GB2189593A

GB2189593A - Dust extraction device

Info

Publication number: GB2189593A
Application number: GB08610292A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James M Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-26
Filing date: 1986-04-26
Publication date: 1987-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2006-04-26
Also published as: GB2189593B; GB8610292D0

Abstract

A dust extraction device is arranged to be mounted on a surface which is to be worked. The device includes a base (2) having a skirt (4) which can be rested on said surface to be worked, to define with the base (2) and the surface an enclosed chamber. An exhaust manifold (14) connected to a vacuum source communicates with the chamber to create a vacuum in the chamber to lock the base (2) to the surface by differential pressure. An opening (10) in the base (2) provides access to the surface for a tool to work the surface. A rotary disc (6) having a plurality of angularly spaced holes (6A) is positioned to overlie the opening (10) so that by rotating the disc (6) about its rotary axis each hole (6A) can in turn be brought into register with the opening (10) to accommodate tools of different diameters. Each hole (6A) may be provided with a shutter and the base be a sheet of transparent material to allow an operator to view the surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dust extraction device The present invention relates to dust extraction devices for example for extracting dust from work-pieces being drilled.

Dust extraction devices for tools such as electric drills and sanders are known. With such devices the tool is povided with a shroud which cooperates with the work-piece when the tool is offered upto the work-piece to form a chamber. A vacuum pipe is coupled to the chamber to extract air and any dust entrained in the air from the chamber.

This arrangement has a number of disadvantages. It makes the tool cumbersome to hold and to manoeuvre and cannot be readily re positioned to avoid obstructions on the workpiece adjacent the work area.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved dust extraction device.

According to the present invention there is provided a dust extraction device for mounting on a surface which is to be worked, the device comprising a body portion having a skirt which can be rested on said surface, to define with said body portion and said surface an enclosed chamber, an exhaust manifold connectable to a vacuum source and communicating with the chamber to create a vacuum in the chamber to lock said body portion to said wall by differential pressure and an opening in said body portion to provide access to said surface for a tool to work said surface.

Preferably said body portion carries a rotary disc provided with a plurality of angularly spaced holes, said disc being positioned to overlie the opening so that by rotating the disc about its rotary axis each hole can in turn be brought into register with said opening.

Advantageously each said hole is provided with an openable shutter.

The skirt may be of foam material preferably a closed cell foamed material.

The body portion is advantageously a sheet of transparent material to allow an operator to view the surface.

A dust extraction -device for use in a drilling operation and embodying the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device from underneath; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device; and Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device.

The device as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rectangular base 2 of clear plastics material; for example of p.v.c or polystyrene. The underside of the base 2 is provided with a skirt 4 of resilient compressible material. The skirt 4 is generally rectangular in cross-section and is of a sponge like consistancy but is generally impermeable to air. For example the skirt is of closed cell neoprene.

The skirt 4 is adhesively secured to the under side of the base 2. In a modification the underside of the base 2 is provided with a perimeter groove of dovetail cross-section and the skirt is provided with a portion of mating profile to enable the skirt 4 to be keyed into the perimeter groove, Instead the skirt 4 can be clipped onto the base by other means.

A disc 6 is rotatably secured to the upper surface of the base 2 adjacent one corner 2A thereof by securing means 8, for example a nut and bolt. An outer circumferential portion of the disc projects beyond the two sides of the base which form the adjacent corner 2A so as to allow easy access to the edge of the disc by an operator, thus allowing the operator to readily turn the disc 6 about its rotary axis. The disc 6 overlies a circular opening 10 in the base 2, which opening 10 lies between the fastening means 8 and the adjacent corner 2A. The disc 6 itself is provided with a series of angularly spaced openings 6A to accommodate different sized drill bits. The openings 6A are so positioned that by rotating the disc 6, each opening 6A in turn can be brought into register with the opening 10. The opening 10 is sized to be at least equal to the size of the largest opening 6A.

At a location remote from the corner 2A, the base 2 is provided with a further circular opening 12. Mounted on the base 2 and covering opening 12 is an exhaust manifold 14. The exhaust manifold 14 ends in a tubular portion which can be coupled to a vacuum machine for example the ordinary domestic vacuum cleaner. The opening 12 may be open or covered with a grid or mesh to prevent larger particles or chips of material entering the exhaust manifold.

In operation to drill a hole in a masonary wall or the like the device is placed against the wall with the skirt 4 in contact with the wall and the opening 10 aligned with the point at which drilling is to take place. A vacuum cleaner (not shown) is coupled to the manifold 14 and switched ON. The vacuum created within the chamber bounded by the base 2, the wall and the skirt 4 will hold the device in place against the wall. In order to ensure that the vacuum is sufficient it may initially be necessary to reduce the air flow through the opening 10 to a minimum by appropriately adjusting the angular position of the disc 6.

The drill is then brought into alignment with the hole 10, and the disc 6 is rotated to bring a corresponding sized opening 6A into register with the opening 10 whereupon the drill can now be pushed into engagement with the wall at the point at which drilling is required and drilling commenced.

As drilling proceeds air drawn into the chamber through the gap between the drill bit and openings 10 and 6A will carry any dust and other debris created as a result of the drilling along the chamber and into the manifold 14 from where it is drawn into, and collected by, the vacuum cleaner.

When drilling is completed the drill bit is withdrawn and the vacuum cleaner is switched OFF. This will release the device from the wall.

In a modification each opening 6A may be provided with a sliding cover or with flaps to close the opening until the opening 6A is engaged by the drill.

It will be appreciated that the device described is used and operated independently of the drill so that the act of positioning the device and the act of drilling are totally separate operations and the operator is not confronted with the difficulty of having to deal with both operations simultaneously as in the prior art and can use both hands for the drilling operation alone.

Furthermore the drilling machine is not encumbered by having to carry the dust extraction device itself which would otherwise add to the bulk of the machine and the burden of attaching and detaching the device from the drilling machine.

It will be appreciated that in place of a rotary disc any other mechanism can be provided to control the air flow through said opening for example a mechanical iris can be used.

In a modification the body 2 can be preshaped to engage non-flat surfaces and profiled to cover different shaped work-pieces.

The device can be supplied in kit form with an exhaust manifold, a sheet of plastics which can be shaped as desired by heating and a strip of adhesive coated closed cell foam material to form a skirt so that the user can construct a device shaped according to his needs.

The free end of the exhaust manifold may be tapered to accommodate different sizes of hose for coupling to different makes of vacuum cleaners.

In another modification the base is provided with a vent valve (not shown) which can be opened to release the vacuum in the chamber and so allow the device to be moved freely along the wall into a desired position without any resistance to such movement which would otherwise be effected by the vacuum within the chamber.

The valve can also be used to release the device from the wall after drilling has taken place without the need to switch OFF the vacuum source first.

Claims

1. A dust extraction device for mounting on a surface which is to be worked, the device comprising a body portion having a skirt which can be rested on said surface, to define with said body portion and said surface an enclosed chamber, an exhaust manifold connectable to a vacuum source and communicating with the chamber to create a vacuum in the chamber to lock said body portion to said wall by differential pressure and an opening in said body portion to provide access to said surface for a tool to work said surface.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said body portion carries a rotary disc provided with a plurality of angularly spaced holes, said disc being positioned to overlie the opening so that by rotating the disc about its rotary axis each hole can in turn be brought into register with said opening.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein each said hole is provided with an openable shutter.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the skirt is of foam material.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the skirt is of a closed cell foamed material.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body portion is a sheet of transparent material to allow an operator to view the surface.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the skirt is adhesively secured to the under side of the body.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the underside of the body is provided with a perimeter groove of dovetail cross-section and the skirt is provided with a portion of mating profile to enable the skirt to be keyed into the perimeter groove.

A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the skirt is clipped on to the base by clipping means.

A dust extraction device for use in a drilling operation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.