US2401515A - Underreamer - Google Patents

Description

gmc/Mw www June 4, 1946. M. G. scHUTTE ET Ar.

' UNDERBEAMER Filed May 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June 4, 1946 NOFFICE UNDERREAMER Myles G. Schutte and Norman L.

i Houston, Tex.' i i Schutte,

` Y Application May 25, 1944, Serial No. 537,296

This invention relates to. an underreamer.

` An object of the invention is to provide a tool forr'enlarging the lower endsof holes in the earth for receiving concrete in foundation work.

another object of the invention is to provide an underreamer which ,may be lowered in a previously formed hole and which is provided with reaming blades that will be gradually expanded as the tool is rotated and will gradually enlarge', or underream; the ybore hole.

It isi a further object 'of the invention to provide an underreamer that will receive and retain the loose earth, delivered thereto by the reaming blades, and which may be withdrawn from the bore with the tool.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 shows a side view of the tool with the reaming blades collapsed.

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows an elevational view, partly in section, showing the reamer blades expanded.

Figure 5 shows a top plan view showing the driving shaft in section with the reamer blades expanded, and

Figure 6 shows a bottom end view.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals f reference designatev the same parts in each of the figures the numerals I, I, designate the vertical side plates which are spaced the required distance apart.

Secured to the lower ends of these side plates there is the circular lower end plate 2 which has the elongated inlet openings 3, 3 therethrough with the depending Scrapers 4, ll formed integrally with said plate behind the slots 3 and pitched forwardly so that the loose earth on the bottom of the bore will be forced through the slots 3 as the underreamer is turned.

The plates I have the diagonal slots 5, therethrough at substantially right angles to each other as indicated in Figure 4. Around these slots the material of the plates I is thickened as shown more clearly in Figure 2 to provide wider bearing surfaces,

Over the upper ends of the plates I and spaced therefrom there is a hood 6 in the shape of a hollow cylinder Vclosed at its upper end by an upper end plate '6' to which said plates are secured.

The upper `ends of the plates I have the vertical slots 1, l. Extending through the slots "I there is the rod 8 which is retained against displacement by means of the cotter keys 9, 9.

` The lower ends of the side plates I may be welded to thelowerend plate 2 and their upper ends may be welded to the top and sides of the VhoodIi.

Workingagainst the inner sides of the plates I are the reamer blades l0, I0.

These blades I0 have transverse circular openings through their upper end `forming bearings through which the rod 8 extends and extended through the slots 5 and through circular openings the corresponding blades I0 are the bolts II which have enlarged outer end heads and nuts screwed on their inner ends.

Rotatably mounted on the bolts I I are the antifriction roller sleeves I2 which run in the slots 5 as indicated in Figure 2.

The upper end plate 6 of the hood B has a rectangular opening I3 therethrough, forming a bearing through which there is extendedl a tubular coupling member I4 which is rectangular in horizontal cross section. This coupling ts snugly through the bearing I3 and welded to the top of the hood on opposite sides of the coupling are the transverse bars I5, I5 provided for additional strength. v

The lower end of thev coupling I4 has a transverse opening forming a bearing through which the rod 8 extends, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and tted on said rod between the blades IU and the coupling I 4 are the spacers I6, IB one on each side.

A driving shaft I'I may be inserted into the coupling I4 and secured therein by the cross pin I8 and by means of which the underreamer may be turned.

It will be noted that the reaming blades are ilared downwardly and have the forwardly curved portions I9, I9 which terminate in cutting edges.

The tool may be lowered into the hole to be underreamed and as lowered the cross rod 8 will be at the upper ends of the slots 'I and the bolts II will be at the upper ends of the slots 5 and the rear-ning blades will be retracted. When the underreamer lands on bottom the pilot 2D will penetrate into the earth and hold the tool centered. The tool is now rotated and the weight from above will gradually force the reaming blades outwardly and the lower end of the bore hole will be gradually enlarged, the cuttings be- 3 ing forced inwardly by the forwardly curved portions I9 onto the bottom end plate 2 and when the underreamer is withdrawn from the bore the cuttings will be withdrawn with it to the ground surface.

The hood 6 will t rather snugly in the bore thus steadying the tool in operation. As the tool is lowered the air beneath the hood may readily escape through the openings 2|.

The side plates I, I may be reinforced, within the hood 6, by the cross plates 22, 22 which may be welded thereto as shown in Figure 3.

What we claim is:

1. A reamer for enlarging the lower ends of y earth bores, comprising spaced side plates having opposed vertical slots adjacent their upperends Y and opposed diagonal slots beneath the vertical slots and arranged at substantially right angles to g each other, a lower end plate disposed at substantially right angles to the sideV plates and lixed to the lower ends thereofa plate xed to the upper ends of the side plates and disposed at substantially right angles thereto and having a polygonal opening forming a bearing,'a polygonal driving member slidably fitted through saidbearing, a rod extending transversely through the driving member and whose endswork in the respective vertical slots, reamer blades adjacent the inner sides of the respective side plates and which are ared downwardly and whose forward 4 margins are formed into forwardly curved cutting edges and whose upper ends are pivoted on said rod, means attached to the reamer blades and working through said diagonal'slots whereby the lower ends of the blades are caused to move outwardly upon downward movement of the blades, relative to the side plates, and are caused l to move inwardly upon upward movement of the blades, relative to the side plates. l

2. A reamer comprising an earth retainer composed of two spaced vertical siderplates having vertical slots adjacent their upper ends and having diagonal slots beneath the vertical slots and a lower end plate secured to the lower ends of the side plates, an upper end plate secured to the upper ends of the side plates and having a polygonal opening therethrough, a rod extending through the upper end slots of the side plates, a driving member slidably tted through the opening in the upper end plates, said rod extending through said driving memberwhereby the tool may be rotated, reaming blades whose upper .ends are pivotally connected to ,the rod, means connected to said blades and working through said diagonal slots whereby the lower ends of the blades will be moved laterally as the t0v the blades are moved longitudinally relative side plates. I

' MYLES G. SCHUTTE.

NORMAN L. SCHUTTE.

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