Title:
DRILLING MACHINE
United States Patent 3692123
Abstract:
A drilling machine comprising a tower formed of elongated members in which a drilling head assembly is slidably disposed for movement relative thereto by means of slide brackets. The brackets are slotted, and slidably receive dowels extending from the drilling head assembly to effect a loss of motion between the drilling head assembly and the brackets. Power-operated feed chains, in a manner well known, translate the slide brackets along the elongated members.
US Patent References:
Rock drill
Curtis - January 1944 - 2338625
DRILLING HEAD
Leven - May 1969 - 3446295
Drilling apparatus
Vanderzee - April 1952 - 2594098
Drilling apparatus
Gartin - September 1931 - 1824480
FEED ARRANGEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING MACHINES
Attebo - October 1970 - 3535985
Rock drill
Curtis - January 1944 - 2338625
DRILLING HEAD
Leven - May 1969 - 3446295
Drilling apparatus
Vanderzee - April 1952 - 2594098
Drilling apparatus
Gartin - September 1931 - 1824480
FEED ARRANGEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING MACHINES
Attebo - October 1970 - 3535985
Application Number:
05/084271
Publication Date:
09/19/1972
Filing Date:
10/27/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Ingersoll-Rand Company (New York, NY)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
E21B19/084; E21B19/00; E21C5/06
Field of Search:
173/147,141,152,159,57
Primary Examiner:
Brown, David H.
Claims:
I claim
1. A drilling machine, comprising:
2. A drilling machine, according to claim 1, wherein:
1. A drilling machine, comprising:
2. A drilling machine, according to claim 1, wherein:
Description:
This invention pertains to drilling machines having motor means for advancing and retracting a powered drilling head assembly, and in particular to such a machine having means effecting a slidable, "lost motion" connection between the motor means and the drilling head assembly.
It is already known in the prior art to provide drilling machines which effect a "lost motion" function so that a relative movement can be realized between the spindle of the drilling head assembly and the drill stem. Such relative movement is necessary so that new, additional drill rods can be positioned therebetween.
In the prior art it is common to provide a slidable chuck or spindle to effect this lost motion. When the in-use drill string has been fully fed, and the drilling head assembly has bottomed in the tower, then one or more additional rods are introduced to the string. The upper end of the expended drill string is held against rotation, by means of a wrench or equivalent, and the rotary motor of the drilling head assembly is energized. The motor turns the spindle and, in that the latter is slidably mounted in the drilling head assembly, the spindle also moves axially relative to the assembly and string and is thereby unthreaded from the string. Then the drilling head assembly is elevated, and additional rod is moved into axial alignment with the string, and the spindle is lowered onto the upper end of the added rod. Again the spindle is rotated and it retraces its former axial movement to threadedly fasten to the added rod.
In that such a slidable spindle must conduct fluid therethrough, it introduces manufacturing expense and difficulties to accommodate both for the sliding motion of the spindle and a reasonable sealing of the fluid against leakage in all the slidable positionings of the spindle.
It is an object of this invention, therefore, to teach an improved and simplified drilling machine which accommodates for the necessary "lost motion." It is another object of this invention to teach a drilling machine structure which comprises a drilling head assembly, for imparting rotation to drilling tools, and having means coupled to the drilling head assembly for forcing the assembly to move in a plurality of directions and wherein the means for moving the assembly include means for introducing a delay in movement of the assembly from any one directional movement to any other directional movement.
A feature of this invention comprises a drilling machine having a tower formed of elongated members in which a drilling head assembly is slidably disposed for movement relative thereto by means of slide brackets which are slotted and slidably receive dowels extending from the drilling head assembly to effect a "lost motion" between the drilling head assembly and the brackets.
Further objects and features of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view partly fragmented, of a drilling machine illustrative of one embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, also partly fragmented, of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
As shown in the figures, the drilling machine 10 comprises a drill tower 12 supported above the ground by means of leveling jacks 14. The tower 12 has a drilling head assembly 16 therewithin which carries a drill string 18 for drilling penetration of the ground surface.
The assembly 16 includes a rotary drilling motor 20 which is supplied with operating fluid by means of fluid lines 22. Motor 20, in this embodiment, is represented to be a hydraulic fluid-operated motor. However, other rotary motor means could by used, of course.
The assembly 16 is supported within the tower 12 by means of anchors or slide brackets 24 which are disposed to either sides of the assembly. To the upper and lower terminations of brackets 24 there are fixed feed chains 26 and 28. In a manner well known from the prior art, fee chains 26 and 28 cooperate with idler pulleys 30 and movable pulleys 32 to translate assembly 16. The latter pulleys 32 are rotatably supported by pulley block 34 which, in turn, is power-moved.
The brackets 24, in lateral surface thereof, define troughs 36 which slidably engage elongated frame members 38 for advancing and retracting (i.e., raising and lowering) the drilling head assembly 16. This is accomplished by actuating the fluid piston-cylinder unit 40 which is carried by tower 12.
The unit 40 has a piston rod 42 projecting therefrom to effect movement of pulley block 34 and, as a consequence thereof to advance and retract assembly 16. When pressured fluid is admitted through fluid line 44 the drilling head assembly 16 is moved along the tower 12 toward the ground and, conversely, when pressured fluid is admitted therethrough fluid line 44' the drilling head assembly 16 is elevated in the tower 12. However, these reciprocal movements of assembly 16 are preceded by "lost motion" delays.
It will be noted that the anchors or slide brackets 24 have slots 46 formed therein and the slots slidably receive dowels 48 which are fixed to and project from either sides of the assembly 16. As represented in FIG. 2, the drilling head assembly 16 was last moved upwardly. This is evident in that the one dowel 48 which is visible in this view is at the termination of the slot 46. Accordingly, if unit 40 is actuated to lower the assembly 16, the assembly will not move, although the brackets 24 will, until dowels 48 have traversed the full lengths of slots 46. A lost motion is provided for in the machine therefore. To remove (or add) a drill rod from (or to) the drill string 18, it is only necessary to restrain the pertinent coupling with a wrench or equivalent, rotate the spindle by means of drill motor 40, and effect an axial movement of the assembly 16, through the "lost motion" travel of dowels 48 along slots 46.
While I have described my invention in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example and not as limitation to the scope of my invention set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.
It is already known in the prior art to provide drilling machines which effect a "lost motion" function so that a relative movement can be realized between the spindle of the drilling head assembly and the drill stem. Such relative movement is necessary so that new, additional drill rods can be positioned therebetween.
In the prior art it is common to provide a slidable chuck or spindle to effect this lost motion. When the in-use drill string has been fully fed, and the drilling head assembly has bottomed in the tower, then one or more additional rods are introduced to the string. The upper end of the expended drill string is held against rotation, by means of a wrench or equivalent, and the rotary motor of the drilling head assembly is energized. The motor turns the spindle and, in that the latter is slidably mounted in the drilling head assembly, the spindle also moves axially relative to the assembly and string and is thereby unthreaded from the string. Then the drilling head assembly is elevated, and additional rod is moved into axial alignment with the string, and the spindle is lowered onto the upper end of the added rod. Again the spindle is rotated and it retraces its former axial movement to threadedly fasten to the added rod.
In that such a slidable spindle must conduct fluid therethrough, it introduces manufacturing expense and difficulties to accommodate both for the sliding motion of the spindle and a reasonable sealing of the fluid against leakage in all the slidable positionings of the spindle.
It is an object of this invention, therefore, to teach an improved and simplified drilling machine which accommodates for the necessary "lost motion." It is another object of this invention to teach a drilling machine structure which comprises a drilling head assembly, for imparting rotation to drilling tools, and having means coupled to the drilling head assembly for forcing the assembly to move in a plurality of directions and wherein the means for moving the assembly include means for introducing a delay in movement of the assembly from any one directional movement to any other directional movement.
A feature of this invention comprises a drilling machine having a tower formed of elongated members in which a drilling head assembly is slidably disposed for movement relative thereto by means of slide brackets which are slotted and slidably receive dowels extending from the drilling head assembly to effect a "lost motion" between the drilling head assembly and the brackets.
Further objects and features of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view partly fragmented, of a drilling machine illustrative of one embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, also partly fragmented, of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
As shown in the figures, the drilling machine 10 comprises a drill tower 12 supported above the ground by means of leveling jacks 14. The tower 12 has a drilling head assembly 16 therewithin which carries a drill string 18 for drilling penetration of the ground surface.
The assembly 16 includes a rotary drilling motor 20 which is supplied with operating fluid by means of fluid lines 22. Motor 20, in this embodiment, is represented to be a hydraulic fluid-operated motor. However, other rotary motor means could by used, of course.
The assembly 16 is supported within the tower 12 by means of anchors or slide brackets 24 which are disposed to either sides of the assembly. To the upper and lower terminations of brackets 24 there are fixed feed chains 26 and 28. In a manner well known from the prior art, fee chains 26 and 28 cooperate with idler pulleys 30 and movable pulleys 32 to translate assembly 16. The latter pulleys 32 are rotatably supported by pulley block 34 which, in turn, is power-moved.
The brackets 24, in lateral surface thereof, define troughs 36 which slidably engage elongated frame members 38 for advancing and retracting (i.e., raising and lowering) the drilling head assembly 16. This is accomplished by actuating the fluid piston-cylinder unit 40 which is carried by tower 12.
The unit 40 has a piston rod 42 projecting therefrom to effect movement of pulley block 34 and, as a consequence thereof to advance and retract assembly 16. When pressured fluid is admitted through fluid line 44 the drilling head assembly 16 is moved along the tower 12 toward the ground and, conversely, when pressured fluid is admitted therethrough fluid line 44' the drilling head assembly 16 is elevated in the tower 12. However, these reciprocal movements of assembly 16 are preceded by "lost motion" delays.
It will be noted that the anchors or slide brackets 24 have slots 46 formed therein and the slots slidably receive dowels 48 which are fixed to and project from either sides of the assembly 16. As represented in FIG. 2, the drilling head assembly 16 was last moved upwardly. This is evident in that the one dowel 48 which is visible in this view is at the termination of the slot 46. Accordingly, if unit 40 is actuated to lower the assembly 16, the assembly will not move, although the brackets 24 will, until dowels 48 have traversed the full lengths of slots 46. A lost motion is provided for in the machine therefore. To remove (or add) a drill rod from (or to) the drill string 18, it is only necessary to restrain the pertinent coupling with a wrench or equivalent, rotate the spindle by means of drill motor 40, and effect an axial movement of the assembly 16, through the "lost motion" travel of dowels 48 along slots 46.
While I have described my invention in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example and not as limitation to the scope of my invention set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.