Three-in-one drilling, resin and rod insertion device

Abstract

A device that allows for the sequential operations of hole drilling, resin and catalyst insertion and rod insertion in a single machine is provided. The drilling part uses a regular mining drilling machine that is fitted onto the device. Once the hole is drilled, a pipe is inserted into the hole. There are two possible versions of the pipe, a single pipe configured to work with an air cannon shooting resin tubes and a co-joined double pipe to inject resin and a catalyst in separate co-joined pipes so as to emerge unmixed at the end of the pipes. The next step consists in screwing in the rod into the hole, the twisting motion mixes resin and catalyst and in a matter of seconds, the rod is fully inserted and the chemical reaction has started. Because of the speed and accuracy of insertion and the thoroughness of mixing, more catalyst than usual can be used for a faster hardening of the resin, which secures the rod much better and faster.

Claims

1. A device enabling sequential operations of hole drilling, resin and catalyst insertion, and rod insertion, the device comprising: a drilling machine comprising a hydraulic drill motor and a drill bit configured to drill a linear hole, wherein the hydraulic drill motor is mounted to a first pivoting frame which is configured to pivot around a pivot point; a second pivoting frame configured to line up with the linear hole such that a linear pipe is enabled to be inserted into the linear hole, wherein the linear pipe contains a sequence of catalyst and resin substance or is a co-joined linear double pipe configured to inject a resin and a catalyst via each pipe of the linear co-joined double pipe such that the resin and the catalyst emerge unmixed at an end of the linear co-joined double pipe; a rod configured to be screwed via a twisting motion into the linear hole, wherein the twisting motion is configured to mix the resin and the catalyst causing a chemical reaction to harden the resin such that the rod is secured in the linear hole; and a worm screw contained inside the second pivoting frame, wherein the worm screw is spun via a worm screw motor to push the linear co-joined double pipe or the linear pipe inside the linear hole and pull the linear co-joined double pipe or the linear pipe out of the linear hole.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the linear co-joined pipe double pipe includes a smaller diameter pipe inside a larger diameter pipe, wherein the smaller diameter pipe is configured to hold the catalyst and the larger diameter pipe is configured to hold the resin.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the linear co-joined double pipe is configured to be extracted leaving the resin and the catalyst in the linear hole.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a compressor configured to eject the resin and the catalyst from the linear co-joined double pipe.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the rod is spun and pushed up by the hydraulic drill motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A-C are isometric views of a frame member and details of the hydraulic motor and worm screw for use on the second frame member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIGS. 2A-C are top views of the carousel and grappler assembly and the three pivoting frames according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIGS. 3A-B are top and side views of the second pivoting frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIGS. 4A-B are side view and cutaway views of the tip of the co joined double pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the lost space when using two hoses fitted inside a tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein.

(9) The provided three-in-one drilling, resin and rod insertion device is configured for sequential operations of hole drilling by way of a drill bit 11 driven by a hydraulic drill motor 14 which is mounted on a first pivoting frame 12. Once a hole has been drilled, the pivoting frame 12 pivots around a pivot point 16. The pivoting action leaves room for a second pivoting frame 18 to line up with the drilled hole so that a co-joined double pipe 20 may be inserted into the hole. In some embodiments, the co-joined double pipe 20 is comprised of a small diameter pipe 22 located inside a large diameter pipe 24, wherein the small diameter pipe 22 holds a catalyst and the large diameter pipe 24 holds a resin.

(10) After full insertion of the co-joined double pipe 20, it is extracted while leaving the resin and the catalyst in the hole. Both substances have the consistency of toothpaste and similar to multicolored toothpaste, the two substances do not readily mix. A compressor (not shown) is configured to push the substances into the co-joined double pipe 20 while also applying pressure so that the substances are ejected from the co-joined double pipe 20 as the co-joined double pipe 20 is retracted out of the bole.

(11) When using a single pipe (not shown) to which a hose is connected (the hose is an existing and well known machine in the mining industry such as the ones made by the Sandvick® company and need not be further discussed herein and the pipe is a standard pipe comparable to plumbing pipes that are typically rigid, the operations are similar except that the resin and catalyst come in tubes resembling sausages, as described herein above. These tubes are currently used in the industry on machines such as those made by Sandvik®, for example, but are pushed by way of an air cannon. As mentioned earlier, the problem with the air cannon is that if there is the smallest impediment, the tube can get stuck and not reach the bottom of the hole. This problem can be eliminated by connecting the flexible hose of the air cannon to the single pipe of Applicant's invention. The inventiveness aspect is in the use of a standard pipe along with this invention so that the single pipe is pushed to the bottom of the hole, just as with the co-joined double pipe 20 and is retracted the equivalent of one tube length (typically 16 inches) and a first tube is shot out of the pipe, which is then retracted by another tube length to allow for the second tub; and so on.

(12) Then the co-joined double pipe 20 or the single pipe is fully retracted, and the second pivoting frame 18 pivots out of the way so as to leave room for a third pivoting frame 26. At this point, the resin and catalyst are not mixed, simply positioned side by side inside the hole, or inside the tubes. The next step consists of screwing-in a rod 28 into the hole. The twisting motion mixes resin and catalyst and in a matter of seconds, the rod 28 is fully inserted and the chemical reaction has started. The advantage of using a rigid pipe, whether single or co-joined double pipe as in this case, is that even if there is a blockage due to an impediment or hardening of resin that might have happened at the output of the co-joined double pipe, applying more pressure is possible until the resin pumping system jams and still avoid any rupture anywhere in the system.

(13) The three-in-one drilling, resin and rod insertion device is moved about and positioned by way of a boom crane vehicle, as is known in the art (Sandvik® DX800 for example). In the first pivoting frame 12, essentially incorporates a mining drill apparatus 14. In some embodiments, a hydraulic motor (not shown) generally located behind the hydraulic drill motor 14 is configured to rotate a sprocket (not shown) that is connected to a chain 50 so as to move the chain 50 in two directions, which acts as a means for moving the hydraulic drill motor 14 and the drill bit 11 up and down. Similarly, the rod 28 is moved via a second hydraulic motor (not shown) which is configured to move a second chain 50′ configured to move a rod hydraulic motor 52 up and down. A set of grapplers 27 via the rod hydraulic motor 52 is configured to take a rod 28 from a carousel 36. As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 2A-C, the set of grapplers 27 are connected to a shaft which is mounted on beam 54, wherein the set of grapplers 27 are configured to swing down about 10 inches to grab the rod 28 in the carousel 36 and then swing back up 10 inches to leave room for the drill 52 to go by and push the rod 28 in the hole. A carousel hydraulic motor (not shown) is configured to rotate the carousel.

(14) A worm screw 34 which is spun via a worm screw motor 32, typically a hydraulic motor, is used to push the co-joined double pipe 20 or the single pipe. The worm screw 34 is contained inside the second pivoting frame 18. The use of a worm screw 34 to push the double pipe 20 in the hole ensures that there is enough force applied so that the double pipe 20, which is rigid and can thus push through any impediment without bending. The use of a worm screw 34 makes that a direct drive, which makes it easy to push the pipe in or out of the hole every time without any slippage even if there is obstruction in the hole. There is always a space between where the pipe comes out and where it enters the hole drilled in the rock, sometimes even up to two feet, so the use of a straight rigid pipe makes it easy to line it up with the hole every time regardless of how big the gap is between where the pipe comes out and where it enters the hole. Moreover, because the worm screw is not under the pipe but rather to the side and parallel to it, it is not affected by dripping resin and catalyst since they do not fall on it. Moreover, the worm screw is inside the pivoting frame that protects it.

(15) As best seen in FIG. 1B, the co-joined double pipe 20 slides through a bushing 21 and, as best seen in FIGS. 4A and 5, has a distal end 40 from which the substances are expelled and a proximal end 42 (where the hose from the air cannon would connect in the case of the single pipe) having a first and a second hose connector 44, 46 wherein the first hose connector 44 releasably connects a catalyst hose 48 to the small diameter pipe 22, and the second hose connector 46 releasably connects a resin hose (not shown) to the large diameter pipe 24. Both hoses connect to their respective substance tanks and a compressor (not shown) provides pressure to those tanks. The co joined double pipe 20 or single pipe use a worm screw 34′ to move in and out of the hole but do not require any rotation like the rod 28.

(16) The combination of a double pipe 20 that is rigid and a worm screw 34 to push the pipe inside the hole ensures that the double pipe 20 can easily align with and penetrate the bole all the way every time and without any slippage. This allows for an operator to drill 50 to 60 holes in a shift instead of less than 10 using other known devices. Time and money are saved.

(17) Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

(18) It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.

(19) In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.