ROCK DRILLING MACHINE, ROCK DRILLING RIG AND MEASURING METHOD

Abstract

A rock drilling machine, rock drilling rig and method of measuring physical features during rock drilling is provided. The rock drilling machine includes one or more sensing devices, which are arranged in connection with a bendable sensing cord. The sensing cord is fed via a feed passage to a flushing passage of a drilling tool.

Claims

1. A rock drilling machine comprising: a body; an impact device; a rotation device; a rotation element configured to be rotated around its longitudinal axis by the rotation device, and which rotation element is located at a front end portion of the body and is arranged to be connected to a drilling tool provided with a central flushing passage; at least one sensing device; a feed passage; and a sensing cord, which is an elongated bendable element configured to be inserted through the feed passage to the central flushing passage of the connectable drilling tool, the feed passage being configured to pass through the impact device, wherein the sensing device is in connection with the sensing cord.

2. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed passage extends axially through an entirety of the rock drilling machine, whereby feeding of the sensing cord implements a rear feeding principle.

3. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed passage has a first opening on a side of the rock drilling machine and a second opening in connection with the flushing passage, whereby feeding of the sensing cord implements a side feeding principle.

4. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensing device is connected to a distal end portion of the sensing cord.

5. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensing device is selected from an audio sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, a force sensor, a position sensor, a camera, a gyroscope or an electromagnetic sensor.

6. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing cord includes at least one data transmission element, whereby the sensing cord has dual purpose of serving as a mechanical force transmitting element and as data transmitting element.

7. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock drilling machine includes a transfer device for moving the sensing cord longitudinally and relative to the drilling tool.

8. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing device is configured to be in online data transmission with at least one control unit located outside the drilled hole.

9. The rock drilling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed passage is configured to pass through an impact element of the impact device.

10. A rock drilling rig comprising: a movable carrier; at least one drilling boom; a drilling unit located at a distal end part of the drilling boom, wherein the drilling unit includes a feed beam and a rock drilling machine in accordance with claim 1 supported movably on the feed beam and a sensing means for providing sensing data during rock drilling, the sensing means including at least one sensing device configured to be inserted through the rock drilling machine to a central flushing passage of a drilling tool together with a sensing cord.

11. A method of measuring at least one physical feature during rock drilling, the method comprising: executing the drilling of drill holes by means of a rock drilling machine and a drilling tool connected to a shank of the rock drilling machine; and implementing the measuring of the at least one physical feature by at least one sensing device; generating measuring data during the drilling by the at least one sensing device, which is a separate piece relative to the drilling tool; and feeding the at least one separate sensing device to a central flushing passage of the drilling tool through an impact device of the rock drilling machine and controlling the sensing device inside the flushing passage by means of a sensing cord.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising supporting the at least one sensing device inside the flushing passage of the drilling tool by means of the sensing cord.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising altering axial position of the at least one sensing device relative to the drilling tool and producing sensing data at several different axial locations of the drilling tool.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising executing on-line measurements during the drilling operation and transmitting the generated measuring data on-line to at least one control unit external to the drilled drill hole.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one sensing device is fed inside the flushing passage of the drilling tool by the sensing cord, which is moved towards a distal end of the drilling tool by means of at least one transfer device.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising measuring feed length of the sensing cord relative to the rock drilling machine in order to determine distances between the at least one sensing device and the rock drilling machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0079] Some embodiments are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which

[0080] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a rock drilling rig for underground drilling and being provided with a drilling boom with a drilling unit.

[0081] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a drilling unit implementing down the hole (DTH) drilling principle.

[0082] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a rock drilling machine, which is provided with a system for feeding a sensing cord from behind through the rock drilling machine inside a drilling tool.

[0083] FIG. 4 is a schematic and partly sectional view of a front end portion of a drilling tool and a sensing device arranged movably inside a flushing passage of the drilling tool.

[0084] FIG. 5 is a schematic and partly sectional view of a front end portion of a rotation element provided with a space for receiving a sensing device for the duration of tool handling process.

[0085] FIG. 6 is a schematic and partly sectional view of a detail of a drilling tool, which is provided with a measuring portion wherein a flushing passage includes a widened section.

[0086] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a sensing cord feed system of a rock drilling machine.

[0087] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing some purposes of a sensing cord.

[0088] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing some features relating to the movement of a sensing cord.

[0089] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing some possible sensors or measuring devices which may be implemented in the disclosed solution.

[0090] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a rock drilling machine comprising a rotation head through which a sensing cord is inserted inside a flushing passage of a drilling tool.

[0091] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a DTH drilling system and measuring arrangement inside a flushing passage of a drilling tool.

[0092] FIGS. 13-16 are schematic side views of some sensing cords provided with one or more sensing devices.

[0093] 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

[0094] FIG. 1 shows a rock drilling rig 1. The rock drilling rig 1 includes a movable carrier 2 and at least one drilling 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 have a rotation device 7 for rotating a drilling tool 8. The rock drilling machine 6 further includes an impact device 9 for generating impact pulses to the drilling tool 8. The disclosed rock drilling rig implements top hammer drilling principle. The rock drilling rig 1 further includes one or more control units CU configured to control operation on the basis of received sensing data and control instructions.

[0095] FIG. 2 discloses a DTH drilling unit 4, which has an impact device 9, which is located at a distal end portion of the tool 8 and generates impact pulses P for a drill bit 10. The impact device 9 is located inside a drill hole 11 and it is typically operated by means of pressurized air. Thus, pressurized air is needed for actuating the impact device 9 and also for flushing drilling cuttings out of the formed drill hole 11. The needed pressure for the air is generated by means of a compressor system including at least one compressor.

[0096] The drilling tool 8 is rotated R by means of a rotation device 7 and is also fed (F) in a drilling direction A during the drilling. The drilling tool 8 may be reversed in direction B. The rotation device 7 is part of a rotation head 12 which is movable on the feed beam 5 by means of a feed device, which is not shown in FIG. 2. As can be noted the drilling tool 8 may include several successive extension tubes or components and joints 13 between them.

[0097] The rock drilling machines 6 disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be equipped with the measuring system and its embodiments disclosed in this application.

[0098] FIG. 3 discloses that a rotation device 7 of a rock drilling machine 6 rotates a rotation element 14, such as a shank. The rotation element 14 is located at a front end portion of a body of the rock drilling machine 6 and is connected to a drilling tool 8 provided with a central flushing passage 15. For clarity reasons the flushing passage 15 is shown in FIG. 3 only by means of an arrow.

[0099] The flushing passage 15 of the tool 8 is in fluid connection with a flushing device 16 for feeding flushing agent, such as pressurized water or air, through a tubular rod 17 or drilling tube of the tool 8 to a drill bit 10 in order to flush drilling cuttings 18 out of the drill hole 11.

[0100] Inside the flushing passage 15 is one or more sensing devices 19, which are separate sensing or monitoring components relative to the drilling tool 8. The sensing device 19 is connected to a sensing cord 20, whereby the sensing device 19 is continuously mechanically connected to a connection point external to the drilling tool 8. The sensing cord 20 is an elongated bendable element, which facilitates its insertion inside the flushing passage 15. The sensing cord 20 may at first be fed through a feed opening 21 inside the rock drilling machine 6 and then inside the flushing passage 15. Due to the bendable structure of the sensing cord 20, the feed passage 21 needs not to be in line with the axial line of the flushing passage 15. However, in FIG. 3 this is the case, since rear feeding of the sensing cord 20 is disclosed.

[0101] A rear cover 22 may be provided with the feed passage 21 and needed guiding and sealing means allowing the penetration. When the sensing cord 20 and the sensing device 19 are located on a drilling axis 23, then no rotation elements are needed in connection with feed and support means of the sensing cord 20, which simplifies the structure. Sensing data produced by means of the one or more sensing devices 20 may be transmitted to one or more control devices CU or other electrical devices by means of wired or wireless data communication path.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 4, the sensing device 19 inside a flushing passage 15 may be supported close to a drill bit 10 by means of the sensing cord 20 and still the sensing device 19 is not in contact with the drill bit 10 and is therefore not subjected to impact pulses and other heavy loadings. FIG. 4 also discloses that the sensing device 19 may be moved inside the flushing passage 15. The sensing device 19 may be moved at a joint 13 between successive drilling tubes.

[0103] FIG. 5 discloses that a rotation element 14 may have an open space 24 at its front end. The space 24 may receive a sensing device 19 when being retracted by means of a sensing cord 20 when extension rod or tube system is disassembled.

[0104] FIG. 6 discloses that a rod or tube 17 of a drilling tool 8 may include one or more portions provided with widened sections 25. The widened section 25 allows flushing fluid flowing inside a flushing passage 15 without significant throttling in the flushing flow. The widened sections may be located at such positions of the drilling tool 8 which are interesting for monitoring purposes.

[0105] FIG. 7 discloses a rock drilling machine 6 including a rotation head 12 and an impact device 9. A feed passage 21 for a sensing cord 20 may be at a rear end of the impact device 9, whereby the sensing cord 20 is fed axially. The sensing cord 20 may be fed through a percussion piston or other impact element IE of the impact device. The sensing cord 20 may be moved by means of a transfer device 26. The transfer device 26 may have opposing rotatable rollers 27, between which the sensing cord 20 passes.

[0106] Feeding length of the sensing cord 20 may be measured by a feed detector 28, which is located in connection with the transfer device 26, or alternative the detection is executed by means of an external feed detector 29. The detected feed length data is transmitted to a control unit CU in order to determining position of the sensing device 19 inside a drilling tool. In connection with the mentioned detectors 28, 29 may also be sensing means for determining rotation of the sensing cord 20 around its longitudinal axis.

[0107] Further, sensing data of the sensing device 19 may be received by means of a data collector 30, which may send the data further to a control unit CU. The data collector 30 may be located external to the rotation head 12 and may be in wired data transfer connection with the sensing device 19. Alternatively, a second data collector 31 may be located in connection with the rotation element 14 and is configured to be either in wired or wireless data transfer connection with the sensing device 19. A still further possibility is that the sensing device 19 is provided with a wireless transmitter and is configured to send the data directly 32 to the control unit CU when being retracted from the drill hole, or whenever data transmission connection is available.

[0108] FIG. 7 further discloses that the sensing cord 20 may be fed alternatively from side feed passages 21a or 21b. The side feed passage 21a is located at a side of the rotation head 12 and the side feed passage 21b is located at a side of the rotation element 14.

[0109] FIG. 8 illustrates some features relating to a sensing cord as disclosed supra. FIG. 9 discloses some features relating to movement of a sensing cord. There are several different possibilities to move the sensing cord inside a flushing passage of a drilling tool. Let it be mentioned that combinations of different movement arrangements may also be implemented.

[0110] FIG. 10 discloses some possible sensors or measuring instruments suitable for use as a sensing device. The sensing device may comprise two or more sensors whereby different sensor combinations may also be implemented.

[0111] In FIG. 11 one or more sensing devices 19 are integrated to a structure of a sensing cord 20. The sensing cord 20 passes through a feed passage 21 and through a rotation element 14 of a rotation head 12. The rotation element 14 is rotated by means of a motor M and transmission gearing 33. Further, around the rotation element 14 is a flushing housing 34 connected to a flushing device 16.

[0112] FIG. 12 discloses that in DTH drilling a sensing device 19 may be brought in a secured manner at a proximity D to an impact device 9. All the other features and issues have been already discussed above in this document.

[0113] FIG. 13-16 disclose some alternative sensing cords 20 and sensing devices 19. In FIG. 13 there is one single sensing device 19 at a front part of the sensing cord 20. In FIG. 14 the sensing cord 20 is provided with several sensing devices 19a-19c. In FIG. 15 the sensing cord 20 itself serves as a sensing device 19. The sensing cord may be a fibre optical sensor, for example. In FIG. 16 the structure of the sensing cord 20 is provided with one or more integrated sensing devices 19. The integrated sensing devices 19 may be miniaturized sensors, for example. The sensing cord 20 may be a metal wire, plastic or composite string, or any other suitable bendable and elongated element.

[0114] Let it be mentioned that the disclosed sensing or monitoring system and the disclosed sensing cord and sensing device may be used for other type of drilling rigs and drilling machines. Thereby the disclosed solution may be implemented in underground drilling, production drilling, long hole drilling, surface drilling, bench drilling, exploration drilling and in any kind of drilling techniques implementing a hollow drilling tool inside which the sensing cord and the sensing device may be inserted.

[0115] 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.