EP4299876A1 - Drilling mud collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for collecting drilling mud that is produced during operation of a core drilling device, the system comprising a collecting device as a functional unit, the collecting device being attachable to a subsurface with the aid of a negative pressure, the negative pressure being able to be generated by a vacuum pump, which is part of a drive unit of the system. The drive unit also includes a power supply unit for supplying the drive unit and its components with electrical energy.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for collecting drilling mud that is produced during operation of a core drilling device, the system comprising a collecting device as a functional unit, the collecting device being attachable to a subsurface with the aid of a negative pressure, the negative pressure being able to be generated by a vacuum pump, which is part of a drive unit of the system. The drive unit also includes a power supply unit for supplying the drive unit and its components with electrical energy.

Background of the invention:

In the field of core drilling equipment, various devices are known for collecting drilling mud that is produced when core drilling is carried out. For example, water collecting rings are known that can be attached to the surface using mechanical fasteners, such as clamps or clamping devices. Other devices are attached to a surface using a negative pressure generated by a suction device. However, the mechanical fasteners have the disadvantage that they often cannot be removed from the subsurface without being destroyed, so that minor damage to the subsurface cannot be ruled out.

When attaching the water collection rings with negative pressure, the problem is that the water collection ring can only be attached to the surface and held there when the suction device is switched on and in operation. However, continuous operation of the suction device is not necessary to carry out the core drilling and suction devices use a particularly large amount of electrical energy when idle. This disadvantage is even more serious when battery-operated suction devices are used, which only have a limited amount of on-board energy due to their supply of electrical energy from batteries or the like. But even if mains-powered suction devices are used, it is obvious that attaching conventional water collecting rings using a suction device leads to unnecessarily high energy consumption. In addition, continuous operation of the vacuum device can lead to increased noise pollution on a construction site.

In addition, it represents a further disadvantage if the water collecting ring can only be attached to the subsurface while a suction device is in operation, meaning that the drilling site or construction site cannot be prepared for carrying out the core drilling. However, this would be desirable for efficient work on a construction site.

When using a vacuum device with automatic false air cleaning of a filter, there is a risk that the water collecting ring will become detached from the wall or the surface due to the possibly reduced suction power of the vacuum device during filter cleaning.

The object on which the present invention is based is to overcome the shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior art described above and to provide a system for collecting drilling mud with which the implementation of core drilling work can be supported in a time and energy efficient manner. In particular, if the system to be provided is used together with a battery-operated suction device to remove drilling mud from the working area of a core drilling device, the system should not shorten the running time of the battery-operated suction device, but rather contribute to increasing the range of a "battery charge". In addition, the system should be able to be easily and easily attached to a surface and ensure good adhesion to various, including rough, surfaces. Furthermore, experts would welcome it if the system to be provided could be used for many different sized drill bits of a core drilling rig.

The object is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of independent claim 1 can be found in the dependent claims.

Description of the invention:

According to the invention, a system is provided for collecting drilling mud that is produced during the operation of a core drilling device. The collecting system comprises a collecting device as a functional unit, wherein the collecting device can be attached to a surface with the aid of a negative pressure, the negative pressure being able to be generated by a vacuum pump, which is part of a drive unit of the system, the drive unit also having an energy supply unit for supplying the drive unit and of its components with electrical energy.

With the invention, a collection system can be provided that can be attached to a subsurface independently of the core drilling device and/or an external suction device. Application tests have shown that the system can be attached to a surface particularly easily and quickly at an application site, so that rapid readiness for use can be guaranteed. In particular, the system can be attached to the subsurface before the core drilling actually begins, since the negative pressure used to attach the system is generated by the system itself or its vacuum pump. In this respect, the attachment of the proposed collection system is independent of the use or operation of a suction device used to suck up the drilling mud. In addition, the invention can reduce noise emissions on a construction site, as well as energy consumption.

The system comprises a drive unit and a functional unit, wherein the functional unit has a collecting device that can be arranged around a drill bit of a core drilling device or a drilling site. When a core drilling is carried out, the drilling mud collects in an interior of the collecting device, and this drilling mud can be sucked out of the interior of the collecting device using a suction device. For this purpose, the collecting device can have a suction opening which opens towards the interior of the collecting device and can be connected to the suction device via a suction hose. The functional unit includes a vacuum pump and an energy supply device, wherein the energy supply device is set up to supply the vacuum pump with electrical energy.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the drive unit can be detachably attached to the functional unit. In other words, the drive unit and the functional unit represent two separately designed units, whereby the proposed collecting system can therefore have a modular design. In the context of the invention, the term “modular” preferably means that the collecting system comprises a drive unit with an energy supply device and a vacuum pump and a functional unit with a collecting device and optionally a vacuum plate, wherein the functional unit and the drive unit are designed to be detachable from one another and can be used individually. For example, the functional unit can be used on another construction site with a different drive unit. Alternatively, it is possible for the same drive unit to be used on the same construction site with a different functional unit, for example if a smaller or larger borehole is to be created, preferably with drill bits of different sizes. By separating the drive and functional units, the user can use the separate units particularly flexibly and the system can cover a large area of drill bits of different sizes.

In one embodiment of the invention, the functional unit comprises a vacuum plate for transferring the negative pressure to the substrate. In an operating state of the proposed collection system, the functional unit and the drive unit are attached to one another, so that a negative pressure can be generated with the vacuum pump of the drive unit, which can be transferred to the surface on which the collection system is to be mounted using the vacuum plate. The formulation that the negative pressure is transferred to the substrate with the aid of the vacuum plate preferably means in the sense of the present invention that the vacuum plate has cavities and/or cavities on an underside, the cavities and/or cavities being evacuated with the aid of the vacuum pump, i.e. pumped out. When the vacuum plate, preferably with its underside, rests on the surface on which the collection system is to be attached, the surface closes off the previously open cavities and/or cavities, so that an evacuable space is created. This can be pumped out with the help of the vacuum pump, so that there is a lower pressure in the cavities and/or cavities of the vacuum plate than in the surroundings of the collection system. This lower pressure, which is also preferably referred to as negative pressure or vacuum in the context of the invention, allows the collecting system to be attached to a surface. In the sense of the invention, it is preferred that the proposed collecting system is pressed against the substrate by the pressure difference between the pressure in the area surrounding the system and the pressure in the vacuum chamber and is thereby securely fastened.

The proposed collection system can be used together with a core drilling rig. Core drilling machines are designed to cut essentially cylindrical cores from a subsurface. The substrate may include, but is not limited to, stone, masonry or concrete. After a drill core has been cut out, a hollow cylindrical hole remains in the subsurface to be processed, in which, for example, cable ducts, pipes or lines can be laid. The place where the borehole is to be drilled into the subsoil is referred to as the “drilling location” or “drilling site” for the purposes of the invention. To cut out the essentially cylindrical drill cores, the core drilling device can comprise a drill bit that can be attached to the core drilling device with a tool holder. On its front side, the drill bit can include cutting segments which can be set, for example, with artificial diamonds or diamond chips in order to increase the cutting performance of the drill bit. In such cases, a “diamond drill bit” is often referred to. The core drilling device can be a hand-held core drilling device that is held by a user and driven into the subsoil. In the sense of the invention, however, it can also be preferred that the core drilling device during its Operationally attached to a drill stand, so that the drill stand takes over the holding of the core drilling device. In such a case, the propulsion can be generated by a so-called feed device. Feed devices can, for example, be formed by an automatic additional module, which can be connected to the core drilling device and/or the drill stand. The feed device can also be designed as a handwheel with which the core drilling device is driven into the subsoil. In addition, the proposed system can be used together with a hammer drill. The functional unit can then, for example, include or be formed by a dust collecting device.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the proposed collecting system can be operated together with a core drilling device and, if necessary, connected to it. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the collecting device of the collecting system is designed as a collecting ring, wherein the collecting ring can be placed around the drill bit of the core drilling device or around the drilling location. The collecting ring preferably has an inside that faces the drill bit of the core drilling device when the collecting system and the core drilling device interact. A suction opening can be provided on this inside of the collecting ring, through which drilling mud or the like can be sucked out of the interior of the collecting ring. The drilling mud is created, for example, during operation of the core drilling machine when drilling dust or particles released when the drill core is removed mix with water. Water is used during core drilling, on the one hand to cool the drill bit, and on the other hand to bind the drilling dust produced during drilling and prevent it from getting into the respiratory tract of the user of the core drilling machine. If no system is used to collect the drilling mud during core drilling, the drilling mud can spread or spread unhindered around the drilling site or on the construction site, so that large-scale contamination and water damage can be expected. With the help of the proposed collection system, the drilling mud can be sucked off at the point of origin, preferably in the interior of the collection ring, and thus removed directly. This prevents large areas of contamination and any water damage from the outset and significantly reduces the amount of cleaning and tidying up required after the core drilling work has been completed.

After the core drilling work has been completed, the proposed collection system can be dismantled and transported away from the site. For this purpose, the drive unit and the functional unit of the system can be dismantled and stored and/or transported individually. Core drilling work is often carried out using drill bits with different diameters, depending on how large the desired drill hole needs to be. Therefore, it is appropriate if that proposed collecting system includes collecting rings of different sizes with different diameters. This ensures optimal suction of drilling mud, with the size of the collecting ring advantageously being matched to the diameter of the drill bit. In other words, the size of the collecting ring can correspond to the diameter of the collecting ring. The collecting system can therefore advantageously be offered as a kit comprising collecting rings of different sizes. The possibility of offering the proposed fall arrest system as a kit is made possible by the separation of the drive and the functional unit of the system. Because the drive unit and the functional unit are designed to be detachable from one another, the drive unit can be used with different collecting rings and/or vacuum plates. In particular, it is only necessary for a service provider who carries out core drilling work to purchase a cost-intensive drive unit, which can then be used together with different collecting rings and/or vacuum plates, with the collecting rings and/or vacuum plate usually being cheaper to purchase.

The collecting ring and the vacuum plate can be designed to be detachably connectable. The collecting ring and the vacuum plate can also form a unit with each other. For example, the first end of the suction hose can open into the vacuum plate, an opening being provided in the vacuum plate which leads to the suction opening of the collecting ring. The extracted drilling mud is then sucked from the suction opening through this line and through the suction hose in the direction of the suction device.

The drilling mud is preferably extracted using a suction device that can be connected to the collection system, in particular the functional unit or the collection ring, via a suction hose. A first end of the suction hose opens, for example, into the suction opening of the collecting ring, while the second end of the suction hose is to be connected to the suction device. The suction device can include a receptacle for holding the drilling mud. For the purposes of the invention, it may be preferred that the drilling mud is filtered and the water filtered out is reused.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the functional unit comprises a vacuum plate for transferring the negative pressure to the substrate. The vacuum plate preferably has a bottom and a top. On its underside, the vacuum plate can have the cavities and/or cavities which can form vacuum chambers in the sense of the invention. In the vacuum chambers of the vacuum plate, a negative pressure can be generated with the help of the vacuum pump of the drive unit, the negative pressure preferably being lower as an ambient or atmospheric pressure surrounding the collection system. This allows the collecting system to be attached to a subsurface, whereby the subsurface can be processed with a core drilling device, for example by making drill holes in the subsurface. The drive unit can, for example, be provided as a separate, detachably attachable unit on a preferably flat surface of the vacuum plate. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that an interface is used to attach the drive unit to the functional unit or to the vacuum plate. In other words, the drive unit can be attached to the functional unit and/or to the vacuum plate of the functional unit using an interface. The interface is preferably a mechanical interface for connecting the drive unit to the functional unit or the vacuum plate.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the vacuum plate is designed in several parts. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the functional unit comprises at least one vacuum plate. For the purposes of the invention, this at least one vacuum plate can be referred to as the central or main vacuum plate of the functional unit or the collecting system. The central or main vacuum plate is preferably designed to carry the drive unit and/or to guide the suction hose so that it opens into the suction opening of the suction ring. In addition to the central vacuum plate, the functional unit can include further vacuum plates, which can be arranged, for example, on a perimeter of the collecting ring. For the purposes of the invention, the use of several vacuum plates is preferably referred to as the use of a “multi-part vacuum plate”. In one embodiment of the invention, the functional unit can have, for example, a central or main vacuum plate, as well as two further secondary vacuum plates. The vacuum plates can, for example, be distributed at regular intervals around the circumference of the collecting ring. For the purposes of the invention, it can also be preferred that the central or main vacuum plate is arranged on a first side of the collecting ring, while the secondary vacuum plates are arranged on the second or opposite side of the collecting ring.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the vacuum plates can be connected to one another via vacuum lines. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the additional or secondary vacuum plates also have negative pressure chambers, which can be designed as cavities and/or cavities. The vacuum chambers are preferably provided on the undersides of the vacuum plates, with the underside of the vacuum plates resting on the surface to be processed with the core drilling device. This allows the vacuum plates to adhere to the surface and thus secure the collection system on the subsurface. The negative pressure for attaching the collection system is preferably generated by a vacuum pump, which is part of the drive unit. The drive unit is preferably arranged on the central or main vacuum plate and there is preferably a fluidic connection between the at least one vacuum chamber of the central or main vacuum plate and the vacuum pump of the drive unit. The negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump is transferred into the negative pressure chamber through the fluidic connection. In the context of the invention, this preferably means that the at least one vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate can be evacuated or sucked off via the fluidic connection to the vacuum pump. The at least one vacuum chamber of the central or main vacuum plate and/or the vacuum pump of the drive unit of the collection system can be connected to the other secondary vacuum plates or their vacuum chambers via vacuum lines. This allows the negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump of the drive unit to be transferred to the negative pressure chambers of the secondary vacuum plates. In the context of the invention, this preferably means that the negative pressure chambers of the secondary vacuum plates can be evacuated or sucked out via the negative pressure lines. The negative pressure for this is generated with the help of the vacuum pump of the drive unit and distributed - preferably evenly - in the negative pressure chambers of the vacuum plates of the functional unit with the help of the vacuum lines. Due to the preferably uniform distribution of the negative pressure on the various vacuum plates and the associated application of the negative pressure at several locations, a particularly good, uniform attachment of the collecting system to the subsurface in which a core drilling is to be carried out can be achieved.

In addition, with the provision of several vacuum plates, the available space for attaching additional objects to the surface can advantageously be increased. For example, the vacuum plates of the proposed collection system can be used to attach tools, auxiliary equipment or other items used on a construction site to the ground. For example, measuring or laser line devices can be attached to the vacuum plate. The attachment of tools, auxiliary devices or other objects is particularly helpful if the fall arrest system is attached to a vertical wall and the objects mentioned can then be arranged, for example, at working or eye level of the user of the fall arrest system. In addition, the load capacity of the system can be increased by using several vacuum plates, especially if the higher number of vacuum plates is accompanied by an increase in the vacuum area.

It is noted that in the context of the present invention, two different vacuum systems are distinguished from one another. On the one hand, a first negative pressure is provided, which is generated by the vacuum pump of the drive unit of the collecting system, this first negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump being used to fasten the vacuum plates or the collecting system or its components to a surface. The first negative pressure can be distributed under the vacuum plates of the collecting system with the help of negative pressure lines, so that the collecting system can be attached particularly evenly and effectively to the subsurface. In addition, in the context of the present invention, a second negative pressure can be provided, which is generated by a suction device. With this second negative pressure, the drilling mud can be sucked out of the collecting ring, with the second negative pressure being transferred from the suction device to the collecting system using a suction hose. In the context of the invention, this preferably means that the suction hose connects the suction device and the functional unit of the collecting system with each other, with the suction hose opening into the vacuum plate or being guided through the vacuum plate in such a way that the drilling mud is sucked out of the interior of the collecting ring through a suction opening can be. The drilling mud is preferably suctioned off with the aid of the second negative pressure generated by the suction device, whereby the collection system can be connected to the suction device as an external auxiliary device. The suction device is preferably not a part of the proposed collection system. Preferably, the above-mentioned core drilling device is also not a part of the proposed collection system. The proposed collecting system preferably comprises the functional unit with a collecting device and optionally at least one vacuum plate, as well as the drive unit with a vacuum pump for generating the first negative pressure for attaching the system to a surface and with an energy supply device.

By providing two different vacuum systems, the proposed collection system can be attached to a surface independently of the operation of a suction device. This is not the case with many systems known from the prior art. Rather, in conventional systems, a device for collecting water or drilling mud is attached to the subsurface with the same negative pressure that is used to extract the drilling mud. However, such an approach is associated with several disadvantages. On the one hand, attachment of the collecting device to the surface can only be guaranteed when the suction device is switched on and running. As a result, the collecting device must constantly be removed from the surface or reattached to the surface when the suction device is started up. This is tedious and labor-intensive and therefore cost-intensive. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner can remain switched on even if it is not being used. However, this procedure involves very high, unnecessary energy consumption, which is particularly disadvantageous if the suction device is also a battery-operated suction device. Because of the procedure described, the running time of the energy supply device of the suction device is significantly reduced and the intervals between two battery replacement processes are significantly shortened. In this respect, it represents a significant advantage of the present invention that the second negative pressure of the suction device is used to suck out the drilling mud, while the first negative pressure for fastening the collection system is generated by the vacuum pump of the collection system and thus does not burden the running time of the energy supply device of the suction device .shortened. The negative pressure chambers of the vacuum plates, in which the first negative pressure for fastening the collecting system prevails, are referred to as first negative pressure chambers in the context of the invention.

The collecting device, from the interior of which the drilling mud is sucked out, can also have at least one vacuum chamber, the at least one vacuum chamber of the collecting device being preferably referred to as a “second vacuum chamber” in the sense of the invention. The second vacuum chamber can be formed, for example, in that the interior of the suction devices is closed off not only at the bottom by the ground, but also at the top from the environment. For this purpose, the collecting device can, for example, have a covering device which closes this second vacuum chamber at the top. The covering device preferably has an opening through which the drill bit of the core drilling device can be guided. If the covering device comprises a flexible, elastic material, drill bits of different sizes can be used with the same opening diameter and still achieve a reasonable seal and suction effect of the suction device. The flexible, elastic material can, for example, form a sealing disk through which the drill bit is passed when preparing the core drilling. A different collecting device does not then have to be used for each individual drill bit, but the flexible, elastic material from which the covering device of the collecting device at least partially consists allows a certain range of different drill bits to be used together with a specific suction ring. This means that the user has to carry fewer different collecting devices with them if they want to carry out several core drillings with different diameters. Of course, the second vacuum chamber can also be sealed downwards, ie in the direction of the substrate, with a seal. This will an inflow or inflow of air into the second vacuum chamber from the surroundings of the collecting system is avoided, so that the negative pressure in the second vacuum chamber can be maintained with less effort.

For the purposes of the invention, the second vacuum chamber can preferably also be referred to as a suction chamber. The terms "top" and "bottom" do not represent unclear terms for the person skilled in the art, because the terms "bottom" or "underside" or the spatial direction "down" are used in the context of the present invention for the side of the collecting system facing the ground used, while the terms "top" or "top" or the spatial direction "upward" are used in the context of the present invention for the side of the collecting device facing away from the ground. In this way, the terms are clearly defined not only when the fall arrest system is used on a ground and a horizontal substrate, but also when the proposed fall arrest system is used on a vertical substrate, such as a wall or a wall.

In the context of the present invention, the separation of suction and fastening is achieved in particular by providing at least two vacuum chambers in the system: a first vacuum chamber, which is formed from cavities and/or cavities of the vacuum plate and which is evacuated with the aid of a vacuum pump of the drive unit , and a second vacuum chamber, which is formed by an interior of the collecting device and from which drilling mud is sucked out using an external suction device. For this purpose, the collecting device can include a suction channel or a suction nozzle to which the external suction device can be connected. The two vacuum chambers are preferably fluidly separated from one another, so that no air can flow from one into the other vacuum chamber, or vice versa. Likewise, drilling mud or water should not get from the second vacuum chamber into the first vacuum chamber because this would contaminate the first vacuum chamber. This could compromise the attachment of the proposed system. The fluidic separation of the two vacuum chambers can be further improved by seals and the like.

The energy supply device of the drive unit is preferably intended to supply the components of the drive unit or the collecting system with electrical energy. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the collecting system has a vacuum pump. However, in the context of the invention, it can also be preferred that the collecting system comprises more than one vacuum pump or even further pumps. The pumps represent electrical consumers that receive the electrical energy required for their operation from the energy supply device the drive unit. The energy supply device can be a rechargeable battery with several energy storage cells. The energy supply device can preferably also be referred to as an accumulator or “rechargeable battery”. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the energy supply device of the drive unit is charged while it remains in the proposed collecting system or its drive unit. For this purpose, the energy supply device can be connected to a charger or a public or construction site power grid. However, in the context of the invention, it can also be preferred that the energy supply device is removed from the system for charging and connected to an external charger.

In addition to the vacuum pump and the energy supply device, the drive unit can include electronics for controlling the drive unit of the collection system. The electronics of the drive unit can preferably also obtain the energy required for its operation from the energy supply device of the drive unit of the collecting system. In this respect, the electronics of the drive unit preferably also represent a consumer in the sense of the present invention. For example, the active components of the system, such as the vacuum pump, can be regulated and/or controlled with the electronics of the system. For example, the system can include a two-point regulator with which the negative pressure in the first negative pressure chamber of the vacuum plate can be maintained in a predetermined pressure range. The control and regulation of the proposed collection system may include a two-point control which is designed to maintain the first negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber of the vacuum plate between a desired lower limit and a desired upper limit for the negative pressure. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the vacuum pump of the proposed system is switched on or off when these threshold values of the desired pressure range are exceeded or fallen below. Preferably, the vacuum pump is switched on to increase the negative pressure, i.e. a difference to a pressure = 0 bar, while the negative pressure is regularly reduced when the vacuum pump is switched off. For the purposes of the invention, a “reduction in negative pressure” represents an increase in pressure in absolute numbers, at which the distance to a pressure = 0 bar decreases. while an “increase in negative pressure” in the sense of the invention represents a decrease in pressure in absolute numbers, at which the distance to a pressure = 0 bar increases.

In addition, the drive unit can include a switching device for switching the collecting system or the drive unit on and off. This can be a switch, for example a slide switch or a pressure switch. This makes an independent Operation of the collection system from the core drilling device and / or the suction device enables. For example, the user can prepare the proposed collecting system before using it and before putting the core drilling device into operation and attach the collecting device to the subsoil into which a core hole is to be drilled. The suction device for sucking out the drilling mud must only be switched on afterwards, for example only while the core drilling is being carried out, so that the entire core drilling process can be carried out in a time and energy-optimized manner.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the at least one vacuum plate has a seal. The seal of the vacuum plate is preferably provided on its underside and is designed to seal the at least one vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate. While normal or atmospheric pressure prevails in the surroundings of the collecting system, the collecting system is attached to the subsurface with a negative pressure, the negative pressure being generated by the vacuum pump of the collecting system and prevailing in the attached state of the system in the at least one negative pressure chamber of the vacuum plate. In order to prevent air from the environment from flowing in or out into the vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate, a seal can be used that seals the vacuum chamber from the environment of the collection system. The seal advantageously contributes to the collection system adhering particularly well to rough surfaces.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the seal has a non-linear sealing profile. When the collection system is connected to the subsoil in which core drilling is to be carried out, the vacuum plate is first placed on the subsoil around the drilling location. At this point in time, an average distance between the vacuum plate and the substrate is, for example, 1. If the vacuum pump of the collection system is switched on and the vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate is evacuated, the vacuum plate is sucked further and further towards the substrate and the average distance between the vacuum plate and the substrate decreases i.e. less than 1. The distance or path by which the distance between the vacuum plate and the substrate becomes smaller can preferably be referred to as suction path I in the sense of the invention. In the sense of the invention, it is preferred that the sealing effect or the suction force F changes as the suction path increases, these changes in the sealing effect or the suction force F depending on the suction path I being referred to as a sealing profile. In the context of the invention, it is particularly preferred that the sealing profile runs non-linearly. In the context of the invention, this preferably means that the sealing effect or the suction force F does not increase linearly with increasing suction path I, but that the sealing effect or the suction force F increases with increasing suction path I for example, increase faster or more strongly. The function of the sealing effect or the suction force F depending on the suction path I can represent, for example, a polynomial function of the nth degree, an exponential function or a function that is composed of different, for example linear, sections, for example a first section with a first slope m1 and a second section m2, wherein the second slope m2 is preferably greater than the first slope m1. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that a composite function made up of linear sections with different slopes is itself referred to as a “non-linear” function.

A non-linear sealing profile can be achieved, for example, by not using a conventional sealing ring, but rather by combining two sealing rings with different sealing and/or material properties, for example by placing them one on top of the other. Alternatively, a sealing ring with a non-circular shape or cut surface in the profile section can be used. Such a sealing ring can have a triangular shape in profile, for example, with the shape of the sealing ring profile preferably tapering from top to bottom. In addition, two sealing rings with different heights can also be combined with each other, for example by placing the sealing rings next to each other. Preferably, a first sealing ring can have a first height h1 and a second sealing ring can have a second height h2, the first height h1 being greater than the second height h2. When evacuating the vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate, the higher, first sealing ring with the first height h1 contributes to sealing the vacuum chamber. The sealing effect or the suction force F is determined by the first sealing ring in this first area, in which only the first sealing ring contributes to the sealing. As the suction increases, the distance between the vacuum plate and the substrate continues to decrease, so that from a certain point onwards the lower, second sealing ring with the second height h2 also contributes to the sealing. In this second area, in which both the first and second sealing rings contribute to the seal, the sealing effect or the suction force F is advantageously determined by both sealing rings. The sealing effects of the sealing rings preferably add up in this second area, so that the sealing effect or the suction force F is greater in the second area than in the first area. This results in a function with a first, essentially linear region with a first gradient m1 and a second, essentially linear region with a second gradient m2, the second gradient m2 being greater than that due to the addition of the sealing effects of the sealing rings first slope m1. Such a function or a sealing profile running in this way is referred to as a “non-linear sealing profile” in the sense of the invention. Preferably can Such a non-linear sealing profile can be achieved in that the sealing effect or the suction force F changes non-linearly during the suction process, for example by the rigidity of the sealing material changing during the suction or by the fact that sealing rings or materials are used accordingly cut shapes can be used.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the system has an interface for connecting the drive unit and the functional unit, the interface comprising a line interface for transmitting the negative pressure from the drive unit to the functional unit. Preferably, the interface can comprise a line interface for transmitting the negative pressure from the vacuum pump of the drive unit to the negative pressure chamber of the functional unit. The line interface is preferably designed as a detachable, quickly mountable and yet tight fluid line with which the negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump can be transferred from the drive unit to the vacuum plate of the functional unit. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the air in the vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate can be sucked out through the line interface to the vacuum pump.

In an embodiment also disclosed here, the functional unit of the collection system can also be used without the drive unit, in which case the functional unit side of the line interface can be connected to an external suction device, such as a vacuum cleaner or a wet-dry vacuum cleaner, wherein in In this embodiment, the suction device can be used to evacuate the vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate of the functional unit. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the line interface is designed to be self-locking on its functional unit side. As a result, the vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate of the functional unit is well sealed from the environment even when the drive unit is dismantled, i.e. when the functional unit is used without a drive unit.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the vacuum plate is part of the drive unit. In this embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the vacuum plate is not part of the functional unit, but rather part of the drive unit. In this embodiment of the invention, the functional unit comprises a collecting device, which is designed in particular as a collecting ring or as a water collecting ring. In this embodiment, the vacuum plate is preferably referred to as a vacuum fixing base plate. In this embodiment of the invention, it is firmly connected to the drive unit, whereby the drive unit can be arranged, for example, as a self-contained module on the top of the preferably flat top of the vacuum fixing base plate. Also in this design According to the invention, the drive unit comprises a vacuum pump and an energy supply device for supplying the vacuum pump with electrical energy. In addition, the drive unit can have a switch for switching on and off, as well as electronics. In this embodiment, the fluid line between the drive unit and the vacuum fixing base plate can be designed as a simple fluid line, since it is not intended that the vacuum fixing base plate and the drive unit are separated from one another in this embodiment. In particular, the fluid line between the vacuum pump and the vacuum chamber of the vacuum fixing base plate can be designed to be particularly robust and technically easy to implement. The air is sucked out of the vacuum chamber of the vacuum fixing base plate through the fluid line to the vacuum pump and the vacuum chamber is evacuated in this way. Due to the resulting negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber, the vacuum fixing base plate is sucked or firmly attached to the substrate and is thereby attached to the substrate. In the embodiment in which the vacuum fixing base plate is part of the drive unit, the system of collecting device and drive unit with vacuum fixing base plate can include a mechanical interface for connecting the vacuum fixing base plate to the collecting device. This mechanical interface is preferably designed so that the drive unit with vacuum fixing base plate can be connected to collecting devices of different sizes. The connection between the collecting device and the vacuum fixing base plate is preferably carried out without tools. For example, the water collecting ring can be clamped to the vacuum fixing base plate. In the embodiment of the invention, in which the vacuum fixing base plate is part of the drive unit, the at least one vacuum chamber of the vacuum fixing base plate is evacuated with the aid of a first negative pressure which is generated by the vacuum pump of the drive unit. The drilling mud is extracted using a second negative pressure that is generated by an external suction device, such as a dust or wet-dry vacuum cleaner. The collecting device or the water collecting ring can have a suction nozzle for attaching a suction hose or other means for connecting a suction hose of a suction device.

In this embodiment of the invention, too, the vacuum fixing base plate can be designed in several parts. In addition, the vacuum fixing base plate, which is part of the drive unit, can also have a seal against the substrate, the seal having a non-linear sealing profile.

Further advantages result from the following description of the figures. The figures, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into further sensible combinations.

In the figures, identical and similar components are numbered with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1

Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung des Auffangsystems mit Funktionseinheit und Antriebseinheit im verbundenen Zustand

Fig. 2

Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung des Auffangsystems mit Funktionseinheit und Antriebseinheit im getrennten Zustand

Fig. 3

schematische Draufsicht einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung des Auffangsystems

Fig. 4

schematische Seitenansicht einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung des Auffangsystems

Fig. 5

schematische Draufsicht einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung des Auffangsystems mit mehreren Vakuumplatten

Fig. 6

schematische Darstellung verschiedener nicht-linearer Dichtprofile

Fig. 7

Draufsicht einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung des Auffangsystems, bei dem die Vakuumplatte Bestandteil der Antriebseinheit ist

Show it:

Fig. 1

View of a preferred embodiment of the collecting system with functional unit and drive unit in the connected state

Fig. 2

View of a preferred embodiment of the collecting system with functional unit and drive unit in a separate state

Fig. 3

Schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the collection system

Fig. 4

Schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the collection system

Fig. 5

Schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the collection system with several vacuum plates

Fig. 6

Schematic representation of various non-linear sealing profiles

Fig. 7

Top view of a preferred embodiment of the collection system, in which the vacuum plate is part of the drive unit

Examples of embodiments and description of the figures:

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the collecting system 10 with functional unit 20 and drive unit 30 in the connected state. In the in Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the functional unit 20 comprises a water collecting ring 20 as a collecting device 20, as well as a vacuum plate 40 with which the collecting system can be attached to a surface U. The subsoil U can be processed by a core drilling device 100 in the sense that a core hole is drilled into the subsoil U. For this purpose, the core drilling device 100 can have a drill bit which is in Figure 1 is shown as a representative of the core drilling device 100. When carrying out the core drilling process, drilling mud B is created as a mixture of cooling or rinsing water, dust and drilling material. This drilling mud B collects in an interior 26 of the collecting device 22. The interior 26 of the collecting device 22 can be connected to an external suction device 80 via a suction nozzle 84 and a suction hose 82, so that the drilling mud B comes out of the interior 26 of the collecting device with a negative pressure 22 can be sucked off. This means that the interior 26 of the collecting device 22 can be subjected to a negative pressure generated by the suction device 80. As a result, the interior 26 of the collecting device 22 becomes a vacuum chamber, which is referred to as the second vacuum chamber 26 in the sense of the invention. A possible route of drilling mud B is shown in Figure 1 indicated with arrows. The interior 26 of the collecting device 22 can be closed with a cover device 28 to form a vacuum chamber 26. The interior 26 of the collecting device 22 can thus be closed downwards, ie in the direction of the subsurface U, from the subsurface U itself, with seals 24 helping to seal the vacuum chamber 26 particularly effectively. The covering device 28 is preferably provided in the spatial direction “upwards”, ie on the side of the collecting device 22 facing away from the subsurface U. The covering device 28 can, for example, comprise a resilient, elastic material, which can, for example, form a sealing disk. The cover device 28 can have an opening through which the drill bit of the core drilling device 100 can be guided in order to carry out the core drilling surrounded by the collecting device 22.

The vacuum plate 40 is in the in Figure 1 illustrated embodiment of the invention is part of the functional device 20. The vacuum plate 40 also has a vacuum chamber 46, the vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40 being referred to as the first vacuum chamber 46 in the sense of the invention. The first vacuum chamber 46 can be subjected to a vacuum that can be generated by a vacuum pump 32 of a drive unit 30 of the collecting system 10. In the in Figure 1 illustrated embodiment of the According to the invention, the functional unit 20 and the drive unit 30 of the system 10 represent separate units 20, 30, the units 20, 30 being in Figure 1 connected to each other and in Figure 2 exist separately from each other. This separation allows, for example, the drive unit 30 to be used in combination with different functional units 20, with the functional units 20 differing, for example, in the diameter of the collecting ring 22. In this way, the collecting system 10 can be adapted to core drilling machines 100 and drill bits with different diameters in a particularly simple and user-friendly manner.

The vacuum plate 40 can be sealed from the substrate U with seals 44, while the collecting devices 22 can be sealed from the substrate with seals 24. Seals can also be provided in the transition area between vacuum plate 40 and collecting device 22, which are referred to as “seal 24, 24” in the context of the present invention. The seal 24, 44 ensures that there is no exchange of air or drilling mud between the first vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40 and the second vacuum chamber 24 of the collecting device 22. In other words, the seal 24, 44 seals the vacuum chambers 26, 46 from one another. The seal 24 seals the second vacuum chamber 26 of the collecting device 22 from the environment or the atmospheric pressure in the surroundings of the collecting system 10, while the seal 44 seals the first vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40 from the environment or the atmospheric pressure in the surroundings of the collecting system 10 seals. The first negative pressure in the first negative pressure chamber 46 serves to fasten the system 10 to the subsoil U, while the second negative pressure in the second negative pressure chamber 26 serves to suck out the drilling mud B from the interior 26 of the collecting device 22. The first negative pressure can be generated with a vacuum pump 32 of the drive unit 30, while the second negative pressure can be generated by an external suction device 80. The seals 24, 44 can have a non-linear sealing profile, so that an improved sealing effect of the seals 24, 44 can be made possible.

The drive unit 30 of the collecting system 10 includes, in addition to the vacuum pump 32, an energy supply device 34 for supplying the vacuum pump 32 with electrical energy. Electrical lines 37 can be laid within the drive unit 30, which, for example, connect the energy supply device 34, the vacuum pump 32, a switch 36 and / or electronics 38 of the drive unit 30 to one another in an electrically conductive manner. The switch 36 can be used to switch the system 10 or the drive unit 30 and its components, for example the vacuum pump 32, on or off. The electronics 38 of Drive unit 30 can be used to regulate and/or control the drive unit 30 or the vacuum pump 32. For example, the operation of the vacuum pump 32 can be regulated so that a negative pressure in the first negative pressure chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40 always remains in a desired pressure range. This can ensure that the vacuum plate 40 and the water collecting ring 22 connected to the vacuum plate 40 are always securely attached to the surface U. The energy supply device 34 is preferably a rechargeable battery with a large number of energy storage cells. The energy supply device 34 can be designed as an accumulator (“rechargeable battery”), which can be recharged with electrical energy either in the drive unit 30 or in an external charger (not shown).

Between the vacuum pump 32 and the first vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40 there can be a fluid line 33, which can include a line interface 52. The line interface 52 can be part of a mechanical interface 50 for connecting the functional unit 20 to the drive unit 30. The interface 50 enables a simple, tool-free separation of the drive unit 30 from the functional unit 20, while the line interface 52 enables a simple separation of the fluid line 33. The line interface 52 can be designed to be self-locking on the side of the vacuum plate 40 and/or on the side of the drive unit 30, so that the fluid line 33 is sealed when the units 20, 30 are separated.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the collecting system 10 with functional unit 20 and drive unit 30 in the separated state.

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the collecting system 10. Shown are the functional unit 20 with the collecting device 22, as well as the drive unit 30. The collecting device 22 can be annular, so that an interior 26 is formed. When a core drilling is carried out, the drilling mud B collects in this interior 26 and can be sucked out via the suction opening 23 of the collecting device 22 with the aid of a suction device 80. For this purpose, the collecting device 22 can be connected to the suction device 80 via a suction hose 82. The suction device 80 is set up to generate a negative pressure for suctioning the drilling mud B, with the interior 26 of the collecting device 22 being subjected to the negative pressure and thus serving as a suction or negative pressure chamber 26. The interior 26 of the collecting device 22 can be equipped with a covering device 28 (see Fig. 1 and 2 ) can be closed at the top. At the bottom, the interior 26 of the collecting device 22 is closed by the subsurface U into which the core hole is located should be introduced. The suction hose 82 can be extended through the functional unit 20 until it opens into the interior 26 of the collecting device 22 in the area of the suction opening 23. This extension of the suction hose 82 inside the functional unit 20 is in the Figures 3 to 5 shown with dashed lines.

The drive unit 30 of the collecting system 10 can have electronics 38 for controlling and/or regulating the components of the drive unit 30. For example, the vacuum pump 32 and/or the energy supply device 34 or their respective operation can be controlled and/or regulated by the electronics 38 of the drive unit 30. In the in Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment of the collecting system 10, the vacuum plate 40 is part of the functional unit 20. The vacuum plate 40 is in the in Figure 3 illustrated embodiment of the invention is formed in one piece, with a vacuum plate 40 of the in Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment of the invention is preferably referred to as the central or main vacuum plate 40.

Figure 4 shows a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the collecting system 10, in particular the collecting system 10, which is in Figure 3 is shown. In particular, a possible arrangement of the drive unit 30 of the system 10 on the functional unit 20 is shown. The drive unit 30 can, for example, be arranged on a top side of the functional unit 20 or on a top side of the vacuum plate 40 of the functional unit 20. In Figure 4 The interior 26 of the collecting device 22 and the extension of the suction hose 82 within the functional unit 20 are indicated with dashed lines, since these cannot be seen from the outside in the side view. The drive unit 30 and the functional unit 20 can be connected to one another using an interface 50, the interface 50 preferably being designed as a mechanical interface. The interface 50 can include a line interface 52, which is set up to connect the fluid line 33 on the side of the drive unit 30 and on the side of the vacuum plate 40 of the functional unit 20 or - in the separated state - the fluid line 33 on the side of the drive unit 30 and on Sides of the functional unit 20 to be tightly closed.

Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the collecting system 10 with several vacuum plates 40, 48. The vacuum plates 40, 48 of the in Figure 5 illustrated embodiment of the invention are part of the functional unit 20. The functional unit 20 comprises a main vacuum plate 40, on which, for example, the drive unit 30 can be arranged. In addition, this includes Figure 5 illustrated embodiment of the collecting system 10 further vacuum plates 48, for example on the opposite Side of the functional unit 20 of the collecting system 10 can be arranged. As a result, the vacuum plate 40, 48 of the in Figure 5 illustrated embodiment of the collecting system 10 is designed in several parts, ie the in Figure 5 Collecting system 10 shown has several vacuum plates 40, 48, the in Figure 5 Collecting system 10 shown in particular has a central or main vacuum plate 40 and two further vacuum plates 48. The other vacuum plates 48 also have vacuum chambers 46, which can be evacuated using the vacuum pump 32 of the drive unit 30. The vacuum plates 40, 48 can be connected to one another and/or to the vacuum pump 32 of the drive unit 30 via vacuum lines 42. The vacuum chambers 46 of the vacuum plates 40, 48 can be evacuated or subjected to a negative pressure via the vacuum lines 42. In this way, the collecting system 10 can be attached to the surface U.

To suction the drilling mud B from the interior 26 of the collecting device 22, the collecting system 10 can be connected to an external suction device 80, and a suction hose 82 can be used for this connection. The functional unit 20 or the collecting device 22 can have a suction nozzle 84 (see Figures 1 and 2 ) onto which the suction hose 82 can be attached. The negative pressure for suctioning the drilling mud B can be brought into the area of the suction opening 23 of the collecting device 22 via the suction hose 82 and a possible extension of the suction hose 82 through the functional unit 20, so that the drilling mud B is drawn out of the interior 26 of the collecting device through the suction opening 23 22 can be sucked off.

Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of various non-linear sealing profiles. On the left half of Figure 6 Sections through schematic exemplary sealing arrangements are shown. On the right half of Figure 6 The associated sealing profiles are shown, with the sealing effect or the suction force F plotted against the suction path I. The suction path I is preferably referred to as the path by which the distance between the vacuum plate and the substrate becomes smaller when the vacuum pump 32 of the collecting system 10 is switched on and the vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40 is evacuated. Because by applying negative pressure to the vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40, the vacuum plate 40 is sucked into the subsurface U and is thereby attached to the subsurface U. In the upper right quarter of Figure 6 A sealing profile F(I) is shown, which has an exponential or quadratic course, for example. The sealing effect or the suction force F increases slowly at first and then more and more quickly as the suction distance increases. Such a course of the sealing profile can, for example, with a tapered sealing arrangement (schematically: triangular sectional profile of the sealing arrangement) or with two superimposed sealing rings can be achieved, the sealing rings comprising, for example, different materials or having a different material composition.

In the lower right quarter of Figure 6 A sealing profile F(I) is shown, which is composed of two essentially linear sections with different gradients m. The gradient m2 for larger suction paths I is greater or higher than the gradient m1 for smaller or shorter suction paths I. The sealing effect or the suction force F first increases slowly with a gradient m1 and then, from a break point, with a gradient m2, where the m2 > m1. Such a course of the sealing profile can be achieved, for example, with a sealing arrangement consisting of two sealing rings placed next to one another, whereby the sealing rings can have different heights, h1 and h2. While with small suction paths I initially only the first sealing ring with a height h1 contributes to the sealing effect, from the break point both sealing rings contribute to the sealing effect, so that the sealing effects of the individual sealing rings add up and the sealing effect therefore increases more quickly from the break point. In the in Figure 6 In the exemplary embodiment shown below, the height h1 of the first sealing ring is greater than the height h2 of the second sealing ring. It has been shown that by using a sealing arrangement with a non-linear sealing profile, particularly well-sealing vacuum chambers 46 can be obtained, so that a particularly stable, robust and secure attachment of the collecting system 10 to the surface U to be processed can be made possible.

Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the collecting system 10, in which the vacuum plate 40 is part of the drive unit 30. In this embodiment of the invention, the collecting device 22 of the system 10 can be kept particularly simple. The water collecting ring 22 can be covered with a cover device 28 and sealed with a water collecting seal 24 relative to the substrate U and/or the vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40. The water collecting ring 22 can be connected to an external suction device 80 via a suction nozzle 84 and a suction hose 82, so that the drilling mud B, which is produced when carrying out a core drilling, can be sucked out of the interior 26 of the water collecting ring 22. The water collecting ring 22 can be attached to the drive unit 30, in particular the vacuum plate 40 of the drive unit 30, with the aid of an interface 60 in order to form a collecting system 10. The vacuum plate 40 of the drive unit 30 can preferably be referred to as a vacuum fixing base plate 40 in this exemplary embodiment of the invention. The vacuum fixing base plate 40 can be sealed with seals 44 from the substrate U and its vacuum chamber 46 can be sealed with a negative pressure the vacuum pump 32 of the drive unit 30 are acted upon. As a result, the vacuum fixing base plate 40 sucks itself onto the surface U and the collecting system 10 can be attached to the surface U in this way. The drive unit 30 of the system 10 includes, in addition to the vacuum pump 32, an energy supply device 34 and optionally an on and off switch 36 and/or electronics 38 for controlling and/or regulating the collection system 10 or its active components, such as vacuum pump 32 or energy supply device 34. The electrical components of the drive unit 30, such as energy supply device 34, switch 36, vacuum pump 32 or electronics 38, can be connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via electrical lines 37. The vacuum pump 32 and the vacuum chamber 46 of the vacuum plate 40 can be fluidly connected to one another via a fluid line 33.

Reference symbol list

10

Collection system

20

Functional unit

22

Collection device

23

Suction opening

24

Catcher seal

26

second vacuum chamber of the collecting device

28

Covering device

30

Drive unit

32

vacuum pump

33

Fluid line

34

Energy supply device

36

Switching device

37

electrical line

38

electronics

40

vacuum plate

42

Vacuum lines

44

Vacuum plate seal

46

first vacuum chamber of the vacuum plate

48

more vacuum plates

50

Interface between functional unit and drive unit

52

Line interface

60

Interface between collecting device and vacuum plate

80

Suction device

82

suction hose

84

Suction port on the collecting device

100

Core drilling device, especially drill bit

b

drilling mud

U

underground

Claims (9)

System (10) for collecting drilling mud (B) that is produced when a core drilling device (100) is operated,
characterized in that
the system (10) comprises a collecting device (22) as a functional unit (20), wherein the collecting device (22) can be attached to a surface (U) with the aid of a negative pressure, the negative pressure being able to be generated by a vacuum pump (32), which is part a drive unit (30) of the system (10), wherein the drive unit (30) further comprises an energy supply device (34) for supplying the drive unit (30) with electrical energy. System (10) according to claim 1
characterized in that
the drive unit (30) can be detachably attached to the functional unit (20). System (10) according to claim 1 or 2
characterized in that
the functional unit (20) comprises at least one vacuum plate (40) for transferring the negative pressure to the substrate (U). System (10) according to claim 3
characterized in that
the system (10) has an interface (50) for connecting the drive unit (30) and the functional unit (20), the interface (50) having a line interface (52) for transmitting the negative pressure from the drive unit (30) to the Functional unit (20) includes. System (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2
characterized in that
the system (10) comprises at least one vacuum plate (40) for transmitting the negative pressure to the substrate, the vacuum plate (40) being part of the drive unit (30). System (10) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 5
characterized in that
the vacuum plate (40) is designed in several parts. System (10) according to claim 6
characterized in that
the vacuum plates (40) can be connected to one another and/or to the vacuum pump (32) via vacuum lines (42). System (10) according to one of the preceding claims
characterized in that
the at least one vacuum plate (40) has a seal (44). System (10) according to claim 8
characterized in that
the seal (24, 44) has a non-linear sealing profile.

Images