Expansible Plug to Be Percussion Anchored in a Borehole That Tapers Outward at an Inner End Thereof

The invention relates to an expansible plug to be percussion anchored in a borehole that tapers outward at an inner end thereof.

Expansible plugs of the kind mentioned above are known. Such an expansible plug is anchored in a borehole, a widened end of which forms an undercut in the region of the bore bottom, by driving an expander bolt into an expansible sleeve of the expansible plug.

An expansible plug to be percussion anchored in a borehole with an undercut is disclosed in DE-OS 30 20 907. An expansible plug to be anchored in a borehole with an undercut has to be expanded to a greater degree than an expansible plug anchorable in a cylindrical borehole. To provide for greater expansion of the expansible plug anchorable in a borehole with an undercut, the front end of the expander bolt which is opposite to the bolt end subjected to percussions, is rounded, and the neck portion of the borehole is provided with a very marked taper. Up to now known solutions of anchoring of expansible plugs in boreholes with an undercut often failed to insure a reliable conical fixation because the expansible plug became fixed in the bottom of the borehole and could not, therefore, expand. An optimal anchoring of the expansible plug in a borehole with an undercut could only be achieved by providing an expansible plug the expandable portion of which forms a form-locking fixation with the borehole undercut upon expansion of the plug.

The object of the invention is to provide an expansible plug to be reliably percussion anchored in a borehole that expands towards its inner end to form an undercut, that is to provide an expansible plug the expanded portion of which forms a form-locking fixation with the undercut. The object of the invention is achieved by providing at least one spacing element at the front end side of the expansible segments arranged at the expansible end of the expansible sleeve. The spacing element strikes against the bore bottom during the percussion operation and is deformed as a result of forces being applied to the expansible plug. Upon its deformation, the spacing element expands the expansible segments until they form a form-locking connection with the undercut of the borehole.

The spacing element comprises a plurality of bend elements which surround the opening of the inner bore defined by the front end side of the expansible segments, and form a continuation of the inner edge of this opening or a continuation of outer edges of the front end side of the expansible segments. In the later case, the bend elements converge axially and contact each other at their front ends. When these bending elements strike against the bottom of the borehole, they exert a counter-pressure on the expansible segments and cause their expansion until a form-locking fixation in the conical portion of the borehole is achieved.

Bending of the bend element and expansion of the expansible segments is facilitated by indentations formed at the area where the bend elements adjoin the expansible segments and in the junction area of the expansible segments with the expansible sleeve.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spacing element is formed as a plastic spacing washer having tongues that project into an opening at the front end side of the expansible segments. When the plastic spacing washer strikes against the bottom of the borehole, it exerts a counter-pressure on the expansible segments while insuring that the expansible plug is not fixed in the bottom. At its front end, the plastic spacing washer has a recess in which drilling dust is collected. The tongues have a predetermined rupture point at which they severe during percussion, thus insuring complete penetration of the expander bolt into the inner bore of the expansible sleeve.

A percussion tool for anchoring the expansible plug comprises a conical marker head from which the punch for impacting the expander bolt projects. The length of the punch is so selected that the marker head strikes the edge of the rear end opening of the inner bore of the expansible sleeve when the anchoring process is completed, thus providing an indication of the proper anchoring of the expansible plug in the borehole.

The present invention both as to its construction so to its mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an expansible plug according to the invention with a spacing element which surrounds the internal bore of the sleeve of the expansible plug;

FIG. 2 shows a partially cross-sectional view of an expansible plug according to the invention with a spacing element arranged at outer edges of the expansible segments;

FIG 3 shows a partially cross-sectional view of an expansible plug according to the invention with a spacing element formed a plastic spacing washer; and

FIG 4 shows a partial view of another embodiment of the spacing element shown in FIG. 2.

A percussion anchorable expansible plug shown in FIG. 1 comprises a sleeve 2 having an internal bore 1 and expandable segments 3 at an end of the sleeve. Indentations 4 formed in the junction area of the expandable segments with the sleeve, facilitate expansion of the expansible segments 3. At end sides of the expansible segments facing the borehole bottom, there is provided a spacing element formed of bend webs 6. The webs 6 surround the opening of the internal bore 1 of the sleeve 2 and form an axial continuation of an edge thereof. At the junction points of the webs 6 with the expansible segments 3, there is provided a notch 7 which facilitates bending of the bend webs. Upon striking of the borehole bottom 5 by the expansible plug, the bend webs bend causing expansion of the expansible segments which engage the conical portion of the borehole in a form-locking connection.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of an expansible plug comprising an expansible sleeve 2 with expansible segments 3 arranged at an end thereof. The indentations 4 facilitate expansion of the expansible segments. The webs 8 that form the spacing element, adjoin the outer edges of the expansible segments 3. A notch 9 formed between the expansible segments 3 and webs 8, also facilitate bending as discussed with reference to FIG. 1. The webs 8 converge axially and may contact each other at their front ends.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 2 but wherein the webs 8 extend at a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of the expansible plug.

FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of an expansible sleeve 2 with expansible segments 3 arranged at an end thereof. In this embodiment, a plastic washer 10 functions as a spacing element. The washer 10 is provided with tongues 11 projecting into the opening 12 of the inner bore 1 of the expansible sleeve 2. The plastic spacing washer 10 comprises a recess 13 for receiving drilling dust from the bottom of the borehole. Upon penetration of an expander bolt 14 into the expansible sleeve 2, the expander bolt 14 will impact on the plastic spacing washer 10. As a result, the tongues 11, after a while, are severed at the predetermined fracture point 15. This enables complete penetration of the expander bolt 14 into the expansible sleeve 2.

An expansible plug shown in FIG. 3 has at an end thereof which is opposite the expansible segments, a portion of an increased diameter that defines an annular groove 16. A percussion tool 17 is used for anchoring the expansible plug. The percussion tool 17 is provided with a punch 18 which drives the expander bolt 15 into the inner bore 1 of the expansible sleeve 2. When the expander bolt completely penetrates into the inner bore 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a conical marker head 19 engages the edge of opening 20 of the internal bore 1 of the expansible sleeve 2.

The length of the punch 18 is so selected that shortly before the expander bolt reaches its end position, the conical marker head engages the edge of the opening 20. Upon further impact on the percussion tool 17, the expander bolt is advanced into its end position. At that, the edge of the opening 20 is slightly widened. The widening of the edge of the opening 20 of the bore is clearly visible from outside and serves as indication that the expansible plug has been properly anchored in the borehole due to expansion of the expansible segments. Thus, the marker head 19 is used for indication of form-locking anchoring of the expansible plug in the borehole. Thus, it becomes possible to check at any time whether the expansible plug inserted in the borehole has actually expanded and is properly anchored.

Instead of the conical marker head 19, it is possible to use depressions, projections and similar marking elements which enable to provide a corresponding marking of the edge of the bore opening.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an expansible plug to be percussion anchored in a borehole having an undercut, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.