Patent Application
20170074040
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. ยง119 to EP Patent Application No. 15185209.2, filed on Sep. 15, 2015, which the entirety thereof is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to an arrangement having a rock drilling machine, which is mounted on a carriage supportable to a feed beam of a rock drilling rig. The rock drilling machine includes a gear module and a percussion module, which are arranged on a same axial line and are connected to each other by connecting means. The invention further relates to a method of mounting a rock drilling machine.
In mines and at other work sites, rock drilling machines are used for drilling bore holes into rock surfaces and soil. The rock drilling machine includes a rotating device for rotating a drilling tool during drilling around longitudinal axis of the drilling tool. The rock drilling machine also has a percussion device for generating impact pulses to the drilling tool. The rock drilling machine is typically connected to a carriage, which is supported to a feed beam of a rock drilling rig. During the operation of the rock drilling machine axial forces are directed to connecting means arranged between the rotating device and the percussion device. The present solutions have shown to contain some problems regarding durability of the connecting means.
An aspect of the invention is to provide a novel and improved arrangement and method for mounting a rock drilling machine.
The rock drilling machine includes a gear module and a percussion module. The gear module has transmission elements, such as gear wheels, for transmitting rotation, and the percussion module includes an impact element, such as a percussion piston, for generating impact pulses. The gear module and the percussion module are arranged on a same axial line, and they are pressed axially towards each other by a first connecting device, which generate a first connecting force. In addition to the first connecting device and the generated first connecting force, the gear module and the percussion module are pressed towards each other by second connecting device, which generate a second connecting force. The second connecting device also have another purpose, namely to provide fastening of the rock drilling machine to a support surface of a carriage.
The carriage includes a body part, which is an elongated base element arranged longitudinally relative to the rock drilling machine. The body part is intended to be arranged below the rock drilling machine and is provided with bearings for mounting it on a feed beam. The carriage further includes two transverse fastenings lugs extending upwardly from the body part, and which lugs are located at a transverse distance from each other. Thereby, a free space exists at a central line of the carriage between the fastening lugs. The rock drilling machine is mounted at the longitudinal central line of the carriage, whereby the percussion module is located between the fastening lugs. In other words, the gear module and the percussion module may be coupled to each other before mounting to the carriage, and the connection to the carriage generates additional connecting forces ensuring that joint surfaces, which are located between the gear module and the percussion module, are properly fastened despite of separating forces directed to the modules during the operation of the rock drilling machine. Thus, the first connecting device and the second connecting device together ensure that the axial joint surfaces are pressed towards each other despite operational forces pulling the joint surfaces away from each other. In other words, the axial forces directed to the connections of the modules are thereby shared with two connecting systems.
An advantage of the disclosed solution is that one or more joints between the gear module and the percussion module are more secure since two connecting systems are utilized. The operational forces that are pulling apart the gear module and the percussion module are received by the first connecting device and the second connecting device, whereby the stresses are shared with two different connecting systems, instead of one. Due to this, service life of the connecting devices may be longer and failures may be decreased. This has a positive impact on productivity of the rock drilling machine.
Further, wear and deformations of joint surfaces of the modules may be decreased because the modules are firmly mounted by the disclosed double-connecting system. Since the joint surfaces locating between the gear module and the percussion module are pressed continuously and firmly against each other, no relative movement occurs between opposing joint surfaces and wearing is decreased. Also, since the gear module and the percussion module are pre-coupled to each other by means of the first connecting system, the rock drilling machine may be easily dismounted for service and repair.
According to an embodiment, the carriage is provided with one or more axial first support surfaces, which are facing towards the front end portion of the rock drilling machine. The percussion module includes one or more axial second support surfaces, which face towards the rear end portion of the rock drilling machine. The axial first support surfaces of the carriage and the axial second support surfaces of the percussion module are arranged against each other when the pre-assembled rock drilling machine is mounted to the carriage. The second connecting force presses the support surfaces against each other and keeps the rock drilling machine firmly connected to the carriage. The front directed axial first support surface of the carriage is advantageous since it provides a firm axial element for transmitting front directed feed forces from the carriage to the body of the rock drilling machine. The front directed axial first support surface of the carriage may also provide support against rearward directed forces caused by stress pulses reflecting backwards from the drilled material along the drilling tool. Thus, the feed forces and the reflecting stress pulses do not cause extra loadings to the second connecting means. In this embodiment the second connecting means are configured to transmit backward directed forces from the carriage to the body of the rock drilling machine when the rock drilling machine is reversed on the feed beam.
According to an embodiment, the connection between the carriage and the percussion module includes axial support surfaces, which are directed in an opposing manner compared to the previous embodiment disclosed above. Thereby, the carriage is provided with one or more axial first support surfaces facing rearward, and the percussion module includes one or more axial second support surfaces facing forward. The support surfaces facing in opposing directions are arranged against each other and are secured by means of the second connecting force. In this solution the second connecting device is not subjected to extra loading when the rock drilling machine is reversed on the feed beam and the drilling equipment is retracted from the drill hole. This solution may be advantageous when long drill holes are drilled vertically and weight of the supported drilling equipment is great, or when the retracting of the drilling equipment is problematic because of any other reason.
According to an embodiment, the first and second connecting devices include several axially directed connecting bolts. Connecting bolts and screw-fastening tolerate fatigue loadings, and also are simple and inexpensive.
According to an embodiment, the first and second connecting device have several axially directed connecting bolts. Furthermore, the first connecting device, i.e. first connecting bolts and the second connecting device, i.e. second connecting bolts are located at different distances from a center line of the rock drilling machine. Thereby, a transverse first distance between longitudinal axis of the first connecting bolts and a central line is minor than a second distance between longitudinal axis of the second connecting bolts and the central line. Thanks to this embodiment, there is more space for placing the connecting bolts, whereby number of the first and second connecting bolts needs not to be restricted, and further, easy access is ensured whereby the mounting and dismounting of the connecting bolts are facilitated.
According to an embodiment, the first and second connecting devices include several axially directed connecting bolts. The first connecting device has several pin bolts and the second connecting device has several through bolts. The pin bolts, or side bolts, are tightened to threaded blind holes, which are located at the rear directed first axial joint surface of the gear module. The front directed second axial joint surface of the percussion module includes several through holes matching the positions of the pin bolts, whereby free ends of the pin bolts may pass through the through holes. The free ends of the pin bolts are provided with threads allowing screwing of tightening nuts to the pin bolts for generating the first connecting force. The pin bolts facilitate mounting of the percussion module since they may guide the percussion module during the mounting measures. Since the pin bolts are tightened to the blind holes, there is no need to reserve space for any bolt heads at the gear module side.
A further advantage is that the pin bolts may be placed close to the central line of the rock drilling machine, where they provide better support for the joint surfaces compared to situations where the support is directed at a longer distance from the central line. Furthermore, the arrangement includes several through holes for the second connecting bolts. The second connecting bolts pass through first through holes of the first connecting surface of the gear module, through second through holes of the second connecting surface of the percussion module, and further through third through holes of the support surface of the carriage. The first, second and third through holes are parallel, so that the second connecting bolts may pass through them. The second connecting bolts have screw heads at their first end and the second ends are provided with screw threads for receiving tightening nuts. The second connecting force is generated by tightening the second bolts by means of the tightening nuts.
According to an embodiment, the rear directed first axial joint surface of the gear module and the front directed second axial joint surface of the percussion module are arranged directly against to each other. The opposing joint surfaces are pressed against each other by means of the two fastening systems, whereby the first connecting forces and second connecting forces keep the joint surfaces firmly against each other. Thus, in this embodiment, no other machine elements, devices or body parts are arranged between the first and second joint surfaces of the modules.
According to an embodiment, the rear directed first axial joint surface of the gear module and the front directed second axial joint surface of the percussion module are not arranged directly against to each other. Instead of the direct contact between the modules, the arrangement includes at least one intermediate element arranged between them. The intermediate element may be a machine component or a body part, for example. The intermediate element has front directed third axial joint surfaces facing towards the gear module and rear directed fourth axial joint surfaces facing towards the percussion module. Since the intermediate element is arranged between the gear module and the percussion module, the rear directed first joint surfaces of the gear module and the front directed third joint surfaces of the intermediate element are arranged against each other. Correspondingly, the front directed second joint surfaces of the percussion module and the rear directed fourth joint surfaces of the intermediate element are arranged against each other. The mentioned opposing joint surfaces are pressed against each other by means of the first and second connecting means. The intermediate element may be an auxiliary device or module, such as an axial bearing module. Alternatively, the intermediate element may be a support flange, which is mountable to the carriage.
According to an embodiment, the gear module and the percussion module both include flanges provided with axial joint surfaces. The rear end portion of the gear module includes a first connecting flange provided with the first axial joint surfaces, and the front end portion of a cylindrical main body of the percussion module includes a second connecting flange provided with the second axial joint surfaces. Due to the flanges, sufficient joint surface areas are provided for the main body parts of the modules. The use of the flanges is also beneficial regarding placement of the connecting bolts and the openings needed for them. The flanges allow the main body of the percussion module to be a relatively thin walled cylindrical element, for example. The second connecting bolts are located at the flanges so that they are at a transverse distance from an outer line passing along an outer surface of the cylindrical-shaped body part.
According to an embodiment, the fastening lugs are provided with front directed axial support surfaces, and further include through holes for receiving the second connecting bolts. The rear directed axial support surfaces of the percussion module are fastened against the front directed support surfaces of the fastening lugs, and the connection is secured by means of the second connecting bolts. Due to the disclosed fastening lugs, the joint between the gear module and the percussion module may be without supporting elements belonging to the structure of the carriage.
According to an embodiment, the front end portion of the gear module is supported to the carriage by means of a front support, and correspondingly the rear end portion of the percussion module is supported to the carriage by means of a rear support. Distal end portions of the bodies of the gear module and the percussion module may include support flanges. The front and rear support of the carriage may include upwardly directed surfaces, against which the support flanges may be supported and fastened by using transversal mounting bolts. The disclosed end supports have primary purpose for receiving vertical loads, since the axial forces are received by the axial support surfaces of the carriage.
According to an embodiment, the rock drilling machine includes a flushing housing at the front of the gear module. The flushing housing may have a rear flange connected against a frontal flange of the gear module by means of axial fastening screws. The flushing housing further includes at least one feed port for feeding flushing fluid inside the flushing housing and further via a drilling tool to a bottom of a drill hole. The flushing housing may serve as a kind of a front cover for the rock drilling machine. The flushing housing may already be assembled on its place when the rock drilling machine is mounted on the carrier.
According to an embodiment, at the front end portion of the rock drilling machine is an axial shank, which is rotated by means of axial splines or corresponding rotation transmitting elements being in engagement with a gear system of the gear module. A rearmost end of the shank includes an impact surface for receiving impact pulses from the percussion module. The shank is arranged to be moved axially during the drilling. In order to influence to the axial position of the shank and the impact surface, the rock drilling machine is provided with an axial bearing module. The axial bearing module includes one or more axial pistons, which are axially movable and are arranged to affect to axial position of the shank. The axial pistons may be sleeve-like objects arranged around the percussion piston and they may be moved hydraulically. Alternatively, several axial shaft-like pistons may be placed around the percussion piston. The axial bearing module is located at the front end portion of the percussion module, whereby the axial piston of the bearing module reaches to the shank directly or by means of one or more axial transmitting elements. When the axial piston of the axial bearing module pushes the shank in the front direction, then the axial bearing module generates forces which endeavor to push the gear module away from the percussion module. The forces generated by the operation of the axial bearing module are received by the first and second connecting bolts.
According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig includes an axial bearing, which differs from the above disclosed embodiment in that it is not located inside the percussion module. Instead, the arrangement includes an intermediate element arranged between the gear module and the percussion module, and the intermediate module comprises the axial bearing. Thus, the intermediate element provided with the axial bearing may be easily removed and substituted as one complete element. Since the intermediate element is between the opposing joint surfaces of the gear module and the percussion module, the axial forces derived from the operation of the axial bearing are received by the two connecting device. The intermediate element may be a flange-like element.
According to an embodiment, the body of the percussion module is an elongated cylindrically shaped piece having a transversal connecting flange at the front end portion of the percussion module, and the connecting flange is provided with the axial second joint surfaces. Further, the rear end of the body of the percussion module is provided with a rear cover.
According to an embodiment, the percussion module includes a pressure medium operated percussion device. Then, pressure medium under high pressure is fed to the percussion module in order to generate impact pulses by means of percussion piston, or utilizing any other type of impact element. The fed high pressurized hydraulic oil, or any other fluid, causes inside the rock drilling machine axial forces, which push the gear module and the percussion module towards opposing directions from each other. The generated internal pressure-based forces are received by the first and second connecting device. Thus, the double connecting system provides counterforces against the generated pressure-based internal forces.
According to an embodiment, the percussion module includes a percussion piston supported inside the body of the percussion module, and the percussion piston being arranged to move axially in an impact direction towards the front end portion of the rock drilling machine and correspondingly in a return direction towards the rear end portion. Inside the gear module is a shank supported to the body of the gear module rotatable and axially movably. The gear module further includes a gear transmission for transmitting rotation torque to the shank in order to rotate the shank around it's longitudinal axis. The shank has connecting threads at a front end portion of the shank for connecting a drilling tool to the shank by s of a screw-mounting. In this embodiment the operation of the percussion module is based on reciprocating percussion piston, which strikes an impact surface of the shank at the end of the movement towards the impact direction and which moves in a reverse direction after the impact until the direction of movement again changes from the return movement to impact direction movement. The reciprocating movement of the percussion piston causes axial forces which may be received by means of the double connecting devices. Accelerations and decelerations of the percussion piston cause axial forces, whereby the axial connecting device are subjected to axial stresses and fatigue. These loadings are shared with two connecting systems, whereby long service life may be ensured.
According to an embodiment, the percussion module includes an impact element, which does not move in a reciprocating manner. Instead a length of the impact element may be shortened, and when being suddenly released to the original length, an impact pulse is generated. It should be appreciated that other type of percussion modules may also be utilized in the disclosed arrangement.
According to an embodiment, the rotation device includes a rotating motor, which is located above the axial connection arrangement of the gear module, fastening lugs and the percussion module. The rotating motor may extend from the rear end of the gear module towards a rear end of the rock drilling machine. Due to this embodiment, the rotating motor does not increase the sideward dimensions of the rock drilling machine.
According to an embodiment, the rotation device includes a rotating motor, which is located on a side of the axial connection arrangement of the gear module, fastening lugs and the percussion module. Due to this arrangement, the rotating motor does not increase the height of the rock drilling machine.
According to an embodiment, the disclosed arrangement is applied in a rock drilling rig, having a movable carrier, at least one drilling boom and a feed beam in the at least one drilling boom.
The above-disclosed embodiments may be combined to form suitable solutions provided with necessary features disclosed.
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.
For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the figures, like reference numerals identify like elements.
The rock drilling machine 4 may be pre-assembled before mounting it to the carriage 5, or at least the gear module 13 and the percussion module 15 are connected to each other, either directly, or via one or more intermediate elements. As can be seen, the gear module 13 and the percussion module 15 are arranged successively on a same axial line 17.
The carriage 5 may include one or more fastening lugs 18 against which the rock drilling machine 4 is supported axially. Joint 19 between the modules 13 and 15 is subjected to forces that pull the modules away from each other. These forces are generated when high pressurized fluid is fed to the percussion module, when the reciprocating percussion piston is accelerated and decelerated, and also when impact pulses P are reflecting back from the drilled material and are received as reflecting impact pulses RP. Axial forces are directed to the axial connection 20 between the rock drilling machine 4 and the fastening lugs or surfaces of the carriage 5 when forward directed feed force FA is generated during the drilling and when a rearward directed feed force FB is generated for retracting the rock drilling machine 4. Thus, the joint 19 and the axial connection 20 are subjected to axial forces wherefore the double fastening system disclosed is beneficial. Drilling direction A also indicates the front direction and the reversing direction B indicates the rear direction. At a drilling site, one or more drill holes are drilled with the drilling unit 1. The drill holes may be drilled in a horizontal direction, as shown in
In
A rear end of the intermediate module 42 can include a rearward protruding part and the front end of the percussion module a recess for receiving it. The intermediate element 42 includes third axial joint surfaces 44 facing towards the gear module 13 and fourth axial joint surfaces 45 facing towards the percussion module 15. The first joint surfaces 21 of the gear module and the third joint surfaces 44 of the intermediate module 42 are arranged against each other, and correspondingly the second joint surfaces 22 of the percussion module and the fourth joint surfaces 45 of the intermediate module 42 are arranged against each other. First connecting bolts 31 and the second connecting bolts 34 press the mentioned axial joint surfaces against each other and keep them locked by means of axial connecting forces F1 and F2 generated by the double connecting system. In
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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15185209.2 | Sep 2015 | EP | regional |
