Pneumatically actuated drill motor and an associated method and

Abstract

A clamping device includes a housing, removably connected to a drill motor, which has a first end portion adapted to be received within an aperture defined in a drill plate. The first end portion of the housing also defines a number of openings in which respective ones of a plurality of ball bearings are disposed. The clamping device also includes means for forcing each ball bearing outwardly within a respective opening defined in the first end portion of the housing such that portions of the ball bearings are extended outwardly beyond the housing and are urged against the drill plate. Thus, the drill motor can be securely clamped to the drill plate. The clamping device can also include a mandrel defining an internal bore through which the cutting element extends. The mandrel typically has an exterior surface in which a plurality of recesses are defined. Each recess can be aligned with a respective opening defined in the housing and can be adapted to receive a respective ball bearing. Each recess can also include an inclined surface extending from a first end outwardly to a second end such that by urging a respective ball bearing outwardly along the inclined surface from the first end to the second end, the ball bearing is extended outwardly beyond the housing so as to secure the clamping device and, in turn, the drill motor to the drill plate during drilling operations.