Drill rod changer, rock drilling unit and method of changing drill rods

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a changing device, rock drilling unit and a method of changing drill rods in rock drilling. The changing device includes a first drill rod station for receiving a second drill rod and a second drill rod station for receiving a third drill rod. The second drill rod station may be moved to the first drill rod station and the first drill rod station may be moved to drilling axis by moving the whole changing device in a transverse direction relative to a feed beam.

Claims

1. A changing device for handling drill rods in connection with a rock drilling unit having a longitudinal drilling axis and a first drill rod located on the longitudinal drilling axis, the changing device comprising: a body movably connected to the drilling unit; a first drill rod station for receiving one single changeable drill rod; a gripping device at the first drill rod station arranged for gripping and releasing the one single changeable drill rod located at the first drill rod station; at least one transfer device arranged to move the changing device in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the drilling unit, the changeable drill rod being located initially at the first drill rod station and then moved by the changing device to the first drill rod at the drilling axis; and at least one second drill rod station configured to receive one single additional drill rod, the second drill rod station being selectively movable to the first drill rod station and away to a side position relative to the longitudinal drilling axis.

2. The changing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second drill rod station is only movable stepwise between two extreme positions without stoppage to intermediate positions between the first drill rod station, the side position being located at extreme positions of a movement range of the second station.

3. The changing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second drill rod station is located at a distal end portion of the changing device.

4. The changing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second drill rod station is supported by pivot means which arranged to pivot the second drill rod station along an arc shaped movement path relative to the body of the changing device, the second drill rod station being movable between the first drill rod station and the side position by a turning actuator.

5. The changing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second drill rod station is movable relative to the pivot means by a fluid operated cylinder.

6. The changing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second drill rod station includes at least one clamp element, which is operable without external driving power and is configured to hold the additional drill rod at the second station.

7. The changing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second drill rod station includes at least one clamp element, the clamp element being supported by a pivot pin to a separate frame fastened to a side surface of the body of the changing device, the clamp element being movable between the extreme positions relative to the pivot pin by a hydraulic cylinder arranged between the clamp element and the frame.

8. A rock drilling unit comprising: an elongate feed beam; a rock drilling machine arranged movably on the feed beam and defining a drilling axis, whereby the rock drilling machine includes a shank for connecting a first drill rod to the drilling axis; and at least one changing device including a body connected movably to the feed beam, a first drill rod station for receiving one single changeable drill rod, a gripping device at the first drill rod station and arranged to grip and release the changeable drill rod located at the first drill rod station, and at least one transfer device arranged to move the changing device in a transverse direction relative to the feed beam and for positioning the gripping device at a side position relative to the drilling axis, the changeable drill rod being located initially at the first drill rod station and then moved by the changing device to the first drill rod at the drilling axis, and at least one second drill rod station configured to receive one single additional drill rod, the second drill rod station being selectively movable to the first drill rod station and away to the side position relative to the longitudinal drilling axis, and wherein the changing device allows one single drill rod at a time to be stored at the second drill rod station.

9. The rock drilling unit as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one additional support element arranged to provide for the drill rod, which is located at the second drill rod station, additional support when the changing device is moved between the drilling axis and the side position.

10. The rock drilling unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the changing device is connected by a pivot means to the feed beam and is configured to be pivoted relative to the pivot means when being moved between the drilling axis and the side position, the additional support element having an arc shaped support surface for providing support for the drill rod located at the second drill rod station when the changing device is turned, and the additional support surface being absent at the side position of the changing device to allow the drill rod located at the second drill rod station to be moved to the first drill rod station.

11. A method of changing drill rods in a rock drilling unit, the rock drilling unit including a feed beam, a rock drilling machine and at least one retainer device, the method comprising: connecting at least two drill rods together at a drilling axis of the drilling machine for forming an extension rod assembly; dismantling the extension rod assembly after drilling; holding the extension rod assembly by the retainer device, wherein the connecting and dismantling includes moving the drill rods in a transverse direction relative to the feed beam between the drilling axis and at least one side position, the side position being parallel to the drilling axis and located at a distance from the drilling axis; moving the drill rods between the drilling axis and the side position by at least one changing device arranged to be transversally movable relative to the feed beam; providing the changing device with a first drill rod station and a second drill rod station, which are both capable of supporting one single drill rod at a time; moving the first drill rod station between a first storage position and the drilling axis by moving the changing device relative to the feed beam; moving the second drill rod station between a second storage position and the first storage position by moving the second drill rod station relative to the changing device; and moving the second drill rod station from the first storage position to the drilling axis by moving the changing device relative to the feed beam.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising supporting the drill rod at the first drill rod station by gripping jaws and supporting the drill rod at the second storage position by a clamp element being independently operable relative to the gripping jaws.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising providing additional support for the drill rod being stored at the second drill rod station when the changing device is moved between the drilling axis and the side position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a rock drilling unit.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the rock drilling unit at position A-A.

(3) FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic side views showing a drilling unit provided with two changing devices.

(4) FIGS. 5a-5h are schematic views showing operation of a changing device and utilization of an additional second drill rod station.

(5) FIGS. 6a and 6b are schematic views showing an auxiliary module, which is provided with a second drill rod station and is mountable to a changing device.

(6) FIGS. 7a and 7b are schematic views showing a clamp element of a second drill rod station.

(7) 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

(8) FIG. 1 shows a rock drilling unit 1, which may be connected by means of a boom 3 to a movable carrier, which is not shown. The drilling unit 1 may have a feed beam 2 provided with a rock drilling machine 4 that can be moved on the feed beam 2 by means of a feed device 5. The rock drilling machine 4 may have a percussion device 6 for generating impact pulses on a tool 7, and a rotating device 8 for rotating the tool 7. The tool 7 is located at drilling axis.

(9) At a drilling site, one or more drill holes are drilled with the drilling unit 1. The drill holes may be drilled in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 1.

(10) When a drill hole having a length longer than one single rod needs to be drilled, then an extension rod system is formed by connecting two or more drill rods successively. Typically, the extension system formed of three drill rods is sufficient. Then, the tool 7 includes a drill bit 9, a first drill rod 10a, a second drill rod 10b and a third drill rod 10c.

(11) In FIG. 1, the third drill rod 10c is located at a side position relative to the drilling axis D. At the beginning of drilling the drill bit 9 is connected to the distal end of the first drill rod 10a, and the opposite end of the first drill rod 10a is connected to a shank 12 of the drilling machine 4. After the drilling of the first drill rod 10a is completed, the second drill rod 10b is connected to the shank 12 and the first drill rod 10a. Further, after the drilling of the second drill rod 10b is completed, then the third drill rod 10c is connected to the extension system and the drilling is continued to the final depth. Between the drill rods 10a-10c, between the first drill rod 10 and the drill bit 9, and between the third drill rod 10c and the shank 12, there are connecting means, such as connecting screws 13. The connecting screws 13 can be closed and opened by means of the rotating device 8. When connecting and disconnecting components of the tool 7, a retaining device 14 may be utilized for preventing rotation of tool components. The retaining device 14 is mounted on the feed beam 3 so that it is located on the drilling axis D. The retaining device 14 may include retaining jaws or corresponding means for gripping the tool component. The retaining device 14 further includes one or more actuators for generating the needed retaining force.

(12) The rock drilling unit 1 may be provided with one or more changing devices 15, which are located at a proximity to the drilling axis D and can be moved in transverse direction relative to the drilling axis D. In FIG. 1, one single changing device 15 is shown in a highly simplified manner. The changing device 15 is capable to hold two drill rods 10b, 10c at a side position 16 in a parallel direction relative to the drilling axis D. The second drill rod 1013 may be located initially at a first drill rod station S1 and can be moved by means of the changing device to the drilling axis D. The third drill rod 10c may be stored at a second drill rod station S2 of the changing device 15 and can be moved to the first drill rod station S1 and further to the drilling axis D. The movements between the drill rod stations S1 and S2 and the movements between the side position 16 and the drilling axis D may be linear movements or turning movements.

(13) As it is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, two changing devices 15a, 15b may be arranged at a selected distance from each other for retaining the drill rods 10b and 10c at the side position 16 and moving the rods between the side position 16 and the drilling axis D. The first drill rod 10a may be placed at the drilling axis D manually. During the manual operation, the rock drilling unit 1 may be shut down for safety reasons. An operator of the drilling unit 1 may control the drill rod change operations manually by means of a control unit 17, or alternatively the control unit 17 may have one or more automatic control programs for controlling the drill rod changing measures.

(14) FIG. 2 illustrates the rock drilling 1 of FIG. 1 as seen from its front side and at position A-A. The changing device 15 may be supported on the feed beam 2 by means of a hinge H, whereby the first drill rod station S1 may be turned from the side position 16 to the drilling axis D, and vice versa. FIG. 2 further shows that the second drill rod station S2 may be moved to the first drill rod station S1.

(15) FIGS. 3 and 4 disclose that the changing devices 15a, 15b may be provided with auxiliary devices 18 mounted to basic bodies or frames 19 of the changing devices. The auxiliary devices 18 or units may include frames 20.

(16) Further, the auxiliary devices 18 may be provided with clamping elements 21 for receiving the third drill rod 10c and serving as the second drill rod station S2. The basic structure of the changing device 15 may include gripping jaws 22 or corresponding means for holding the drill rods at the first drill rod station S1. The changing device 15 may be turned from the side position 16 towards the drilling axis D by directing a force F1 to it. The force F1 may be formed by means of a hydraulic cylinder, for example. The second drill rod station S2 may be turned to the first drill rod station S1 by turning actuator 23, which may be a pressure medium cylinder, for example. The feed beam 2 may be provided with a control box 24 wherein the needed control valves and other control means for controlling the operation of the changing devices 15a, 15b may be arranged.

(17) The changing device 15 may also have an overhead support 25 for supporting the third drill rod 10c at the second drill rod station S2. The support 25 may be a protruding section formed at an outermost end of the frame 20 of the auxiliary device 18. Furthermore, the feed beam may be provided with an additional support element 26 including a curved support surface 27, which may offer support for the third drill rod 10c when the changing device 15 is moved between the side position 16 and the drilling axis D. The additional support element 26 may be a relatively simple plate-like piece, which is arranged in transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the feed beam 2. Shape and dimensions of the additional support element 26 are designed to not hamper indexing of the second drill rod station S2 to the first drill rod station S1 when the changing devices 15a, 15b are moved at their extreme side positions. Further, the additional support element 26 may have an inner space 28 providing space for moving the drill rod being gripped by the first drill rod station S1.

(18) It should be noted that the second drill rod station S2, the clamping element 21, and the turning actuator 23 may alternatively be arranged directly to the basic structure of the changing device 15, whereby no separate frame 19 is needed.

(19) In FIG. 4 the actuators of the changing devices 15a, 15b are shown. The changing devices 15a, 15b may be turned in transverse direction relative to the feed beam 2 by means of cylinders 29 and gripping jaws 22 of the first drill rod station S1 may be actuated by means of a cylinder 30.

(20) FIGS. 5a 5h demonstrate the operation of the changing device in a simplified manner. In FIG. 5a the changing device 15 is at the side position 16. The first drill rod 10a is at the drilling axis D, the second drill rod 10b is at the first drill rod space S1 and the third drill rod 10c is at the second drill rod space S2.

(21) In FIG. 5b the changing device 15 is turned towards the drilling axis D in order to bring the second drill rod 10b to the drilling axis D. Then, the second drill rod 10b may be connected to the first drill rod 10a. The third drill rod 10c is at the second drill rod station S2 and moves simultaneously above at a distal part of the changing device 15.

(22) In FIG. 5c the gripping jaws 22 of the changing device 15 are opened and the changing device 15 is reversed back to the initial side position 16.

(23) In FIG. 5d the turning actuator 23 is actuated and the second drill rod station S2 together with the third drill rod 10c is moved to the first drill rod station S1. Then, the third drill rod 10c may be gripped by means of the gripping jaws 22.

(24) In FIG. 5e the changing device is again turned towards the drilling axis D for feeding the third drill rod 10c, which is at the first drill rod station S1, to the drilling axis D. Thereafter the third drill rod 10c is coupled to the second drill rod 10b.

(25) In FIG. 5f the gripping jaws 22 are opened and in FIG. 5g the changing device 15 has already started reversing movement towards the side position 16. Since the clamp element 21 of the second drill rod station S2 includes an opening 31, which is facing towards the drilling axis D, the changing device 15 may be turned back to the side position shown in FIG. 5h. When the extension drill rod system is dismantled, the changing device 15 may be operated in an opposite working order.

(26) FIGS. 6a and 6b show the auxiliary device 18 in a more detailed manner. The auxiliary device 18 may include a frame 19, and the frame 19 may be a plate-like piece provided with fastening means so that it may be coupled to the changing device. The fastening means may allow fast-coupling of the auxiliary device. The frame 19 may be provided with fastening holes 39 for fastening screws. The frame 19 may also be provided with bearing points 32, 33 for connecting the turning actuator 22 and the clamp element 21 to the frame 19. Further, the frame 19 may include a support 25, which may serve as an overhead support at the second drill rod station S2 and may prevent release of the third drill rod 10c from the clam element 21 through the opening 31

(27) FIGS. 7a and 7b show in more detailed the structure of the clamp element 21. The clamp element 21 may have two side-plates 34a, 34b between which may be an intermediate element 35. The side-plates 34a, 34b may serve as a frame structure for the clamp element 21 and may transmit support and movement forces to the intermediate element 35. The intermediate element 35 may be made of resilient material and an inner shape of the intermediate element 35 may be designed in accordance with outer profiles of the used drill rods. The intermediate element 35 may be changed in case the shape or dimensions of the drill rods change or if the intermediate element 35 becomes worn. The side-plates 34a, 34b are provided with openings 36 for pivoting means and the openings may be furnished with bearings 37, which may be changeable slide bearings. The side-plates 34a, 34b also have openings 38 allowing the turning actuator to be coupled the claim element 21 by a suitable connecting pin or bolt, for example. The structure of the clamp element 21 may be assembled by means of fastening screws 40.

(28) 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.