DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a drilling tool for producing geotechnical bore holes which is comprised of a drilling mast or a drilling unit, and the latter is allocated to the boom of a hydraulic excavator, and the hydraulic excavator has a revolving superstructure that can rotate in relation to an undercarriage and whose boom is connected to the revolving superstructure with the ability to swivel and can be actuated by way of boom cylinders.

[0002] A variety of hydraulically operated drilling tools are known in the art for the production of deep excavations. They are used to perform cement injections, rear anchoring and piling productions. An essential characteristic these drilling tools share is a kinematic arrangement of the drilling mast or the drilling unit, used to approach drilling starting points slightly above the road level of the construction site; and the drilling unit can be adjusted to certain angles of inclination. Drilling tools, working with vertically arranged drilling units, usually require that the drilling starting point is basically in the plane of the road level. However, the problem consists in the fact that in many cases drilling starting points are located considerably higher or lower than the road level and/or the standing plane of the drilling tool; also, most of the time, the drilling unit must additionally be adjusted to a certain inclination and direction. This applies especially when producing bore holes in order to secure ridges in tunnel construction, explosive bores in mining applications, anchoring bores with booms that can be lowered and adjusted underground etc. Similar problems also occur in connection with conventional hydraulic excavators with attachment booms, because the attachment booms can only be positioned via the boom of the hydraulic excavator.

[0003] Therefore, it is the subject-matter of the present invention to provide a drilling tool that will allow for the easy generation of bore holes even at positions high above the standing surface and in different directions.

[0004] According to the invention, the objective is achieved by allocating a tilt head to the drilling unit, which effects the connection with the boom; and this tilt head is realized as a device of the drilling unit that can specify several axes of rotation which are vertical to each other in relation to the boom.

[0005] With this connection of the drilling unit to the hydraulic excavator, essentially, the hydraulic and electrical controls of the excavators can be utilized, while they have to be adapted to the special way in which the drilling unit is linked to the boom. When implementing several axes of rotation that are perpendicular in relation to each other, a maximum of useful kinematic configurations of the drilling unit in relation to the hydraulic excavator results, and they can be optimally used both for drilling tasks and for transportation requirements. This sequence of the overall resulting kinematic degrees of freedom allows the drilling tool to work in a preferred position in such a way that the drilling unit is arranged in a hanging manner, i.e. the drilling head hangs below the boom. Especially when working very high above the road level, the rod change, the removal of drilled material as well as the introduction of a tension member are considerably simplified and within optimal view of the operator. In this context, it is possible to arrange the drilling unit transversely in relation to the travel direction of the hydraulic excavator as well as in relation of its direction of travel. This possibility of an alignment in the longitudinal direction offers the opportunity to deposit the drilling mast or drilling unit overhead, and for transport purpose the drilling unit is mechanically disconnected from the boom carrier.

[0006] According to a useful embodiment of the invention, it is envisioned that the tilt head is designed in such as way as to specify three axes of rotation; in particular, the first is realized in such a way as to allow for a swiveling of the drilling unit, the second enables a vertical rotation and the third axis of rotation allows for a rotation around the transverse axis of the drilling unit. This specifies three significant degrees of freedom, providing the opportunity to work with the drilling unit in the respectively preferred position without the necessity to move the hydraulic excavator or other transportation system into a correspondingly different position. The application areas, explained above, can thus be covered fully with the drilling tool according to the invention; but beyond this it is also possible to handle additional, more problematic situation in which drilling tools of this kind could not even be used until now.

[0007] The versatility of the drilling tool according to the invention is further increased by the fact that the degrees of freedom that can be achieved with such combined device types are fully utilized; and it is envisioned that the drilling tool with hydraulic excavator is realized in such a way as to exhibit additional degrees of freedom in addition to the three axes of rotation and/or kinematic degrees of freedom, i.e. in the travel direction, between the undercarriage and the revolving superstructure through an axis of rotation, through the connection of the boom and the boom cylinders, through the boom shifting cylinders in the longitudinal direction and the drilling drive unit in the longitudinal direction of the drilling unit in the form of translatory degrees of freedom. The first degree of freedom is exercised by the hydraulic excavator through movement in the travel direction. The second degree of freedom exists due to the fact that the revolving superstructure is arranged with the ability to rotate in relation to the undercarriage, and the third degree of freedom is utilized in that the boom is raised or lowered by way of the boom cylinder. Apart from these degrees of freedom, which are ultimately preset by the hydraulic excavator, two additional degrees of freedom are realized, i.e. based on the possibility of vertically moving the drilling unit in the longitudinal direction in the boom carrier and/or in the longitudinal direction and the drilling drive unit on the drilling unit.

[0008] In order to realize the three described axes of rotation, the invention envisions that the tilt head is realized in two pieces; and one head part is connected with the boom via the first axis of rotation and with the second head part via the second axis of rotation. The second head part serves as axis of rotation and holds the boom carrier that is arranged on it with the ability to rotate. By dividing the tilt head in two, it is possible to first arrange and realize one of the axes of rotation between these two head parts, while the second or the first axis of rotation is arranged between the first head part and the boom and the second between the second head part and the boom carrier. The arrangement of the second head part and/or its realization as an axis of rotation makes it possible to realize the boom carrier with the ability to rotate virtually all the way around or to such an extent that the boom carrier can be brought into all positions. Along with the boom carrier, naturally, the drilling unit also achieves this position and can then be optimally used in any position.

[0009] To allow for and to facilitate swinging around the first axis of rotation, it is envisioned that the head part is connected to the boom with the ability to rotate and to a cylinder via a swiveling lever, which protrudes in relation to the axis of rotation. Thus, the cylinder does not engage directly with the head part but by way of the swiveling lever in order for the appropriate forces to be applied safely. This ensures safe swiveling of the entire machine part, which is required for the drilling process, around the axis of rotation (16), in particular irrespective of the continuing position of the drilling unit.

[0010] The second swivel process is achieved and ensured in that the two head parts are connected via the second axis of rotation and a swiveling cylinder that enables a swiveling movement. This way, by actuating the swiveling cylinder, it is possible to swivel the second head part around the vertical axis of rotation in relation to the first head part, and thus practically around the boom of the hydraulic cylinder, in order to assume the desired or necessary position. Using the relatively small-built swiveling cylinder, this process can be preset from the hydraulic excavator or by way of remote control.

[0011] In order to create and simplify the necessary force for swiveling the second head part around the first and thus for swiveling the drilling unit around the boom, it is envisioned that the swiveling cylinder is connected to the head part and the second head part via a cylinder suspension or an adjusting lever. Thus, a simple piston extension will produce the swiveling motion, and this swiveling motion is preferably achieved easily and with an appropriate radius because the cylinder can accompany the swiveling motion.

[0012] This smooth swiveling or rotating motion of the boom carrier and thus of the drilling unit is achieved, because the boom carrier is arranged orthogonally and with the ability to rotate in relation to the degree of freedom (FG5) around the head part.

[0013] The appropriate rotational movement of the boom carrier and, consequently, of the drilling unit around the appropriate axis of rotation, which again is located horizontally, is achieved by allocating to the boom carrier a link mechanism that generates the rotational movement, consisting of two hydraulic cylinders, articulating levers and coupling links; and the lower hinge points are connected with the head part. By connecting the lower hinge points to the head part, the swiveling process can be accomplished safely and quickly by applying the appropriate hydraulic cylinders.

[0014] Previously, it has already been pointed out that one of the described degrees of freedom is achieved by arranging the drilling unit and the boom carrier in a sliding manner in relation to each other. According to a useful further development, this longitudinal displacement is achieved by positioning the drilling unit in the boom carrier in a longitudinally displaceable manner and allowing it to be displaced in relation to the boom shifting cylinder. The boom shifting cylinder is connected with its piston to the drilling unit and with its cylinder housing to the boom carrier, whereupon, due to the actuation of the boom shifting cylinder, the drilling unit is either retracted or extended. As the other movements, this motion too is introduced and carried out by actuating the hydraulic cylinders. The drilling drive unit can also be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the drilling unit, specifically in a manner that is known in the art, and it is possible to use different drive systems.

[0015] It is useful to envision that the axis of rotation between the first head part and the boom is realized in such a manner as to permit a pivoting angle of 52°, respectively, in relation to the vertical zero position, and that the axis of rotation between the two head parts is realized in such a manner as to permit a pivoting angle of 100°, and the latter is composed of a sector pivoting angle of 90° to one and of at least 10° in relation to the opposite side.

[0016] Furthermore, it is useful to envision that the axis of rotation around which the boom carrier is arranged and realized with the ability to rotate is able to achieve a total pivoting angle of 180° and higher. This way, it is possible to swivel the boom carrier, if needed, from the vertical position into a position that deviates from that position by up to 180°. Of course, this also means that it can swivel to both sides by 90°, i.e. it can be swung by a total of 180°. Provided the link mechanism that affects this movement is realized accordingly, it is also feasible for it to swivel beyond this point. The invention also envisions that the boom carrier is designed in such a way that it can swivel via the link mechanism utilizing the total pivoting angle, which is divided into two equal partial pivoting angles. This link mechanism consists of the two hydraulic cylinders, an articulating lever and a coupling link, as explained previously.

[0017] The invention is characterized by the fact that it provides a drilling tool that can create bore holes even at great height above the standing surface, while easy adjustments into all directions is conceivable due to the preset three axes of rotation, which are arranged perpendicular in relation to one another. This allows creating a much more versatile drilling tool on the basis of an hydraulic excavator, which is principally already available on the market, because the drilling unit can be lifted and swiveled with the assistance of the appropriate drive units or hydraulic cylinders in such a way as is required for the respectively applicable circumstances. Despite the resulting versatility, establishing the connection is relatively simple, allowing the corresponding drilling tools to be realized with hydraulic excavators of a variety of different designs.