The present invention generally relates to a mobile track drill. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mechanical device that restricts the relative movement between the feed table and the positioning elements of drilling equipment upon mechanical failure.
In presently available mobile track drills, a drill track is used to guide the movement of a drill along a longitudinal axis. The drill track, in turn, is mounted to a feed table that serves as the point of connection to the articulated drilling boom of the movable track drill. Specifically, the feed table includes a pivot pin that is received and retained within a positioner block mounted to the drilling boom. The positioner block, in turn, is coupled to a hydraulic cylinder to control the position of the drill track to orient the drill track in the desired direction.
The pivot pin contained on the feed table allows the feed table and the attached drill track to rotate relative to the positioner block to further control the position of the drill track as desired. In present available mobile track drills, the feed table is manufactured such that the pivot pin is inserted into the positioner block and a retaining cap is attached to the pivot pin by a series of bolts to retain the pivot pin within the positioner block. The axial alignment and integrity of the feed table/positioner block joint is assured only by the material integrity of the pivot pin, the retaining cap and the connecting bolts.
During operation of the mobile track drill, if the drill track contacts the ground or an overhead obstacle while the mobile track drill is being moved, only the material integrity of the retaining cap, the pivot pin and the connecting bolts prevents separation of the drill track, feed table and drill from the drill boom. Any failure in these components could result in the unrestrained movement of the feed table and drill track away from the drill boom which, depending upon the direction of such relative movement, could result an undesirable and possibly unsafe situation.
Therefore, a need exists for a constraining device that further limits the ability of the feed table and drill track to separate from the positioner block mounted to the drill boom. Further, a need exists for a constraining device that allows the feed table to freely pivot relative to the positioner block while restricting the uncontrolled separation of the feed table from the positioner block.
The present invention is a restraining arrangement that limits the possible separation between the drill boom and drill assembly of a mobile track drill. The restraining arrangement acts to prevent the unrestrained movement of the drill assembly, including both the drill track and drill, upon a structural failure in the connecting components between the drill assembly and the drill boom.
The restraining arrangement of the present invention includes a first constraint device that is secured to the positioner block mounted to the drill boom of the mobile track drill. The first constraint device includes a bushing that is press fit into the positioner block. The bushing includes a cylindrical body having a generally open interior and an upper rim connected to the cylindrical body. The generally open interior of the bushing is sized to receive a pivot pin formed as part of the drilling assembly. The upper rim of the bushing includes a pair of extended ears that are spaced from each other along the outer circumference of the upper rim.
The restraining arrangement includes a second constraint device that is secured to the feed table of the drilling assembly. The feed table, in turn, is securely connected to the drill track and provides the point of rotatable connection between the drill track and the positioner block. Specifically, the feed table includes a pivot pin that extends from the feed table and is received within the positioner block. Specifically, the pivot pin is received within the open interior of the bushing secured within the positioner block.
The second constraint device includes a pair of female constraint members that are mounted to the lower wall of the feed table. The female constraint members are spaced from the pivot pin and each include a recessed groove. The recessed groove formed on each of the female constraint members is sized to receive the extended ears formed on the bushing such that the ears of the bushing are freely rotatable within the recessed grooves.
The female constraining members are spaced from each other to define a pair of insertion gaps. The recessed groove formed in each of the female constraint members is interrupted along the insertion gap. The insertion gap allows the upper rim, and more specifically the extended ears, of the bushing to be inserted within the female constraint members.
The second constraint device further includes a pair of retaining caps that are mountable between the female constraint members. Specifically, the retaining caps are mountable to the female constraint members such that the retainer caps extend across the insertion gaps to secure the bushing between the pair of female constraint members. Each of the retaining caps includes a recessed groove similar to the recessed groove formed in the female constraint members, such that when the retaining caps are mounted to the female constraint members, the recessed groove is continuous around the pivot pin. The continuous recessed groove allows the extended ears of the bushing to rotate freely while preventing separation between the bushing and the female constraint members.
The restraining arrangement of the present invention thus allows unrestricted rotation of the feed table relative to the positioner block while limiting the separation between the feed table and the positioner block should a structural failure occur in either the retaining cap, the pivot pin or the connectors used to secure the pivot pin within the positioner block. The restraining arrangement of the present invention thus provides an additional level of security to restrict the uncontrolled movement of the drilling assembly relative to the drill boom of the track drill upon failure of structural components within the track drill.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.
The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.
In the drawings:
Referring first to
The mobile track drill 10 includes an engine 12 supported by a pair of track drives 14. The track drives 14 are entrained about a series of wheels such that the mobile track drill 10 can be moved to various locations for use. The mobile track drill 10 includes a multi-section drill boom 16 that is used to support and position a drill assembly 18. The orientation of the drill assembly 18 can be controlled through various hydraulic cylinders as will be discussed in greater detail below.
As can be seen in
The second section 24, in turn, is connected to a positioner block 30. The positioner block 30 is rotatable about a pivot point 32 and such rotation is controlled by a third drive cylinder 34. The extension and retraction of the third drive cylinder 34 controls the orientation of the positioner block 30, as can be understood.
The positioner block 30, in turn, is coupled to a feed table 36. The feed table 36, as will be described in greater detail below, is pivotable within the positioner block 30 such that the feed table 36 can rotate relative to the positioner block 30.
The feed table 36 is securely mounted to a drill track 38 that extends from a first end 40 to a second end 42. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the drill track 38 has a length of approximately thirty feet, although other lengths are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. A rock drill 44 is movable along the length of the drill track 38 and includes a drill bit 46. As is conventional, the rock drill rotates the drill bit 46 to drill a hole as the rock drill 44 moves downward along the longitudinal axis of the drill track 38. The operation of the mobile track drill 10 is conventional and thus will not be described in greater detail in the present application.
Referring now to
In
The support beam 52 is secured to the drill track 38 by a first pair of brackets 68 and a second pair of brackets 70. The brackets 68 and 70 interact with the brackets 60 and 64 to hold the support beam 52 in contact with the lower lip 50 of the drill track 38. A series of cap screws 72 pass through a wear pad 74 and a shim 76 to secure the support beam 52 to the drill track 38, as best shown in
Referring back to
Referring back to
Referring back to
In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the first constraint device 114 is a bushing 118 having a cylindrical lower body 120 and an upper rim 122. Preferably, the cylindrical body 120 and the upper rim 122 are formed as a single component from a metallic material, such as high strenght steel. The cylindrical body 120 defines an open interior 124 having an inner diameter sized to receive the pivot pin 106 such that the pivot pin 106 is freely rotatable within the open interior 124.
As can be best be understood in
Referring back to
When the pivot pin 106 is inserted into the bushing 118, a retaining cap 130 is attached to the bottom end 112 of the pivot pin 106 by a series of connectors 132, as best shown in
Referring back to
As can be seen in
Referring now to
Once the feed table is aligned in the position shown in
Referring back to
Each of the retainer caps 142 and 144, is attachable to both of the female constraint members 138 by a series of connectors 148. The connectors 148 are received within holes 150 formed in the female constraint members 138. When the retainer caps 142 and 144 are connected to the female constraint members 138, the retainer caps 142, 144 complete a 360° to recessed groove.
Referring back to
Referring now to
Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
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Number | Date | Country |
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1512831 | Mar 2005 | EP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050051364 A1 | Mar 2005 | US |