The invention relates to a boring machine comprising a spindle (15) which is designed for rotationally driving a boring tool that is placed or can be placed on the spindle and which is paired together with rotational drive means that interact with a first drive motor (24) for rotational driving purposes and with adjustment drive means that interact with a second drive motor (26) for axially adjusting the spindle such that when the spindle is being rotated by the first drive motor, the spindle can be axially adjusted under the effect of the second drive motor. The rotational drive means have a rotational drive gear (38) which is connected to the spindle, and the adjustment drive means have an adjustment nut (58) which interacts with a threaded section (60) of the spindle (15) in the manner of a slide. Transmission means are integrated in the form of a transmission module for interacting with the rotational drive gear and the adjustment nut and are designed to connect to the first and the second drive motor. The transmission means have an adjustment gear (54) for meshing into a toothing of the adjustment nut (58), said adjustment gear being driven by a toothed gear assembly (46, 42) which engages onto an outer toothing (52) of the adjustment gear such that at least one first toothed gear (42a-c) of the toothed gear assembly receives a drive torque of the second drive motor, in particular the at least one first toothed gear interacts directly with a drive shaft (30) of the second drive motor (24, 24A), and at least one second toothed gear (46a-c, 46a-c) of the toothed gear assembly transmits a drive torque of the first toothed gear (26, 26k) to the outer toothing (52), in particular the at least one second toothed gear meshes directly with the first toothed gear and the outer toothing. The toothed gear assembly is held in a cage-like toothed gear support (44) such that at least the second toothed gear, preferably the first and the second toothed gear, can be released from the transmission module and replaced when disassembling the adjustment gear and/or a module which drives the rotational drive gear, in particular a toothed gear unit.

An apparatus includes a spindle, a pecking mechanism, and a clutch mechanism coupled to the pecking mechanism. The spindle includes a drill tool and the spindle is configured to be fed in a first direction during a drilling operation. The pecking mechanism is configured to retract the drill periodically during the drilling operation. The clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the pecking mechanism during a portion of the drilling operation. The clutch mechanism is configured to constrain the rotation of the washer such that the spindle drill is retracted a predefined distance periodically.

A positive feed tool includes a motor, a power supply coupled to the motor to power the motor, a gear head and a spindle. The gear head is coupled to the motor and operated responsive to powering of the motor. The gear head includes a drive assembly and a feed assembly. The spindle is coupled to the gear head to enable the spindle to be selectively driven rotationally and fed axially based on operation of the drive assembly and the feed assembly, respectively. The feed assembly includes a feed rate oscillator having a spindle feed gear coupled to a differential feed gear. The spindle feed gear is coupled to rotate the spindle to selectively axially feed the spindle. The differential feed gear is selectively coupled to an input shaft turned by the motor. The spindle feed gear or the differential feed gear has a variable pitch diameter.

An orbital drilling device includes, on the same frame: a motor rotating a cutting tool on itself; a first, interior, eccentric, receiving the motor, mounted so as to be able to rotate; a second, exterior, eccentric, receiving the first eccentric, mounted so as to be able to rotate; a reference body, secured to the frame, receiving the second eccentric, mounted so as to be able to rotate; a first unit for driving the first eccentric; a second unit for driving the second eccentric, simultaneously with the rotation of the first eccentric; and a controller configured to reproduce any path of the cutting tool in the zone by continuous control of the angular offset between the first eccentric and the second eccentric.

An apparatus includes a spindle, a pecking mechanism, and a clutch mechanism coupled to the pecking mechanism. The spindle includes a drill tool and the spindle is configured to be fed in a first direction during a drilling operation. The pecking mechanism is configured to retract the drill periodically during the drilling operation. The clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the pecking mechanism during a portion of the drilling operation. The clutch mechanism is configured to constrain the rotation of the washer such that the spindle drill is retracted a predefined distance periodically.

A rotation brake for stopping rotation of a spindle assembly on a horizontal directional drill. The rotation brake comprises a brake lock that is actuated by a cylinder and spring to interact with a non-rotating brake cap and a rotating pinion, thereby stopping rotation of the pinion. The brake lock is removed from the pinion by applying pressurized fluid to a cylinder such that a cylinder rod moves the brake lock out of a cavity between the brake cap and the pinion. Upon removing fluid pressure from the cylinder, a compressed spring moves the brake lock back to into the cavity, preventing rotation.

A feed unit for drilling and/or tapping comprising a housing, a quill in the housing movable between retracted and extended positions, the quill rotationally supporting a spindle for carrying a rotary tool, a screw for moving the quill between said positions, a ball spline shaft in the housing coaxial with the spindle, a ball spline nut having recirculating steel balls rolling in raceways on the ball spline shaft, the spindle radially supporting the ball spline shaft within the quill with zero clearance through the ball spline nut, rotation of the ball spline shaft being imparted to the spindle through the ball spline nut.

Feed tools and methods of use for initiating a change in a spindle feed direction from an advance direction that moves the spindle towards a workpiece to a retract direction that moves the spindle away from the workpiece. The tool and methods may use a thrust overload force that is generated on one or more of the components to initiate the shift from forward to retract and/or a lift ring that acts on one or more of the components. The tool and methods may also include a two-stage piston to accomplish the shift. The various components may be used independently or in combination within the tool.

Actuators, systems, and methods for controlling tools are disclosed. One actuator includes a first motor, a second motor, and a controller. The first motor is operable to rotate a first threading extending in a first helical direction around an axis. The second motor is operable to rotate a second threading axially spaced apart from the first threading and extending in a second helical direction opposite the first helical direction around the axis. The controller is in communication with the first and second motors. The controller is configured to control speed and direction of the first and second motors to effect a desired pattern of axial and rotational movement of the tool. One method includes rotating the first threading in a first rotational direction, and simultaneously, rotating the second threading in a second rotational direction opposite the first direction.

A rotation brake for stopping rotation of a spindle assembly on a horizontal directional drill. The rotation brake comprises a brake lock that is actuated by a cylinder and spring to interact with a non-rotating brake cap and a rotating pinion, thereby stopping rotation of the pinion. The brake lock is removed from the pinion by applying pressurized fluid to a cylinder such that a cylinder rod moves the brake lock out of a cavity between the brake cap and the pinion. Upon removing fluid pressure from the cylinder, a compressed spring moves the brake lock back to into the cavity, preventing rotation.