ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR HANDLING DRILL BITS

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to EP Patent Application 24191709, filed on Jul. 30, 2024, which the entirety thereof is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an arrangement for handling drill bits in rock drilling. The invention further relates to a method of handling drill bits in rock drilling.

BACKGROUND

Rock drilling rigs provided with drilling units are used in mines and at other work sites for drilling holes into rock material. The rock drilling unit includes a rock drilling machine for generating needed rotation and impact pulses for drilling equipment connected to the drilling machine. The drilling equipment may have one or more drill rods or tubes and a drill bit at the outermost end of the drilling equipment. The drill bits wear during use and a need exists to change them time to time. Sometimes the drill bits can also be damaged. For executing the drill bit change and collection from a magazine some solutions have been developed. However, the present solutions have shown to contain some disadvantages.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved arrangement and method for handling drill bits.

An idea of the disclosed solution is at least one drilled drill bit storage is implemented. The drill bit storage is located outside the rock drilling rig and is formed by drilling one or more drill holes to the rock surface. Further, there is at least one control unit configured to manage position data of the drilled drill bit storage. Then the control unit can assist pickup of the drill bit from the drilled drill bit storage.

In other words, the drilled drill bit storge is formed by means of drilling into a natural rock material. Thus, it can be considered that the drilled drill bit storage is formed of rock material only.

An advantage of the disclosed solution is that location of the drilled drill bit storage outside the rock drilling rig can be freely selected.

A further advantage is that number of the drilled drill bit storages and also number of the drill bit storage places at each drilled drill bit storage can be freely selected. Thus, the disclosed solution provides the possibility to create an unlimited number of storage places on the rock surfaces surrounding a drilling site.

A general advantage of the drilled drill bit storages is that the drill bit storage drilled on the rock surface is simple, inexpensive, and does not add weight of the drilling boom and the drilling unit. It only requires a control system for controlling the formation of the drilled drill bit storages and for managing them.

According to an embodiment, a position of the drilled drill bit storage may be pre-planned, or the position may be determined on the fly.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution may be implemented in different type of rock drilling situations and sites. The rock drilling may be executed for producing blast holes, exploring holes, or reinforcing holes such as rock bolting holes or injection holes, for example.

According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig is without any onboard magazine or drill bit storage for storing the drill bits.

According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig and the drilling site is without any man-made magazine or drill bit storage for storing the drill bits.

According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig is without a drill bit changing arm or handling manipulator mechanism. There is no need for separate handling apparatuses since in the drill bit handling position the rock drilling unit is moved directly in alignment with the drill bit being stored.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine position data of the drilled drill bit storage in response to sensing data received from at least one sensing device configured to determine the position of the rock drilling unit when drilling of the drilled drill bit storage is executed. The arrangement further includes at least one memory device for storing the determined position data of the drilled drill bit storage. Thus the control unit is configured to position the rock drilling unit automatically to the drilled drill bit storage in response to a control command to pick up the stored drill bit from the drilled drill bit storage.

In other words, the control unit can retrieve realized position data from the memory device and is capable of moving the rock drilling unit automatically close to the drilled drill bit storage, wherein the drill bit can be changed. An advantage of the disclosed embodiment is that drill bit change is quick and easy to execute. The solution improves also overall performance when the drill bit change is automated at least partly.

According to an embodiment, the control unit and the memory device may be apparatuses onboard the carrier of the rock drilling rig, or alternatively, they may be located outside the rock drilling rig and may communicate with control apparatuses of the rock drilling rig.

According to an embodiment, the arrangement includes a selectable pickup feature for automatically moving the rock drilling unit at the selected storage place of the drilled drill bit storage.

In other words, the rock drilling unit can be moved under control of the control unit close to a drill bit being stored in the drilled drill bit storage. An advantage of the disclosed embodiment is that operation of the operator is facilitated, and the drilling process is enhanced.

According to an embodiment, the operator is configured to control fine positioning of the drill bit pickup manually after the automatically controlled positioning phase. The combination of the automated and manual positioning may be beneficial when the conditions at the drilling site are difficult and when specific attention is needed in a coupling process of the drill bit.

The rock drilling unit may be provided with one or more cameras and sensing devices for providing data to assist with fine positioning. This is especially advantageous when the rock drilling rig is remote controlled. It is also possible to utilize different image recognition systems for providing assisting data for the positioning.

According to an embodiment, the arrangement may alternatively include a fully automated system for picking up drill bits from one or more drilled drill bit storages.

According to an embodiment, the arrangement is provided with a drill bit storage system having several drilled drill bit storages distributed at several different locations at a drilling site. In other words, there may be a desired number of drilled drill bit storages positioned at suitable positions. An advantage of the disclosed embodiment is that the drilling process can be enhanced when several drilled drill bit locations are implemented.

According to an embodiment, the position of the drilled drill bit storage is preselected in accordance with a drilling plan. In other words, the positions and amounts of the drilled drill bit storages can be designed before the actual drilling phase and in accordance with a drilling sequence, a drilling pattern, a bolting plan, an excavation plan, or any other pre-designed drilling plan being executed in the drilling phase.

An advantage of the disclosed embodiment is that needed drill bit changes are predetermined, or estimated, and distances from the planned or operated drill holes to the drilled drill bit storages are as short as possible and that they are orientated so that the pickup does not require complicated movements around movement axis of the drilling boom and the drilling unit. This way, efficiency of the drilling process can be increased since the drill bit change can be quickened.

According to an embodiment, the control unit includes a user interface for providing the control unit instructions for drilling at least one drilled drill bit storage to a position instructed by an operator.

In other words, the operator can provide manually instructions for the control unit for generating one or more desired drilled drill bit storages at selected positions. An advantage of the disclosed embodiment is that the drilled drill bit storages can be formed easily when a need exists. This provides operational flexibility.

A use of a graphical user interface makes it easy for the operator to select new positions for the drilled drill bit storages, and the realized drilled drill bit storages can be shown on a display device whereby the drill bit management is intuitive for the operator.

According to an embodiment, the drill bit storage place of the drilled drill bit storage is drilled into the rock surface with a downwardly oblique angle orientation.

In other words, the drill bit storage place has a downwardly slanted orientation differing from vertical and horizontal orientations. An advantage of the angular orientation is that the drill bits remain inside the downward slanted storage places securely and the drilling unit is easy to position close to the slanted drill bit storage place. Further, the drilling of the downwardly slanted storage place is easy to execute.

According to an embodiment, the drill bit storage places are drilled to the rock surface, which can be a floor surface or a wall surface of a drilling work site. The work site may be located at an underground mine and may be a mine tunnel or an underground mine space, for example.

According to an embodiment, the arrangement implements several drilled drill bit storages, and the control unit is configured to manage data on the drill bits stored in the drilled drill bit storages.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to manage status data on the drill bits stored in the drilled drill bit storages, whereby the control unit is configured to classify the drill bits into a new drill bit category and into a used drill bit category. In other words, the control unit manages data on worn and damaged drill bits and data on new and still functional drill bits.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the degree of wear of the drill bits. Thus the control unit can determine, for example, drilled meters of the drill bits and is configured to store the data in the memory device.

According to an embodiment, the used drill bits can be collected from the drilled drill bit storages when the drilling phase is completed.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to manage characterizing data on the drill bits stored in the drilled drill bit storages. In other words, the control unit can classify or manage the drill bits in accordance with their dimensions and drilling properties, for example.

An advantage of this embodiment is that it is possible to store drill bits with differing diameters, whereby it is possible to execute reaming for a drill hole with a drill bit having a greater diameter than a drill bit used for initial drilling. Further, it is possible to use special drill bits for special purposes.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution relates also to a method of handling drill bits of a rock drilling rig. The method includes: storing at least one drill bit into at least one drill bit storage; coupling and uncoupling the drill bit to a drilling tool mounted to a rock drilling machine of a rock drilling unit of the rock drilling rig; and positioning the rock drilling unit to the drill bit storage for picking the drill bit from the drill bit storage by means of the rock drilling unit. The method further includes forming at least one drilled drill bit storage by drilling at least one drill hole into a rock surface surrounding the rock drilling rig, and managing position data of the drilled drill bit storage by means of at least one control unit for assisting pickup of the drill bit from the drilled drill bit storage.

The above disclosed embodiments may be combined in order to form suitable solutions having those of the above features that are needed.

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 FIGURES

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic side views of rock drilling rigs utilizing externally located drilled drill bit storages for storing drill bits.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of forming and implementing a drilled drill bit storage.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a control unit for managing position data of drilled drill bit storages and related components and features.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a graphical user interface, wherein a drilling plan can be presented together with location data of drilled drill bit storages.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a drilling unit positioned close to a drilled drill bit storage provided with several drill bit storage places.

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a rock drilling rig 1 including a carrier 2, at least one drilling boom 3 and a drilling unit 4 at a distal end portion of the boom 3. The drilling unit 4 has a feed beam 5 and a rock drilling machine 6 supported on the feed beam 5 and arranged to be move longitudinally along drilling axis by means of a feed device. Drilling tools 7, such as drill rods 8 and drill bits 9, may be fastened to the drilling machine 6 for directing impact pulses and rotation to the rock surface being drilled. The drill bits 9 wear and may be damaged, wherefore there is a need to provide new drill bits 9 for ensuring efficient rock drilling.

The rock drilling rig 1 is not necessarily provided with any drill bit magazine, but instead there is at least one drilled drill bit storage 10 having one or more drill holes 11 for the drill bits 9. Each drill hole 11 of the drilled drill bit storage 10 can receive at least one drill bit 9 whereby the drilled drill bit storage 10 may include several drill bit storage places 12.

As can be noted, a length of the drill holes 11 of the drilled drill bit storage 10 can be relatively short when compared to actual drill holes 13. Despite of the short length, the drill bits 9 are held firmly inside the drill bit storage places 12. Further, the drill bit storage places 12 may have angular orientations, as is shown in FIG. 1. Alternative orientations for the drill bit storage places 12 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

An operator 14 can determine the position of the drilled drill bit storage 10 and control other drilling measures. The drilling boom 3 and the rock drilling unit 4 are provided with sensors S and measuring devices for providing position data. A control unit CU gathers the position data and can process and store the position data for determining realized positions of the drilled drill bit storages 10 when being drilled. The position data can be stored in a memory device and can be retrieved therefrom when picking up the drill bits 9 therefrom during the drilling operation. Positioning of the drilling unit 4 to the drilled drill bit storage 10 can be executed fully automatically under control of the control unit CU, or in a computer assisted manner together with the operator 13. There may be one or more cameras 15, scanners, or other sensing devices for facilitating the positioning measures.

FIG. 1 further discloses that the rock drilling rig 1 may be remote controlled from a control room 16 under control of a remote-operator 17. A remote control unit RCU is arranged for communicating with a control unit CU of the rock drilling rig 1. The rock drilling rig 1 may also be an automatic device controlled by the control unit CU. Thus, a control system executes the drill bit change measures based on the stored position data and positioning sensing data provided by scanners.

FIG. 1 further discloses that in some cases, the worn or damaged drill bits 9 can be dropped on a floor surface and can be picked up later therefrom.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rock drilling rig 1 intended for long-hole drilling. A rock drilling unit 4 is turnable around a rotation joint 18 so that fan-like drilling patterns can be drilled. Thus, it is possible to generate by means of drilling one or more drilled drill bit storages 10a, 10b on wall surfaces 19 and floor surfaces 20. Use of the drilled drill bit storages 10a, 10b are managed in accordance with the features disclosed in this document.

FIG. 3 illustrates a drilled drill bit storage 10 with two drill bit storage places 12a, 12b, wherein an upper one 12a is still under a drilling process and a lower one 12b is completed and a drill bit 9 is left inside. Position data 21, such as 3D coordinate data and data on orientation is determined and stored so that a drilling unit is easy and quick to reposition to the drilled drill bit storage 10.

FIG. 4 discloses some features of a control unit CU arranged to manage data on drilled drill bit storages. The control unit CU includes one or more processors 22 configured to process received data and execute one or more input or loaded computer programs 23 designed for the purposes disclosed in this document. The control unit CU also comprises one or more memory devices 24 for storing the gathered and processed data. The control unit CU can generate control signals 25 and control commands for different actuators 26 of a drilling boom and a rock drilling unit so that automatic, semi-automatic and computer assisted control measures together with an operator 14 are possible when positioning the rock drilling unit to the realized drilled drill bit storage and to a pre-designed position where the drilled drill bit storage is to be drilled.

Drilling plans 27 can be input to the control unit CU for determining the position of the drilled drill bit storage. The control unit CU is provided with a user interface UI which may have a display device 28. Then the operator 14 may communicate with the control unit CU intuitively by means of a graphical user interface, for example. Position data 21 gathered from sensing devices S is input to the control unit CU.

FIG. 5 shows a view of an exemplary drilling plan 27 displayed on a display device 28. A plurality of white dots 29a, 29b present starting points of drill holes to be drilled. There are smaller white dots 29a representing basic drill holes and bigger white dots 29b representing drill holes with bigger diameter. The bigger white dots 29b may represent, for example, opening drill holes needed at initial phase of blasting of a round being drilled.

It can be seen that the drilling plan 27 may also include plans for positioning one or more drilled drill bit storages 10c, 10d, 10e and each of them can have one or more drill holes 11 forming thereby a drilled drill bit storage system 29. The drilled drill bit storage 10c includes drill holes 11 having different diameters so that there may be stored drill bits for drilling actual drill holes with different sizes. An operator may amend the positions and number of the drilled drill bit storages and may also amend number of included drill holes 11.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rock drilling unit 4 positioned close to a drilled drill bit storage 10 provided with three drill bit storage places 12c-12e. In the positioning measures stored position data on the drilled drill bit storage 10 is implemented. A Final positioning phase can be done under manual control.

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.