AU2023203458A1

AU2023203458A1 - A drilling assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2023203458A1
Application number: AU2023203458A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jason Mott
Original assignee: Jwm Innovations Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Jwm Innovations Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-13
Filing date: 2023-06-02
Publication date: 2023-06-29
Also published as: AU2020203863A1

Abstract

A drilling assembly adapted to be mounted to a dipper arm of an excavator, the drilling assembly comprising: a rail assembly comprising one or more rail members extending between an in-use top end and an in-use bottom end with a carriage structure mounted on said rail assembly to allow movement of the carriage structure along the rail assembly and a drive motor coupled to said carriage structure for effecting movement of the carriage along a length of the rail assembly; a tilting hitch assembly mounted to the carriage structure for mounting the rail assembly to the excavator and allowing the mounted rail assembly to be tilted along a tilting direction that is transverse to a tilting direction of the dipper arm, ground penetration apparatus with one or more ground penetration elements, the ground penetration apparatus being positioned relative to the carriage structure whereby upward or downward movement of the carriage structure results in a corresponding movement of the ground penetration apparatus along the rail assembly.

Description

A DRILLING ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to a drilling assembly that is adapted to be

coupled to an arm of an excavator.

BACKGROUND

[002] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to

be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of

the common general knowledge.

[003] Different types of construction conditions often require different types of

equipment to be able to accurately and properly prepare foundations for future

construction. Typically this type of construction may be achieved by pile driving, screw

piling, drilling or by auger for example. In general foundations are often pilings that are

used to support the structure being built. The type of piling required and the depth that

the piling must be driven into the earth will also depend on the type of structure being

built. With large structures, the pilings by necessity are large to provide sufficient

support and have to be driven through the earth and underlying bedrock with a great

deal of force. Traditionally in the construction industry, the pile driving of these large

pilings has been performed by mounting a pile driver to a crane. This requires the

costly and time consuming transportation of a crane to the construction site as well as

the engagement of a qualified crane operator. Typical pile drivers include a hammer

mounted to a frame or leads and have a ram that engages the pile with a downward force. For accurate driving of the pilings and avoidance of damage to the frame, there has to be a proper alignment of the leads relative the piling being driven. In other construction operations leads are often mounted to a crane so as to operate a drilling system, auger system or screw pile.

[004] When structures such as solar panels are mounted to supports embedded in

the ground, the supports must be accurately located within relatively fine tolerances

such as, for example, to within 20 mm because many panels are usually required to

be mounted in abutting relationship to form an array. Inaccuracies can accumulate

along the length of an array whereby some solar panels may not be properly mounted

to their supports.

[005] Augers that are suitable for mounting to the hitch on the end of the dipping arm

of an excavator are known. Placement of the bore hole drilled by such drill rigs is

notoriously inaccurate. It is also difficult to accurately locate driven piles. Though

accurate enough for many applications, placement of the boreholes or piles is of

critical importance where installation of solar panels is required for a ground-supported

solar panel array. Accurate placement of boreholes also permits boreholes to be

smaller in diameter, thereby reducing the quantity of backfill, stemming or casting

material required.

[006] In view of the above, it is desirable to provide an improved drilling assembly

that addresses some of the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[007] In an aspect, the invention provides a drilling assembly adapted to be

mounted to a dipper arm of an excavator, the drilling assembly comprising:

a rail assembly comprising one or more rail members extending between

an in-use top end and an in-use bottom end with a carriage structure mounted

on said rail assembly to allow movement of the carriage structure along the rail

assembly and a drive motor coupled to said carriage structure for effecting

movement of the carriage along a length of the rail assembly;

a tilting hitch assembly mounted to the carriage structure for mounting

the rail assembly to the excavator and allowing the mounted rail assembly to

be tilted along a tilting direction that is transverse to a tilting direction of the

dipper arm,

ground penetration apparatus with one or more ground penetration

elements, the ground penetration apparatus being positioned relative to the

carriage structure whereby upward or downward movement of the carriage

structure results in a corresponding movement of the ground penetration

apparatus along the rail assembly.

[008] In an embodiment, the tilting hitch assembly comprises an in-use upper

attachment structure for attachment to the dipper arm of the excavator and an in-use

lower attachment structure for attachment of the carriage structure wherein the lower

attachment structure is adapted to tilt relative to the upper attachment structure.

[009] In an embodiment, the tilting hitch assembly comprises a pivot mechanism to

allow the lower attachment structure to pivot relative to the upper attachment structure.

[010] In an embodiment, the rail assembly comprises a bracket having a bracket body

extending transversely relative to one or more rail members of the rail assembly, the

bracket body being adapted to be coupled to the lower attachment structure of the

hitch assembly.

[011] In an embodiment, the hitch assembly further comprising one or more tool pin

engaging structures adapted for receiving tool pins and thereby to couple the bracket

of the rail assembly with the tilting hitch assembly.

[012] In an embodiment, the rail assembly comprises one or more ground engaging

feet members coupled with the rail members wherein the rail members are movable

relative to the feet members.

[013] In an embodiment, one or more said feet members are coupled to each of said

rail members to allow the rail members to be movable relative to the feet members.

[014] In an embodiment, the rail assembly comprises a pivoting mechanism to allow

the rail members to be pivoted relative to the feet.

[015] In an embodiment, the drilling assembly further comprises a guide arrangement

positioned on the rail assembly for guiding the one or more ground penetration

elements.

[016] In an embodiment, the guide assembly is movably mounted relative to the rail

assembly to allow the position of the guide assembly to be adjusted in operative

alignment with the ground penetration apparatus.

[017] In an embodiment, the ground penetration apparatus comprises an auger and

the penetration element constitute an auger bit.

[018] In an embodiment, the ground penetration apparatus comprises a pile driver

and wherein the penetration element comprises a pile driven by the pile driver.

[019] In an embodiment, the rail assembly comprises two rail members of

substantially equal length arranged parallel to each other, each having a top end and

a bottom end and a frame to maintain the rail members in their spaced relationship

from each other.

[020] In an embodiment, the rail assembly further includes two or more struts

extending between the rail members for bracing the rail members in their parallel

spaced relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[021] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be

discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information

for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to

be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any

way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a first perspective view of the drilling system 10.

Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the drilling system 10.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the tilting hitch assembly 16 that forms a

part of the drilling system 10.

Figure 3A is an isolated view of the tilting hitch assembly 16.

Figure 4 is a first isolated view of the feet 13 and a lower end portion of the rail

assembly 11 that forms a part of the drilling assembly 10.

Figure 5 is a second isolated view of the lower end portion of the rail assembly 11 that

forms a part of the drilling assembly 10.

Figures 6 and 7 provide side perspective views of the lower end portion of the rail

assembly 11 that forms a part of the drilling assembly 10.

Figures 8A to 8C show the rail assembly 11 of the drilling apparatus 10 in (a) an upright

configuration; (b) a forwardly tilted configuration and (c) a rearwardly tilted

configuration.

Figures 9A and 9B show the rail assembly 11 of the drilling apparatus 10 in (a) a first

tilted configuration (transverse to the movement direction of the dipper arm) and (b) a

second tilted direction (transverse to the movement direction of the dipper arm).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[022] Figures 1 to 9 illustrate a drilling apparatus 10. The drilling apparatus 10

includes a rail assembly 11 having two parallel stiles 12 held in spaced disposition with

respect to each other. Each of the stiles includes respective feet members 13A, 13B and a top member 14 which keeps the stiles 12 in a substantially parallel position. The stiles 12 and the feet members may be formed from square rolled hollow section of substantially the same sectional dimensions. The feet members 13A and 13B extends outward past the stiles and a pivoting arrangement 20 (best shown in Figures 6 to 8) is provided for allowing the stiles 12 to pivot in a forward or backward direction (which will be discussed in further detail) relative to the feet members 13A and 13B. The top member 14 may be formed from flat steel plate in rectangular form sized to extend across the tops of the stiles and provide a lip beyond the extent of the stiles. A plurality of struts, shown typically at 15, extend between the stiles to hold or reinforce the stiles in position.

[023] The drilling apparatus 10 also includes a carriage structure 26 that is mounted

on the rail assembly 11 to allow movement of the carriage structure 26 along the rail

assembly 11. A chain 20 extends between a bottom sprocket 21 mounted to two

bottom mounting plates 22 and a top sprocket 23 mounted to a chain drive assembly.

Ground penetration apparatus 40 is mounted on the carriage structure 26 with one or

more ground penetration elements in the form of a drilling bit 42 positioned on the

carriage structure 26 for drilling into the ground. The ground penetration apparatus 40

is positioned on the carriage structure 26 (driven by the chain drive) whereby upward

or downward movement of the carriage structure 26 results in a corresponding

movement of the ground penetration apparatus 40 along the rail assembly 11.

[024] The chain drive assembly 25 includes a chain motor for driving the chain and

effectively moving the carriage 26 up and down along the rail assembly 11. A benefit

of using the chain drive assembly 25 is that it assists with drilling by pushing the ground penetration apparatus 40 (such as an auger drive unit) in a downwardly direction thereby applying a downwardly directed force. When combined with the auger drive unit of the ground penetration assembly 40, the chain drive assembly increases the ability to drill into harder ground and also improves the speed of the drilling and traction on the ground. Gears and brakes are also provided as part of the chain drive assembly to provide speed and auger control. The chain may be a heavy duty chain running the entire length of the rail assembly 11 to allow for the auger to drill to depth.

[025] An adjustable auger guide 30 may also be mounted to one or both sides of the

rail assembly 11 for sliding engagement therewith up and down the rail assembly. In

at least some operable configurations, the auger guide 30 may be positioned at a lower

end of the rail assembly 11 (See Figure 5) thereby enabling the auger guide 30 to be

set at a close proximity to the ground or foundation being drilled. The auger guide

includes a collar 31 removably mounted to two guide struts 32. The guide struts

slidably engage with the stiles for sliding movement up and down the rail assembly.

[026] Although the description provided above is in relation to an auger, it will be

appreciated that a pile may be driven into the foundation instead of a borehole, the

pile being guided by the collar in much the same was as the auger bit, the auger drive

unit being substituted by a pile driver, such as a hammer, press-in ram, vibratory pile

driver or such like.

[027] The auger drive unit may be a high powered unit that turns the auger and is

adapted to be coupled and controlled by the hydraulic controls in the cab of the excavator. Hydraulic hoses may run up and down both sides of the rig and could be connected to the excavator, controlled in the cab, to allow for adjustment when drilling.

[028] To convert the rail rig from an auger operation to a pile drive, the auger is

detached and pile drive assembly with a hammer is attached along with a winch style

device to lift the hammer. Alternatively, the rail rig may be made air drill compatible by

mounting an air compressor to the back of the excavator and change the auger from

a constant flight auger to one with a few flights and air nozzles at the end. Cameras

can also be installed so the operator can accurately see the point they are drilling.

[029] A tilting hitch assembly 16 is provided for mounting the rail assembly 10 to the

dipper arm of the excavator. As will be explained in the foregoing sections, the tilting

hitch assembly 16 is provided to allow the mounted rail assembly 11 to be tilted along

a tilting direction that is transverse to a tilting direction of the dipper arm of the

excavator during use (best shown in Figures 9A and 9B showing a twenty degree tilt).

The provision of the tilting hitch assembly 16 is particularly useful for positioning the

rail assembly 11 in a drilling position on uneven or undulating ground.

[030] The tilting hitch assembly 16 comprises an in-use upper attachment 161 for

attachment to the dipper arm of the excavator. The upper attachment 161 comprises

a hitch plate that can be coupled to the dipper arm using a double pin arrangement.

The upper attachment 161 is also linked to another portion of the dipper arm and the

bucket cylinder by way of a linkage assembly comprising an H link member 165 and

aide link dog bone linkages 167 to allow the forward or backward tiling of the rail

assembly 11 mounted to the dipper arm of the excavator.

[031] The tilting hitch assembly 16 also comprises a lower attachment 163 that is

coupled to the upper attachment structure 161 by a pivoting arrangement 162. The

pivoting arrangement may comprise a hydraulically actuated cylinder that allows the

lower attachment structure 163 to pivot relative to the upper attachment structure 161.

The invention is no way limited to a specific type of pivoting arrangement. The

desirable function of the tilting hitch assembly 16 is to allow the mounted rail assembly

11 to be at least slightly tilted along a tilting direction that is transverse to a tilting

direction of the dipper arm of the excavator (as shown in Figures 9A and 9B).

[032] Stabilising and ground engaging feet 13A and 13B (as previously discussed)

are provided at a lower end of the stiles 12. Each stabilising foot (13A or 13B) is

arranged transversely relative to the stiles and allows the stiles and the upper portion

of the rail assembly 11 to pivot relative to the feet. In the preferred embodiment, the

each stile member 12 pivots relative to the respective foot member (13A or 13B) via a

pivot pin in order to enable the rail assembly 11 to be tiled in a forward or backward

direction relative to the excavator (as best shown in Figures 8A to 8C). In other

embodiments, the orientation between the feet members 13A and 13B and the stiles

12 may be varied to allow the rail assembly 11 to be tilted sideways (in a direction

transverse to the movement direction of the dipper arm).

[033] The drilling assembly 10 has a simple and elegant design which is significantly

more cost effective than at least some of the currently available alternatives. The ability

to couple the drilling assembly to a dipper arm of an excavator implies that the drilling

assembly is an attachable assembly which can be attached to the dipper arm of an excavator. As a result, it is relatively straightforward to attach the drilling assembly 10 to an excavator and provides greater manoeuvrability because of being coupled to the dipper arm of the excavator during use.

[034] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language

more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and

its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of' is used throughout in an

inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

[035] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown

or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting

the invention into effect.

[036] The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within

the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in

the art.

Claims

1. A drilling assembly adapted to be mounted to a dipper arm of an excavator, the

drilling assembly comprising:

a rail assembly comprising one or more rail members extending between an in

use top end and an in-use bottom end with a carriage structure mounted on said rail

assembly to allow movement of the carriage structure along the rail assembly and a

drive motor coupled to said carriage structure for effecting movement of the carriage

along a length of the rail assembly;

a tilting hitch assembly mounted to the carriage structure for mounting the rail

assembly to the excavator and allowing the mounted rail assembly to be tilted along a

tilting direction that is transverse to a tilting direction of the dipper arm,;

ground penetration apparatus with one or more ground penetration elements,

the ground penetration apparatus being positioned relative to the carriage structure

whereby upward or downward movement of the carriage structure results in a

corresponding movement of the ground penetration apparatus along the rail assembly.

2. A drilling assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tilting hitch assembly

comprises an in-use upper attachment structure for attachment to the dipper arm of

the excavator and an in-use lower attachment structure for attachment of the carriage

structure wherein the lower attachment structure is adapted to tilt relative to the upper

attachment structure.

3. A drilling assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein tilting hitch assembly

comprises a pivot mechanism to allow the lower attachment structure to pivot relative

to the upper attachment structure.

4. A drilling assembly in accordance with claim 2 or 3 wherein the rail assembly

comprises a bracket having a bracket body extending transversely relative to one or

more rail members of the rail assembly, the bracket body being adapted to be coupled

to the lower attachment structure of the hitch assembly.

5. A drilling assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the hitch assembly

further comprising one or more tool pin engaging structures adapted for receiving tool

pins and thereby to couple the bracket of the rail assembly with the tilting hitch

assembly.

6. A drilling assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein

the rail assembly comprises one or more ground engaging feet members coupled with

the rail members wherein the rail members are movable relative to the feet members.

7. A drilling assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein one or more said feet

members are coupled to each of said rail members to allow the rail members to be

movable relative to the feet members.

8. A drilling assembly in accordance with any one of claims 6 or 7 wherein the rail

assembly comprises a pivoting mechanism to allow the rail members to be pivoted

relative to the feet.

9. A drilling assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims further

comprising a guide arrangement positioned on the rail assembly for guiding the one

or more ground penetration elements.

10. A drilling assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein the guide assembly is

movably mounted relative to the rail assembly to allow the position of the guide

assembly to be adjusted in operative alignment with the ground penetration apparatus.

11. A drilling assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein

the ground penetration apparatus comprises an auger and the penetration element

constitute an auger bit.

12. A drilling assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the

ground penetration apparatus comprises a pile driver and wherein the penetration

element comprises a pile driven by the pile driver.

13. A drilling assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein

the rail assembly comprises two rail members of substantially equal length arranged parallel to each other, each having a top end and a bottom end and a frame to maintain the rail members in their spaced relationship from each other.

14. A drilling assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein

the rail assembly further includes two or more struts extending between the rail

members for bracing the rail members in their parallel spaced relationship.