Abstract
An arrangement and method of utilizing rock drilling information in a mine whereby drill holes are drilled in a surrounding rock material by a first mining vehicle. During drilling measuring data is produced and is inputted to a monitoring device for analyzing procedures. The monitoring device produces rock condition data of the rock material being drilled. The produced rock condition data is then implemented in a second mining vehicle.
Claims
1. An arrangement for utilizing rock drilling information, wherein the arrangement comprises: at least one first mining vehicle having at least one rock drilling machine for drilling drill holes in a surrounding rock material; at least one measuring device disposed in the first mining vehicle arranged to produce measuring data of the rock drilling; at least one monitoring device for monitoring the rock drilling based on measuring data received from the at least one measuring device, the at least one monitoring device being located in the first mining vehicle and including at least one data processing device for analyzing the received measuring data of the rock drilling, the at least one monitoring device in the first mining vehicle being configured to produce, in real-time, at least one rock condition data of the rock material being affected by the rock drilling; and at least one data transfer connection for transmitting the produced rock condition data from the monitoring device in the first mining vehicle to at least one control unit of at least one second mining vehicle, wherein the rock condition data produced at the first mining vehicle is configured to influence operation of the at least one second mining vehicle.
2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mining vehicle includes at least one mine work device for affecting rock material, the operation of the mine work device of the second mining vehicle being arranged to be influenced according to the received rock condition data.
3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock condition data includes data on joints and faults in the surrounding rock material.
4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock condition data includes data on cracks in the surrounding rock material.
5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock condition data includes data on fragmentation of the surrounding rock material.
6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock condition data includes data on cavities of the surrounding rock material.
7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one mine work device of the second mining vehicle is a rock bolting device, which includes a rock drilling machine for drilling reinforcing holes in the surrounding rock material.
8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one mine work device of the second mining vehicle is a rock drilling machine for drilling production drill holes in the surrounding rock material for detaching ore by a drilling and blasting method.
9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one mine work device of the second mining vehicle is a reinforcing material feed device for feeding reinforcing fluid material into the drill holes drilled by the first mining vehicle.
10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first mining vehicle is a face drilling rig, the face drilling rig including drilling means for drilling blasting holes in a face of an underground rock space, the drilling means including at least one drilling boom and a drilling unit at a distal end of the drilling boom, the monitoring device of the first mining vehicle being configured to produce at least one rock condition data of the rock material being drilled by the face drilling rig, and the at least one second mining vehicle being arranged to execute mining work affecting the surrounding rock material of the underground rock space produced by the face drilling rig.
11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the monitoring device in the first mining vehicle is configured to estimate position and direction of defects in the surrounding rock material of the underground rock space based on the produced rock condition data.
12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one second mining vehicle includes at least one rock bolting device for arranging several reinforcing bolts in a bolting pattern, the rock bolting device including a rock drilling machine for drilling several reinforcing holes in the surrounding rock material of the underground rock space for forming a reinforcing drill hole pattern, and a mounting device for inserting the reinforcing bolts to the drilled reinforcing holes of the reinforcing drill hole pattern, the monitoring device in the first vehicle being configured to observe deviations in rock material surrounding the underground rock space, and the second mining vehicle being configured to direct the reinforcing holes according to the observed defects.
13. The arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one second mining vehicle includes at least one rock bolting device for arranging several reinforcing bolts in a bolting pattern, the rock bolting device including a rock drilling machine for drilling several reinforcing holes to the surrounding rock material of the underground rock space for forming a reinforcing drill hole pattern, and a mounting device for inserting the reinforcing bolts to the drilled reinforcing holes of the reinforcing drill hole pattern, the monitoring device in the first mining vehicle being configured to observe deviations in rock material surrounding the underground rock space, and the second mining vehicle being configured to determine distance of successive reinforcing drill holes according to the observed defects.
14. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one second mining vehicle includes at least one rock bolting device and at least one control unit for controlling the operation of the rock bolting device, the second mining vehicle including at least one display device, and the control unit being configured to indicate the detected defects on the display device for an operator of the second mining vehicle.
15. The arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control unit is further arranged to show automatically a proposal for drilling the reinforcing drill holes.
16. A method of utilizing rock drilling information, the method comprising: drilling drill holes in a rock material by at least one first mining vehicle provided with at least one drilling machine; producing measuring data during the drilling; gathering the produced measuring data; inputting the measuring data to at least one monitoring device located in the at least one first mining vehicle; monitoring the drilling on the basis of the measuring data in the monitoring device; producing in the monitoring device located in the at least one first vehicle, in real-time, at least one rock condition data of the rock material being drilled; transmitting the produced rock condition data from the at least one first vehicle to at least one second mining vehicle; and controlling the operation of the at least one second mining vehicle based on the rock condition data received from the at least one first vehicle.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) Some embodiments are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which
(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first mining vehicle comprising several drilling units,
(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a second mining vehicle comprising a rock bolting device,
(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a second mining vehicle and a list of feasible mine work devices,
(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a mine and operation of a first and second mine vehicle in the mine,
(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing feasible ways to transfer data between a first and second mining vehicle,
(7) FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views showing reinforcing of surrounding rock material by means of reinforcing rock bolts,
(8) FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic top views of rock spaces and corrective measures for reinforcing in accordance with the determined rock condition data,
(9) FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic views showing detection of a risk of a falling bolder in a roof portion of a rock space and reinforcing measures,
(10) FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a rock space and detected defects or discontinuities in a surrounding rock material,
(11) FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing some features of a monitoring device and the use of the created rock condition data, and
(12) FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a rock bolting pattern with only few drill holes, and a blast drill hole pattern of a face of a round provided with a great number of drill holes.
(13) 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 OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
(14) FIG. 1 shows a first mining vehicle 1, which comprises a movable carrier 2 and one or more booms 3. The booms 3 may be provided with drilling units 4 for drilling holes to a rock surface 5 of a rock space 6. In FIG. 1 the first mining vehicle 1 is a face drilling rig which is used to drill blasting holes to a face 42 of an underground rock space 6. The drilling unit 4 comprises a rock drilling machine 7 arranged movably on a feed beam 8. The rock drilling machine may comprise a percussion device for generating impact pulses to a tool 9 and a rotating device for rotating the tool 9. The drilling unit 4 is provided with one or more sensors or measuring devices 10 for measuring the drilling operation. It is possible to measure percussion, rotation, feed and flushing, for example. By means of a so called measuring-while-drilling (MWD) valuable measuring data may de gathered for subsequent analysing processes. The measuring data may be transmitted to a control unit 11 of the first mining vehicle 1. Alternatively the measuring data may be stored in a memory unit in the drilling unit, or it may be send by means of a wireless data connection to an external control device.
(15) FIG. 2 discloses a second mining vehicle 12, which is configured to utilize the measuring data gathered during operation of the first mining vehicle 1. The second mining vehicle 12 comprises a carrier 13 and one or more booms 14. The boom 14 is provided with at least one mine work device 15 for affecting rock material. In FIG. 2 the mine work device 15 is a rock bolting device 15a for arranging fastening bolts to the rock material 20 for supporting it. Alternatively, the mine work device 15 may be a feed device 15b for feeding a cable wire, grouting material or reinforcing fluid to a drill hole. The operation of the mine work device 15 influenced by the measuring data of the first mining vehicle 1 and produced rock condition data. MWD- and rock condition data may be transmitted or input to a control unit 16 of the second mining vehicle 12. The control unit 16 may provide visual information for the operator 17 on a display device 18 or the control unit 16 may select a suitable operating plan to be executed. The control unit may further predesign the operating plans on the basis of the rock condition data. It may also be possible that that the control unit 16 controls automatically the mine work device 15 so that the rock condition data is taken in to consideration.
(16) FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose mine vehicles, which are used in underground mines. However, MWD-data may be gathered and utilized also in surface operating mine vehicles, such as surface drilling rigs.
(17) FIG. 3 shows a second mining vehicle 12 and some possible mine work devices 15.
(18) FIG. 4 illustrates the principle of producing and using the rock condition data. A first mining vehicle 1 performs drilling and gathers MWD-data which is analysed and thereafter utilized by a second mining vehicle 12. Based on the gathered measuring data rock condition data may be produced in a monitoring device, which may locate in connection with the control unit 11 of a first mining vehicle 1 or the control unit 16 of the second mining vehicle 12. In an alternative solution the monitoring device may be located external to the first and second mining vehicles. Thus, the monitoring device may locate in a server device S, for example. In FIG. 4 it is also demonstrated by means of simple position markings P that the measuring data gathered and the rock condition data produced may be connected to positioning data.
(19) FIG. 5 shows, in a simplified manner, some possibilities to transfer data between the first mining vehicle 1 and the second mining vehicle 12. Measuring data MD may be transmitted or transported from the first mining vehicle 1 to a server S. Rock condition data RCD may be processed in the server S and may then be transmitted or transported to the second mining vehicle 12. In this case the monitoring device is located in the server S. Alternatively the monitoring device may be located in connection with the control units 11, 16 of the first and second mining vehicles 1, 12. The direct data transfers of MD and RCD are shown in FIG. 5 with dotted lines.
(20) FIG. 6 shows cracks 19a-19c in a rock material 20 surrounding an excavated rock space 6. The cracks 19 define slabs 21 in the rock material 20. The slabs 21 of rock may slide or move in relation to each other in direction of the cracks 19. Rock bolts 22a are used to prevent this undesired movement between the slabs 21. However, in order to provide proper rock bolting it is important to know directions of the cracks 19. FIG. 6 shows a rock bolt 22b, which is in the direction of the cracks 19 and therefore fails to tie the slabs 21 together. The rock bolt 22a is directed in accordance of the rock condition data whereby the direction of the cracks 19 is determined and the rock bolt 22a is directed so that it crosses the cracks 19a-19c and connects the slabs 21 together. The rock bolt 22b is useless in this respect.
(21) FIGS. 7 and 8 demonstrate that it is not sufficient to determine direction of the cracks only based on information gathered during drilling of a reinforcing hole for the rock bolt 22a. In FIG. 7 crossing points 23 between the cracks 19a-19c and the rock bolt 22a are shown. In FIG. 8 it is shown that instead of cracks 19a-19c the same crossing points 23 would be present for cracks 19d-19f having totally different directions as compared to directions of cracks 19a-19c. This means, that drilling of reinforcing holes for the rock bolts 22a does not provide enough information concerning the direction of the cracks 19 and the rock condition. However, when the rock space has been formed in a development drilling phase, a large amount of drill holes has been drilled to the rock material. During the development drilling an extensive measuring data amount may be gathered and when being analysed, more adequate rock condition data may be produced. In FIG. 15 it is illustrated that during reinforcing drilling 24 only 5 to 10 reinforcing holes 40 are drilled and during the development drilling 25 number of drill holes drilled to a face 42 of the rock space is substantially greater. There may be one hundred blasting holes 41 in the face 42 with short spacing. Thus, it is clear that the development drilling 25 produces more measuring data than the reinforcing drilling 24, whereby more sufficient and accurate analysis concerning the condition of the rock material may be processed.
(22) FIG. 9 shows cracks 19a to 19f which are detected when measuring data of a development drilling phase of a rock space 6 is being analysed in a monitoring device. Directions of the cracks 19 are also determined and their continuation outside rock surfaces 5 of the rock space 6 is predicted in the monitoring device. Rock bolting patterns may be designed based on the produced rock condition data. Typically rock bolting patterns 26 are perpendicular to a centre line of a tunnel and comprise several reinforcing drill holes 27. However, modified rock bolting patterns 28a and 28b may be directed according to the detected direction of the cracks 19a and 19b. This way, the produced rock condition data is taken into consideration.
(23) FIG. 10 shows predesigned rock bolting patterns 26 of a rock space 6. Between lines 29 rock quality is poor according to the rock condition data, wherefore additional rock bolting patterns 30 are designed for the detected portion to support a roof and ceilings of the rock space 6.
(24) FIG. 11 shows a tunnel or corresponding rock space 6 which is excavated to a rock material 20. During drilling of blasting holes measurements are executed and analysing process in a monitoring device indicates cracks 19a and 19b crossing the rock space 6. It may be predicted that the cracks 19a and 19b extend to the surrounding rock material 20 and that the detected discontinuity lines continue their detected direction.
(25) In FIG. 12 direction of the detected cracks 19a and 19b are estimated and the estimations 30 are shown using dotted lines. The estimation process may comprise extrapolation and interpolation algorithms input to the monitoring device. The monitoring device may detect if two or more estimated discontinuity lines 30 cross each other causing a risk of a falling boulder 31. In the shown example the falling boulder 31 is located in a roof 32 of the rock space 6 but it may be located also in walls 33. The produced rock condition data comprises information of the directions of the cracks 19 and detected position of the risk of the falling boulder 31. Based on the rock condition data rock bolts 22 may be directed and positioned so that a proper support is achieved. The rock condition data may also affect to the number of the rock bolts to be used.
(26) FIG. 13 shows a rock space 6 and defects in the surrounding rock material 20. At first, the rock space 6 is developed using drilling and blasting method. During drilling of blast holes measuring in executed. In a second phase, long holes 34 extending outside of a predetermined production drilling are 35 are drilled and measuring data is gathered during the drilling. The long holes may be reinforcing holes or examination holes, for example. Analysing procedures of the measuring data may indicate that the surrounding rock material 20 comprises a cavity 36, which may be taken into consideration when feeding charging material through a charging drill hole 37. Thus, the produced rock condition data may avoid a risk of filling the cavity 36 with explosives. Further, it is possible to detect if the surrounding rock material 20 comprises areas 38 where ore or mineral type is different than elsewhere or where the quality of the rock is different. This rock condition data may be taken into consideration when drilling drill holes 39 extending to the detected area 38. Further, it is possible to influence to feeding of reinforcing material on the basis of the different portions the drill hole 39 passes through.
(27) FIG. 14 discloses features and operation of the monitoring device. These issues are already disclosed above in this application.
(28) The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. In its details, the invention may vary within the scope of the claims.
