US3563322A

US3563322A - Earth boring machine positioning system

Info

Publication number: US3563322A
Application number: US862216A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Young; Ernest O Kunkel
Original assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
Current assignee: Tamrock Canada Inc
Priority date: 1969-09-30
Filing date: 1969-09-30
Publication date: 1971-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-16
Also published as: ZA706274B

Abstract

A system for erecting and changing the position of the drill column of an earth boring machine. The drill assembly is held in place by supports pivotally mounted upon a base. Brace means are attached to the supports which hold the drill assembly in position. Linkages may be attached to drill assembly and the brace means removed. Movement of the main thrust cylinder in the drill assembly causes the support means and consequently the drill column to change position. Support members may again be put in place to hold the drill column in position.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors James W. Young Irving, Tex.; Ernest 0. Kunkel, Nevada, Mo. [21] Appl. No. 862,216 [22] Filed Sept. 30, 1969 [45} atented Feb. 16, 1971 [73] msignee Dresser Industries, Inc.

Da. a.J e5 529*59229! P22??? [54] EARTH BORING MACHINE POSITIONING SYSTEM 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI. 175/57, 173/44 [SI Int. Cl E2lc 9/00, E21c 11/00, E21b 7/02 [50] Field ol'Search 173/44, 43, 39,28; 175/220, 57; 173/] [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,428 12/1956 Monthan 173/44X 3,012,620 12/1961 Gaines 173/44 3,114,425 12/1963 Adams l73/44X 3,205,627 9/1965 Gyongyosi l73/44X FOREIGN PATENTS 609,290 1/1935 Germany 173/44 Primary Examiner- David H. Brown Anorneys- Robert W. Mayer, Thomas P. Hubbard, Jr,, Daniel Rubin, Raymond T. Majesko, Roy L. Van Winkle, William E. Johnson, .Ir., Roderick W. MacDonald and Eddie E. Scott PATENTEU FEB 16 ml SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVENTORS:

JAMES W. YOUNG ERNEST O. KUNKEL ATTORN EY PATENTED Fislslsm sum 2 or 2 INVENTORS: JAMES w. YOUNG 4 ERNEST O. KUNKEL Z44. z/M

ATTORNEY EARTH BORING MACHINE POSITIONING SYSTEM This invention relates to the art of earth boring and more particularly relates to a system for changing the position of the drill column of an earth boring machine. This invention has special utility as a raise drilling system wherein the raise hole boring operation proceeds by the drilling of a relatively small pilot hole followed by enlargementof the hole to the desired size.

Before mechanized systems of shaft sinking and raising were available, these operations were extremely dangerous for the personnel involved and required considerable amounts of time. Modern mechanized equipment has done much to reduce these difficulties and the mechanized equipment is still being improved.

While efficiency and economy are considered in connection with all earth boring equipment, raise drilling imposes strict requirements of size and operation because the equipment is generally operated inside of a mine shaft. The system must be compact so that it will operate within the confines of the shaft, must be easy to transport and highly reliable. A detailed description of a mechanized. system of raise drilling is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,494.

Prior art earth boring and raise drilling systems have been positioned by separate hydraulic or mechanical means. This involved the use of units additional tothose required for boring and the overall system was more complicated. These additional units compete for the limited space available in a mine shaft and require additional service and repair. The prior art systems also required additional systems for erecting and lowering the drill column with all the associated disadvantages. It can therefore be appreciated that a reduction in the number of components in an earth boring system is extremely important. I

The system of the present invention utilizes the main thrust cylinder of the earth boring machine for erecting, positioning and lowering. A linkage means is attached to the drill assembly that houses the main thrust cylinder and the braces are removed. Movement of the main thrust cylinder changes the position of the drill column and may be used to raise or lower the drill assembly when transporting the earth boring machine. Braces may again be attached to the supports thus locking the drill assembly and drill column in the desired position. The braces are adjustable and a wedge means may be used in conjunction with the braces for preventing movement of the supports.

it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an earth boring machine positioning system that is more economical than those of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an earth boring machine positioning system that has relatively few moving parts.

lt is a still further object of the present invention to provide an earth boring system that incorporates the fundamental units into the positioning system.

it is a still further object of this invention to provide an earth boring machine positioning system that is highly reliable.

lt is a still further object of the present invention to provide an earth boring system that will hold the drill column firmly in place.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an earth boring machine positioning system that is more simple and faster than those of the prior arts.

it is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system of erecting and lowering an earth boring machine.

The above and other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of a the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein;

F IG. 1 shows an earth boring machine of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the means for securing the braces tothe supports and base.

FIG. 4 shows the braces disconnected and the linkage attached to the main thrust cylinder with the drill column having been moved to an angle from the vertical.

Referring now to the drawing in more detail and in particular to FIG. 1. There is shown an earth boring machine indicated generally at 10. The drill column and drilling mechanism are held in place by supports 11 and 12, pivotally mounted on base 13 by means of

hinges

14 and 15. The supports are held in place by

braces

16 and 17 which are connected between the base and the upper part of the supports. Braces l6 and 17 are attached to the base at

points

18 and 19 and to the support columns at 20 and 21. The piston rod 22 of the main thrust cylinder 23 is attached to the base member 13 by a hinge means 24. The drill head assembly 25 and power assembly 26 are attached to the main thrust cylinder 23 so that movement of the thrust cylinder either up or down moves the drilling column that is connected to the drill head assembly 25.

Linkage elements

27 and 28 are attached to the base members by

hinges

29 and 30. Connections for the linkages are shown on the main thrust cylinder at. points 8 and 9. it can be appreciated that other points of connection for the linkage may be included as long as they are located on the drill assembly. The main thrust cylinder 23 is a double acting hydraulic cylinder so that force may be applied when the cylinder is being moved either up or down.

A side view of another embodiment of the earth boring machine of this invention is shown inFlG. 2. A drill column 31 is attached to the drill head assembly 32 and is in place for drilling a vertical bore. The power for drilling is supplied by power assembly 33 and the main thrust cylinder 34 moves the drill column in the bore. Brace 35 holds. one of the support columns 36 in place. Wedge means 37 hold the supports firmly in place in a manner that will be explained in greater detail later. A means of adjusting the length of brace 35 is shown. This consists ofa threaded sleeve 38 and threaded

elements

39 and 40. When the sleeve 38 is rotated in one direction, the length of brace 35 will be shortened and when rotated in the other direction, the length will be extended. in all other respects, the system of HG. 2 is the same as that shown in FlG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the wedge means 37 in greater detail. A wedge element 41 is shown that may be forcibly inserted into the yoke of one of the braces. A threaded bolt 41, plate 43, and nut 44 are arranged so that the wedge element 42 will be drawn into the yoke by tightening the nut 44. The braces are put in place and locked with a pin. This may leave a slight amount of play in the connections which can be removed by inserting the wedge means in the manner explained above.

Referring now to H6. 4, the positioning system is shown with the linkage means attached to the drill assembly and the braces removed from the supports. The position of the drill assembly has been changed from the vertical. The linkage 45 has been rotated on hinge 46 and attached to the drill assembly at point 47. The braces have been disconnected from the support columns and movement of the main thrust cylinder 48 has caused the support 49 to pivot on hinge means 50. In order to bore a hole at an angle to the vertical the supports may again be put in place. Brace 51 will pivot on hinge 52 and by rotation of sleeve 53 the length of brace 51 may be changed. The brace is then attached to the support column 49 at connection 54 and the linkage means are disconnected at point 47. Wedge means may be inserted as previously described to give greater stability. The system is then ready for operation and an angled hole may be bored.

In order to transport the earth boring machine, the drill assembly is lowered to the horizontal. This may be accomplished much in the same manner as the positioning operation explained above. Referring to FIG. 4, the linkage 45 is attached to the drill assembly at point 47 and brace 51 is disconnected from the support column. As the main thrust cylinder 48 is moved the drill assembly is lowered until it is in the horizontal position for transportation. The system may be erected in a similar manner by reversing the operation.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

We claim:

1. An earth boring system that provides movement of the drill assembly for erecting, positioning and lowering comprising:

a base member;

drill assembly support means pivotally connected to said base member;

a drill assembly positioned to move along said support means, including a main thrust cylinder pivotally attached to said base member; and

linkage means attached to said base member that may be connected to said drill assembly so as to cause the drill assembly to change positions in response to actuation of the thrust cylinder. 7

2. The system of claim 1 including brace means attached to said base that may be connected to said support means so as to stabilize said support means.

3. The system of claim 2 including means to adjust the length of said brace means.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said brace means includes a fork connection between said brace means and said base and a wedge means that may be forcibly inserted in said fork thereby establishing a firm connection.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said brace means includes a fork connection between said brace means and said support means and a wedge means that may be forcibly inserted in said fork thereby establishing a firm connection.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said brace means includes a fork connection between said brace and said base and a wedge means that may be forcibly inserted in said fork thereby establishing a firm connection.

7. A method ofchanging the position olthc drill assembly of an earth boring machine wherein said earth boring machine has a base, supports pivotally mounted on the base. brace means and a drill assembly witha main thrust cylinder, comprising the steps of:

connecting a linkage between the base and the drill assembly;

disconnecting the brace means; and

actuating the thrust cylinder so as to change the position of the drill assembly. I

8. The method ofclaim 7 including the steps of connecting a brace means between the base and supports and disconnecting the linkage.

Claims

2. The system of claim 1 including brace means attached to said base that may be connected to said support means so as to stabilize said support means.
3. The system of claim 2 including means to adjust the length of said brace means.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein said brace means includes a fork connection between said brace means and said base and a wedge means that may be forcibly inserted in said fork thereby establishing a firm connection.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein said brace means includes a fork connection between said brace means and said support means and a wedge means that may be forcibly inserted in said fork thereby establishing a firm connection.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said brace means includes a fork connection between said brace and said base and a wedge means that may be forcibly inserted in said fork thereby establishing a firm connection.
7. A method of changing the position of the drill assembly of an earth boring machine wherein said earth boring machine has a base, supports pivotally mounted on the base, brace means and a drill assembly with a main thrust cylinder, comprising the steps of: connecting a linkage between the base and the drill assembly; disconnecting the brace means; and actuating the thrust cylinder so as to change the position of the drill assembly.
8. The method of claim 7 including the steps of connecting a brace means between the base and supports and disconnecting the linkage.