and removing clay dams while maintaining effective water containment throughout the drilling operation.
2Ease of operation
If plastic or rubber collars are used for water containment, then installation is simpler, but they wear out easily in construction environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent accepts the limited durability of plastic collars by making them disposable. Rather than attempting to create a durable reusable collar, the solution is to use inexpensive single-use collars that are installed for each drilling operation and then discarded. This maintains installation simplicity while avoiding the wear and tear problems of reusable collars.
3Ease of operation
If a pump-up sprayer is used to spray water on the bit, then portability is improved, but cooling effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vacuum system as an intermediary mechanism to deliver water directly to the bit. The vacuum hose acts as a conduit that transports water from a remote source directly to the drilling bit, ensuring adequate cooling. This maintains the portability benefit while solving the cooling insufficiency problem by providing a direct water delivery path.
4Temperature
If water is injected through the hollow bit to the work, then bit cooling is improved, but slurry control and cleanup become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water injection system with a vacuum extraction system. The vacuum collar is positioned to capture slurry at its source near the bit, and the vacuum hose removes the slurry through a separate path. This merging of cooling and cleanup functions allows water to be injected for cooling while the vacuum simultaneously extracts the resulting slurry, preventing it from spreading and simplifying cleanup.
5Device complexity
If slurry is allowed to accumulate on the surface, then no additional extraction system is needed, but slip hazards and surface damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful slurry byproduct into a controlled, easily removable substance. By positioning the vacuum collar to capture slurry at its source and using the vacuum system to extract it through a hose, the slurry is prevented from creating slip hazards or damaging surfaces. The harmful accumulation is transformed into a controlled flow that is continuously removed, turning a problem into a manageable process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively contains and extracts water/slurry, reducing cleanup time, preventing slip hazards, and minimizing bit wear and motor overload by maintaining a fresh water flow, thus enhancing drilling efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum attachment sleeve covering and extending from the opening; and a base plate notch formed in the base plate and a collector ring notch formed in the collector ring, the base plate notch and the collector ring notch aligned to form the opening
Data Source
AI summary
A water/slurry containment device for core drilling can contain and allow water/slurry to be extracted while the coring is occurring rather than allowing a puddle to form with more extensive cleanup required afterward. The device contains the water/slurry mix so that none escapes the confines of the device, so that water can be used in the core drilling. Water is essential to the life of the diamond coated bit and it keeps dust and noise to a minimum. The device includes a base plate with a collector ring that can rest on a surface to be core drilled. A notch can be cut in the collector ring and/or base plate to allow water and slurry to be removed from the device while core drilling.