AN APPARATUS IN ROCK DRILLING MACHINES OR THE LIKE

Abstract: An apparatus for moving boring tubes between a rock drilling machine or the like and a stockpile for the tubes adjacent the machine, the apparatus includes a tube gripping device (6), which is settable vertically and horizontally relative a stand (1) carrying the apparatus with the aid of a manually movable operating device (5), and also at least one motor (9, 11) acting between the stand (1) and the gripping device, the motor preferably being operable from the operating device.

Description: DESCRIPTION An Apparatus in Rock Drilling Machines or the like Technical Field The present invention relates to an apparatus in rock drilling machines or the like, or more specifically, an apparatus for moving boring tubes between the machine and a stockpile arranged in connection therewith. Background Art In drilling operations using large rock drilling machines, one person looks af er operating the machine while another person looks after the boring tubes, i.e. moving them between the stockpile and the tube rotating and feeding means, as well as mounting each new tube in the means as the length of the drill string is increased, or removing of a tube from the means as the string is shortened. If the boring tubes are heavy, several persons may be needed for the latter work, and/or a usually motor-driven hoist is used for raising and lower¬ ing the tubes. If a tube is to be connected to the string, it is required that .the hoist rope is first connected to a tube on the ground by a person standing on the ground, whereupon the hoist is actuated to lift the tube to the desired level. The tube is then taken with manual guidance into engagement with the tube rotating and feed¬ ing means on the machine, after which the rope is dis- connected from the tube by a person who must be at approximately the same level as the upper end of the tube, i.e. at several meters above the ground. The procedure is similar for removing a tube, although in reverse order. A large number of persons is required in the handling of boring tubes in the procedure described above, and these persons are exposed to obvious risk of injuries. Disclosure of Invention One object of the present invention is to improve already known apparatus and methods for mov¬ ing boring tubes between a rock drilling machine or the like and a stockpile of the tubes. This object is achieved by the inventive apparatus having been given the distinguishing features disclosed in the characterising portions of the claims. Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic view, seen from above, of the apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus in Figure 1 , Figure 3 is a view, seen from above, of a gripping device included in the apparatus in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a section essentially along line IV-IV in Figure 2. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The apparatus illustrated in the Figures includes a stand 1 , which is fastened to an unillustrated drill¬ ing platform on which there is a rock drilling machine, which has its tube rotating and feeding means 2 schematically illustrated in Figure 1. The stand 1 is fixed at a relatively short distance from the machine and from a stockpile 5 for the tubes 3. A plurality of such tubes is intended to form a drill string, which is actuated by the tube rotating and feeding means 2 for carrying out the drilling operation. The Swedish patent specification No. 324 747 is referred to for a closer description of the implementation of the means 2 and its method of use in screwing together, or apart, the boring tubes 3, the means described in this publication being one which could be identical with the means 2. The stockpile 4 for the tubes 3 comprises a substructure, such as the platform floor, and a rack attached to the substructure and U-shaped, as seen from above, the tubes 3 leaning against this rack. The inventive apparatus, which is intended to be operated by an operator P, has the task of transferring the tubes 3 from the stockpile 4 to the means 2, and vice versa, and to guide a tube 3 during its connection and disconnection to and from the drill string. The apparatus is implemented such that the operator P does not need to perform any heavy work in handling the tubes. The chief parts of the inventive apparatus, apart from the stand 1 , are an operating device 5 , a gripping device 6, a first motor-driven device 7 and a second motor-driven device 8. The first motor-driven device 7 comprises a post mounted on the stand 1 for vertical movement with the aid of a hydraulic piston-cylinder means 9, actuatable from the operating device 5. The second motor-driven device 8, which is also actuatable from the operating device 5, comprises a hollow, square section boom mounted on a bearing housing 10, which in turn is mounted on the upper part of the post 7 for horizontal movement relative the post with the aid of a motor attached to the housing 10, the boom being mounted on the housing for rotation in the horizontal plane. The - motor 11 is of the hydraulic rotary type, with its out¬ put shaft provided with a sheave, around which a rope 13 is thrown a full turn. The ends of the rope are attached, via tension springs 14 and 15, to the respective ends of the boom 8, the bias of the springs suitably being adjustable to ensure maintenance of sufficient tension in the rope 13 for it not to slip on the sheave 12. The bearing housing 10 contains four identical rollers 16, which are rotatably mounted in the housing via ball bearings 17. The rollers are spaced in pairs, one pair on top of the boom 8 and the other underneath it. By the implementation and location of the rollers 16 and by its shape and engagement with them, the boom may be moved horizontally in Figure 1 by the motor 11 via the rope 13, with a minimum of frictional resistance and with accurate guidance. The lefthand end in Figure 1 of the boom 8 is provided with a stirrup 18, on which there is mounted a bar for turning movement in a horizontal plane. The lower end of the bar 19 is coupled to the gripping device 6 via a setting means 20, which allows the gripping device to be set at a desired inclination relative the stand 1 and post 7 agreeing with the drill- ing direction of the machine. In Figure 2 it will be seen that the gripping device 6 is mounted rigidly on a bar 27, which is parallel to the stand 1. The gripping device 6, seen from above in Figure 3, includes a jaw 22, rigidly attached to a casing 21 , and a jaw 26 that is movable by the actuation of a hydraulic piston-cylinder motor, the free end of the motor piston rod being pivotably mounted at 24 in the jaw 26, which is in turn pivotably mounted on the casing 25. The motor is operable from the operating device 5 for setting the movable jaw in a completely open position illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 3, or a position gripping a tube 3, illustrated in this Figure by full lines, there also being an unillustrated intermediate position, in which a tube is not gripped by the jaws 22 and 26, but is surrounded by them so it can only be moved in its longitudinal direction relative the gripping device. The jaw 22 is pointed to facilitate its insertion between the tubes 3 , which may lie against each other in the stockpile 4. Via the rod 27, the operating device 5 is attached to the lower end in Figure 1 of the gripping device 6. The device 5 is provided with a handle 28, partly formed as a joystick-type lever 29, which is connected to the motors 9, 11 and 25 via unillustrated valves, control means and lines. The function of the apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be summarily described in conjunction with fetching a tube 3 from the stockpile 4, its transfer to, and connection with, the drill string. The operator P, who initially assumes the position illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 1, where he has manoeuvred the open gripping device 6 into position immediately in front of a tube 3, by operating the joystick 29 and handle 28, the gripping device also being illustrated by dashed lines in this position in Figure 1, now operates the joystick 29. This causes motor 11 to move the boom 8 towards the tube so that the jaws 22 and 26 of the gripping device 6 come on either side of the tube 3. The operator then moves the joystick 29 again so that the motor 23 moves jaw 26 towards jaw 22 for gripping the tube. The operator moves the joystick once again, now causing the motor 9 to raise the 'post 7 somewhat, and thereby the tube, and so that the motor 11 moves the end of the boom provided with the gripping device 6 towards the stand 1 , after which he turns the handle 28 anticlockwise in Figure 1 about the vertical axis of the post 7 in Figure 2 and simultaneously such as to rotate it about a vertical axis of the bar 27 in Figure 2. These turning movements are facilitated by the operator gripping the tube at the same time with the hand not holding the handle 28, the tube then serving as a further handle. During, or after the handle turning movements, the joystick 29 is once again operated to furhter raise the post 7, and thus the tube, and to adjust the distance of the gripping device to the stand 1. On renewed operation of the joystick 29 and handle 28 the gripping device 6 is put into the position illustrated by full lines in Figure 1 , with the tube 3 situated directly above the means 2. The joystick is now operated such as cause the motor 9, via the devices 7, 8 and 6, to lower the tube into the means 2 and into contact with the upper end of the drill string. The joystick is now operated to cause the motor 23 to pivot the jaw 26 enough to release its grip but not enough enable it radially to move away from the gripping device. With the guidance thus provided by the partially opened jaws, the tube 3 is then initially threaded onto the drill string manually and subsequently by the means 2. Although only one embodiment of the invention ' has been described above and illustrated on the drawing, it should be understood that the invention is not restricted thereto. For example, the motor 11 and details 12 - 15 between it and the boom can be dispensed with, the horizontal movement of the boom then being accomplished manually by moving the operating device 5. The invention is thus solely restricted by the disclosures in the claims.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 14 May 1987 (14.05.87); original claims 1-9 replaced by amended claims 1-7 (2 pages)] 1. Apparatus for moving boring drills between a rock drilling machine or the like and a stockpile of the tubes in connection therewith, including a gripping device (6) for a boring tube (3) , the device being adjustable both horizontally and vertically relative a stand (1) carrying it, such adjustment being performed manually and by means of at least one motor (9, 11) , respectively, acting between the stand (1) and gripping device (5) , characterized by an operating device (5) operable by an operator and connected to the gripping device (6) , which is rotatable about a vertical axis (19) , and by a setting means (20) for setting of the gripping device relative to the vertical axis to an angle agreeing with that of the drilling direction of the drilling machine. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the operating device (5) includes a handle (28) and at least one operating means (29) for operating the motor (9, 11) and/or a motor (23) for actuating the gripping device (6). 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , character¬ ized in that the operating device (5) is connected to the gripping device (6) and/or to a boom (8) , on which the gripping device is arranged, said boom being rectiliniearly movable vertically and horisontally with the aid of the motor (9, 11) acting between the stand (1) and the gripping device (6) and rotatable in the horizon¬ tal plane with the aid of the manually movable operating device. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the motor acting between the stand (1) and the gripping device (6) comprises at least two motors (9, 11) for respectively vertical and horizontal movement of the boom (8) relative the stand, the motor (9) for vertical movement being mounted on the stand (1) , and the motor (11) for horizontal movement being mounted on a means (7, 10) coacting with said motor (9) for rotating movement in a horizontal plane together with the boom (8) with the aid of the operating device (5) . 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the motor (11) for horizontal movement of the boom (8) is mounted on a means (10, 16, 17) for mount¬ ing the boom and is provided with a sheave (12) , round which there is a turn of a rope (13) or the like, which has its ends attached, preferably by spring means (14, 15) , one to either end of the boom. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 5 , characterized in that the boom (8) has a substantially quadratic cross section, with two opposing corners of the quadrant in a vertical plane and guided for rectilinear reciprocatory movement on rollers (16) rotatably mounted in a bearing housing (10) . 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims , characterized in that the gripping device (6) includes a fixed (22) and a movable (26) gripping jaw, the fixed jaw (22) being substantially flat and preferably pointed, while the movable jaw (26) is hooklike and settable to a first position for gripping a tube (3) , a second, partially opened position for guiding but not gripping the tube, and a third fully open position for relinguishing the tube.

Inventors: JONSSON GUNNAR, JONSSON, GUNNAR
Applicants: CRAELIUS AB
Application year: 1987
Main classification: E21B19
IPC codes: E21B19