[0001] The invention relates to a manually operable auger having a cross-rod on which handles
have been attached.
[0002] In practice manually operable, T-shaped augers are known having a drill rod, the
one end of the drill rod being provided with a drill piece, and the other end of the
drill rod being provided with a straight cross-rod having handles which cross-rod
is arranged perpendicular to the drill rod. The worker engages the ends of the cross-rod
of the T to rotate the auger and to keep it straight up. The drilling can take place
in remote areas.
[0003] The known auger has the drawback that it is difficult to operate because during drilling
the hands of the operator have to follow a circular track during which the wrists
have to turn in another position again and again. Over a large part of the stroke
(the stroke being the drill movement an operator can let the auger make without taking
his hands from the auger and without having to move position) the wrist are thus bent
in an uncomfortable position. Another result is that it is necessary to frequently
switch from one handle to the other during drilling because the wrists can only bend
to a limited extent.
[0004] It is an object of the invention to improve on this.
[0005] From one aspect the invention to that end provides a manually operable auger having
a drill rod and a cross-rod having ends on which handles have been attached, the cross-rod
being provided with ascending ends, the handles comprising ends defining convex handle
portions that are bulging with respect to the cross-rod ends. This provides the advantage
that the hands of a person are able to move round with respect to the convex handle
portions when drilling as result of which the wrists need not to be turned so much.
During one and the same stroke a larger angular displacement of the auger can be realised
in which the wrists can be turned to an acceptable degree during the entire stroke.
During drilling the wrists and hands take up a ergonomic advantageous position. The
convex handle portions are well-accessible from the inside and easier to engage for
the hands of an operator, while the hands in the lowest position of the auger can
remain free from the soil.
[0006] In an advantageous manner the ascending ends of the cross-rod inwardly - preferably
fluently- change into, with respect to the drill rod, outwardly downward sloping intermediate
portions. As a result it can be achieved that despite the ascending ends the convex
handle portions are brought at a comparable height to the upper end of the drill rod.
From an ergonomic point of view this position of the handles is advantageous. Moreover
the transitional area of the ascending ends and the outwardly downward sloping intermediate
portions can be advantageously used to pull the auger out of the soil after a hole
has been drilled in the soil.
[0007] The ascending ends and/or the downward sloping intermediate portions can extend straight
inclined or alternatively be bent.
[0008] Preferably the angle of the inclined ascending ends and/or downwardly inclined sloping
intermediate members is 30-60 degrees, preferably approximately 35 degrees, with respect
to the horizontal.
[0009] Preferably the cross-rod has a central portion that is perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the auger. In this way the cross-rod offers the user -in addition to
the ascending and possibly downward sloping portions- a conventional portion. The
user can thus always choose a suitably oriented engagement portion.
[0010] In an ergonomic advantageous embodiment the cross-rod has kind of a W-shape.
[0011] In further embodiments the convex handle portions extend above, under and/or in a
plane perpendicular to the drill rod with respect to the cross-rod and/or the convex
handle portions are convex in a plane that contains the cross-rod and/or in a plane
perpendicular to the cross-rod. The convex handle portions are then easily accessible
to the hands of the worker.
[0012] Preferably the convex handle portions are spherical. The spherical shape is easy
to engage by a hand. In a preferred embodiment the convex handle portions are rotatable
with respect to the cross-rod. Thus it is achieved that a yet even more ergonomic
advantageous position of the hands is possible when drilling.
[0013] The invention furthermore provides a cross-rod having handles, which handles comprise
convex handle portions, suitable for an auger according to the invention.
[0014] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described below by way of example
on the basis of the figures.
[0015] Figure 1 shows a front view of a manually operable auger according to the invention.
[0016] Figure 2 shows the same auger of figure 1 in perspective view.
[0017] Figure 3 shows the parts of the auger shown in figure 1 and 2 that are a part of
the connection of the drill rod with the actual drill.
[0018] Figure 4 shows the auger in a telescopically extended position.
[0019] Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the auger of figure 1, near the upper end of its
rod.
[0020] Figure 6 shows a number of consecutive stages in the use of the auger of figure 1.
[0021] Figure 1 shows an auger 1 having a cross-rod 2 having ends 3A, 3B. At the ends 3A,
3B thermal/electric insulated handles 4A, 4B are attached with respective ball-shaped
portions 5A, 5B. The ends 3A, 3B extend outwardly and upwardly inclined with respect
to the drill rod 9 at an angle of approximately 35 degrees to the horizontal and change
into, with respect to the drill rod 9, outwardly and downwardly inclined oriented
intermediate portions 6A, 6B, which also extend at an angle of approximately 35 degrees
to the horizontal, but with an opposite sign. The transition of the ends 3A, 3B to
the intermediate portions 6A, 6B is formed by smoothly formed lifting points 11a,
11B, the lifting points 11A, 11B being particularly suitable for pulling the auger
1 out of the soil again after drilling a hole in the soil. A central portion 7 of
the cross-rod connects the intermediate portions 6A, 6B to each other. At the location
of the connection point 8 the cross-rod 2 is connected to the drill rod 9.
[0022] The drill rod 9 is formed by an outer rod 10 and an inner rod 20 which are designed
telescopically extendable with respect to each other. In the position depicted in
figure 1 the inner rod 20 is slid inside the outer rod 10. A stop button 12 is provided
which secures the inner rod 20 and the outer rod 10 with respect to each other, both
in the retracted and in the extended position. The stop button 12 can form a stop
against the ground surface, as a result of which the user notices that the cross-rod
has reached a certain level and that for ergonomic reasons it is wise to stop pressing
in.
[0023] Alternatively a securing clip, clamp coupling or spring clip can be used instead
of the stop button 12.
[0024] At the upper side of the drill rod 9 a ratchet pawl 13 is provided which can operate
clockwise or anticlockwise or in both directions.
[0025] At the lower end of the drill rod 9 a sleeve 14 is slid over the outer rod 10 the
sleeve 14 being a part of the connection of the outer rod 10 to the drill head. The
parts that are a part of the connection of the outer rod 10 to the drill head are
shown in detail in figure 3.
[0026] Figure 2 shows the auger 1 from figure 1 in perspective view. The sleeve 14 has a
substantially cylindrical shape. The outer rod 10 and the inner rod 20 have a square
design. However other shapes for the outer rod 10 and the inner rod 20 are also possible:
pentagonal or polygonal, oval or rectangular.
[0027] The cross-rod 2 is formed from a cylindrical rod and has a W-shape. The cross-rod
2 is connected such to the drill rod 9 that the cross-rod 2 and the drill rod 9 are
situated in one plane.
[0028] Figure 3 shows the parts of auger 1 shown in figure 1 and 2, which parts form the
connection of the outer rod 10 to the actual drill. To that end the lower side of
the outer rod 10 is provided with a cylindrical part 17 that changes into a semi-cylindrical
part having a flat stop surface 15 with a cavity 16. The actual drill -that is not
shown- is also provided with a semi-cylindrical end having a flat stop surface, intended
to abut the stop surface 15 in connection. The stop surface of the end of the drill
is to that end provided with a little pin that fits in the cavity 16 as a result of
which both stop surfaces are unable to move with respect to each other in a direction
parallel to the contact surface. Alternatively the stop surface 15 can also be provided
with a little pin and the stop surface of the drill can be provided with a cavity.
[0029] A bayonet sleeve 18 having a slot 19a-f is slidably arranged around the outer rod
10. The slot 19 then surrounds a pawl 21 connected to the outer rod 10 so that the
bayonet sleeve 18 can only slide according to the slot 19a-f over the pawl 21. By
sliding the bayonet sleeve 18 downwards on the outer rod 10 it is achieved that the
lower part of the bayonet sleeve 18 partially lies over the semi-cylindrical part
of the outer rod 10 and the semi-cylindrical end of the drill. As a result both stop
surfaces cannot tilt and give way to each other and the connection of the drill to
the outer rod 10 is realised. The cam 21 will be confined after the coupling in the
end 19a of the slot 19a-f. Should as a result of the movement through the soil the
sleeve 18 be left behind with respect to the drill, the cam 21 will end up in the
slot end 19b. Rotation of the sleeve then cannot result in movement of the cam 21
through the slot portion 19c, as a result of which otherwise decoupling might be induced.
[0030] Intended decoupling takes place by manipulating the sleeve 18 so that cam 21 moves
through the slot portions 19c, 19d and 19e. The sliding of the bayonet sleeve 18 with
respect to the outer rod 10 can take place by means of a sleeve 14 which is clampingly
arranged about the bayonet sleeve 18, so that the sleeve 18 follows the movement of
the sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is made of soft, somewhat flexible material, so that
the user is also provided with a pleasant engagement point having a good grip in wet
or cold weather conditions when carrying the auger. As a result of the low-positioned
position of said engagement point the auger can be carried easily and stably held
on the sleeve 14 and at the location of the upper end, for instance the ratchet 13.
[0031] Figure 4 shows the auger 1 in a situation in which the outer rod 10 is telescopically
extended with respect to the inner rod 20. Said telescopic extending is useful when
one wants to drill a deeper hole. One then starts to drill with the auger 1, the inner
rod 20 being slid inside the outer rod 10. When one has approached the soil close
enough with the cross-rod 2 while drilling, the stop button 12 is operated and the
inner rod 20 is pulled out of the outer rod 10. Subsequently the outer rod 10 and
the inner rod 20 are secured with respect to each other in the extended position by
means of the stop button 12 and drilling can be proceeded with.
[0032] Apart from using an outer rod 10 and an inner rod 20 which are telescopically slidable
with respect to each other, it is also possible to arrange a separate extension to
the auger 1 as a result of which one can drill even deeper. The above-mentioned steps
can be repeated, which is schematically shown in figure 6, in which an drill part
30 has been coupled to the lower end of the auger 1 and is pushed from ground level
101 into the soil 100 while forming a hole 102. After the lower end 40 hits the ground
level 101 the rods 10 and 20 are extended: the user can then keep his hands on the
cross-rod 2 above an ergonomic safe height h1, in this example approximately 65-70
cm, preferably 67 cm. After pulling out the balls 5A, 5B are at an for instance 20
cm higher level h2, after which the user is able to press the auger 1 in a physically
advantageous manner further into the soil 100, until the button 12 hits the ground
level 101 and the user knows that the height of approximately h1 has been reached.
Then the auger is pulled out of the hole 102, the drill 30 is decoupled and an extension
rod 40 is coupled to the lower end of which the drill 30 is coupled. The thus extended
assembly is then put in the hole 102 again, the auger being in a retracted position.
The steps described earlier are repeated then.
[0033] As a result of the ball-shaped portions 5A, 5B of the auger 1 shown in the figures,
it is achieved that during drilling the hand may turn with respect to the ball-shaped
portions 5A, 5B as a result of which the wrists need not be turned to a disagreeable
degree. An additional advantage is that during the same stroke a larger angular displacement
of the auger can be achieved. The wrists and the hands take up an ergonomic advantageous
position during drilling.
[0034] Because the ball-shaped portions 5A, 5B have been arranged on outwardly inclined
and upwardly extending ends 3A, 3B of the cross-rod 2 and because the ball-shaped
portions 5A, 5B are situated higher than the central portion 7 of the cross-rod 2
the handles 4A, 4B can be reached well from the inside during the entire stroke.
[0035] The ratchet 13 has been provided so that during drilling the hands need not be removed
from the handles 4A, 4B. The auger 1 can be kept closer to the body and drilling close
to a wall, tree or other obstacle is now possible as well.
[0036] The ball-shaped portions 5A, 5B can be designed rotatable with respect to the ends
3A, 3B of the cross-rod 2 as a result of which the hands have to move round less with
respect to the ball-shaped portions 5A, 5B whereas the hands indeed take up an ergonomic
advantageous position during drilling: instead of only the hands moving round over
the ball-shaped portions 5A, 5B, the ball-shaped portions 5A, 5B also move round with
respect to the cross-rod 2.
[0037] As can be seen in figure 5 the rods 10 and 20 are not round in this example, in this
case rectangular, particularly square. Because in that case the rods 10 and 20 cannot
rotate with respect to each other, the stop button 12 will always be correctly positioned
before the hole or in the holes into which it should extend. This is beneficial to
the ease of use. Furthermore the torque of the one rod is transferred on the other
rod at the location of the corners so that the pin of the stop button is not loaded
excessively. Furthermore the polygonal cross-section increases the rigidity against
bending. It is noted that the unround cross-section discussed above can also be advantageously
utilised in augers having the up until now commonly used cross-bars.
1. Manually operable auger having a drill rod and a cross-rod having ends on which handles
have been attached, the cross-rod being provided with ascending ends, the handles
comprising ends defining convex handle portions that are bulging with respect to the
cross-rod ends.
2. Auger according to claim 1, characterized in that the ascending ends of the cross-rod inwardly -preferably fluently- change into, with
respect to the drill rod, outwardly downwardly inclined oriented intermediate portions.
3. Auger according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ascending ends and/or sloping intermediate portions of the cross-rod extend outwardly
inclined.
4. Auger according to claim 4, the angle of the inclined ascending ends and/or inclined
sloping intermediate members being 30-60 degrees, preferably approximately 35 degrees,
with respect to the horizontal.
5. Auger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-rod has a central portion that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
of the auger.
6. Auger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-rod has a W-shape.
7. Auger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the convex handle portions extend above, under and/or in a plane perpendicular to
the drill rod with respect to the cross-rod and/or in that the convex handle portions are convex in a plane that contains the cross-rod and/or
in a plane perpendicular to the cross-rod.
8. Auger according to claim 7, characterized in that the convex handle portions are spherical, preferably ball-shaped.
9. Auger according to claim 8, characterized in that the ball-shaped convex handle portions have a radius of approximately 20-30 mm, preferably
25 mm.
10. Auger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-rod and the drill rod are situated in one plane.
11. Auger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the convex handle portions and the other parts of the handles have been provided
with thermal and/or electric insulation.
12. Auger according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the convex handle portions are rotatable with respect to the cross-rod.
13. Auger according to any one of the preceding claims, the drill rod comprising two tubes
that are telescopically moveable with respect to each other, as well as means for
securing the mutual position of both tubes, the tubes having substantially similarly
shaped, unround, preferably polygonal, cross-sections and more preferably rectangular
or square cross-sections.
14. Auger according to claim 13, the securing means comprising a stop button, situated
at the transition between both tubes and forming a protrusion.