Patent Application
20100059281
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drilling equipment and to rock drilling equipment in particular.
2. The Relevant Technology
Many drilling processes are currently known and used. One type of drilling process, referred to as rock drilling, includes fracturing small pieces of rock with a bit to form holes. If desired, explosives can also be placed in the holes and used to break and fracture the rock further. One type of drill used in rock drilling is commonly known as a “drifter.”
Drifters often include a drifter front end that houses a shank. The shank is coupled on one end to one or more motors that apply rotational and/or percussive forces. A drill rod is coupled to the other end of the drill rod. Accordingly, percussive and/or rotational forces generated by the motors are transmitted from the shank to the drill rod and from the drill rod to a drill bit. As introduced, the percussive and/or rotational forces transmitted to the bit and applied to the formation act to break and fracture the formation. The broken or fractured particles are then moved from the bit by a fluid delivered to the bit, such as air or liquids.
For example, the shank often includes a channel defined therein that allows liquid to travel from the shank, through the drill rod, through the bit, and to formation to remove the particles. In some examples, the channel is formed in only part of the shank. A water delivery mechanism introduces the water to the channel. The water delivery mechanism often includes a large number of parts, including components to provide a water chamber, seals to seal the water chamber, and bearings to the guide and support the shank as the shank rotates within the water delivery mechanism. While such a configuration can reduce the number of components through which the water travels, the large number of separate components, each with separate tolerances, can result in a water delivery mechanism that is difficult to align, maintain, and/or replace.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced
An external water delivery system includes a water box front head, a collet configured to interface with the water box front head, a fiber-filled sleeve configured to be positioned between the water box front head and the collet, a shank, and at least one seal positioned within the sleeve. The sleeve and seals are configured to provide a water chamber when coupled to the shank. The inner surface of the sleeve provides a bearing surface for the shank.
To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Together with the following description, the figures demonstrate non-limiting features of exemplary devices and methods. The thickness and configuration of components can be exaggerated in the figures for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent similar, though not necessarily identical, elements.
An external water delivery system is discussed herein for delivering liquid to a rock drill. In at least one example, the external water delivery system includes a sleeve that is configured to provide both bearing functionality as well as to be sealed to form a water chamber. Such a configuration can reduce the part count associated with delivering water to a shank. Reducing the part count can reduce the tolerance stack of the components and thereby reduce slop and/or increase the accuracy of the alignment of the shank and associated components. Reducing slop can reduce premature wear of the shank as well as the external water delivery system. Further, the configuration of the external water delivery system can allow an operator to quickly replace the shank and/or components of the external water delivery system.
The following description supplies specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding. Nevertheless, the skilled artisan would understand that the apparatus and associated methods of using the apparatus can be implemented and used without employing these specific details. Indeed, the apparatus and associated methods can be placed into practice by modifying the illustrated apparatus and associated methods and can be used in conjunction with any other apparatus and techniques conventionally used in the industry. For example, while the description below focuses on drifter cylinders in pneumatic drifter rock drill operations, the apparatus and associated methods could be equally applied to other processes such as hydraulic drifter rock drilling, various percussive drilling processes, and the like.
As shown in
An external water delivery system 160 is also coupled to the water box front head 220 and is configured to deliver water to the shank 150. The shank 150 in turn is in fluid communication with the drill rod 120 which is in fluid communication with a drill bit. Accordingly, the external water delivery system is configured to deliver water or other fluids through the shank 150 to the drill bit. One exemplary external water delivery system will now be described in more detail below.
The external water delivery system 200 further includes a water box front head 220 and a collet 240.
As illustrated in
In particular, a channel 210 can be defined in a portion of the shank 205 that extends from the second end 205B toward the first end 205A. A shank port 215 can be defined in a perimeter of the shank 205. The shank port 215 can be in fluid communication with the channel 210. The shank port receives water or other liquids from the water delivery port and directs this water to the channel and toward the second end of the shank.
The sleeve 260 includes a first end 260A and a second end 260B. Further, the sleeve 260 can be formed of a material having characteristics that allow the inner and/or outer surfaces to function as bearing surfaces while being sufficiently durable and heat resistant for use in rock drilling applications. Suitable materials can include, without limitation, reinforce composite material, such as particle-filled nylons including glass-filled nylon. In the illustrated example, the inner surface of the sleeve 260 can include recesses or channels defined therein that are sized to seat one or more of seals. In particular, inner seals 285 can be positioned on the interior of the sleeve 260 between the first end 260A and the second end 260B. Additional seals, such as wiper seals 290, can be seated on an exterior surface of the sleeve 260.
When the external water delivery system 200 is assembled, the sleeve 260 is positioned between a second end of the water box front head 220B and a first end 240A of the collet 240. In particular, a first end of the sleeve 260A is configured to be received within and supported by the collet 240 while a second end 260B is configured to be received within and supported by the water box front head 220. More specifically, the collet 240 can include a first end 240A and a second end 240B. A collet-sleeve shoulder 245 can be located near the first end 240A of the collet 240. The collet-sleeve shoulder 245 can be configured to support the first end 260A of the sleeve 260. Accordingly, the first end 260A of the sleeve 260 can be positioned against the collet sleeve shoulder 245.
In the illustrated example, the water box front head 220 can include a front sleeve shoulder 225 formed near a second end 220B of the water box front head 200 and a collet shoulder 230 formed toward the first end 220A. The front sleeve shoulder 225 can be configured to support the second end 260B of the sleeve 260. Accordingly, the second end 260B of the sleeve 260 can be positioned against the front sleeve shoulder 225.
In order to position the second end 260A of the sleeve 260 against the front sleeve shoulder 225 and the first end 240A of the sleeve 240 against the collet-sleeve shoulder 245, the second end 240B of the collet 240 can be positioned against the collet shoulder 230 of the water box front head 220. Accordingly, when the collet 220 is positioned against the water box front head 220, the sleeve 260 is positioned between the collet 240 and the water box front head 220. The collet 240 can be secured in position relative to the water box front head 220 by a fastener. For example, a cotter pin 232 (
With the sleeve 260 positioned between the collet 240 and the water box front head 220, the second end 205B of the shank 205 can be advanced through the collet 240, the sleeve 260, and the water box front head 220 until the shank port 210 is positioned as shown in
Sleeve ports 265 can be defined in the sleeve 260 that are in communication with the water chamber. The sleeve ports 265 can be in fluid communication with an inlet 236 defined in the water box front head 220, which in turn can be in fluid communication with a nozzle 238. The nozzle 238 can be coupled to a water source. Water from the nozzle 238 is thus directed through the inlet 236 in the water box front head 220, through the sleeve ports 265 and into the water chamber 250. From the water chamber 250, the water is then directed to the shank port 215, from the shank port 215 to the channel 210, and from the channel 210 toward the second end 205B of the shank 205. Accordingly, the water delivery assembly 200 is configured to direct water from a water source to the channel 210.
In the illustrated example, the water box front head 220 is configured to be coupled to a drifter cylinder 110 (
As the shank 205 rotates, the sleeve 260 can rotate less or be stationary relative to the shank 205 such that as the shank 205 rotates, an inner surface of the sleeve 260 provides a bearing surface relative to the shank 205.
Accordingly, the external water delivery system 200 includes a sleeve 260 that is configured to provide both bearing functionality as well as to be sealed to form the water chamber 250. Such a configuration can reduce the part count associated with delivering water to a shank. Reducing the part count can reduce the tolerance stack of the components and thereby reduce slop and/or increase the accuracy of the alignment of the shank 205 and associated components. Reducing slop can reduce premature wear of the shank 205 as well as the external water delivery system 200. Further, the configuration of the external water delivery system can allow an operator to quickly replace the shank and/or components of the external water delivery system.
In particular, the external water delivery system 200 can be assembled by initially seating the inner seals 285 and the wiper seals 290 on the sleeve 260. The sleeve 260 can then be positioned relative to the water box front head 220. The collet 240 can then be moved into position relative to the water box front head 220. As the collet 240 is moved into position relative to the water box front head 205, the sleeve 260 is also seated relative to the collet 240. The cotter pin 232 can then be used to secure the collet 240 in position relative to the water box front head 205. With the external water delivery system 200 assembled, the shank 205 can then be coupled thereto and/or the external water delivery system can be coupled to a drifter cylinder 110.
The drilling system 100 (
Various fasteners and configurations have been described above. It will be appreciated that rock drills and external water delivery systems can have different configurations from those discussed above without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/094,579 filed Sep. 5, 2008 and entitled “External Water Delivery Systems for Rock Drills,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61094579 | Sep 2008 | US |
