Rock drilling machine, rig and method for reinforcing rock surfaces

Abstract

A rock drilling machine, rock drilling rig and method of reinforcing rock surfaces by means of grouting material is provided. The grouting material is fed through the rock drilling machine to a drilling tool connected to the rock drilling machine. The rock drilling machine include a flushing feed path, which is utilized in the feeding of the grouting material.

Claims

1. A rock drilling machine comprising: a flushing housing and at least one flushing port arranged for feeding flushing fluid to the flushing housing; at least one feed port arranged for receiving grouting material; at least one flushing feed path in fluid connection with the at least one feed port and configured to convey the grouting material fed to at least one the feed port via the rock drilling machine to a rock drilling tool connectable to the rock drilling machine, wherein the at least one feed port for the grouting material is located at the flushing housing, whereby the grouting material is configured to be fed through the flushing housing to the drilling tool; and an external mixing device arranged for mixing at least two resin components of the grouting material together before the grouting material enters the flushing housing, the mixing device being located outside a body of the rock drilling machine and mounted to a feed conduit in fluid connection with the at least one feed port, wherein the grouting material and the flushing fluid are configured to be fed through a single feed port, which is common for both the grouting material and flushing fluid feeding.

2. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an integrated flushing system arranged for feeding the flushing fluid to the drilling tool, wherein the at least one feed port is in fluid connection with the flushing system for feeding the grouting material through the flushing system to the drilling tool.

3. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drilling tool connectable to the rock drilling machine is a self-drilling anchor bolt including a hollow shaft for feeding the flushing fluid and the injected grouting material therethrough and a drill bit located at a distal end of the bolt.

4. A rock drilling rig comprising: a movable carrier; at least one drilling boom; a drilling unit at a distal end part of the drilling boom, wherein the drilling unit includes a feed beam and a rock drilling machine according to claim 1 supported movably on the feed beam; and the rock drilling machine including a grouting material feed system arranged for feeding grouting material to a drilling tool connectable to the rock drilling machine wherein the grouting material feed system is arranged to inject the grouting material to drill holes drilled by the rock drilling machine.

5. A method of reinforcing rock surfaces, the method comprising: drilling drill holes in a rock surface with a rock drilling machine; mixing resin components of a grouting material with an external mixing device located outside a body of the rock drilling machine and connected to a feed conduit in fluid connection with a feed port arranged for receiving the grouting material; injecting the grouting material through a drilling tool connected to the rock drilling machine; arranging a rock bolt to the drill hole; and feeding the grouting material through a flushing housing, the flushing housing, feed conduit and feed port being part of a flushing feed path of a flushing system of the rock drilling machine, and at least one flushing port being arranged for feeding flushing fluid to the flushing housing, wherein the injected grouting material and the flushing fluid is fed through the flushing feed path of the rock drilling machine, and wherein the grouting material and the flushing fluid are configured to be fed through a single feed port, which is common for both the grouting material and flushing fluid feeding.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising flushing the flushing feed path after the grouting material is fed by feeding the flushing fluid therethrough.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a rock drilling rig intended for underground drilling.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a rock drilling machine provided with a system for feeding grouting material to a drilled hole via an inner structure of the rock drilling machine and a drilling tool.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of an alternative grouting material feed arrangement.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a rock drilling machine provided with a rear feed system intended for feeding flushing agent and grouting material axially through the entire rock drilling machine.

(5) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing some principles and features relating to the rock reinforcing.

(6) For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the figures, like reference numerals identify like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a rock drilling rig 1. The rock drilling rig 1 includes a movable carrier 2 and at least one boom 3 connected to the carrier 2. At a distal end portion of the boom 3 is a drilling unit 4. The drilling unit 4 may include a feed beam 5 and a rock drilling machine 6 supported on it. A drilling tool 7 is connectable to the rock drilling machine 6. The rock drilling machine 6 includes at least a rotating device for rotating the drilling tool 7 around its longitudinal axis.

(8) When the rock drilling machine 6 implements a percussive drilling principle, then it includes an impact device for generating impact pulses which are transmitted to the drilling tool 7.

(9) The rock drilling machine 6 and the boom 3 may be turned so that drill holes can be drilled into walls and ceilings of tunnels and other underground spaces in order to mount reinforcing rock bolts. The drilling unit 4 may have a separate bolt feeder device 8 for mounting the bolts into the drilled holes, or alternatively, self-drilling bolts may be used and thus, no separate feeder 8 is then needed.

(10) The rock drilling machine 6 includes means for feeding grouting material to the drilled holes. For clarity reasons devices for feeding the grouting material are not shown in FIGS. 2-4.

(11) FIG. 2 discloses a rock drilling machine 6 including a rotation device 9 and an impact device 10. A drilling tool 7 is connected to a shank 11 or corresponding mounting element. The drilling tool 7 produces a drill hole 12 inside, which grouting material 13 is injected through the drilling tool 12 after the drilling is completed. At a front end portion of the drilling machine 6 is a flushing housing 14, which is part of a basic flushing system FS of the drilling machine 6. Flushing fluid, such as water or pressurized air, may be conveyed through a flushing feed port 15 inside the flushing housing 14. A rear end of the drilling tool 7 is in fluid connection with the inner space of the flushing housing 14 whereby the fed flushing fluid may enter a central flushing channel FC of the drilling tool and may be discharged through flushing openings at a drill bit 16. The flushing system FS may further have a flushing valve 17 or corresponding element for controlling the feeding of the flushing agent.

(12) FIG. 2 further discloses that the flushing housing 14 includes a dedicated feed port 18 for feeding grouting material through the flushing housing 14 and flushing channels FC to the drilled hole 12. A grouting material feed system GS includes also a pressurization source 19, such as a pump, which is configured to convey grouting material composites A and B to a mixing device M. The mixing device M mixes the components together by means of suitable mixing elements, such as spirals or a maze, so that the components may react properly and then initiate hardening process.

(13) Thereafter the pre-mixed mass is conveyed to a feed valve 20, which controls feed flow of the grouting material to the flushing housing 14. The mixing device M, feed valve 20, feed channels and the flushing housing 14 may be flushed by feeding one of the components A or B through the grouting material feed system GS in order to remove the mixed mass. The feed valve 20 may alternatively be located before the mixing device M. Further, the mixing device M may alternatively be located at the feed port 18, as it is indicated by a reference M′.

(14) Operation of the rock drilling machine 6 and its flushing system FS and grouting material feed system GS may be controlled by means of one or more control units CU equipped with one or more processors and computer programs including control instructions and strategies for controlling the included devices.

(15) FIG. 3 discloses a rock drilling machine 6 which differs from the solution of FIG. 2 in that the flushing system FS and the grouting material feed system GS utilize one common feed port 18 for feeding either flushing agent or grouting material through the flushing housing 14 to the drilling tool 7. Further, the feed valve 20 is configured to control feeding of the flushing agent and the grouting material to a flushing path.

(16) FIG. 4 discloses a rock drilling machine 6 utilizing a rear feeding principle, wherein the flushing agent and grouting material are conveyed through a central axial passage through an impact device 10 and a rotating device 8. In this embodiment, no flushing housing is needed at the front end of the drilling machine 6. The impact device may have a piston 21, which is provided with a central opening in order to lead the flushing agent or the grouting material through it towards a shank 11, which also has a central opening together with the rotating device 9.

(17) The pressurization device 19 and storages of components A and B may be located on the carrier of the rock drilling rig and the components may be conveyed through hoses to the rock drilling machine. The same principle applies to the flushing system.

(18) FIG. 5 discloses features and steps relating to the disclosed reinforcing method as described above.

(19) Although the present embodiment(s) has been described in relation to particular aspects thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred therefore, that the present embodiment(s) be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.