Abstract
A pneumatic system that eliminates stops due to dirt in the lasers of an Autonomous Drilling Machine uses the resources of the equipment (Compressed Air) to maintain a positive pressure inside the metal protectors of the lasers, thus preventing the entry of dust in suspension and keeping the lasers clean. This avoids unduly stops of the machine due to dust contamination. The system uses a pneumatic control board connected through a flexible line to the machine's compressor's manifold, a frame, a pressure regulator, and a filter. The protectors for the lasers have perforations that allow the installation of diffusors. The diffusors are installed in the protectors to allow entrance of contamination-free compressed air. A flexible line, with its fittings and couplings, connects the pneumatic control board to each of the diffusors.
Claims
1. A pneumatic dust suppression system for Laser Scanners in an Autonomous Drilling Machine, said pneumatic dust suppression system comprising: a. a pneumatic control board connected through a flexible line to the machine's compressor's manifold; b. a frame for the pneumatic board; c. a pressure regulator and filter; d. a protector for each laser present in the machine, said protector having perforations to allow installation of one or more diffusors per protector; e. a plurality of diffusors installed in said perforations to allow entrance of contamination-free compressed air into said protectors; f. a flexible line, fittings and couplings connecting said pneumatic control board to each of said diffusors; and g. a plurality of valves to regulate the passage of compressed air from said compressor to said diffusors obtaining an airflow of 10 to 120 PSI into each of the protectors.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a unilineal diagram of an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows different perspectives of a modified laser metal protector in an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines, showing the location of the diffusors.
[0036] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a diffusor for using it in an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines.
[0037] FIG. 3B is a side view of a modified laser metal protector in an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines, showing the location of the diffusors.
[0038] FIG. 3C is a front view of a modified laser metal protector in an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines, showing the location of the diffusors.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified laser metal protector in an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines, showing the fittings and air lines connected to it.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a distribution diagram of an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a is a distribution and installation diagram of an embodiment of a Dust Suppression System for Encapsulated Laser Scanners in Autonomous Drilling Machines showed in the example of a PV-351D machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION
[0042] Definitions: In the context of this specification and claims, the word machine refers to a drilling machine for drilling through a formation, such as PV-235, PV-270, PV-271, PV-275 and PV-351 drilling machines, which are manufactured by Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions of Garland, Tex, EPIROC Model PV-351, PV-311, PV-271, PV-275, etc. CATERPILLAR MD6640, Komatsu trucks, caterpillar trucks, and many others. The word laser refers to the laser scanners some of these autonomous machines utilize to scan the surroundings in which the machine is travelling for obstacles. The word lines refers to pneumatic lines including flexible polymeric tubes and all the necessary fittings (couplings, connectors, end-fittings, clamps, etc.) for use with compressed air.
[0043] Some general aspects of the present invention have been summarized so far in the first part of this detailed description and in the previous sections of this disclosure. Hereinafter, a detailed description of the invention as illustrated in the drawings will be provided. While some aspects of the invention will be described in connection with these drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The specific materials, methods, structures, and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting. Instead, the intended function of this disclosure is to exemplify some of the waysincluding the presently preferred waysin which the invention, as defined by the claims, can be enabled for a Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art. Therefore, the intent of the present disclosure is to cover all variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and any reasonable equivalents thereof.
[0044] FIG. 1 is a unilineal diagram showing the entrance 1 and output 2 of compressed air from a compressor 3 into the compartments where the first laser 11a, second laser 11b, third laser 11c, fourth laser 11d, and fifth laser 11e, are located. In other embodiments, more or less lasers are present, and, as in the embodiment shown here, a line 7 connects the compressor 3 with each of them. The air passes through a filter 4 and a pressure regulator 5. This can be, for example, a FP300/XH pressure regulator filter, with Particle filter and moisture separator, 5?, high pressure 300 PSI, Flow allowed 3000 L/Min, for in air control and automation systems outdoors, heavy duty. Other embodiments use different filters and/or pressure regulators with the objective of getting an airflow of 10 to 120 PSI into each of the protectors. In the preferred embodiment the ideal airflow is around 40 PSI, and it is calculated by subtracting the Volume used by the laser scanner inside the protection must from the Inner volume metallic protection to get the Effective volume to be displaced inside the protection. The Expected flow in each protector at the desired pressure is obtained based on this Effective volume and then multiplied by the number of protectors present in the system to obtain the Total airflow required. For example, for a PV-351 machine, the Inner volume metallic protection is of 6.25 Liters, and the Volume used by the laser scanner inside the protection is of 1.62 liters, therefore the Effective volume to be displaced inside the protection is of 4.63 liters, the Expected flow in each protection at 2.75 BAR (40 PSI) is of 150 liters/min and the Total airflow required (for five lasers) is of 750 liters/min. For a PV-351 drilling rig at 0 masl, a 3800 CFM compressor 3 is used, with a System Demand of 26.5 CFM. The pressurization system uses 0.7% of the total flow of the compressor 3. For a PV-351 drilling rig at 3,500 masl, a 2500 CFM compressor 3 is used, with a System Demand of 26.5 CFM. The pressurization system uses 1.06% of the total flow of the compressor 3. Other embodiments, instead of using the compressor 3 of the machine for air supply, use a different compressor 3 specially provided for this task. For example, an electric compressor. A distribution block 6 funnel the lines 7 to each of the lasers 11a-e, going through flow regulating valves 8 and distributor fittings 9. The fittings and valves needed will depend on each embodiment and will be evident for a person of ordinary skill in the art, who can easily derive a correct arrangement from the general knowledge by applying the teachings in this specification. A pneumatic board 12 regulates the flow of compressed air throughout the system.
[0045] FIG. 2 shows different perspectives of a laser metal protector 13 which have been modified for the allowance of the passage of air in accordance with the present invention, to keep the laser 11 free of dust contaminants. For that, two perforations have been made to the protectors 13. A first perforation 24a in the top 16 of the protectors 13, and a second perforation 24b in the right-side wall 15 of the protector 13. Other embodiments have perforations in different locations as well as a different number of perforations to allow different arrangements of entrance of air, and other models of protectors 13 might need different adaptations. The right size for the perforations 24a-b is that that allows the correct installation of the diffusors 10. In the case of the Diffusor/muffler AMTE-G38, the diameter of the perforations 24a-b is of 19 mm
[0046] FIG. 3A shows a diffusor/muffler 10 of the type AMTE-G38 with the following characteristics: [0047] Deposit size: 10 [0048] Major diameter: 19 mm [0049] Symbol: 00991473 [0050] Operating pressure: 0 MPa . . . 1 MPa/0 bar . . . 10 bar [0051] Flow against atmosphere: 1545 l/min [0052] Operating medium: Compressed air according to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:-:-] [0053] Note on working/control medium: Can be used with lubricated compressed air [0054] Corrosion resistance class CRC Sound pressure level: 1low corrosion risk [0055] Room temperature: ?40? C. . . . 80? [0056] Product weight: 17 g [0057] Pneumatic connection: G3/8 [0058] Material of the damping insert: bronze [0059] Material of the screwed pivot: brass
[0060] Other embodiments use different diffusors or injectors. In the case that an electric compressor which provides clean air is used the use of the diffuser can be avoided, since its main purpose is to clean the compressed air from pollutants which is unnecessary if the air is already clean.
[0061] FIGS. 3B and 3C show a modified protector 13, in which the laser 11 can be seen in its interior, and the location of the diffusors are shown, where the first diffusor 10a is shown on the top 16 of the protectors 13, inserted in the first perforation 24a shown in FIG. 2, and a second diffusor 10b is shown in the right-side wall 15 of the protector 13, inserted in the second perforation 24b shown in FIG. 2.
[0062] FIG. 4 displays a modified laser metal protector 13 and the fittings and air lines connected to it. A flexible line 17, which comes from the compressor 3, going through all the necessary the filters, flow regulators and valves, is separated in two lines with the use of a T fitting 18. The first of these lines, 19a is connected to the first diffusor 10a, and the second of these lines, 19b is connected to the second diffusor 10b. The laser 11 goes in the interior 20 of the protector 13.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a distribution diagram showing the pneumatic panel 12, connected through a line 7f to the manifold valve 14 of the compressor 3, and also connected through line 7a to the protector 13a of laser 11a, through line 7b to the protector 13b of laser 11b, through line 7c to the protector 13c of laser 11c, through line 7d to the protector 13d of laser 11d, and through line 7e to the protector 13e of laser 11e.
[0064] Lastly, FIG. 6 is a distribution diagram showing the system applied to a PV-351D machine 23. The pneumatic panel 12, is connected through a line 7f to the manifold valve 14 of the compressor 3, and also connected through line 7a to the protector 13a, through line 7b to the protector 13b, through line 7c to the protector 13c, through line 7d to the protector 13d, and through line 7e to the protector 13e.
[0065] The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.
