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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A feed support for a pressure fluid operated drill, said drill having a
drill motor operated by pressure fluid to activate an elongated drill stem
and bit, said feed support comprising:
an elongated feed beam comprising a base member and opposed side members
delimiting a lateral envelope of said feed beam and defining a
substantially open channel space over a predetermined length of said beam,
said base member being formed of metal plate having means forming opposed
flanges, said side members each being formed of metal plate and each
including lower longitudinal side edges generally vertically spaced from
said flanges of said base member, respectively, and said base member and
said opposed side members are secured to each other by welding along each
of said longitudinal side edges of said side members and edges of said
flanges of said base member, respectively;
a plurality of pressure fluid hoses extending along said channel space from
a point between opposite ends of said beam;
a hose guide for training said hoses to reverse their direction in a
generally vertical plane from said point to said drill motor; and
feed mechanism connected to said drill motor for advancing said drill motor
along said feed beam and wherein said hoses are contained substantially
within the lateral envelope of said feed beam.
2. The feed support set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said means forming said flanges of said base member comprise opposed
longitudinal portions of said base member which are folded over to form
said flanges of said base member, and said opposed side members each
include elongated metal plates which are folded over along at least one
edge to form opposed support flanges for said drill motor.
3. The feed support set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said side members are inclined outwardly away from each other from said
base member toward said support flanges for said drill motor.
4. A feed support for a pressure fluid operated drill, said drill having a
drill motor operated by pressure fluid to activate an elongated drill stem
and bit, said feed support comprising:
an elongated feed beam defining a substantially open channel space over a
predetermined length of said beam;
said feed beam comprising a base member formed of metal plate having
opposed longitudinal edges which are folded over to form opposed flanges,
and opposed side members each including elongated metal plates having
lower longitudinal side edges generally vertically spaced from said
flanges and, respectively, upper longitudinal side edges, said upper
longitudinal side edges being folded over to form opposed support flanges
for said drill motor, said base member and said opposed side members are
secured to each other by welding along said lower longitudinal side edges
of said side members and edges of said flanges of said base member,
respectively; and
feed mechanism connected to said drill motor for advancing said drill motor
along said feed beam and contained substantially within said channel
space.
5. The feed support set forth in claim 4 wherein:
said side members are inclined outwardly away from each other from said
base member toward said support flanges for said drill motor.
6. A feed support for a pressure fluid operated drill, said drill having a
drill motor operated by pressure fluid to activate an elongated drill stem
and bit, said feed support comprising:
an elongated feed beam comprising a base member and opposed side members
delimiting a lateral envelope of said feed beam and defining a
substantially open channel space over a predetermined length of sad feed
beam, said base member being formed of metal plate having opposed
longitudinal edges which are folded over to form opposed flanges, said
opposed side members each including elongated metal plates which are
folded over along at least one edge to form opposed support flanges for
said drill motor, said base member and said opposed side members are
secured to each other by welding along at least one of longitudinal side
edges of said side members and edges of said flanges of said base member,
respectively, and said side members are inclined outwardly away from each
other from said base member toward said support flanges for said drill
motor;
a plurality of pressure fluid hoses extending along said channel space from
a point between opposite ends of said feed beam;
a hose guide for training said hoses to reverse their direction in a
generally vertical plane from said point to said drill motor, said hose
guide being supported by and between said support flanges for movement
through said channel space; and
feed mechanism connected to said drill motor for advancing said drill motor
along said feed beam and wherein said hoses are contained substantially
within said lateral envelope of said feed beam.
7. The feed support set forth in claim 6 wherein:
said hose guide comprises a pair of opposed plate members and a plurality
of hose support rollers disposed between said plate members and arranged
in a substantially arcuate path for training said hoses to reverse their
direction of lay between said point and said drill motor.
8. The feed support set forth in claim 7 wherein:
said feed mechanism comprises a support member, an endless flexible member
supported for movement on said support member, spaced apart sprocket means
for supporting said endless flexible member;
means for connecting said endless flexible member to said feed beam at a
predetermined point;
means for connecting said drill motor to said endless flexible member at a
predetermined point; and
motor means drivably connected to said endless flexible member for
advancing said drill motor along said feed beam.
9. The feed support set forth in claim 8 wherein:
said hose guide is connected to said support member for advancement along
said feed beam with said support member at a linear rate one-half the
advancing rate of said drill motor.
10. The feed support set forth in claim 9 wherien:
said endless flexible member comprises a chain secured to said drill motor
along a first longitudinal run between said spaced apart sprocket means
and said chain is secured by said member to said feed beam along the other
longitudinal run of said chain between said sprocket means.
11. A feed support for a pressure fluid operated drill, said drill having a
drill motor operated by pressure fluid to activate an elongated drill stem
and bit, said feed support comprising:
an elongated feed beam defining a substantially open channel space over a
predetermined length of said beam;
said feed beam comprising a base member formed of metal plate having
opposed longitudinal edges which are folded over to form opposed flanges,
and opposed side members each including elongated metal plates which are
folded over along at least one edge to form opposed support flanges for
said drill motor;
a hose guide supported by and between said support flanges for movement
through said channel space, said hose guide comprising a pair of opposed
plate members and a plurality of hose support rollers disposed between
said plate members and arranged in a substantially arcuate path for
training a plurality of hoses to reverse their direction of lay between a
predetermined point on said feed beam and said drill motor; and
feed mechanism connected to said drill motor for advancing said drill motor
along said feed beam and contained substantially within said channel
space.
12. A feed support for a pressure fluid operated drill, said drill having a
drill motor operated by pressure fluid to activate an elongated drill stem
and bit, said feed support comprising:
an elongated feed beam having a substantially open channel space over a
predetermined length of said feed beam;
feed mechanism connected to said drill motor for advancing said drill motor
along said feed beam, said feed mechanism comprising a support member, an
endless flexible chain supported for movement on said support member and
spaced apart sprocket means for supporting said chain;
means for connecting said drill motor to said chain at a predetermined
point along a first longitudinal run of said chain between said sprocket
means;
means for connecting said chain to said feed beam at a predetermined point
along the other longitudinal run of said chain between said sprocket
means; and
motor means drivably connected to said chain for advancing said drill motor
along said feed beam.
13. The feed support set forth in claim 12 including:
a hose guide connected to said support member for advancement along said
feed beam with said support member at a linear rate one-half the advancing
rate of said drill motor. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a feed support and advance mechanism for
a pressure fluid operated rock drill.
2. Background
In the art of rock drills and associated feed supports a longstanding
problem has been the proper routing and orientation of the pressure fluid
hoses which lead from the source of pressure fluid to the rock drill. In
particular, with rock drills which operate with hydraulic fluid for
driving the impact as well as the rotation mechanisms, a relatively large
number of relatively stiff pressure fluid hoses must be routed between the
rock drill and a connection manifold for the hoses. Typically, the hoses
are trained over a reel or support mechanism disposed at one end of the
feed support and which advances with the drill along the feed support
during operation. However, conventional feed supports require that the
hoses be trained around a generally horizontal reel or hose support
structure which increases the lateral clearance required of the drill feed
support and reduces the range of drill position coverage. This latter
problem is particularly acute in tunneling operations where it is often
desired to position the feed support closely adjacent to a side wall of
the tunnel when drilling into the tunnel face wall.
Another longstanding problem in the art of rock drill feed supports and
feed mechanisms has been regarding the provision of a support which is
significantly rigid, has a clear channel-like space on the structure to
accommodate feed mechanisms and the aforementioned fluid hoses and to
provide a feed mechanism which is capable of providing proper advance of
the drill and in relation to a hose support reel or similar structure.
Accordingly, the present invention has been directed to solving the
aforementioned problems as well as providing other advantages in pressure
fluid operated rock drills and associated feed supports and feed
mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved feed support and feed mechanism
for a pressure fluid operated rock drill.
In accordance with one important aspect of the present invention there is
provided a unique feed support or feed beam which is constructed in such a
way as to provide a substantially open channel-like structure which is
adapted to a relatively lightweight yet have significant rigidity for
supporting a rock drill for linear advance and retraction and for
accommodating pressure fluid hoses within substantially the envelope of
the feed beam and thereby minimizing lateral clearance required for
positioning the feed beam to drill against tunnel faces and the like. The
support beam is of unique construction which comprises three elongated
formed metal plate members which are suitably joined together, such as by
welding, are substantially rigid and yet provide a large channel space to
accommodate feed mechanism and pressure fluid hoses which lead to the beam
supported rock drill.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a feed support or feed beam arrangement for a rock drill wherein
a plurality of pressure fluid hoses leading to and from the drill proper
are trained over a hose guide which is mounted substantially within the
envelope of the feed beam with respect to the lateral limits of the feed
beam and such hoses are disposed generally within a channel space and are
secured to a manifold block mounted on or fixed in relation to the feed
beam. The arrangement of the pressure fluid hoses and the hose guide
mechanism with respect to the feed beam is such as to substantially
protect the hoses from abrasion, and possible damage during operation of
the drill.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a
unique feed beam for a rock drill which is manufactured of formed or
rolled steel plate or a metal of similar structural properties and which
is fabricated from as few as three (3) generally flat plate components
which are formed and secured together in such a way as to provide a
channel-type structure with suitable support flanges for a drill slide
member and a base member of the beam. The beam configuration is
substantially rigid and is formed with flanges and a web portion adapted
to be supported by a drill positioning mechanism and the like.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a unique drill advance or feed mechanism which is adapted for
operation with the feed beam of the present invention as well as an
improved pressure fluid hose guide arrangement but which mechanism in
itself is advantageous for use with other feed beam configurations.
Those skilled in the art will recognize the above-described advantages and
superior features of the present invention together with other important
aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows in
conjunction with the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rock drill feed support in accordance with the
present invention supported on a portable drill positioning unit and
aligned to take advantage of the improved lateral profile of the feed
support in tunnelling operations;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal central section view of the feed beam and
associated feed mechanism in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a view taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the
specification and drawing with the same reference numerals, respectively.
The drawing figures may show some components in somewhat schematic form in
the interest of clarity and conciseness.
The art of pressure fluid operated rock drills and associated feed
mechanisms is represented to some extent by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,365,749 to J.
C. Curtis, 2,394,194 to V. J. McCarthy, 3,107,738 to J. D. Osborn and
3,508,619 to M. C. Huffman. These patents are exemplary of the state of
the art with respect to pressure fluid operated rock drills and chain-type
as well as rack-and-pinion-type drill advance or feed mechanisms. The
Curtis patent shows the general arrangement of a fluid operated rock drill
supported by an endless chain-type feed mechanism on an elongated feed
beam, which beam is mounted on a conventional drill positioner mechanism
for pivoting the feed beam about mutually perpendicular axes to provide a
selected directional attitude of the drill.
Referring to FIG. 1, an important advantage of the present invention is
illustrated by the plan view which shows a portion of a tunnel 10 being
drilled in the earth II and having a tunnel face 12 and at least one
lateral side wall 14. To advance or form the tunnel, the face 12 is
drilled with a selected pattern of blastholes which are loaded with
suitable explosive to rubblize the rock for removal. One longstanding
problem with conventional rock drill feeds is to provide for aligning the
drill for drilling holes close to the intersection of the face 12 with the
side wall 14. In accordance with the present invention an improved drill
feed support 16 is illustrated and mounted on the distal end of a
pivotable boom 18 which, in turn, is supported on a mobile undercarriage
20, commonly known in the art as a drill jumbo. The boom 18 may be
positioned in one of a selected number of positions by conventional
mechanism, not shown, to align the feed support 16 in different positions
for drilling into the tunnel face. The feed support 16 supports for linear
advance therealong a pressure fluid operated percussion-type rock drill
motor 22, preferably of a type which has a percussion motor operated by
hydraulic fluid and a rotation motor operated by hydraulic fluid for
simultaneously delivering percussive blows and rotational motion to an
elongated drill stem 24. The drill stem 24 is suitably supported at one
end of the feed beam 16 by a conventional centralizer 26 and is connected
to a percussive bit 28. In accordance with the present invention the feed
beam 16 is arranged in combination with a unique hose guide 30 for
training a plurality of pressure fluid hoses along the feed beam and which
are connected to the rock drill 22 while minimizing the lateral extent or
projecting portions of the feed beam.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the feed beam 16 is made up of only three
elongated metal members 32, 34 and 36, FIG. 3, which are preferably of
rolled or formed steel plate. The members 32 and 34 may be identical in
construction and arranged to face each other in mirror image fashion as
illustrated. The members 32 and 34 are each formed by bending one
longitudinal side of the members to form opposed support surfaces or
flanges 33 and 35 for supporting a support slide 36 for the rock drill 22.
The base of the feed beam 16 is formed by the third member 36 which has
opposed longitudinal side portions bent or folded over to form opposed
flanges 37 and 39. The members 32 and 34 are secured to the base member 36
by welding at 38, 40, 42 and 44 substantially along the entire length of
the feed beam 16. The members 32 and 34 are advantageously inclined
outwardly away from each other between the welds 40 and 44 and the
respective flanges 33 and 35.
The flanges 37 and 39 are each formed at an angle to provide a generally
wedge shape for the lateral sides of the base member 36 for securement to
a drill positioning beam, generally designated by the numeral 46. The
positioning beam 46 is adapted to be mounted on a conventional drill
positioner 48. Removable support plates 50 and 52 contain the beam 16 for
sliding movement along the beam 46 by conventional advancing mechanism, if
required, not shown. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the configuration of the
feed beam 16 provides a substantially clear and unencumbered interior
channel space 43 which is advantageous for accommodating a fluid manifold
block 54 secured to the member 36 and to which are connected a plurality
of pressure fluid hoses 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64, for example. The hoses 56
and 58 provide supply and return hydraulic fluid for a percussion motor of
the drill 22 while the hoses 62 and 64 provide supply and return pressure
fluid for a drill-stream rotation motor 63. The fifth pressure fluid hose
60 may be provided for drill stem flushing fluid.
As shown in FIG. 2, the manifold block 54 is preferably located generally
midway of the overall length of the feed beam 16 and the hoses 56, 58, 60,
62 and 64 are trained along and through the space 43 and around the hose
guide, generally designated by the numeral 30, and thence to the drill 22.
The hose guide 30, is preferably formed of opposed side plates 72 and 74,
FIG. 4, and a series of spaced apart rollers 76, FIG. 2, disposed between
the plates 72 and 74 and suitably secured thereto for rotation and for
training the hoses 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 to follow a generally arcuate
path in a substantially vertical plane and within the envelope of the feed
beam 16 provided by the opposed side members 32 and 34. The hose guide 30
includes suitable means for supporting the hose guide on the flanges 33
and 35, such as laterally projecting support plates 78 and 80 which are
connected to suitable retainer members 82 to allow the hose guide to slide
along the beam 16 behind the drill 22 but to prevent vertical excursion of
the hose guide.
Thanks to the configuration of the feed beam 16 and the hose guide 30, the
hoses which conduct pressure fluid to and from the drill 22 are
substantially contained within the channel space 43 and are protected from
abrasion or possible damage during movement and operation of the jumbo 20.
Moreover, the lateral extremities of the feed mechanism supported at the
end of the boom 18 are those provided generally by the feed beam 16 and
its supporting structure described and illustrated in FIG. 3. The
positioning mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3 for supporting and positioning
the feed beam 16 has been omitted from FIGS. 2 and 4 in the interest of
clarity and conciseness.
Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 3, the present invention also provides a
unique feed or drill advance causing mechanism comprising an endless
roller-type chain 90 which is trained over spaced apart sprockets 92 and
94 which are each supported on an elongated support member 96. The support
member 96 is also connected to the hose guide 30 by a connecting member
98. The sprocket 94 is suitably mounted on a shaft 95 and drivenly
connected to a feed motor 100 by an endless belt or chain and shaft
mounted sprocket arrangement 97 and 99. The motor 100 may be pressure
fluid operated and supplied by pressure fluid from a pair of hydraulic
fluid conducting hoses 101 and 103. The feed motor 100 may be suitably
mounted on the feed beam 16 between the drill 22 and the hose guide 30 by
suitable support structure or, as shown, on the support member 98.
Referring further to FIG. 2, an anchor member 102 is secured to one
longitudinal run 105 of the chain 90 and to at least one of the members of
the feed beam 16. In like manner an attachment member 106 is provided for
connecting the drill slide 23 to the other longitudinal run 107 of the
chain 90. In response to operation of the motor 100 to rotate the sprocket
94 the longitudinal run 107 of the chain 90 advances along the feed beam
16 at a rate which is twice the rate of advance of the member 96 and the
hose guide 30. Accordingly, the rock drill 22 advances along the feed beam
16 at a rate twice the rate of the hose guide 30 and the arrangement of
the hoses trained over the guide and advancing in a linear direction
generally parallel to the lengths of the hoses between the manifold block
54 and the hose guide maintains the hoses substantially taut and trained
along the feed beam. Thanks to the endless chain 90 supported on the
member 96 the drill 22 advances at a rate twice the rate of advance of the
member 96 and the hose guide 30.
Those skilled in the art will recognize from the foregoing description that
the general construction of the feed beam 16, the arrangement of the
pressure fluid hoses 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64, the hose guide 30 and the
aforedescribed feed mechanism provides a unique rock drill feed support
and associated mechanism. The alignment of the pressure fluid hoses to be
trained in an arcuate path about the hose guide 30 and in a generally
vertical plane and contained within the channel space 43 prevents
interference of the hoses and the hose guide structure with lateral side
walls or roof portions of a tunnel. Moreover, the hoses are protected from
abrasion and pinching during advancement of the drill and the general
layout or plumbing arrangement of the conduits required for supplying
pressure fluid to the rock drill 22 is simplified and eliminates many
operational problems associated with prior art pressure fluid operated
rock drills. Still further, the unique feed or drill advance-causing
mechanism allows the use of the layout and arrangement of the hoses and
the hose guide 30 and eliminates the conventional hydraulic cylinder-type
feed or advance-causing mechanism and the associated problems found from
using that type of feed mechanism.
The operation of the feed mechanism of the present invention is believed to
be readily understandable to those of ordinary skill in the art from the
foregoing description. However, briefly, by energizing the motor 100 the
endless chain 90 is advanced as it is driven by the sprocket 94 and around
the idler sprocket 92 to advance the beam 96 at 1/2 the linear rate of the
drill 22 along the beam 16 in both directions. By locating the manifold
block 54 approximately midway between the opposed longitudinal ends of the
beam 16 the drill 22 may be fully advanced to the forward end of the beam
at which the centralizer 26 is mounted while the hose guide 30 is required
to advance to approximately the position of the manifold 54.
The foregoing feed beam 16 and the associated feed mechanism represented by
the chain 90, the sprockets 92 and 94 and the support beam 96 together
with the motor 100 may be constructed using conventional engineering
practices and materials known in the art of rock drill feed mechanisms and
hydraulic components. Although a preferred embodiment of the present
invention has been described in detail herein those skilled in the art
will recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made to
the embodiment described without departing from the scope and spirit of
the invention as recited in the appended claims.
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Description |
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