Method of apparatus for drilling holes in tubes

Claim 2

Apparatus adaptable for forming holes in a corrugated tube; said apparatus comprising guide means adapted for guiding the corrugated tube forwardly in a predetermined path of travel, a plurality of spaced rotatable turret casings adjacent said guide means, said turret casings being angularly offset from each other about the path of travel of the tube, at least one of said casings being located downstream of another of said casings, a series of rotatable drill bits carried by and projecting outwardly from each respective casing and into the path of travel of the tube and adapted to drill respective holes in the tube, means for rotating said turret casings, means for rotating said drill bits on their own axes, and motive means operatively connected to said turret casings and operable for moving said casings and the respective drill bits carried thereby outwardly to an inoperative position relative to the path of travel of the tube.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said motive means operatively connected to said turret casings comprises fluid pressure means adapted for moving the turret casings and the respective drill bits carried thereby outwardly to an inoperative position relative to the path of travel of the tube.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said drill bits has a conical free end with a cutting edge extending along the conical surface thereof, and said apparatus further comprising means operatively associated with said fluid pressure means for adjusting the position of said turret casings relative to the path of travel of thE tube to vary the depth of penetration of the respective drill bits carried thereby so as to vary the size of the holes being formed in the tube.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cutting edge of each drill bit is substantially straight and extends in a direction generally corresponding to the length of the drill bit.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for advancing the corrugated tube in its path of travel comprising a plurality of projections carried by at least one of said turret casings and disposed between the respective drill bits, and said projections being adapted to engage and push forwardly against certain corrugations of the tube during rotation of the respective turret casing for advancing the corrugated tube in timed relation to the respective series of drill bits during the drilling of respective holes in the corrugated tube.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for advancing the corrugated tube along its path of travel comprising a driven rotatable feed member having peripheral projections thereon adapted to meshingly engage and push forwardly against certain corrugations of the tube.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, including common drive means operatively connected to said rotatable feed member and to said means for rotating said turret casings for advancing the corrugated tube along its path of travel at a rate in accord with the rate of movement of said series of drill bits.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes means adjacent said turret casings for encirclingly restricting the corrugated tube against lateral displacment by said drill bits during the drilling of the corrugated tube.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1, including back-up means adapted to engage the side of the corrugated tube opposite from the respective turret casings for restricting lateral displacement of the tube by the drill bits of the respective series.

Claim 11

Apparatus adaptable for forming holes in a corrugated tube having corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length; said apparatus comprising means for advancing the corrugated tube forwardly in a predetermined path of travel, means for driving said advancing means, first, second and third turret casings mounted for rotation on respective axes offset to one side of and extending substantially normal to the path of travel of the corrugated tube, a series of driven, rotatable drill bits projecting outwardly from each respective turret casing for movement therewith, the distance from the outer ends of said drill bits to the axes of the respective turret casings being greater than the distance from the path of the corrugated tube to the axes of said turret casings such that each series of drill bits will engage and drill successive holes in the corrugated tube during rotation of said turret casings on their respective axes, said first, second and third turret casings being disposed in relatively different angular positions about the path of travel of the tube so that the drill bits of each turret casing will engage and drill holes in the tube at a different angular position from that of the drill bits of the other turret casings, and means connected to said driving means for said advancing means and to said turret casings for also rotating said turret casings on their respective axes in accordance with the rate of advancement of the corrugated tube whereby the drill bits carried by said first, second and third turret casings will form three respective longitudinal rows of holes in the corrugated tube.

Claim 12

Apparatus adaptable for forming holes in a corrugated tube having corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length; said apparatus comprising means for advancing the corrugated tube forwardly in a predetermined path of travel, means for driving said advancing means, first, second and third turret casings mounted for rotation on respective axes offset to one side of and extending substantially normal to the path of travel of the corrugated tube, a series of driven, rotatable drill bits projecting outwardly from each respective turret casing for movement therewith, the distance from the outer ends of said drill bits to the axes of the respective turret casings being greater than the distance from the path of the corrugated tube to the axes of said turret casings such that each series of drill bits will engage and drill successive holes in the corrugated tube during rotation of said turret casings on their respective axes, said first, second and third turret casings being disposed in relatively different angular positions about the path of travel of the tube so that the drill bits of each turret casing will engage and drill holes in the tube at a different angular position from that of the drill bits of the other turret casings, and means connected to said driving means for said advancing means and to said turret casings for also rotating said turret casings on their respective axes in accordance with the rate of advancement of the corrugated tube whereby the drill bits carried by said first, second and third turret casings will form three respective longitudinal rows of holes in the corrugated tube.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising marking means adjacent said turret casings for engaging and applying a marking material along the length of the corrugated tube during advancement thereof in its path of travel, and said marking means being so positioned as to engage the tube substantially diametrically opposite from the row of holes formed by one of the series of drill bits.

Claim 14

ApparatuS according to claim 10, wherein the axis of at least one of said turret casings is positioned adjacent a different portion of the path of travel of the corrugated tube than that portion adjacent which the axis of at least one of the other turret casings is positioned.

Claim 15

Apparatus adaptable for forming holes in a corrugated tube; said apparatus comprising guide means adapted for guiding the corrugated tube forwardly in a predetemined path of travel, a plurality of spaced rotatable turret casings adjacent said guide means, said turret casings being angularly offset from each other about the path of travel of the tube, at least one of said casings being located downstream of another of said casings, a series of rotatable drill bits carried by and projecting outwardly from each respective casing and into the path of travel of the tube and adapted to drill respective holes in the tube, means for rotating said turret casings, means for rotating said drill bits on their own axes, and marking means adjacent said turret casings for engaging and applying a marking material along the length of the corrugated tube during the advancement thereof in its path of travel, and said marking means being so positioned as to engage the tube on the side opposite from the holes formed by one of the series of drill bits.

Claim 16

Apparatus adaptable for forming holes in a corrugated tube; said apparatus comprising guide means adapted for guiding the corrugated tube forwardly in a predetemined path of travel, a plurality of spaced rotatable turret casings adjacent said guide means, said turret casings being angularly offset from each other about the path of travel of the tube, at least one of said casings being located downstream of another of said casings, a series of rotatable drill bits carried by and projecting outwardly from each respective casing and into the path of travel of the tube and adapted to drill respective holes in the tube, means for rotating said turret casings, means for rotating said drill bits on their own axes, and marking means adjacent said turret casings for engaging and applying a marking material along the length of the corrugated tube during the advancement thereof in its path of travel, and said marking means being so positioned as to engage the tube on the side opposite from the holes formed by one of the series of drill bits.