AN ARRANGEMENT IN A FEED BEAM OF A ROCK DRILL

Abstract: In the arrangement, a feed beam (1) made of an aluminium profile comprises a slide guide frame (1a), whereby the outer surface of the slide guide frame (1a, 1b) and respectively, the inner surface of the slide guide (6a, 6b) are shaped and dimensioned in such a manner that when the slide guide (6a, 6b) is on the slide guide frame (1a, 1b), they are tight against one another. The other edge of the slide guide frame (1a, 1b) and respectively, the corresponding edge of the slide guide (6a, 6b) are shaped in such a manner that when the slide guide (6a, 6b) is mounted in place, its said edge is shape-locked relative to the slide guide frame (1a, 1b). The slide guide (6a, 6b) is also secured by separate securing means to the feed beam (1) in such a manner that it cannot move either in the cross or longitudinal direction relative to the feed beam (1).

Description: An arrangement in a feed beam of a rock drill The invention relates to an arrangement in a feed beam of a rock drill, said arrangement comprising a feed beam which is provided with at least one slide guide frame on both sides of the feed beam and a slide guide profile of steel placed on each slide guide frame, whereby the inner surface of the slide guide profile and the outer surface of the slide guide frame of the feed beam are essentially in contact with each other. It is well known that the feed beam of the rock drill comprises slide guides along which the carriage of the rock drill slides when moving backwards and forwards along the feed beam. Similarly, in telescopic feed beams the parts of the feed beam move relative to one another along corresponding slide guides and the feed beam may also move relative to the cradle at the end of the boom along corresponding slide guides. When the weight at the end of the boom is to be reduced, feed beams made of a light metal mixture have been used to reduce their weight . As a consequence of this, it is essential that separate steel slide guides or profiles providing the surface of the slide guide are secured to the feed beams because the wear resistance of light metal is clearly not sufficient in drilling conditions. An arrangement of this kind is known e.g. from Swedish Published Specification 444 346. Said Swedish Published Specification discloses a solution in which the profile of an aluminium feed beam is shaped at the slide guide to be such that in addition to the surfaces of the slide guides at an angle relative to one another, it comprises surfaces narrowing away from the slide guides. The slide guide is made of a flexible steel profile which can be pushed to its place in the cross direction of the feed beam. In this case, the feed beam yields and is able to slide into its place and when it settles into its place, it presses against the surfaces of the feed beam and remains m place by its springback factor. A problem of this solution is that in order to implement cross directional mounting, tne steel profile to be used has to be made of a very thin material. As a result of this, it easily works up during use oecause of damaging and for other reasons, whereby it bends and tends to straighten so that its springback factor weakens and it may fall off. Further, because cf securing Dy the springback factor, the slide profile may slightly move relative to the beam and as a result, the dust between the profile and the feed beam may wear the feed beam fast at the same time as the changes of form m the profile will be faster and thus the service life of the feed beam and slide profile will become shorter Also, m situations m which the slide pieces of the carriage of the rock drill are clamped too tight against the slide guide, it may cause the slide guide to jolt and thus it will be permanently damaged at once. The object of this invention is to provide an arrangement with which the problems mentioned above can be avoided and which is reliable and easy to implement . The arrangement according to the invention is characterized m that the other edge of the slide guide frame and respectively, the corresponding edge of the slide guide profile are shaped in such a manner that when the slide guide is in place on the slide guide frame, the edge of the slide guide profile is shape- locked relative to the edge of the slide guide frame; that the slide guide frame and the slide guide profile are shaped m such a manner that the slide guide can be placed in the cross direction of the feed beam against the slide guide frame without bending the slide guide profile in its cross direction; and that the arrangement comprises securing means with which the slide guide profile is secured to the feed beam stationary relative to it. The essential idea of the invention is that the feed beam is provided with such a cross section of the profile part formed by the slide guide of the feed beam that the steel profile forming the slide guide can be placed on it without having to extend it in any way when mounting in place, but in which when the slide guide is in place, the other edge of the feed beam is locked by the shape of the feed beam and by its own shape and thus cannot be unlocked. It is also essential to the arrangement according to the invention that the slide guide is locked separately to the feed beam with locking means so that it cannot become unlocked and thus detached from its place without the locking means being removed first. An advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is that the slide guide profile can be formed of a sufficiently thick material into its final shape, whereby it is easy and uncomplicated to mount in place and the slide guide need not be stressed in any way in the cross direction of its profile either at the mounting stage or when detaching it . A further advantage is that when the profile is secured separately to the feed beam, it cannot move either in the longitudinal or cross direction so that it would abrade the feed beam and thus wear it . The invention will be explained in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the feed beam comprising the arrangement according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the feed beam according to Figure 1 along line A - A, Figures 3a to 3c show schematic views of mounting the slide guide to the feed beam m the manner shown m the arrangement according to the invention, and Figure 4 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a feed beam 1 on which a rock drill 2 moves on a carriage 3 mounted slidably to the feed beam. The feed beam 1 is further mounted slidably m its longitudinal direction on a cradle 4. Regulating units and feed equipments needed for transferring the feed beam 1 and the rock drill 2 are otnerwise m general fully known per se to those skilled m the art, and therefore will not be explained more closely herein. The feed beam 1 is provided m both its upper and lower edge with slide guides 6a and 6b which are steel profiles mounted on the feed beam 1 In this embodiment of the invention, the slide guides 6a and 6b are secured to the feed beam 1 by securing pieces 7 which are secured by bolts 8. The figure further shows a drill rod centralizer 9 at the front end of the feed beam 1. A drill rod centralizer of this kind is in general fully known per se, and therefore will not be explained more closely herein. Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the feed beam according to Figure 1 along line A - A indicated thereto. As can be seen m Figure 2, the feed beam 1 is preferably a light metal mixture profile the upper and lower edges of which are on both sides provided with slide guide bodies la and lb with essentially triangular outer surfaces. At their outermost edges, that is, in the figure on the upper edge of the feed beam 1 and respectively, on the lower edge, the slide guide bodies la and lb are shaped like curves in their cross-section and preferably, like circular arcs. Correspondingly, at the other end of both slide guide bodies la and lb there is a recess inwards from the outer surface of the feed beam 1 the height of which is essentially the same as the thickness of the slide guide 6a, 6b. The slide guides 6a and 6b are of such a cross section that, according to the figure, when they are in place, they are placed tight against the outer surface of the slide guide bodies la and lb, whereby the part of the slide guides la and lb at the outer edges of the feed beam 1 is locked in place by means of so-called shape-locking and it cannot thus move in the cross direction of the feed beam 1. The other edges of the slide guides 6a and 6b are secured to the feed beam 1 by securing pieces 7 which are placed on the edges of the slide guides 6a and 6b and which are secured to the feed beam 1 by bolts 8 in such a manner that they clamp the edges of the slide guides tight against the feed beam 1. When there are securing pieces at suitable distances, the slide guides 6a and 6b will be very steadily and firmly stationary in place relative to the feed beam 1. When the slide guide profile 6a and 6b is mounted in place, the slide surfaces or the slide surfaces of the slide pieces of the rock drill carriage 3 are placed against the projected surfaces of the slide guide profile in an angle relative to one another and slides on them. This structure and operation is in general fully known per se, wherefore it will not be explained in more detail herein. Figures 3a to 3c show schematic views of how the slide guide 6a is placed on the slide guide frame la of the feed beam 1. The feed beam is in these figures shown only in tnose parts that are necessary for illustration. Figure 3a shows how the slide guide 6a is mounted on the slide guide frame la m the upper part of the feed beam m such a manner that the curved edge of the slide guide 6a is placed on the curved part of the slide guide frame la tight against its surface In this situation, the slide guide 6a can be turned relative to the curved surface m the direction shown m Figure 3b in such a manner that tne slide guide 6a starts to turn on the slide guide frame la As can be seen m Figure 3c, when the slide guide 6a gets closer to the slide guiαe frame la, it is placed against its surface without the slide guide 6a having to extend m any way or having to yield in its cross direction When the slide guide 6a is turned to the end, it is, as the slide guide 6b in the lower part of Figures 3a to 3c, tight against the surface of the slide guide frame la and can be secured m place as is shown above m Figures 1 and 2 In this case, the slide guide 6a is at its upper edge shape-locked relative to the slide guide frame la and remains fast in place. Figure 4 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention. This figure shows by way of example only the slide guide frame la of the feed beam 1 and the slide guide 6a secured thereto. As can be seen m the figure, the slide guide 6a is in this case angular m shape, whereby the short part indicated by arrow A at the upper edge and respectively, the other part indicated by arrow B comprising the slide surface are parallel Correspondingly, the slide guide frame la comprises two parallel surfaces so that the slide guide 6a can oe pushed m place on the slide guide frame la in the direction of its parts A and B. The slide guide 6a is further secured to the feed beam 1 by bolts 8a and nuts 8b screwed through the slide guide frame la, whereby it remains steadily in place. At the same time, it cannot move m the direction of its parts A and 3, whereby the upper part of the slide guide 6a, that is, the part facing the upper edge of the feed beam is shape-locked m place. Correspondingly, the lower edge of the slide guide 6a extends to a recess lc in the feed beam, whereby it is also locked m place and cannot project from its place. The invention is above m the specification and m the drawings shown only oy way of example and it is in no way restricted to it It is essential to the invention that tne slide guide frame of the feed beam and respectively, the slide guide are of such a shape that they clamp tight against one anotner when the slide guide is mounted m place. It is also essential that the slide guide can be mounted m place either by turning or pushing so tnat the slide guide need not be stretched or extended m its cross direction to insert it. It is further essential to the invention that the other edge of the slide guide and the slide guide frame are of such a shape that the other edge of the slide guide is shape-locked to the slide guide frame when it is in place. Tne invention is most preferable when implemented in such a way that a feed beam profile of a light metal mixture is used. However, m some cases it is preferable to apply the invention also to feed beams of a steel structure, whereby the wear of the slide guides does not require that tne whole feed beam to be reinstalled but tne new slide guide surfaces are easy to install oy extracting tne old slide guides and by inserting the new slide guides in their place. In this way, the service and maintenance of feed beams of steel structure are made easier and less complicated

Claims: Claims 1. An arrangement m a feed beam of a rock drill, said arrangement comprising a feed beam (1) which is provided with at least one slide guide frame (la, lb) on both sides of the feed beam (i) and a slide guide profile (6a, 6b) of steel placed on each slide guide frame (la, lb) , whereby the inner surface of the slide guide profile (6a, 6b^ and tne outer surface of the slide guide frame (la, lb; of the feed oeara (1) are essentially m contact with each other, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d m that the other edge of the slide guide frame (la, lb) and respectively, the corresponding edge of the slide guide profile (6a, 6b) are shaped m such a manner tnat when tne slide guide (6a, 6b) is in place on the slide guide frame (la, lb) , the edge of the slide guide profile (6a, 6b) is shape- locked relative to the edge of the slide guide frame (la, lb) ; that the slide guide frame (la, lb; and the slide guide profile (6a, 6b) are shaped m such a manner that tne slide guide (6a, 6b) can be placed in the cross direction of the feed beam against the slide guide frame (la, lb) without bending the slide guide profile (6a, 6b) m its cross direction; and that the arrangement comprises securing means with which the slide guide profile (6a, 6b) is secured to the feed beam stationary relative to it. 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the other edge of the slide guide frame (lat is shaped to be curved m its cross-section, preferably in the shape of a circular arc and the corresponding edge of the slide guide profile (6a, 6b) is snaped to r>e similarly curved m such a manner that the slide guide profile (6a, 6b) can be placed on the slide guide frame (la, lb) and turned into place against the slide guide frame (la, lb) by turning along said curved surface. 3 An arrangement according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the securing means include separate securing pieces (7) which are placed on the slide guiαe profile (6a, 6b) and which are secured by oolts or the lι e to the feed beam (1) in such a manner that tney clamp tne slide guide profiles (6a, 6b) against the feed beam (1) 4 An arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the slide guide frame (la) is essentially angular m its cross-section in sucn a manner tnat there is an essentially straight surface on its Outermost ectge which is parallel to the triangular surface of the slide guide frame (la) facing the otner slide guide (6a) , that the slide guide (6a) comprises two parallel sides (A, B) relative to one another m such a manner that the slide guide ( 6a) can be pushed on the slide guide frame (la ) m the direction of said sides and that the securing means include bolts (5 with which the slide guide is secured to tne feed beam 5. An arrangement according to claim , c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that a recess (lc; is provided m the feed beam (1) next to the slide guide frame (la) to which recess the edge of the slide guide can be pushed when inserting the slide guide (6a) .

Inventors: ESKO MAURI, HAEKKINEN LEO, JANTUNEN HEIKKI, LAITINEN TIMO, ESKO, MAURI, HAEKKINEN, LEO, JANTUNEN, HEIKKI, LAITINEN, TIMO
Applicants: ESKO MAURI, HAEKKINEN LEO, JANTUNEN HEIKKI, LAITINEN TIMO, TAMROCK OY, ESKO, MAURI, HAEKKINEN, LEO, JANTUNEN, HEIKKI, LAITINEN, TIMO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E21C11
IPC codes: E21B7, E21B15, E21B19