GB2033943A

GB2033943A - A Hydraulic Drilling Rig

Info

Publication number: GB2033943A
Application number: GB7934708A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HYDRAULIC DRILLING EQUIPMENT L
Current assignee: HYDRAULIC DRILLING EQUIPMENT L
Priority date: 1978-10-23
Filing date: 1979-10-05
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: GB2033943B

Abstract

A hydraulic drilling rig comprises a chassis (10) having mounted thereon a hydraulic pump (17), a hydraulic fluid reservoir (19) and an internal combustion engine (14) for driving the pump. A mast (11) is releasably connected to the chassis and a rotary head (12) for mounting a drill is releasably mounted on the mast for movement therealong. The rotary head includes a hydraulic motor, which is connected to the hydraulic pump by flexible hydraulic fluid conduits. The hydraulic fluid conduits are connected to the hydraulic pump and/or the hydraulic motor by self- sealing hydraulic couplers and the chassis, mast and rotary head are readily demountable for storage or transportation as separate units. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Hydraulic Drilling Rig This invention relates to a hydraulic drilling rig and has as its object the provision of such a rig in a convenient form.

The invention provides a hydraulic drilling rig comprising a hydraulic pump; a hydraulic fluid reservoir; drive means for driving the pump; a chassis mounting the pump, reservoir and drive means; a mast releasably connected to the chassis; a rotary head for mounting a drill, the rotary head including a hydraulic motor, which is connected to the hydraulic pump by flexible hydraulic fluid conduit means, and being releasably mounted on the mast for movement along the mast, the hydraulic fluid conduit means being connected to the hydraulic pump and/or hydraulic motor by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means and the chassis, mast and rotary head being readily demountable for storage or transportation as separate units.

Preferably, the flexible hydraulic fluid conduit means is connected to both the hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means.

Preferably, the rotary head is movable along the mast by fluid pressure operated means supported by the mast and connected to a further hydraulic pump, which is mounted on the chassis, by further hydraulic fluid conduit means, the latter being connected to the further hydraulic pump and/or fluid pressure operated means by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means.

Preferably, the further hydraulic fluid conduit means is connected to both the further hydraulic pump and the fluid pressure operated means by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means.

Conveniently, the fluid pressure operated means comprises a hydraulic ram which effects movement of the rotary head along the mast via an arrangement comprising a plurality of guide members and flexible elongate means.

Alternatively, the fluid pressure operated means comprises a hydraulic motor which effects movement of the rotary head along the mast via a chain and sprocket drive arrangement.

Advantageously, the mast comprises at least two separate mast sections releasably connected together.

Advantageously, the chassis comprises a main chassis and a sub chassis releasably connected together, each of the main chassis and the subchassis having mounted thereon releasably interconnected units.

Advantageously, the rotary head is privotably supported in a carriage movable along the mast.

The chassis may be mounted on, inter alia, a fixed unit, hydraulically operable jacks, a skid platform, a trailer, or a power operated truck, from which it may be readily removed.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a hydraulic drilling rig according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of a hydraulic drilling rig according to the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the hydraulic drilling rig shown therein comprises a chassis 10, a mast 11 and a rotary head 12. The chassis 10 comprises a main chassis 13 and a sub chassis (not shown) rigidly but releasably connected to the main chassis 13.

Mounted on the main chassis 13 is a drive unit in the form of an air cooled internal combustion engine 1 4 having an associated clutch 1 5 and split gear box 1 6 drivingly connected to first and second variable displacement hydraulic pumps 1 7 and 18. Mounted on the sub chassis is a hydraulic fluid reservoir 19 and a control panel 20.

Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the pumps 1 7 and 1 8 through hoses (not shown) which are connected to the reservoir 1 9 and to the pumps 1 7 and 1 8 by self-sealing quick-connect hydraulic breakaway couplings so that these hoses may easily be disconnected without the need to drain down the hydraulic fluid.

The mast 11, which comprises two or more separate mast sections (not shown) rigidly but releasably connected together, is pivotably and releasably connected between a pair of transversely spaced mast support brackets 21 secured to the main chassis 1 3. The cylinder 22 of a hydraulic ram 23 is connected to the main chassis 1 3 for pivotable movement about an axis parallel to the axis about which the mast 11 can pivot relative to the brackets 21. The piston rod 24 of the ram 23 is releasably connected to the mast 11 for pivotable movement relative thereto about an axis parallel to both of the aforesaid axes. The ram 23 serves to move the mast 11 between a substantially horizontal position in which it engages an upstanding mast support 25 secured to the main chassis 1 3 and a substantially upright position.

The rotary head 1 2 includes a hydraulic motor and is releasably and pivotably supported by a carriage 26 which is in turn releasably and slidably connected to the mast 11 for longitudinal movement along the mast. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the aforesaid motor from the first hydraulic pump 1 7 through flexible hoses (not shown) connected on the one hand to the aforesaid hydraulic motor and on the other hand to the pump 1 7 by self sealing quick-connect hydraulic breakaway couplings which allow the hoses to be easily disconnected without the need to drain down the hydraulic fluid.Movement of the carriage 26 which supports the rotary head 12, is effected by a hydraulic ram and sheave assembly which comprises a hydraulic ram (not shown) secured to and extending in the direction of the mast 11, a pair of sheaves 27 and 28 which are mounted for rotation about spaced parallel axes in a support 29 secured to the free end of a piston rod 30 of said hydraulic ram, a third sheave 31 rotatably connected to the upper end of the mast 11 and a fourth sheave (not shown) rotatably connected to a lower part of the mast 11.A first wire line 32 is secured to an upper portion of the mast 11 at one end from which it extends downwardly, passes round the lower peripheral edge portion of the sheave 27 and then extends upwardly and passes over the upper peripheral edge portion of the sheave 31 before extending downwardly once again where it is then secured to the carriage 26. A second wire line 32 is secured to a lower portion of the mast 11 at one end from which it extends upwardly, passes over the upper peripheral edge portion of the sheave 28, after which it extends downwardly once again and passes round the lower peripheral edge portion of said fourth sheave before extending upwardly once again where it is also secured to the carriage 26.The ram of the hydraulic ram and sheave assembly is supplied with hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 1 8 through flexible hoses which are also on the one hand connected to the pump 1 8 and on the other hand to the ram by self-sealing quick-connect hydraulic breakaway couplings.

It will be understood that upward movement of the ram will cause downward movement of the carriage 26 and thus of the rotary head 12 and vice versa.

Secured to the lower end of the mast 11 and projecting forwardly of the mast when the latter is in an upright position is a table bush 34 for supporting and guiding a drill rod connected to the rotary head 12.

The chassis 10 may be releasably mounted on inter alia a fixed structure, a skid platform, hydraulic fluid operated jacks or a truck.

The hydraulic drilling rig may also be equipped with a winch mounted on the chassis 10, but in this case it will be necessary to provide an additional sheave assembly at the upper end of the mast 11.

A drill rod which, in use, is connected to the rotary head 1 2 for rotation therewith and which is guided by the table bush 34, comprises a plurality of sections which are progressively connected together, adjacent sections having complementary screw threads. During a drilling operation these complementary screw threads tightly engage one another and it is often difficult to initially break this engagement. Thus, the hydraulic drilling rig may also be equipped with an attachment 35 for initially breaking the engagement between two adjacent drill rod sections. This attachment 35 comprises a mounting plate 36 secured to the chassis 10 or the mast 11, a hydraulic ram 37 having a sheave 38 rotatably connected to the free end of the piston of the ram 37 and a further sheave 39 rotatably mounted on the plate 36.One end of a wire line 40 is secured to the plate 36 from where the line extends over the sheave 38 and around the sheave 39 before being secured to the free end of a handle of a pair of stilsons 41. When it is desired to break the engagement between the pair of drill rod sections, the jaws of the stilsons 41 are caused to tightly engage one of the rod sections, whereafter hydraulic fluid is supplied to the ram 37.

The self sealing hydraulic breakaway couplings may be of any suitable commonly available type which when disconnected seal both sides of the hydraulic circuit, and which are easily and quickly connectable together. For example, they may be of a type manufactured by the Hansen Manufacturing Company Ltd., of Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., and described in their catalogue No. 70- 1.

A hydraulic drilling rig as above described can easily be dismantled into several separate sections which can be easily stored and/or transported from one site to another. The rotary head 12 may also be replaced easily with an alternative head possessing different speeds and load characteristics or equipped with swivels for feeding a sludge or fluid through the drill rod to flush debris from the hole bored thereby.

The means releasably connecting the several separate sections together may comprise complementary male and female location elements on each pair of sections which are to be connected together, said location elements serving to locate each pair of sections with respect to each other so that the sections can be releasably locked together by self retaining locking pins.

Alternatively, automatic self locking attachment means are provided on each pair of sections which are to be connected together, the attachment means locking automatically as the sections are brought together and being manually releasable against spring pressure. the attachment means is, desirably, such that unskilled persons can readily assemble or dismantle the rig.

Such an easily dismantleable rig would be of particular advantage for use on inaccessible sites or in under-developed countries where power driven transport is not readily available.

Such a rig may be used for exploratory drilling, but may of course be used for other purposes.

It is to be understood that the mast need not necessarily be upright during a drilling process, but may be inclined to the vertical or may be horizontally or substantially horizontally arranged.

Fig. 2 shows a different arrangement for moving the carriage 26 on the mast 11 and components corresponding to those of Fig. 1 are identified by the same reference numerals.

Instead of the hydraulic ram and sheave assembly of Fig. 1 movement of the carriage 26 is effected by an assembly comprising a hydraulic motor 50 mounted on the lower end of the mast 11, a sprocket 51 driven in rotation by the motor 50 and also mounted at the lower end of the mast, a sprocket 52 rotatably mounted at the upper end of the mast and a chain 53. The chain 53 is connected at its two ends to upper and lower attachment members (not shown) on the carriage 26 and extends round the two sprockets 51 and 52. The hydraulic motor 50 receives hydraulic fluid from hydraulic pump 1 8 through flexible hoses connected to both the pump 18 and the motor 50 by self-sealing quick-connect breakaway couplings. Rotation of the motor 50 in one direction will cause the carriage 26 to be raised whilst rotation of the motor in the opposite direction will cause the carriage 26 to be lowered.

As described in the above embodiments, each flexible hose is connected at both ends to a hydraulic unit by self-sealing quick-connect breakaway couplings and although this is the preferred arrangement, they could be connected at one end only to a unit. In such a case, when the rig is dismantled the hoses will remain connected at one end.

Claims

1. A hydraulic drilling rig comprising a hydraulic pump; a hydraulic fluid reservoir; drive means for driving the pump; a chassis mounting the pump, reservoir and drive means; a mast releasably connected to the chassis; a rotary head for mounting a drill, the rotary head including a hydraulic motor, which is connected to the hydraulic pump by flexible hydraulic fluid conduit means, and being releasably mounted on the mast for movement along the mast, the hydraulic fluid conduit means being connected to the hydraulic pump and/or hydraulic motor by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means and the chassis, mast and rotary head being readily demountable for storage or transportation as separate units.

2. A rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible hydraulic fluid conduit means is connected to both the hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means.

3. A rig as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rotary head is movable along the mast by fluid pressure operated means supported by the mast and connected to a further hydraulic pump, which is mounted on the chassis, by further hydraulic fluid conduit means, the latter being connected to the further hydraulic pump and/or the fluid pressure operated means by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means.

4. A rig as claimed in claim 3, wherein the further hydraulic fluid conduit means is connected to both the further hydraulic pump and the fluid pressure operated means by self sealing hydraulic breakaway coupling means.

5. A rig as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the fluid pressure operated means comprises a hydraulic ram which effects movement of the rotary head along the mast via an arrangement comprising a plurality of guide members and flexible elongate means.

6. A rig as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the fluid pressure operated means comprises a hydraulic motor which effects movement of the rotary head along the mast via a chain and sprocket drive arrangement.

7. A rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mast comprises at least two separate mast sections releasably connected together.

8. A rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis comprises a main chassis and a sub-chassis releasably connected together, each of the main chassis and the subchassis having mounted thereon reieasably interconnected units.

9. A rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary head is pivotably supported in a carriage movable along the mast.

10. A rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein the chassis is mounted on a fixed unit from which it may be readily removed.

11. A rig as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the chassis is mounted on hydraulically operable jacks.

12. A rig as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the chassis is mounted on a skid piafform.

13. A rig as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the chassis is mounted on a trailer.

14. A rig as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the chassis is mounted on a power operated truck.

1 5. A hydraulic drilling rig substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.