Abstract
An apparatus for feeding a tubular object inside a drill hole, a rock drilling rig and a method of supporting mouth openings of drill holes is provided. The apparatus includes a support device for supporting an elongated tube element blank having the potential for several successive tube inserts. A front end of the tube element blank is moved longitudinally inside a drill hole by means of a feeding device. Thereby, the drill hole is provided with a protective section extending a limited longitudinal dimension towards a bottom of the drill hole. The apparatus further includes a separation device for detaching the mentioned tube inserts one by one from the tube element blank.
Claims
1. An apparatus arranged for feeding at least one tubular insert inside a drill hole, the apparatus comprising: a support device arranged for supporting an elongated tube element blank, the tube element blank having capacity for supporting a plurality of successive tube inserts; a feeding device arranged for moving a front end portion of the tube element blank longitudinally inside drill hole for providing the drill hole with a protective section extending a limited longitudinal dimension towards a bottom of the drill hole, wherein the feeding device includes at least one pressure medium operated cylinder arranged for generating longitudinal feed movement; and a separation device arranged for detaching the tube inserts one by one from the tube element blank, wherein the separation device is a cutting device arranged at a front end portion of a feed beam arranged at a drilling unit positionable at the drill hole, the cutting device being configured to cut the tube insert with a desired length from the tube element blank, wherein the apparatus is arranged at a side of the drilling unit such that the inserts are inserted from the side of the drilling unit.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube element blank is made of bendable material.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube element blank is made of non-metallic material.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separation device is configured to detach tube inserts maximum lengths of which are 1000 mm.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support device includes support elements arranged for providing support for at least one tube element blank having a rod-like configuration.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein operation of the apparatus is controlled automatically by means of at least one control unit.
7. A rock drilling rig comprising: a movable carrier; at least one drilling boom; a drilling unit disposed at a distal end part of the drilling boom, wherein the drilling unit includes a feed beam and a rock drilling machine supported movably on the feed beam; and an apparatus for feeding a plurality of tubular objects inside a drill hole according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tubular objects are tube inserts which are separated at the drill hole from a tube element blank having capacity for supporting several successive tube inserts, the tube inserts being arranged to only cover mouth portions of the drill holes.
8. The rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 7, wherein the apparatus is connected to the drilling unit.
9. The rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 7, wherein the apparatus is mounted on a dedicated boom separate from the drilling boom.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein support device includes a rotating reel on which reel the tube element blank is stored in a wound state.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the feeding device is configured to reel out a desired length of the tube element blank from the reel.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one gripping device located at the feeding device and configured to grip the tube element blank or the detached tube inserts.
13. A method of supporting mouth openings of drill holes, wherein the method comprises: inserting a tube insert partly inside a drill hole and extending a front end of the tube insert only a limited distance from the mouth of the drill hole; inserting the tube insert by means of an apparatus including a feeding device for moving the tube insert longitudinally; and detaching at the drill hole the tube insert from a tube element blank, which includes material for several successive tube inserts with a separation device arranged at a front end portion of a feed beam arranged at a drilling unit positionable at the drill hole, wherein the apparatus is arranged at a side of the drilling unit such that the inserts are inserted into the drill hole from the side of the drilling unit, wherein the tube insert is detached after a front end of the tube element blank is inserted inside the drill hole.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising cutting from the tube element blank tube inserts with desired lengths.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising cutting the tube element blank into several individual tube inserts when arranging support for several drill holes of a drilling pattern.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a rock drilling rig provided with an apparatus for feeding tube inserts.
(2) FIGS. 2a-2c are schematic views showing three successive phases relating to the present solution, and wherein the phases are drilling, tube insert feeding and charging of blast material.
(3) FIGS. 3a-3c are schematic views seen in a longitudinal direction of the drilling unit and showing three different possibilities to move the disclosed apparatus relative to a drilled hole.
(4) FIG. 4a is a schematic side top of a rock drilling unit and a side mounted apparatus for feeding tube inserts.
(5) FIG. 4b is a schematic side view showing a drill hole opening provided with a hose-like tube insert.
(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an alternative rock drilling unit and arrangement for feeding tube inserts.
(7) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing some principles of supporting drill hole openings.
(8) FIG. 7 is a diagram showing some features of a tube element blank.
(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an arrangement, wherein tube inserts are being cut from a continuous uniform tube element blank.
(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an arrangement, wherein tube inserts are separated from a continuous uniform tube element blank by subjecting longitudinal force effect on the first tube insert.
(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an arrangement, wherein tube inserts are being cut from a rod-like tube element blank.
(12) FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an arrangement, wherein tube inserts are separated from a rod-like tube element blank by subjecting longitudinal force effect on the first tube insert.
(13) FIG. 12 is a schematic top view of an arrangement wherein a support system of the disclosed apparatus is mounted on a side of a rock drilling unit in order to provide support for a rod-like tube element blank.
(14) FIG. 13 is a schematic top view of an arrangement wherein a magazine is mounted on a side of a rock drilling unit in order to provide support for several rod-like tube element blanks.
(15) FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an elongated rod-like tube element blank comprising potential for several tube inserts, which are removable by cutting means.
(16) FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an elongated rod-like tube element blank comprising potential for several tube inserts, which are separable from each other at pre-determined separation locations.
(17) FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an elongated tube element blank comprising several pre-formed tube inserts having conical shape and wherein the separate tube inserts are connected to each other and successive tube inserts are arranged partly inside each other.
(18) 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
(19) 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. The rock drilling machine 6 may include a rotating unit for rotating (R) a tool 7. The rock drilling machine may be of a top hammer type machine and may include an impact device for generating impact pulses for a drill bit of the tool. The rock drilling unit 4 may further include an apparatus 8 for feeding tube inserts to drill holes being drilled. The apparatus 8 may be capable of handling, supporting, storing, feeding and detaching material and objects relating to the tube inserts. These issues have been discussed already above and will be shortly discussed in connection with more detailed figures below.
(20) Let it be further mentioned that operation of the rock drilling rig 1 and the related devices and apparatuses may be controlled under control of a control unit or in assistance with it.
(21) FIG. 2a discloses that at first a drill hole 9 is drilled 10 to rock surface 11. During drilling rock material is removed and drilling cuttings 12 are flushed out of the drill hole 9. Drilling direction is indicated by a reference A and reverse directions as B.
(22) FIG. 2b discloses tube insertion 13 in which a tube insert 14 with relatively short length is inserted partly inside the drilled hole 9. The tube insert 14 covers a mouth portion or opening 15 of the drill hole 9. The rest of the drill hole 9 is with any tube inserts. As can be seen, the tube insert 14 prevents the drilling cuttings 12 entering the drill hole opening 15. Furthermore, the tube insert 14 may provide the drill hole opening 15 with support against collapse in case the rock material is loose or weak 16 at the upper portion of the drill hole 9. Part L2 of the tube insert 14 may remain outside the drill hole 9 and only part L1 is inserted inside the drill hole 9. The part L2 is typically longer than the inserted part L1. However, the situation may chose according to the need, as it is indicated by reference numeral 17.
(23) FIG. 2c discloses a charging phase 18 wherein explosive material or charges 19 are inserted to a bottom part of the drill hole 9 through a central opening 20 of the tube insert 14. A wiring 21 for blasting the charge 19 may be arranged via the opening 20.
(24) FIGS. 3a-3c show rock drilling units 4 which are all provided with feed beams 5, rock drilling machines 6 and also with apparatuses 8 for feeding tube inserts.
(25) In FIG. 3a the apparatus 8 is mounted by means of support elements 22 on a side surface of the feed beam 5. After a drill hole have been drilled, a horizontal transfer HT is executed in order to move FC feed center of the apparatus 8 to the position of the initial drilling center DC allowing thereby feeding of tube insert inside the drill hole.
(26) In FIG. 3b the apparatus 8 is mounted on opposite side of the feed beam 5 relative to the rock drilling machine and the feed center FC is moved by means of a vertical transfer VT to the position of the drilling center DC.
(27) In FIG. 3c a rotation transfer RT is utilized for moving the apparatus 8 at the drill hole. The rock drilling unit 4 may include turning arrangement comprising a turning actuator configured to turn the system relative to a turning joint 23.
(28) FIG. 4a discloses a rock drilling unit 4 and a side mounted apparatus 8 for feeding tube inserts 14. The apparatus 8 includes a reel 24 for storing and handling a flexible tube element blank 25, which may be fed by means of feeding device 26 to a drill hole 9. At the front end portion of the feed beam 5 may be a cutting device 27 for separating the tube insert 14 from the rest of the tube element blank 25. In the disclosed solution the drilling unit 4 needs not to be transferred after the drilling away from the drilling center DC but instead the tube insertion may be executed from the side. The drilling unit 4 may be reversed for a distance in order to facilitate the tube insertion process.
(29) FIG. 4b discloses a drill hole opening 15 provided with a hose-like tube insert 14. The tube insert 14 may be pressure medium hose having a desired length.
(30) FIG. 5 discloses an alternative rock drilling unit 4 compared to one shown in FIG. 4a. In this solution the drilling unit 4 includes a front tool support 28 at a distance D from a front most end of the feed beam 5. Then the drilling tool 7 may be reversed in direction B for facilitating the tube insert 14 feeding.
(31) FIG. 6 discloses some principles of supporting drill hole openings. The disclosed issues have been discussed already above in this document.
(32) FIG. 7 discloses some features of a tube element blank. As can be noted, there are several alternatives to be implemented.
(33) FIG. 8 discloses an apparatus 8 wherein tube inserts are being cut from a continuous uniform tube element blank 25 by means of a cutting device 27. Several alternative cutting principles 29 are also introduced.
(34) In FIGS. 4a, 5 and 8 the cutting device 27 is utilized as a separation device S.
(35) FIG. 9 discloses an apparatus 8, which includes a different type separation device S. In this solution tube inserts 14 are separated from a continuous uniform tube element blank 25 by subjecting longitudinal force effect F on the first tube insert. The tube element blank 25 includes weakening sections W for defining the separation points.
(36) FIG. 10 discloses an apparatus 8, which is configured to cut or share tube inserts 14 from a rod-like tube element blank 25.
(37) FIG. 11 discloses an apparatus 8, which is configured to separate tube inserts 14 at weakened portion W from a rod-like tube element blank 25. The separation device subjects longitudinal force effect on the first tube insert 14.
(38) FIG. 12 discloses an apparatus 8 comprising a support system or device SD, which may include two or more support protrusions 30 mounted on a side of a feed beam 5 in order to provide support for a rod-like tube element blank 25. Other type of support devices, such as grips and hold arms, may also be implemented.
(39) FIG. 13 discloses that an apparatus 8 may be provided with a magazine M in order to store and to provide support for several rod-like tube element blanks 25.
(40) Let it be mentioned that in FIGS. 4a, 5, 7 and 8 the reel 24 may serve as a support device SD.
(41) FIG. 14 discloses an elongated rod-like tube element blank 25 with potential for several tube inserts 14. Tube inserts 14a, 14b with different lengths may be cut, as is demonstrated.
(42) FIG. 15 discloses an elongated rod-like tube element blank 25 comprising potential for several tube inserts 14, which are separable from each other at pre-determined separation locations or weakened sections W.
(43) FIG. 16 discloses an elongated tube element blank 25 including several pre-formed tube inserts 14 having conical shape and wherein the separate tube inserts 14 are connected to each other by means of their structure or shape. Then successive tube inserts 14 may be arranged partly inside each other.
(44) 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.
