Patent Publication Number: US-2019186254-A1

Title: Rock drilling rig

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/287,224 filed Oct. 6, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to EP Patent Application No. 15189089.4, filed on Oct. 9, 2015, which the entirety thereof is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a rock drilling rig and a method of providing a rock drilling rig with a tool of a rock drilling machine with a drill bit. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rock drilling rig include a carrier and at least one boom unit having a drilling unit. Rock drilling rigs and drilling units therein may be used, for example, in tunnelling or in other rock breaking operations in mines or excavating sites. A drilling unit typically has at least one rock drilling machine with a tool that is formed of one or more interconnected drill rods or drill pipes. At a distal end of the tool there is a drill bit. During drilling the drill bits become worn or may be broken and must therefore be replaced. It is also possible that a beginning of a hole, i.e. a reamer hole, is drilled with a drill bit having a smaller diameter and the drilling of the hole is thereafter continued with a drill bit having a larger diameter. In that case the drill bits must be interchanged at some point of the drilling. 
     Changing of the drill bits is typically carried out manually by an operator of the rock drilling rig. The changing of the drill bits manually requires the operator to leave a cabin or canopy of the rock drilling rig and possibly enter into an area with unsupported or unreinforced roof of a tunnel, which may be unsafe. The changing of the drill bits may also involve cumbersome working positions and lifting or otherwise handling of possibly heavy items. 
     SUMMARY 
     To overcome the above disadvantages, the present disclosure is directed to a rock drilling rig and a method for providing a tool to a rock drilling machine with a drill bit. 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a rock drilling rig including a carrier, a first boom unit having a first rock drilling machine to be provided with the tool and the drill bit at the distal end of the tool, and a second boom unit having at least one rack for accommodating at least one drill bit. The first boom unit and the first rock drilling machine therein are configured to collect the drill bit from the at least one rack in the second boom unit. 
     Accordingly, the operator does not need to exit a cabin or a canopy of the rock drilling rig and change the drill bits manually, the operator thus remaining safe in the cabin or in the canopy of the rock drilling rig. This also makes it possible to utilize automatic drilling, i.e. drilling without any active human supervision, or drilling through a remote access by an operator being positioned outside of the drilling site, for example in an office, since the operator does not need to stay at the drilling site for changing the drill bit. The change of the drill bits may also be carried out faster than before whereby the efficient operating time of the rock drilling rig may be increased. 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments depicted are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view showing a rock drilling rig. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of a drilling unit. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are schematic upper views of boom units of the rock drilling rig of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  discloses schematically a method for changing a drill bit. 
     
    
    
     For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments of the invention in a simplified manner In the figures, like reference signs identify like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a rock drilling rig  1  which may be used for excavating a rock cavern, for example. The rock drilling rig  1  according to  FIG. 1  includes a movable carrier  2  and two boom units, i.e. a first boom unit  3   a  and a second boom unit  3   b,  a general reference sign for a boom unit being  3 . Both of the boom units  3   a,    3   b  include a boom  4  and a drilling unit  5  arranged at a distal end of the boom  4 , i.e. at the end of the boom unit pointing away from the carrier  2  of the rock drilling rig  1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the drilling unit  5 . The drilling unit  5  in the first boom unit  3   a  includes a first rock drilling machine  6   a  and the drilling unit  5  in the second boom unit  3   b  includes a second rock drilling machine  6   b,  a general reference sign for a rock drilling machine being  6 . 
     Each drilling unit  5  also has a feed assembly  7 . The feed assembly  7  includes a feed beam  8  and a feed device  9 . The rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  is arranged on the respective feed beam  8  and the respective feed device  9  is arranged to move the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  with respect to the feed beam  8 . 
     The rock drilling machines  6   a,    6   b  further include a tool  10  formed of a number of drill rods or drill pipes and a drill bit  11  at a distal end of the tool  10 , the distal end of the tool  10  being the end of the tool  10  pointing away from the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b.  The tool  10  and the drill bit  11  at the distal end thereof enables impact pulses given by a percussion device, which for the sake of clarity is not shown, to be transmitted to a rock  12  to be drilled. 
     The feed assembly  7  is arranged at the distal end of the boom  4  with a cradle  13 , through which a position or an alignment of the feed assembly  7  and the respective rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  thereon may be altered with respect to the boom  4 . The feed assembly  7  further includes a retainer clamp  14  at the distal end of the feed beam  8  to support the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b.    
     The rock drilling rig  1  further has at least one control unit  15  configured to control actuators of the rock drilling rig  1  for controlling operations of the boom units  3   a,    3   b,  feed assemblies  7  and the rock drilling machines  6   a,    6   b,  for instance. The control unit  15  may be a computer or a corresponding device, and it may include a user interface, including a display device, as well as control means, such as a keyboard or a joystick, for communicating commands and information to the control unit  15 . 
     The rock drilling rig  1  may be an at least partly autonomously operating rock drilling rig  1 , i.e. a rock drilling rig  1  operating at least some time without any active human supervision. Alternatively, the rock drilling rig  1  may be an actively operated rock drilling rig  1 , that is operated at a drilling site by an operator  16  being positioned in a cabin  17  or a canopy  17  of the rock drilling rig  1  or through a remote access  18  by an operator  16  being positioned outside of the drilling site, for example in an office  19 . 
     The rock drilling rig  1  of  FIG. 1  includes two boom units  3   a,    3   b  each of which has the drilling unit  5  for rock drilling. Alernatively, the rock drilling rig  1  may be provided with more than two boom units being provided with the drilling unit  5 . Furthermore, the rock drilling rig  1  may be provided with one boom unit being provided with the drilling unit  5 , and with at least one additional boom unit being provided with a man basket boom or a basket boom for personnel lift operations and/or with a boom unit being provided with a screen handler boom or a mesh handler boom comprising means and articles used for reinforcing a roof or a wall of the drilling site. Furthermore, the rock drilling rig  1  may be provided with two or more boom units being provided with the drilling units  5 , and additionally with at least one additional boom unit comprising the basket boom and/or the mesh handler boom. 
     The drilling unit  5  of  FIG. 2  includes a plurality of racks  20 , for example, three racks  20 . The rack  20  have an internal space  21  for accommodating at least one drill bit  11 . The racks  20  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which are schematic upper views of the boom units  3   a,    3   b  of the rock drilling rig  1  of  FIG. 1  and respective drilling units  5   a,    5   b  attached thereto, wherein both of the boom units  3   a,    3   b  include a plurality of racks  20 . The racks  20  in the first boom unit  3   a  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  are arranged to accommodate drill bits  11  intended to be used in the second rock drilling machine  6   b  arranged at the second boom unit  3   b,  and the racks  20  in the second boom unit  3   b  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  are arranged to accommodate drill bits  11  intended to be used in the first rock drilling machine  6   a  arranged at the first boom unit  3   a.    
     The at least one rack  20  is attached to the feed assembly  7  of the drilling unit  7 , and more particularly, at a bottom surface  8 ′ of the feed beam  8  of the respective feed assembly  7 . The rack  20  includes a frame  22  or a casing  22  providing the internal space  21  for accommodating at least one drill bit  11  to be accommodated into the rack  20 . The rack  20  also has at least one alignment and retaining element  23 . For example, in the embodiment disclosed, there are three alignment and retaining elements  23 , which may be spring elements. The purpose of the alignment and retaining elements  23  is to centralize the at least one drill bit  11  in the internal space  21  of the rack  20  and to retain the at least one drill bit  11  in the internal space  21  of the rack  20  until intentionally removed therefrom through an open front end  24  of the rack  20 , through which open front end  24  the rack  20  may receive the drill bit  11  or release it. 
     The racks  20  shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4  are arranged consecutively in one line at the bottom surface  8 ′ of the feed beam  8  between the retainer clamp  14  at a distal end of the feed beam  8  and a support  25  for fastening of the feed beam  8  to the cradle  13 . This arrangement provides that the boom unit  3  and the respective drilling unit  5  therein that will collect the drill bit  11  from the rack  20  in another boom unit  3 , as explained later referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , do not need to turn to a high turning angle when collecting the drill bit  11  from the rack  20  in another boom unit  3  or when leaving the drill bit  11  in the rack  20  in another boom unit  3 . In order to minimize the needed turning angle of the boom unit  3  and the drilling unit  5  therein, the open front end  24  of the rack  20  may be directed backwards relative to the longitudinal direction of the rock drilling rig  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     As mentioned shortly above, the racks  20  in the first boom unit  3   a  are arranged to accommodate the drill bits  11  reserved for the second rock drilling machine  6   b  in the second boom unit  3   b,  whereby the second rock drilling machine  6   b  will leave the used drill bit  11  presently attached to the tool  10  of the second rock drilling machine  6   b  in one rack  20  in the first boom unit  3   a  and collect a new drill bit  20  from another rack  20  in the first boom unit  3   a.  Correspondingly, the racks  20  in the second boom unit  3   b  are intended to accommodate the drill bits  11  reserved for the first rock drilling machine  6   a  in the first boom unit  3   a,  whereby the first rock drilling machine  6   a  will leave the used drill bit  11  presently attached to the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  in one rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b  and collect a new drill bit  20  from another rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b.    
     As set forth herein, rock drilling machine  6  in a boom unit  3  can be provided with a new drill bit  11  as illustrated in the method steps disclosed schematically in  FIG. 5 . Also, the specific method steps and alternative embodiments of the solution, will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , wherein the first rock drilling machine  6   a  in the first boom unit  3   a  is provided with a new drill bit  11 .  FIG. 3  presents the boom units  3   a,    3   b  and the respective drilling units  5   a,    5   b  therein in a normal position during the drilling operation and  FIG. 4  presents the boom units  3   a,    3   b  and the respective drilling units  5   a,    5   b  therein in one position taking place during a changing of the drill bit  11  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a.    
     For changing a drill bit  11  of tool  10  of rock drilling machine  6  in a boom unit  3 , the drill bit  11  presently fastened to the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6  is detached from the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6 . 
     After detaching the drill bit  11  from the tool  10  the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6  is navigated to a drill bit  11  provided in rack  20  at another boom unit  3  of the rock drilling rig  1 . 
     After navigating the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6  at the drill bit  11  provided in the rack  20  in another boom unit  3  of the rock drilling rig  1 , the distal end of the tool  10  is fastened to the drill bit  11  in the rack  20  in the other boom unit  3  of the rock drilling rig  1 . 
     After fastening the distal end of the tool  10  to the drill bit  11  in the rack  20  in another boom unit  3  of the rock drilling rig  1 , the drill bit  11  fastened to the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6  is released from the rack  20 . 
     When a tool  10  of a rock drilling machine  6  is not yet provided with any drill bit  11  at the end thereof, the first method step listed above are eliminated. 
     According to an embodiment for detaching the drill bit  11  from the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a,  the first boom unit  3   a  and/or the drilling unit  5   a  therein is displaced relative to the second boom unit  3   b  and the drilling unit  5   b  therein in such a way that the drill bit  11  at the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  in the first boom unit  3   a  is navigated at a rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b,  which rack  20  having a free internal space  21  for receiving the used drill bit  11  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a.  The first boom unit  3   a  and the respective drilling unit  5   a  therein are schematically shown in this position in  FIG. 4 . The first boom unit  3   a  and the drilling unit  5   a  therein may be displaced relative to the second boom unit  3   b  and/or the drilling unit  5   b  therein by moving the first boom unit  3   a  relative to the second boom unit  3   b  and/or by moving the drilling unit  5   a  of the first boom unit  3   a  relative to the boom  4  of the first boom unit  3   a.    
     Furthermore, in operating situations having a very limited space available in the rock cavern, such that the drilling unit  5   a  and/or the first boom unit  3   a  is not able to move or turn into a position, the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is able to leave an old drill bit  11  in the rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b  and/or to collect the new drill bit  11  from the rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b,  also the second boom unit  3   b  and/or the drilling unit  5   b  therein may be moved or turned relative to the first boom unit  3   a  and/or the drilling unit  5   a  therein so that the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is able to leave the old drill bit  11  in the rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b  and/or to collect the new drill bit  11  from the rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b.  In this case, it may be said that the second boom unit  3   b  and/or the drilling unit  5   b  therein is operated to have an optimal position relative to the first rock drilling machine  6   a  for the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  in the first boom unit  3   a  to approach the rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b.    
     After the drill bit  11  at the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is navigated to a rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b,  which rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b  has free internal space  21  for receiving the used drill bit  11  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a,  the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a  is fed forward into the free internal space  21  of the rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b  as long as the drill bit  11  is set against counterpart elements in the rack  20 . Thereafter the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is rotated so as to detach the drill bit  11  from the tool  10  and the tool  10  is retracted out of the rack  20 , the drill bit  11  remaining in the internal space  21  of the rack  20 . 
     Thus, according to an embodiment for detaching the drill bit from the distal end of the tool of the rock drilling machine, the drill bit  11  at the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  is navigated to free space  21  in at least one rack  20  provided in another boom unit  3   a,    3   b  of the rock drilling rig  1 , the space  21  intended to accommodate at least one drill bit  11  in the rack  20 , and the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  is fed forward for the drill bit  11  to be received and supported in the free space  21  in the rack  20 , and the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  is rotated for detaching the drill bit  11  from the distal end of the tool  10 . 
     According to an embodiment for detaching the drill bit  11  from the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a,  the drill bit  11  is first impacted against the rock  12  to be drilled to untighten bit couplings between the drill bit  11  and the tool  10 . Thereafter, the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a  is rotated for detaching the drill bit  11  from the distal end of the tool  10 . The detached drill bit  11  may be dropped on a ground or in a basket laid on the ground, for example, or it may be carried into the free internal space  21  in the rack  20  arranged in the second boom unit  3   b.    
     According to an embodiment for detaching the drill bit  11  from the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a,  the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is retracted so that the drill bit  11  is located at the retainer clamp  14  at the distal end of the feed beam  8 . Thereafter, the retainer clamp  14  is operated to grip to the drill bit  11  and the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a  is rotated to untighten and detach the drill bit  11  from the distal end of the tool  10 . The detached drill bit  11  may be dropped on a ground or in a basket laid on the ground, for example, or it may be carried into the free internal space  21  in the rack  20  arranged in the second boom unit  3   b.    
     After detaching the drill bit  11  from the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a,  the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is navigated to a rack  20  arranged at the second boom unit  3   b  of the rock drilling rig  1 , which rack  20  is provided with the drill bit  11  to be taken in use next. For this to take place the first boom unit  3   a  and the drilling unit  5   a  therein may be further displaced relative to the second boom unit  3   b  and/or the drilling unit  5  therein by moving or turning the first boom unit  3   a  relative to the second boom unit  3   b  and/or by moving or turning the drilling unit  5   a  of the first boom unit  3   a  relative to the boom  4  of the first boom unit  3   a.  Additionally, the second boom unit  3   b  may be moved or turned relative to the first boom unit  3   a  and/or the drilling unit  5   b  of the second boom unit  3   b  may be moved or turned relative to the boom  4  of the second boom unit  3   b.  In that case, again, the second boom unit  3   b  is operated to have an optimal position for the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  in the first boom unit  3   a  to approach the rack  20  in the second boom unit  3   b.    
     After the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is navigated to the rack  20  provided with the drill bit  11  to be used next, the distal end of the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is fed forward so as to make contact with the drill bit  11  in the rack  20 . Thereafter, the tool  10  is rotated for tightening the drill bit  11  to the distal end of the tool  10 . 
     For releasing the drill bit  11  from the rack  20 , the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  is retracted, whereby the tool  10  of the first rock drilling machine  6   a  and the new drill bit  11  at the distal end thereof are pulled out of the rack  20 . 
     Corresponding actions are carried out when the drill bit  11  of the tool  10  in the second rock drilling machine  6   b  in the second boom unit  3   b  is changed. The control unit  15  of the rock drilling rig  1  is configured to control an operation of the boom units  3   a,    3   b  and the drilling units  5   a,    5   b  therein for changing or collecting the drill bit  11  for the tool  10  of the respective rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b.    
     The control unit  15  is configured to, for changing or collecting the drill bit  11  for the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b,  to control at least one of the following operations: detaching the drill bit  11  from the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b;  navigating the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  at a drill bit  11  in the rack  20  provided in another boom unit  3   a,    3   b  of the rock drilling rig  1 ; fastening the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  to the drill bit  11  in the rack  20  provided in another boom unit  3   a,    3   b  of the rock drilling rig  1 ; and 
     releasing the drill bit  11  fastened to the distal end of the tool  10  of the rock drilling machine  6   a,    6   b  from the rack  19 . 
     A need to change the drill bit  11  may arise from a decision of the operator of the rock drilling rig  1  or from a predetermined condition to be achieved in the drilling. That predetermined condition may, for example, be a change in a type of a hole to be drilled, an achievement of predetermined drilling meters for the drill bit, a breakage of the drill bit or a wear-out of the drill bit. 
     The operations for changing the drill bit may be controlled by the operator of the rock drilling rig. Preferably, at least some operations for changing the drill bit are controlled automatically by the control unit configured to control at least one operation of at least one boom unit and the respective rock drilling unit therein automatically in response to a control command initiated by at least one of an operator of the rock drilling rig and a predetermined condition being achieved in the drilling. The control unit may, for example, be pre-educated to repeat all the movement paths and positions of at least one of the boom units  3   a,    3   b  and the rock drilling machines  6   a,    6   b  and the tools  10  therein. 
     In this manner, the operator  16  does not need to exit the cabin  17  or the canopy  17  of the rock drilling rig  1  and change the drill bits  11  manually, whereby the operator  16  is safe in the cabin of the rock drilling rig  1  and does not need to be involved in cumbersome working positions or lifting or otherwise handling of heavy items. The change of the drill bits  11  may also be carried out faster than before, whereby the efficient operating time of the rock drilling rig  1  may be increased. 
     In the rock drilling rigs  1  having at least one boom unit  3  provided with the drilling unit  5  for rock drilling and also provided with at least one additional boom unit including a man basket boom and/or a mesh handler boom, the at least one rack  20  for accommodating the drill bits  11  for the rock drilling machines  6  may be attached to the boom unit having the man basket boom or the mesh handler boom. In that case, the rock drilling machine  6  in the at least one boom unit  3  provided with the drilling unit  5  will collect the drill bit  11  or leave the drill bit  11  in the rack  20  attached to that boom unit having the man basket boom and/or the mesh handler boom. 
     Although the present embodiment(s) has been described in relation to particular aspects thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred therefore, that the present embodiment(s) be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.