SELF-DRILLING ANCHOR
An embodiment of the invention includes a self-drilling anchor. The self-drilling anchor includes a drill rod with a first end and a second end and a drill bit attached to the first end of the drill rod. The self-drilling anchor also includes an expansion shell located over the drill rod near the first end and adjacent to the drill bit and a rod sleeve located over the drill rod and adjacent to the expansion shell.
1 . A self-drilling anchor, comprising:
a drill rod wherein the drill rod has a first end and a second end;
a drill bit wherein the drill bit is attached to the first end of the drill rod;
an expansion shell wherein the expansion shell is located over the drill rod near the first end and adjacent to the drill bit; and
a rod sleeve wherein the rod sleeve is located over the drill rod and adjacent to the expansion shell.
2 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the drill rod has threads disposed over all or part of its length.
3 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 2 , wherein the thread size on the drill rod is R25.
4 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 2 , wherein the thread includes a left-handed thread.
5 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the drill rod includes a driver on the second end.
6 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 5 , wherein the driver is hex shaped.
7 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 5 , wherein the driver is attached via a coupling.
8 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the drill bit includes a shank with an integral taper.
9 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 8 , wherein the expansion shell has an inside diameter that exceeds the smallest outside diameter of the shank of the drill bit.
10 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion shell includes a split along at least a portion of its length.
11 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion shell includes a material sufficiently rigid to be driven between the drill bit and a medium by a force transmitted through the sleeve.
12 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive sleeve located over the second end of the drill rod and adjacent to the rod sleeve.
13 . A self-drilling anchor according to claim 8 , wherein the drive sleeve includes a closed end.
14 . A method for assembling a self-drilling anchor, comprising:
providing a drill rod having a first end and a second end;
attaching a drill bit to the first end of the drill rod;
locating an expansion shell over the drill rod near the first end and adjacent to the drill bit; and
locating a rod sleeve over the drill rod and adjacent to the expansion shell.
15 . A method for assembling a self-drilling anchor according to claim 14 , further comprising:
locating a drive sleeve over the second end of the drill rod and adjacent to the rod sleeve.
16 . A method for assembling a self-drilling anchor according to claim 14 , wherein the drill rod includes a driver on the second end.
17 . A method for assembling a self-drilling anchor according to claim 16 , wherein the driver is attached via a coupling.
18 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor, comprising:
assembling a self-drilling anchor according to claim 14 ;
driving the self-drilling anchor to a desired depth in a medium; and
securing the self-drilling anchor at the desired depth.
19 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 18 , wherein the expansion shell is located over the drill rod after driving the self-drilling anchor to the desired depth.
20 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 19 , wherein the rod sleeve is located over the drill rod after driving the self-drilling anchor to the desired depth.
21 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 18 , wherein driving the self-drilling anchor includes attaching a drill to the second end of the drill rod.
22 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 18 , wherein securing the anchor includes supplying force to the rod sleeve until the expansion shell is wedged between the drill bit and the medium.
23 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 22 , wherein supplying force to the rod sleeve includes:
locating a drive sleeve over the second end of the drill rod and adjacent to the rod sleeve; and
supplying force to the drive sleeve.
24 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 18 , further comprising:
retaining the self-drilling anchor.
25 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 24 , wherein retaining the self-drilling anchor includes:
placing a plate over the drill rod and against the surface of the medium;
threading a nut onto the drill rod; and
tightening the nut against the plate.
26 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 25 , further comprising:
threading an attachment onto the drill rod.
27 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 26 , further comprising:
threading a second nut onto the drill rod; and
tightening the second nut against the first nut.
28 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 18 , further comprising:
removing the drill rod.
29 . A method for installing a self-drilling anchor according to claim 28 , further comprising:
removing the rod sleeve.