Tie drill and lag screw inserter device for the rail industry

Abstract

A portable device is disclosed for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie and/or inserting a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie. The portable device may include a handle and a removable drill with a rechargeable battery that provides power to the portable device. In various embodiments, the portable device may include a gear ratio and gear reduction system configured to allow a user to change speed and torque settings for the portable device independent from the battery-powered drill. In some embodiments, the portable device may include a quick connect/disconnect component configured to enable the portable device to be used as a tie drill device or a lag screw inserter device by interchangeably connecting either a drill bit or a lag screw socket to the portable device.

1 . A portable device for drilling a hole through a plate and into a wooden tie, the portable device comprising:
 an electric-powered drill;   a handle assembly comprising a handle, the handle assembly configured to removably secure the electric-powered drill to the portable device;   a gear ratio and gear reduction system configured to change a speed or torque setting of the portable device independently from the electric-powered drill;   a drill bit configured to drill the hole through the plate and into the wooden tie; and   a leveling plate configured to ensure that the drill bit is aligned and held in a vertical position.   
     
     
         2 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the electric-powered drill is a battery-operated drill that includes a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the portable device. 
     
     
         3 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the electric-powered drill is powered by an integrally-powered DC motor, servo motor, or stepper motor, AC power, or a replaceable fuel cell. 
     
     
         4 . The portable device of  claim 1 , the portable device further comprising a first quick connect/disconnect component for removably connecting the electric-powered drill to the portable device. 
     
     
         5 . The portable device of  claim 4 , wherein the first quick connect/disconnect component is configured to connect the electric-powered drill to the gear ratio and gear reduction system. 
     
     
         6 . The portable device of  claim 4 , the portable device further comprising a second quick connect/disconnect component configured to receive the drill bit and interchangeably connect the drill bit or a lag screw socket to the portable device. 
     
     
         7 . The portable device of  claim 1 , the portable device further comprising a spring-guided mechanism that provides a pre-set distance system with an adjustable knob, wherein the spring-guided mechanism spans from one or more off sets and an offset plate as part of the portable device. 
     
     
         8 . The portable device of  claim 1 , the portable device further comprising a tracking component configured to track usage of the portable device. 
     
     
         9 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more components of the portable device are made of carbon fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The portable device of  claim 1 , the portable device further including an integral light configured to automatically turn on during drill operation. 
     
     
         11 . A portable device for inserting a lag screw into a hole in a plate and into a wooden tie, the portable device comprising:
 an electric-powered drill;   a handle assembly comprising a handle, the handle assembly configured to removably secure the electric-powered drill to the portable device;   a gear ratio and gear reduction system configured to change a speed or torque setting of the portable device independently from the electric-powered drill;   a lag screw socket configured to insert a lag screw into the hole in the plate and into the wooden tie; and   a leveling plate configured to ensure that the lag screw is aligned and held in a vertical position.   
     
     
         12 . The portable device of  claim 11 , wherein the electric-powered drill is a battery-operated drill that includes a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the portable device. 
     
     
         13 . The portable device of  claim 11 , wherein the electric-powered drill is powered by an integrally-powered DC motor, servo motor, or stepper motor, AC power, or a replaceable fuel cell. 
     
     
         14 . The portable device of  claim 11 , the portable device further comprising a first quick connect/disconnect component for removably connecting the electric-powered drill to the portable device. 
     
     
         15 . The portable device of  claim 14 , wherein the first quick connect/disconnect component is configured to connect the electric-powered drill to the gear ratio and gear reduction system. 
     
     
         16 . The portable device of  claim 14 , the portable device further comprising a second quick connect/disconnect component configured to receive the lag screw socket and interchangeably connect a drill bit or the lag screw socket to the portable device. 
     
     
         17 . The portable device of  claim 11 , the portable device further comprising a spring-guided mechanism that provides a pre-set distance system with an adjustable knob, wherein the spring-guided mechanism spans from one or more off sets and an offset plate as part of the portable device. 
     
     
         18 . The portable device of  claim 11 , the portable device further comprising a tracking component configured to track usage of the portable device. 
     
     
         19 . The portable device of  claim 11 , wherein one or more components of the portable device are made of carbon fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The portable device of  claim 11 , the portable device further including an integral light configured to automatically turn on during drill operation.