AU2018372529A1

AU2018372529A1 - Autonomous drilling machine for the construction of service shafts and open shafts

Info

Publication number: AU2018372529A1
Application number: AU2018372529A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marc Anthony BLATTNER
Original assignee: Tumi Contratistas Mineros Sac
Current assignee: Tumi Contratistas Mineros Sac
Priority date: 2017-11-21
Filing date: 2018-01-05
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-05
Also published as: CA3083110A1; MX2020005000A; WO2019103630A1; CL2020001276A1; CA3083110C; AU2018372529B2; PE20190884A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an autonomous drilling machine for the construction of service shafts and open shafts, also known as slots, especially designed to improve efficiency in mining and civil engineering, as well as significantly reducing interaction between people and machines, thereby preventing the necessary risks in underground drilling and operations associated with conventional shaft construction methods.

Description

WO 2019/103630 PCT/PE2018/000001

AUTONOMOUS DRILLING MACHINE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SERVICE SHAFTS AND OPEN SHAFTS

Object of the invention

The invention refers to an autonomous drill rig for the construction of service raise and open face

also known as "slot", specially designed to improve efficiency in the process of mining production and civil projects, as well as considerably reducing man-machine interaction, avoiding risks required

for operations and underground drilling related to conventional methods of raise construction.

Background

The dimensions of the slot raise, or free face, which are normally built in the different mining units

vary from 1.2 m to 2.1 m diameter and are preferably executed of 2.1 meters with lengths of 20 m to

200 m, with tilt angles varying around 900 to 45° taking the horizontal plane as a reference.

A drill rig of service raise and open face is originally designed for drilling mine ventilation raises,

among other applications, being capable of drilling holes, preferably 2.1 meters in diameter and

between 20 and 200 meters in length, and where the process of building the raise requires about 4

to 8 weeks. The drilling of service raise and free face "slot" provides a very stable and smooth finish

reducing considerably the post-drilling works. To perform the pre-drilling process, traditionally it is

required to build a typical concrete slab for the machine of about 3 m x 4m x 0.4 meters high, where

the machine needs to be fixed with anchor bolts, preferably 22.2 mm in diameter by 1.2 meters. Likewise, a structural base composed of high strength structural beams and steel is required to

support the machine once the drilling is completed. This type of machine consists of a power unit, an

electrical cabinet and a separate control console, which implies the connection of hoses and

electrical cables at a distance of approximately 5 to 7 meters in length depending on the work area,

with difficulty at the time of moving the machine with all its units to the different work chambers

since it will be transported by a front-end loader leading to a loss of more than 15% of the reaming

time inside the mine.

NON-OFFICAL TRANSLATION

To improve the reaming process times and increase productivity in the drilling of service raise and

free face in the different mining units, a new design, and manufacturing of an autonomous machine

was carried out, with its own drill rig motion system, which is preferably but not limited to a crawler

tractor propelled by an internal combustion engine, optionally located on the rear, controlled by

fixed commands located on the rear of the crawler preferably. Once in place, the machine is

completely leveled for the raise to be drilled, considering that the axial axis of the raise must coincide

with the central axial axis of the mechanical transmission gearbox, which provides a variable speed of

rotation and constant torque which suit the condition of the ground to be drilled. This machine has

two levels of angle and fixed control of leveling and anchoring, first, the crawler tractor is leveled by

leveling cylinders, then the drilling angle is adjusted by using tilt cylinders; finally, the machine is

anchored both by floor as well as gallery ceiling with lower anchor cylinders on the floor and upper anchor cylinders on the station ceiling without use of anchor bolts or concrete slab. The drill rig of

service raise and open face of this subject matter has a power unit and electrical cabinet

incorporated into the motion system of the drill rig which is preferably a crawler tractor, so there is

no need to connect or disconnect hydraulic hoses or electrical cables between the machine

components during the workstation installation and removal, consequently, it reduces considerably

transport time and work installation, reducing these downtimes, obtaining drilling from 20 m to 200

meters in 3 to 4 weeks, achieving 85% efficiency per hole; and, thus, the existing risks in the process

of transfer and reaming and the environmental contamination produced by the spillage of hydraulic

oil due to leakage of hoses when connecting and disconnecting are reduced.

Description of the invention

The following subject matter is described referring to drawings and appendixes, which illustrate the

relation of this i subject matter.

Picture 1 is a right side view of the machine in transport mode.

Picture 2 is a left side view in operating mode.

Picture 3 is a front view in operating mode.

NON-OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

The drill rig of this subject matter has its own means of mine transportation, which is autonomous

since it has a drill rig's motion system being preferably but not limited to a crawler tractor powered

by an internal combustion engine, which fixed transport controls are preferably located at the left

rear of the crawler and completely direct and level the machine for the raise to be drilled,

considering that the axial axis of the raise must coincide with the central axial axis of the mechanical

transmission gearbox, which provides a variable rotation speed and constant torque to suit the

ground conditions. For this purpose, the machine is equipped with angle levels and fixed leveling and

anchoring controls. First, the crawler tractor is leveled by leveling cylinders, then the drilling angle is

regulated by tilt cylinders; finally, the machine is anchored to the ground as in the gallery ceiling with

lower and upper anchor cylinders on the workstation roof without using bolts and concrete slabs.

The drill rig of service raise and free face of this subject matter is capable of drilling holes of 2. 1

meter in diameter and about 200 meters in length which are usually requested by the different

mining units, with angles of preferably between 90 to 45 inclination regarding the longitudinal

center of the machine, and 900 to 45 to the transversal of the machine in both directions (left and

right) employing a pivoting system which allows inclination and fixing of the machine. This function allows drilling in reduced spaces by losing maneuverability of the machine in different galleries. In

the raise construction process, using the autonomous drill rig of this subject matter, approximately 4

days are required to drill holes of 2.1 meters in diameter by 20 meters in length, obtaining finishes,

very stable and homogeneous raises throughout the diameter. One of the main advantages of using

an autonomous machine for drilling of service raise and free face is a significant reduction of the

man-machine interaction, by using a remote control to operate both the positioning arm of pipes,

the electro-hydraulic key for the increase of pipes and its removal. From the economic concept,

productivity is increased compared to the previous design.

Description of Pictures

NON-OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

Picture 1 shows the raise drill rig and slot in the transport position. It is shown on the crawler tractor

01, the internal combustion engine 02, fixed controls 03, and the transport remote control 35, with

which the machine is moved. The component 06 correlates with the fixed controls driving the

leveling cylinders 07 of the crawler tractor. The machine anchor is executed by lower anchor

cylinders 09 which are fixed to the floor and the upper anchor cylinders are fixed to the ceiling of the

working chamber. The electrical cabinet 11 and the power unit 20, which provide the hydraulic

power required to operate the machine, are located at the rear of the machine. The positioning arm

of pipes 15 allows the addition and removal of drill pipes. The thrust sets 18 are located on the sides

of the machine and transmit the vertical force required for the reaming and piloting process. The

hydraulic tank 22 stores the oil required to drive the crawler tractor 01 and the hydraulic tank 23

stores the oil to drive the power unit 20.

Picture 2 shows the drill rig in working position on the profile plane, which has an inclination of

approximately 45 regarding the transverse axis of the machine with the lower anchor cylinders

extended to the chamber floor and the angle value is controlled at level 05 located on one side of the "gear case". The mechanical transmission gearbox 04 which transmits the torque supplied by the

hydrostatic motor 25 which is in its upper position allows the installation of a drill pipe 16 using a

positioning arm 15.

Picture 3 shows a machine front view in operating mode, noticing that the machine has a turn of

approximately 45 to the left side concerning the cross axis of the machine. Said turn may be given to

both sides, once the machine is located in its working position the lower cylinders 07 and outer

cylinders 29 are extended to be positioned on the floor of the chamber and on top of it to stabilize

the machine at the time of

Preferred realization of the subject matter

To operate this machine, a removable control console 12 and an operating remote control 34 are

available and will be hung around the operator's neck. The drilling method consists of 2 stages, a

pilot hole, and a reaming hole. The first is executed downwards using 11 inches (279.4 mm) diameter

and a series of drill pipes of 10 inches (254 mm) diameter by 1.5 m long 16 in proportion to the

length of the raise. Drillings may also be made at different angles either on the longitudinal or

transverse axis to the machine, which varies preferably from approximately 90 to 45 angle

according to the requirements or ground conditions. The mine requirements for the machine are 440

volts of three-phase alternating current at 60 Hertz, with a 350-kilovolt amperes power, and an

average of 8 to 10 gallons per minute and clean water for the extraction ofdetritus, which enters

NON-OFFICIAL TRANSLATION into the machine through the rotating water inlet coupling 14. The machine has a positioning arm of pipes 15 electro-hydraulically driven to load each pipe 16 and position it in the machine drill head 32 effectively and safely. For adjusting the torque of the DI-22 threaded connections of the mechanical transmission as well as the drill pipe, the machine has an electro-hydraulic key 17 located at its base.

The mechanical transmission has several gear reduction stages and a hydrostatic motor 25, which

together provide a constant torque and the possibility of adjusting the drill string rotation speed

according to the ground conditions.

The drill rig of this subject matter, weighing less than 16 metric tons with an installed power of less

than 150 kW, has been designed to work in galleries of determining height, preferably less than 3.8

m, which is why it is called "low profile", and its transport measures are less than 2.5 m high by 2.3 m

wide, allowing it to enter a shipping container. For this purpose, its packages of push cylinders 18

work in tandem, allowing raising the gearbox 04 enough to couple a pipe in the middle and to retract completely at the end of the raise to achieve the transport height. These cylinders include internal

safety valves, one on each side of the machine, which lowers the gearbox very slowly in the event of

an oil leakage incident.

The hydraulic thrust force and the torque with which the drill column rotates allow to communicate

the level where the machine is located with the lower target level in both stages of this drilling

method. Once the pilot drilling is completed, the second stage of upward reaming drilling begins. For

this, the drill bit is uncoupled and the next drill pipe 16 in the lower level of the mine to attach the

reamer. The machine uses this cutting device to expand the diameter of the raise as it upwards drills,

removing the components of the drill column, mainly made up of pipes 16. Fordecoupling each

component of the drilling column, the lower key located at the machine base 17, and the upper key

19 located at the drill head 32 are used. Both keys are electro-actuated hydraulically avoiding human

contact with the machine.

NON-OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

Claims

Claims:

1. Drill rig of service raise and free face comprising the following:

A mechanical transmission gearbox 04 in which drilling head 32 is installed and uninstalled the drill pipes 16 by employing a positioning arm 15 and decoupling keys 17 and 19;

at least two sets of thrust cylinders 18 which move drilling head 32 on the guide columns 26 during the pilot hole and reaming drill;

anchor cylinders 09 and 10 fixing the machine to the workstation to start operating either in different angles in longitudinal or transversal position to the machine;

The lower cylinders 07 and outer cylinders 29 serving as support;

The motion system of the drill rig with an incorporated built-in power unit 20;

tilt cylinders 08 providing drilling angle, and leveling cylinders 07.

2. The drill rig according to claim 1, characterized due to a drill rig's motion system is a crawler tractor, where a structural base 27 is connected to the structure of the crawler tractor 28 through a system allowing pivoting when tilting the machine to the desired drilling angle.

3. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by two cylinders 08 regulating the drilling angle, which are connected to the machine by two support columns 29.

4. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by six cylinders divided into two sets of thrust cylinders 18, each consisting of two twin cylinders on the sides of a cylinder in the inverted position.

5. Drill rig according to claim 4, characterized by each set of thrust cylinders 18 fixed to the structural base 27, transmitting the hydraulic force to the gearbox 04 employing a thrust structure 30.

6. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by being a low-profile machine, where each set of thrust cylinders 18 works in tandem allowing raising the gearbox 04 for coupling a pipe 16 in the middle and fully retracting the cylinder sets.

7. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each set of thrust cylinders 18 includes an internal safety valve.

NON-OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

8. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by two guide columns 26 which keep the direction of the raise to be drilled in its length and over which the gearbox 04 slides, where these guide columns are fixed at their ends to the structural base 27 and a superior structure 31, respectively.

9. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by an electro-hydraulically operated positioning arm of pipes 15 to load each pipe 16 and position it in the drill head 32 of the machine.

10. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by two electro- hydraulics keys located one on the structural base 27 and the other on the drill head 32 for the adjustment and misadjustment torque of the DI-22 threaded connections between the elements that make up the drill column and the machine head.

11. Drill rig according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the key in the drill head 32 is operated with at least two cylinders 33.

12. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by a mechanical transmission gearbox 04 including several gear reduction stages and a motor hydrostatic.

13. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by the inclusion of two anchor cylinders 09 at the front of the machine which bases are fixed to the ground, and the cylinders are bolted to the structural base 27 of the machine.

14. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by the inclusion of an anchor cylinder 09 at both ends of each support column 29.

16. Drilling rig according to claim 1, characterized by having a crawler tractor 01 as a mean of transport of all components including the machine, where the crawler tractor is a support for the adjustment of the drilling angle.

NON-OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

17. Drill rig according to claim 16, characterized by having 4 leveling cylinders 07 on the crawler tractor 01.

18. Drill rig according to claim 1, characterized by having two tilting cylinders 08.

19. Drill rig according to claim 16, characterized by the power unit 20 and electrical cabinet 11 being integrated with tracked tractor 01.

20. Drill rig according to any of the above claims, characterized by remote operation controls 34 and transport 35.

NON-OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

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Figure 1 PCT/PE2018/000001

Right side view of the machine in transport mode

WO 2019/103630

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Figure 2

Left side view in operational mode PCT/PE2018/000001

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Figure 3 PCT/PE2018/000001

Front view in operational mode