CN116615599A - Bit change in a face drill - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an automatic bit changer on a feed beam of a portion of a drill configured for rock drilling, wherein the bit changer is elongated and mounted along opposite first and second sides of the feed beam. The bit changer has a bit change locator movably located on the first side and reaching the second side through a locator arm below the feed beam, and a combination of a bit feeder and a bit magazine mounted on the second side of the feed beam. The bit change locator is capable of swinging with a single longitudinal and rotational axis of movement from a bit feeder position on the second side to a protruding position where the bit change locator interacts with the drill rod to change the bit. A rig so equipped and related method aspects are disclosed.

Description

Bit change in a face drill

Technical Field

The present invention relates to automatic bit change in face drills in general and in particular to bit change positioners, bit feeders, bit magazines, implementations in drills, bit changers and methods for bit change.

Background

In order to maintain the function of the drill bit when drilling in rock, i.e. without losing the sharpness of the drill bit, the drill bit should be replaced before it wears.

Today, when the drill bit is to be replaced, the operator can leave the drilling machine to manually replace the drill bit. Drilling is then stopped and the operator will be in a position exposed to machine and environmental hazards such as falling rocks and slippery surfaces. Automatic or semi-automatic bit changers have been proposed, but the bit changer solutions seen so far appear to be technically too complex, exposed to risk of collision with the machine or rock environment, lack of durability, require a large amount of interaction by human operators as indicated above, or be inefficient in terms of cost and run time loss in bit change operations.

The wear characteristics of the drill bit vary depending on the type of rock to be drilled and the type of drilling machine. When drilling for the construction of tunnels, a large number of bit exchanges need to be performed. Thus, significant time savings and other advantages associated with the above-mentioned problems may be achieved therein.

Bit replacement parts or solutions in the general field of rock drilling have been proposed in documents GB 1 357 715, SE 378 877b, WO 2009/156574 A1, WO 2009/156575A1 and EP 3 415 709 A1. None of these appears to provide a solution or a fully satisfactory solution to the above mentioned problems.

Disclosure of Invention

In general, the present invention solves or mitigates the problems indicated above. This is achieved by providing a bit change in which the operator does not have to leave the drill to change the bit. Thus, the operator can continue drilling with the other drill beams of the drilling machine while changing the drill bit. The dangerous working environment that the operator is in front of the drilling machine vehicle when the drill bit is replaced is avoided. The bit changer of the present invention may be designed to be loaded with a number of bits required to complete all drilling of the entire face required in tunnel construction, from approach of the drill to withdrawal from the drill face (e.g., in drilling and blasting tunnel construction). The human operator will not need to leave the protective operator compartment of the drilling machine.

The very slim design of the components and the mounting of the components side by side and parallel to the feed beam are important aspects of the invention and provide advantages by preventing physical exposure of the components to the surrounding environment and other parts of the drill itself. The components are also advantageously located behind the front end of the feed beam or preferably far behind the front end of the feed beam (except in a longitudinally protruding position for interaction with the drill rod) to keep the components further away from physical exposure.

Although the invention mainly relates to a complete solution for bit exchange in a face drilling machine, the components and sub-methods comprised in the solution interact via different joints, which also facilitates the invention to be defined by its components and sub-methods or a combination of components and sub-methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the following.

The present invention relates to a drill bit replacement fixture movably mounted on a feed beam configured as part of a drilling machine for rock drilling, the drill bit replacement fixture movably mounted on the feed beam comprising: a feed beam having a drill rod support bearing at a front end configured to rotate toward rock to be drilled, a drilling machine at a rear end opposite the front end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end; a drill rod support bearing having a drilling machine side and a drill bit side opposite the drilling machine side; a bit holder having a bit holder axis and configured to hold a bit aligned with the bit holder axis; a locator arm coupled at a first end thereof to the bit holder; a longitudinal movement mechanism having a longitudinal movement axis parallel to the longitudinal axis oriented alongside the feed beam; the longitudinal movement mechanism is coupled to the second end of the locator arm at a distal end of the first end of the locator arm; the longitudinal movement mechanism is configured to move the bit holder by the locator arm between a retracted longitudinal position in which the bit holder is at least partially longitudinally retracted rearward of the bit side in a direction from the front end portion toward the rear end portion, and a projected longitudinal position in which the bit holder integrally longitudinally projects forward of the bit side in a direction from the rear end portion toward the front end portion; a lateral movement mechanism coupled to the locator arm and configured to move the drill bit holder transverse to the longitudinal axis between a drill bit feeder position in which the drill bit holder is configured to interact with the drill bit feeder and a drill rod position in which the drill bit holder is configured to be longitudinally aligned with the drill rod support bearing.

The compactness of the drill bit changer of the present invention is an advantage in maintaining a high capacity (according to the number requirements, the length along most of the sides of the feed beam) of new drill bits to be used. This results in the most significant benefit of the invention, namely the protection of the human operator by eliminating the need for manual participation at the feed beam at the working face to be drilled simultaneously during bit change. To the extent that the advantages of the invention are achieved, reference is also made to a combination with a drill feeder and a drill magazine.

Optionally, the bit change positioner includes a longitudinal movement mechanism and a lateral movement mechanism integrated into a single bit holder movement mechanism.

Optionally, the drill bit replacement positioner includes a lateral movement mechanism configured to provide lateral movement of the drill bit holder about an axis of rotational movement aligned with the longitudinal axis of movement.

Optionally, the bit change locator includes a longitudinal axis of motion and the bit feeder location is located at an opposite side of the feed beam.

The bit change locator effectively utilizes the space available on the sides and below the feed beam, wherein only the flat metal structural members fit very tightly against the bottom of the feed beam when retracted. The structure reaches the opposite side of the feed beam through its bit holder, where the used bit is replaced with a new bit. The bit change locator has a small "footprint" at and around the feed beam and the bit change locator occupies only a small volume.

The invention also relates to a drill bit feeder mounted on a feed beam of a part of a drilling machine configured for rock drilling, the drill bit feeder mounted on the feed beam comprising: a feed beam having a drill rod support bearing at a front end configured to rotate toward rock to be drilled, a drilling machine at a rear end opposite the front end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end; a drill rod support bearing having a drilling machine side and a drill bit side opposite the drilling machine side; a bit holder configured to hold and release a bit in the bit holder of the bit replacement positioner in a direction from the front end toward the rear end at a position longitudinally rearward of the bit side at one side of the feed beam.

Optionally, the drill feeder comprises a drill replacement locator according to the above, wherein the drill feeder position is located on said one side of the feed beam.

The invention also relates to a magazine mounted on a feed beam of a part of a drilling machine configured for rock drilling, said magazine mounted on a feed beam comprising: a feed beam having a drill rod support bearing at a front end configured to rotate toward rock to be drilled, a drilling machine at a rear end opposite the front end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end; a drill rod support bearing having a drilling machine side and a drill bit side opposite the drilling machine side; the drill magazine is configured to hold a plurality of drill bits inside the drill magazine and feed the drill bits to the drill bit holder of the drill bit replacement positioner at one side of the feed beam via a position longitudinally rearward of the drill bit side in a direction from the front end toward the rear end; the magazine is configured to hold a plurality of bits parallel to the longitudinal axis; the drill magazine is configured to transport a plurality of drill bits toward a drill feeder position.

Optionally, the magazine comprises a carrier mechanism configured to move the plurality of bits parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Optionally, the drill magazine comprises a drill bit replacement locator and a drill bit holder according to the above.

The invention also relates to a rock drilling rig carrying on at least one drill boom thereof a feed beam and at least one of the following: according to the bit replacement positioner; the drill bit feeder according to the above; according to the drill bit library.

Furthermore, the present invention is a drill bit changer mounted on a feed beam of a part of a drilling machine configured for rock drilling, the drill bit changer being mounted on the feed beam, comprising: a bit exchange positioner movably mounted on the feed beam according to the above; a drill feeder mounted on the feed beam according to the above; and optionally a magazine of bits mounted on a feed beam according to the above.

The method or sub-method aspects of the invention disclosed herein constitute a substantial contribution to the art, for example in a robust process for bit replacement.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a drilling machine according to the invention for rock drilling, here in an underground rock tunnel environment, which drilling machine is equipped with two feed beams each with a bit changer (not explicitly shown).

Fig. 2 shows a top-front-right perspective view of the front end of one feed beam with a bit changer mounted thereon according to the present invention, and is also intended to explain the principle of operation of the combined longitudinal and lateral movement mechanism of the bit changer positioner.

Fig. 3 shows a right side plan view of the front end of one feed beam with a bit changer mounted thereon according to the present invention, and is also intended to explain the principle of operation of the combined longitudinal and lateral movement mechanism of the bit changer positioner, wherein the bit holder of the bit changer positioner is in its longitudinally retracted position.

Fig. 4 shows a right side plan view of the front end of one feed beam with a bit changer mounted thereon according to the present invention, and is also intended to explain the principle of operation of the combined longitudinal and lateral movement mechanism of the bit changer positioner, wherein the bit holder of the bit changer positioner is in its longitudinally protruding position.

Fig. 5 shows a front view of the front end of one feed beam with a bit changer mounted thereon according to the invention, wherein the bit changer is in a retracted longitudinal position in which a new bit will be received from the bit feeder or a used bit will be released to the bit feeder.

Fig. 6 shows a front view of the front end of one feed beam with a bit changer mounted thereon according to the invention, wherein the bit changer is in a protruding longitudinal position in which the bit is to be screwed onto or off the drill rod.

Fig. 7 shows a top-front-left perspective view of the front end of one feed beam with a bit changer mounted thereon according to the present invention, and is also intended to explain the principle of operation of the bit change locator, bit feeder and bit magazine.

Fig. 8a and 8b show a side plan view of a drill feeder according to the invention mounted on the side of a feed beam in a released configuration and a clamped configuration, respectively, and are also intended to indicate the principle of operation.

Fig. 9a to 9i show in a plan cross-sectional side view the combination of a drill feeder and a drill magazine according to the invention mounted on the side of the feed beam in different operating configurations for conveying new drill bits to the drill feeder position and used drill bits from the drill feeder position to the discharge opening, and are also intended to indicate the principle of operation.

Fig. 10 is a flow chart of a method of operating a bit change locator in the case of a rock drill rig, wherein a used bit is removed from a drill rod.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart of a method of operating a bit change locator in the case of a rock drill rig, wherein a new bit is provided to the drill rod.

Fig. 12 is a flow chart of a method of operating a bit changer in the case of a rock drill rig, wherein the bit changer has a bit feeder and a bit magazine that interact with a bit change locator.

In summary, disclosed herein is an automatic bit changer located on a feed beam of a portion of a drill configured for rock drilling, wherein the bit changer is elongated and mounted along opposite first and second sides of the feed beam. The bit changer has a bit change locator movably located on the first side and reaching the second side through a locator arm below the feed beam, and a combination of a bit feeder and a bit magazine mounted on the second side of the feed beam. The bit change locator is capable of swinging with a single longitudinal and rotational axis of movement from a bit feeder position on the second side to a protruding position where the bit change locator interacts with the drill rod to change the bit. A drill bit so equipped and related method aspects are disclosed.

Detailed Description

The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a face drilling machine 1 for a face of rock to be drilled into an underground tunnel. The drilling machine 1 carries two booms 2, 3, the booms 2, 3 each having a feed beam 4, 5 carrying a bit changer 6.

As shown in fig. 2 to 9, each bit changer has three main components: a bit changing locator 7, a bit feeder 8, and a bit magazine 9 mounted at the front end 10 of the feed beam 4.

Fig. 2 and 3 show the right side of the front end portion 10 and a part of the bit change locator 7 movably mounted to the feed beam 4. The bit exchange positioner 7 has a positioner arm 11, which positioner arm 11 extends below the feed beam 4 to the opposite side (in this context the left side) where the positioner arm 11 carries a bit holder 12 in the bit feeder position.

The bit change positioner 7 is movably mounted on a feed beam 4, the feed beam 4 being configured as part of a drilling machine 1 for rock drilling. The bit exchange positioner 7 is movably mounted on the feed beam 4 and includes: a feed beam 4, the feed beam 4 having a drill rod support bearing 13 at a front end 10 configured to rotate towards rock to be drilled, a drilling machine 14 at a rear end 15 opposite the front end 10, and a longitudinal axis 16 extending between the front end 10 and the rear end 15; a drill rod support bearing 13, the drill rod support bearing 13 having a drilling machine side 17 and a drill bit side 18 opposite the drilling machine side 17; a bit holder 12, the bit holder 12 having a bit holder axis 19 and being configured to hold a bit aligned with the holder axis 19; a locator arm 11, the locator arm 11 being coupled at a first end 21 thereof to the bit holder 12; a longitudinal movement mechanism 22, the longitudinal movement mechanism 22 having a longitudinal movement axis 23 oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 16 side by side with the feed beam 4; the longitudinal movement mechanism 22 is coupled to the second end 24 of the locator arm 11 at the distal end of the first end 21 of the locator arm 11; the longitudinal movement mechanism 22 is configured to move the bit holder 12 by the positioner arm 11 between a retracted longitudinal position 25 in which the bit holder 12 is at least partially longitudinally retracted behind the bit side 18 in a direction from the front end 10 toward the rear end 15, and a protruding longitudinal position 26 in which the bit holder 12 integrally longitudinally protrudes in front of the bit side 18 in a direction from the rear end 15 toward the front end 10; a lateral movement mechanism 27, the lateral movement mechanism 27 being coupled to the locator arm 11 and configured to move the drill bit holder 12 transversely to the longitudinal axis 16 between a drill bit feeder position in which the drill bit holder 12 is configured to interact with the drill bit feeder 8 and a drill rod position in which the drill bit holder 12 is configured to be longitudinally aligned with the drill rod support bearing 13.

The longitudinal movement mechanism 22 and the transverse movement mechanism 27 are integrated in a single bit holder movement mechanism 28, which bit holder movement mechanism 28 is made of a fixedly mounted inner metal tube 29 located inside a slidable outer metal tube 30, which outer metal tube 30 is operated by hydraulic cylinders for longitudinal movement. The outer metal tube 30 carries at one end a locator arm 11, which locator arm 11 extends below the feed beam 4 to the opposite side where the locator arm 11 carries the bit holder 12 in the bit feeder position when the bit change locator is retracted. The outer metal tube 30 has an elongated guide groove 31 which interacts with a guide pin 32, which guide pin 32 is fixed relative to the beam 4. A mechanism for longitudinally sliding the outer metal tube while also causing rotation due to the interaction between the guide groove 31 and the guide pin 32 is arranged. Thus, the locator arm 11 moves the drill bit holder 12 between the drill bit feeder position and the drill rod position. Thus, the lateral movement mechanism 27 provides lateral movement of the bit holder 12 about an axis of rotational movement aligned with the longitudinal axis of movement. As explained, the longitudinal movement axis 23 and the drill feeder position 7 are positioned at opposite sides of the feed beam 4.

Fig. 7 to 9 show a drill bit feeder 8 mounted on a feed beam 4 configured as part of a drilling machine 1 for rock drilling, said drill bit feeder 8 mounted on the feed beam 4 comprising: a feed beam 4, the feed beam 4 having a drill rod support bearing 13 at a front end 10 configured to rotate towards rock to be drilled, a drilling machine 14 at a rear end 15 opposite the front end 10, and a longitudinal axis 16 extending between the front end 10 and the rear end 15; a drill rod support bearing 13, the drill rod support bearing 13 having a drilling machine side 17 and an opposite bit side 18; a bit holder 33, the bit holder 33 being configured to hold and release a bit in the bit holder 12 of the bit replacement positioner 7 in a direction from the front end 10 toward the rear end 15 at a position longitudinally rearward of the bit side 18 on one side of the feed beam 4.

In particular, fig. 8a and 8b show details of the drill feeder 8. A piston rod 34 is also provided, which piston rod 34 has at its first end a central channel 35 for hydraulic fluid, an outlet 36 for hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic piston 37 attached to piston rod 34, an expansion chamber 38, all of which cooperate to pull or release piston rod 34. Piston rod 34 has at its second end a spreader head 39 with two beveled jaws 40a and 40b, the relative position of beveled jaws 40a and 40b being changeable by pulling or releasing piston rod 34, spreader elements 41a and 41b being positioned between jaws 40a and 40b, spreader elements 41a and 41b being angled to match jaws 40a and 40b and being held together flexibly by two rubber O-rings 42a and 42 b. When piston rod 34 is released, the jaws and expander elements 41a and 41b form a substantially smooth cylindrical shape that will fit expander head 39 inside the internal thread of the drill bit (fig. 8 b). When piston rod 34 is pulled, the expander elements will assume an expanded configuration (fig. 8 a) that will cause expander head 29 to tightly grip the internal threads of the drill bit. Piston rod 34 exits expansion chamber 38 through seal 43 adjacent to expander head 39. The expansion chamber 38 is formed by a hydraulic cylinder 44, the hydraulic cylinder 44 having a cover 45 at an end opposite the seal 43. The bit holder 33 is typically formed of jaws, a spreader element, and an O-ring.

The drill feeder 8 comprises a drill exchange locator 7, wherein the drill feeder position is located on said one side of the feed beam 4 (left side of the feed beam in the relevant figures).

Fig. 7 and 9 also show a magazine mounted on a feed beam 4 configured as part of a drilling machine 1 for rock drilling, said magazine 9 mounted on the feed beam 4 comprising: a feed beam 4, the feed beam 4 having at a front end 10 a drill rod support bearing 13 configured to rotate towards rock to be drilled, a drilling machine 14 at a rear end 15 opposite the front end 10, and a longitudinal axis 16 extending between the front end 10 and the rear end 15; a drill rod support bearing 13, the drill rod support bearing 13 having a drilling machine side 17 and an opposite bit side 18; a magazine 9, the magazine 9 being configured to hold a plurality of new bits 46a and 46b (one or two are shown in fig. 9) in receiving positions 47a to 47c (advantageously seven or more in total) inside the magazine 9 and to feed the bits 46a to the bit holder 12 of the bit exchange fixture 7 at one side of the feed beam 4 via a position longitudinally rearward of the bit side 18 in a direction from the front end 10 towards the rear end 15; the bit magazine is configured to hold a plurality of bits 46a and 46b parallel to the longitudinal axis 16; the drill magazine 9 is configured to transport a plurality of drill bits 46a and 46b toward a drill bit feeder position.

The drill bit magazine 9 includes: a carrier 48, the carrier 48 comprising a chain ring 49 having carrier pins 50 to move new bits 46a and 46b, the carrier 48 being configured to move a plurality of bits 46a and 46b parallel to the longitudinal axis 16 and eventually down onto a magazine 51 accessible by the bit feeder 8, the bit feeder 8 to grip bits located on the magazine 51 as described herein.

The bit magazine 9 interacts with the bit exchange positioner 7 and the bit holder 12 of the bit exchange positioner 7.

Accordingly, fig. 1 to 9 illustrate a rock drilling rig 1 and its components. The drilling machine carries on at least one of its drill booms a feed beam 4 and at least one of the following components: bit change locator 7; a drill feeder 8; a drill magazine 9.

Fig. 2 to 9 show a drill bit changer 6 mounted on a feed beam 4 configured as part of a drilling machine 1 for rock drilling, said drill bit changer 6 mounted on the feed beam 4 comprising: a bit change positioner 7, the bit change positioner 7 being movably mounted on the feed beam 4; a drill feeder 8, the drill feeder 8 being mounted on the feed beam 4.

Fig. 2 to 9 also show a bit changer 6, which bit changer 6 comprises a bit magazine 9 mounted on the feed beam 4.

Fig. 9a to 9i show a detail of the combination of the drill feeder 8 and the magazine 9, both of which drill feeder 8 and magazine 9 are mounted side by side and tightly on the feed beam 4, wherein the main longitudinal dimension of the drill feeder 8 and magazine 9 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 16. The magazine 9 has a loading opening 52 (depicted in fig. 7) through which loading opening 52 new bits 46a and 46b are to be introduced one by an operator, or possibly via a cartridge (not shown) holding several new bits. The drill magazine 9 is designed as a generally cylindrical enclosure 53 (comprising a loading opening 52) for a desired drill size, such as a maximum outer diameter of 50mm. The cylindrical enclosure 53 has a chain ring 49 at its bottom, which chain ring 49 horizontally (when the feed beam 4 is horizontal, as is generally assumed in the present description) encircles sprockets 54a and 54b, one of which sprockets 54a and 54b is coupled to a stepper motor 55. The links 49 have bearing pins 50 mounted vertically thereon (at a distance from each other greater than the maximum length of the intended drill bit) to move the new drill bit towards the transfer opening 56 so that the new drill bit falls on the magazine 51 (advantageously via the top of the drill bit feeder as an intermediate step to avoid the risk of misplacement of the new drill bit). The magazine also has a discharge opening 57 for discharging used bits into a container (not shown) located below the discharge opening 57.

The composition of the drill feeder 8 below a new drill bit in the drill magazine 9 is described above. The hydraulic cylinder 44 or an extension of the hydraulic cylinder 44 forms a drill bit feeder shaft 58, which drill bit feeder shaft 58 is operable to extend in the direction of the drill bit holder 12 at a 1/4 extended position, a 2/4 extended position, a 3/4 extended position, and a 4/4 extended position (parallel to the longitudinal axis 16). The drill bit feeder shaft 58 slides in a feeder shaft guide 59 and has an actuator (not shown) to move the drill bit feeder shaft 58.

Where possible and motivated, all of the components disclosed herein for bit replacement, as well as the bit, will be protected in a conventional manner from contamination by solids or fluids in the environment or from contamination by the drilling to be performed. It is also assumed that conventional protection against vibration or physical shock is included in the design, as may be required for robustness.

With further reference to the flow chart of fig. 10, the invention may be represented as a method for bit exchange in a rock drilling rig 1, which rock drilling rig 1 carries on at least one drill boom 2 thereof a feed beam 4 and a bit exchange locator 7 according to the foregoing, said method comprising the following steps for the bit exchange locator 7 for removing and disposing of a used bit:

in step 1001, the drill rod 20 is retracted to make room for the bit holder 12 in its protruding longitudinal position 26;

in step 1002, the bit holder 12 (when empty) is moved longitudinally and laterally from its retracted longitudinal position 25 to its protruding longitudinal position 26;

in step 1003, the used drill bit is inserted into the drill bit holder 12 by pushing the drill rod to position the used drill bit in the drill bit holder 12;

in step 1004, unscrewing and retracting the drill rod 20 from the used drill bit, thereby leaving the drill rod 20 in the drill bit holder 12;

in step 1005, the bit holder 12 (now holding the used bit) is moved longitudinally and transversely from its protruding longitudinal position 26 to its retracted longitudinal position 25.

Once the bit holder 12 holds the used bit in the retracted longitudinal position 25 of the bit holder 12, the bit holder 12 may interact with the bit feeder 8 to dispose of the used bit, as will be described further below with respect to fig. 12.

With further reference to the flow chart of fig. 11, the invention may be represented as a method for bit exchange in a rock drilling rig 1 carrying on at least one of its drilling booms 2a feed beam 4 and a bit exchange positioner 7 according to the foregoing, said method comprising the following steps for the bit exchange positioner 7 to receive a new bit and move it to the drill rod 20 and release the new bit to the drill rod 20:

in step 1101, when the drill bit holder 12 is in its retracted longitudinal position 25, receiving a new drill bit from the drill bit feeder 8 in the drill bit holder 12;

in step 1102, the drill bit holder 12 (when holding a received new drill bit) is moved longitudinally and laterally from its retracted longitudinal position 25 to its protruding longitudinal position 26 while ensuring that the drill rod 20 has made room for the drill bit holder 12 in its protruding longitudinal position 26;

in step 1103, the drill rod 20 is advanced and the drill rod 20 is screwed into a new drill bit held by the bit holder 12;

in step 1104, the drill rod 20 and the new drill bit are retracted from the bit holder 7;

in step 1105, the bit holder 12 (now empty) is moved longitudinally and laterally from its protruding longitudinal position 26 to its retracted longitudinal position 25.

The interaction of the drill bit holder 12 with the drill bit feeder 8 will be further described below.

As shown in fig. 9a to 9i, and with further reference to the flow chart of fig. 12, the invention may be represented as a method for bit exchange in a rock drilling rig 1, which rock drilling rig 1 carries on its said at least one drill boom a feed beam and bit feeder 8 and a bit magazine 9 according to the foregoing, said method comprising:

starting point, at step 1201 (see also fig. 9 a), the magazine 9 is loaded with new (or refurbished) bits, wherein the bit feeder 8 is typically (but not necessarily) in a 3/4 extended position;

at step 1202 (see also fig. 9 b), the drill bit feeder 8 grips the used drill bit 60 from the drill bit holder 12 (in its retracted longitudinal position 25) via its expander head 39 in the 4/4 extended position;

at step 1203 (see also fig. 9 c), the drill bit feeder 8 moves the used drill bit 60 via its expander head 39 to a position above the discharge opening 57 in the 2/4 extended position;

at step 1204 (see also fig. 9 d), the drill feeder 8 withdraws its expander head 39 from the used drill bit 60 in the 1/4 extended position, so that the used drill bit 60 falls through the discharge outlet 57;

at step 1205 (see also fig. 9 e), moving the drill feeder 8 in the 3/4 extended position to receive a new drill bit 46a;

at step 1206 (see also fig. 9 f), receiving a new drill bit 46a on top of the drill bit feeder shaft 58, wherein the drill bit feeder 8 is typically (but not necessarily) in a 3/4 extended position;

at step 1207 (see also fig. 9 g), the drill feeder 8 is extracted in the 2/4 extended position to let the new drill bit 46a drop onto the drill magazine 51;

at step 1208 (see also fig. 9 h), the drill bit feeder 8 grips the new drill bit 46a from the drill bit magazine 51 via its expander head 39 in the 3/4 extended position and moves the new drill bit 46a into the drill bit holder 12 (in its retracted longitudinal position 25) in the 4/4 extended position;

at step 1209 (see also fig. 9 i), the drill feeder 8 releases the new drill bit 46a and withdraws to the 3/4 extended position.

The method steps described above in relation to the drill bit feeder 8 and the drill bit magazine 9 may be divided into sub-steps that are performed independently by the drill bit feeder 8 and the drill bit magazine 9, respectively, because there is a functional interface between the drill bit feeder 8 and the drill bit magazine 9, at which functional interface the drill bit magazine 9 is released and the drill bit feeder 8 receives each new drill bit.

List of reference numerals

Working face drilling machine 1

Drill arms 2, 3

Feed beams 4, 5

Drill bit changer 6

Bit change locator 7

Drill feeder 8

Drill magazine 9

Front end 10 of feed beam

Locator arm 11

Drill bit holder 12

Drill rod support bearing 13

Drilling machine 14

Rear end 15 of feed beam

Longitudinal axis 16 of feed beam

Drilling machine side 17 of drill rod support

Bit side 18 of drill rod support

Bit holder axis 19

Drill pipe 20

First end 21 of locator arm 11

Longitudinal movement mechanism 22

Longitudinal movement axis 23 of the longitudinal movement mechanism

Second end 24 of locator arm 11

The retracted longitudinal position 25 of the bit holder 12 (also referred to as bit feeder position to indicate the position of the joint, in which position the bit will be transferred between the bit exchange locator and the bit feeder)

The protruding longitudinal position 26 of the bit holder 12 (also called the drill rod position to indicate the position of the joint, in which position the bit will be transferred between the bit exchange positioner and the drill rod) is the lateral movement mechanism 27 of the bit exchange positioner 7

Integrated single bit holder movement mechanism 28

Inner metal tube 29

Outer metal tube 30

Elongated guide groove 31

Guide pin 32

Bit holder 33

Piston rod 34

Central passageway 35 of piston rod 34

Outlet 36 for a piston rod of a hydraulic fluid

Hydraulic piston 37

Expansion chamber 38

Expander head 39

Bevel jaws 40a and 40b opposite each other

The expander elements 41a and 41b between the bevel jaws hold new drills 46a and 46b of the expander element's rubber O-rings 42a and 42b piston rod's seals 43 extending out of the expansion chamber, the hydraulic cylinder 44 in which the hydraulic piston travels, the cover 45 of the hydraulic cylinder towards the first end of the piston rod

The receiving locations 47a to 47c for new bits in the magazine bear means 48

Chain ring 49 of a carrying means

Load bearing pin 50 of a chain link

Warehouse rack 51 (approximately enclosed space)

Loading opening 52 of the magazine

Cylindrical enclosure 53

Sprockets 54a and 54b

Step motor 55

Transfer opening 56

Discharge opening 57

Drill feeder shaft 58

Drill feeder shaft guide 59

Used drill bit 60

Wherein, "parallel" means substantially parallel herein.

Where "side-by-side" is meant herein to mean near something or extending in a line near something.

Claims (15)

1. A system configured to replace a drill bit,

wherein the system is connectable to a feed beam (4) of a drilling machine (1), the feed beam (4) having a longitudinal axis (16);

wherein the system comprises:

a bit changer unit (6), the bit changer unit (6) being configured to move the bit, and

-a magazine (9), the magazine (9) being configured to store a plurality of drill bits such that the plurality of drill bits are aligned in at least one row within the magazine (9); and is also provided with

Wherein the magazine (9) is arranged side by side in longitudinal direction with the feed beam (4) along the longitudinal axis (16) of the feed beam (4) when the system is connected to the feed beam (4).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the magazine (9) includes a carrier mechanism (48), the carrier mechanism (48) being configured to move the plurality of bits within the magazine (9) along a longitudinal axis of the magazine (9).

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bit changer unit (6) comprises:

bit change locator (7), and

-a drill feeder (8), the drill feeder (8) being configured to transfer the drill between the drill magazine (9) and the drill exchange locator (7), and/or to remove the drill from the drill exchange locator (7).

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the bit change locator (7) comprises:

a bit holder (12), and

-a movement mechanism (28), the movement mechanism (28) being configured to move the bit holder (12) between:

a first position (25) in which the drill bit is to be transferred between the drill bit holder (12) of the drill bit exchange positioner (7) and the drill bit feeder (8), and

-a second position (26) in which the drill bit will be transferred between the bit holder (12) of the bit change locator (7) and a drill rod.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the bit holder (12) and the movement mechanism (28) are arranged at opposite sides of the feed beam (4) along the longitudinal axis (16) of the feed beam (4) when the bit holder (12) is in the first position (5).

6. The system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the movement mechanism (28) comprises a longitudinal movement mechanism (22) having a longitudinal movement axis (23) alongside the longitudinal axis (16) of the feed beam (4), a lateral movement mechanism (27) and a guiding mechanism configured to integrate the longitudinal movement mechanism (22) with the lateral movement mechanism (27).

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the guiding mechanism is configured to guide the lateral movement mechanism (27) around and along the longitudinal movement axis (23) of the longitudinal movement mechanism (22).

8. The system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the drill bit feeder (8) comprises a bit holder (33) configured to hold and release the drill bit.

9. The system according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the magazine (9) of drill bits and the movement mechanism (28) are arranged at opposite sides of the feed beam (4) along the longitudinal axis (16) of the feed beam (4).

10. A drilling machine (1), the drilling machine (1) comprising at least one feed beam (4) having a longitudinal axis (16), a drill rod support bearing (13) arranged at a front end (10) of the at least one feed beam (4), and a system according to any of the preceding claims.

11. The drilling machine (1) according to claim 10, wherein the drilling machine (1) is a working surface drilling machine.

12. Method for changing a drill bit performed by a drilling machine (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

transferring drill bits between the bit changer unit (6) and the bit magazine (9),

transferring the drill bit between a drill rod and the bit changer unit (6),

transferring the drill bit in the bit changer unit (6), and

-moving the drill bits within the magazine (9) along a longitudinal axis of the magazine (9).

13. The method performed by the drill (1) according to claim 10 or 11, the drill (1) comprising the system according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the step of transferring the drill bit in the drill changer unit (6) comprises the step of transferring the drill bit between the drill bit changer positioner (7) and the drill bit feeder (8).

14. The method performed by the drill (1) according to claim 10 or 11, the drill (1) comprising the system according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the step of transferring the drill between the drill exchange locator (7) and the drill feeder (8) comprises the step of moving the drill holder (12) to the first position (25).

15. The method performed by the drilling machine (1) according to claim 10 or 11, the drilling machine (1) comprising the system according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the step of transferring the drill bit between the drill rod and the bit changer unit (6) comprises the step of moving the bit holder (12) to the second position (26).