Apparatus for drilling a hole and a method for its application

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus ( 1 ) for drilling a hole, preferably in a golf green, including a handle ( 2 ), a circular tubular cutter head ( 12 ) with a lower toothing, a drive motor, control means ( 3 ) for the cutter head ( 12 ) and means ( 15 ) for driving out an earth plug from the cutter head ( 12 ), where the handle ( 2 ) are connected with an upper part of the control means ( 3 ), and where the drive motor is connected with the cutter head ( 12 ) via a shaft, wherein the means ( 15 ) for driving out an earth plug from the cutter head ( 12 ) comprises a number of steering guides ( 16 ), which at an upper end part are connected to a retainer plate ( 5 ) of the control means ( 3 ), and a plate ( 17 ), which is arranged inside the cutter head ( 12 ) and is connected to a lower end part of the steering guides ( 16 ) via a bridge connector ( 18 ). The invention furthermore concerns a method for drilling a hole and replacing a drilled plug of earth using an apparatus ( 1 ) according to the invention.

1 . An apparatus for drilling a hole, preferably in a golf green, including a handle, a circular tubular cutter head with a lower toothing, a drive motor, control means for the cutter head and means for driving out an earth plug from the cutter head, where the handle are connected with an upper part of the control means, and where the drive motor is connected with the cutter head via a shaft, wherein the means for driving out an earth plug from the cutter head comprises a number of steering guides, which at an upper end part are connected to a retainer plate of the control means, and a plate, which is arranged inside the cutter head and is connected to a lower end part of the steering guides via a bridge connector.  
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the steering guides are connected to the retainer plate with an arrangement for allowing vertical movement of the plate during the drilling of a hole.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the arrangement comprises a spring.  
   
   
       4 . apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the arrangement comprises a hydraulic system.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bridge connector is connected to the plate with a flexible connection member.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a Global Position System unit.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle is formed by a light-weight material.  
   
   
       8 . A method for drilling holes by means of an apparatus according to the invention, wherein drilling of a hole is performed by means of the following steps: 
 the tread plate with angularly adjustable lower parts of the control means are placed on the position where the hole is to be drilled;    the handle is adjusted so that the cutter head is positioned vertically, as the operator places one or both of his feet on the tread plate;    the drive motor is activated, and a reciprocating cutter movement of the cutter head is started;    by moving the handle downwards, the operator presses the cutter head down into the earth until a desired depth has been reached, and the drive motor is stopped;    the apparatus is lifted so that the cutter head containing the drilled plug of earth is lifted off the ground.    
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the following additional steps: 
 the apparatus is positioned vertically above an existing hole so that at least the lower part of the cutter head protrudes down into the existing hole and the operator places one or both of his feet on the tread plate;    by moving the handle upwards the plate will eject the earth plug into the existing hole;    the apparatus is removed and the surface of the earth plug is levelled with the surrounding green.