FI126101B - Recorder and method for registering at least one drill machine parameter - Google Patents

Description

Recorder and method for recording at least one drilling machine parameter when drilling a rock

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and a recorder for recording at least one drilling machine parameter when drilling into a rock. The invention further relates to a computer program for carrying out the method according to the invention. The invention further relates to a rock drill with such a recorder and a drilling machine comprising a rock drill.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The drilling device includes a boom having one end controllably secured to a bracket, such as a vehicle, through one or more control members, and at the other end of which is a feed beam carrying the impact machine of the invention, which includes a rock drill. The drill is movable along the feed beam. In impact drilling, the drilling machine most often also comprises a percussion machine with a hydraulically driven percussion piston to produce an impact wave, which is propagated through the drill rod to a drill bit with carbide laths. When the shock wave hits the drill bit, its hard metal pins are pushed into the rock, which produces such great force that the rock is crushed.

Rock drilling equipment is often relatively stationary and remains at the rock drilling site and is not very often moved from one mine to another. The drilling rigs automatically measure the operating time of the drilling rig feeders. Usually, the time-of-use calculator for today's drilling rigs also calculates the runtime of the drill rig. However, the problem is to determine whether the drill itself has been active at the same time. For example, the drill may be replaced, and often the user will additionally have a couple of drills on the same drill to keep the drill in constant use without having to rely on simultaneous maintenance on a drill. Therefore, the user usually estimates the operating time of the drill by hand.

The problem is that drill runtime is a decisive parameter when evaluating the various tests that are performed in the field during field tests and in maintenance work. Drill run time is also important in calculating other drill machine parameters. Therefore, there is a desire within the industry to provide an improved method and device for recording when a drill is active.

US 2003/0004603 A1 discloses a device for recording the actual number of strokes of an impact tool, in particular a hydraulic hammer. The device comprises a piezo sensor which generates measurement signals based on the acceleration caused by the shocks. The signals generated by the piezo sensor in the device are converted into digital signals which are processed by a microprocessor.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the invention to provide a recording device as mentioned in the introduction which solves the above problems.

The solution is a recording device having the features set forth in claim 1. Such a rocker drill recorder is configured to register at least one drill machine parameter when drilling into a rock, wherein the recorder comprises an internal generator which supplies power to the recorder when the rock drill is active and a directional sensor arranged to detect that the drill the recording device comprises means for registering as a first drill machine parameter the period of time the drill machine oscillates in its axial longitudinal direction, and the recording device further comprising a transponder arranged to temporarily supply the recording devices with a radio signal transmitted from an external programming and reading unit.

The axial longitudinal direction of the drill means the axial dimension of the impact piston, i.e. its dimension along the axis of symmetry of the impact piston, parallel to the direction of impact. Similarly, the radial dimension of the drill means the radial dimension of the percussion piston along the radius starting from the axis of symmetry of the percussion plane in a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the piston.

Because the recorder is powered by an internal generator, it is possible to arrange the recorder into a single drill, allowing each drill machine to be equipped with a unique sensor, and further, because of vibrations in the axial longitudinal direction of the rock drill, it is possible to detect the actual time period in which a single rock drill has been in use, i.e. oscillating in its axial longitudinal direction, which occurs when the impact mechanism is active. An autonomous recorder offers the advantage of having no need to replace the batteries. Nowadays, instead, the life of a drill is measured, and therefore, the life of each individual drill is estimated by the user, since each drill may have a large number of drills that are exchanged and serviceable, making it difficult to estimate the life of individual drills.

The invention therefore has the advantage that the maintenance can be performed on a need basis instead of after the estimated time. Instead of using the expected operating time, this correct operating time as a calculation method allows the user to more accurately and simply evaluate field test results, and to calculate other parameters, such as utilization rate, more accurately and thus better estimate expected wear and drill maintenance. In another embodiment, said time-based maintenance period registration is used. This maintenance strategy should be preferred to calendar based maintenance. Service life-based maintenance will increase the productivity of rock drills by taking into account the actual service life, rather than manually estimating service life and thus when maintenance is needed, which is estimated with a certain safety margin over time and therefore reduces production time. This facilitates the calculation of maintenance technicians and other drill adjustments as well as in-house field tests, as operating time is crucial in the various tests that are performed in field tests.

Because a transponder is provided in the recorder, the drill machine parameters can be read without external power supply from the drill. Then it is possible to activate both the recorder and the power supply with the energy obtained from the antenna signal transmitted from the external reading unit when the drill machine parameters are read or programmed by an external unit. According to a preferred embodiment, the recording device comprises an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) unit for wireless communication, wherein the RFID unit comprises a transponder.

In one embodiment of the recording device according to the invention, the direction sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor. The piezoelectric sensor comprises a piezoelectric crystal arranged to detect vibrations or to vibrate the drill axially. The direction sensor is then arranged to detect the vibration direction of the drill. When a piezoelectric crystal is exposed to regular oscillations, such as said oscillations in one direction, it produces an electrical voltage.

The fact that the recorder comprises an internal generator which supplies power to the recorder when the rock drill is active still solves the problem of avoiding external power supply to the electrical circuit of the recorder by an external voltage source, which is advantageous because the rock drill is usually in difficult to solve. Nowadays, other life time calculators are usually electric, but the electric life time counter still needs some power supply, such as batteries or external power supply. Our solution does not require a galvanic connection to a drilling rig or other external equipment. If, on the other hand, the circuit were equipped with a battery, the battery would have to be replaced or its function should sometimes be checked, which we now get rid of. In a preferred embodiment, said generator comprises a piezoelectric generator which converts the oscillations into an electrical voltage. The piezoelectric generator comprises a piezoelectric crystal. By using a piezoelectric generator, it is possible to utilize the drill vibrations as an energy source, so that the piezoelectric generator converts the vibration energy in the axial longitudinal direction of the drill into electrical energy to provide a current that can be utilized to operate the recorder. The piezoelectric sensor or generator can then use the same crystal.

According to an embodiment of the recording device according to the invention, the recording device is connected to a piezoelectric pressure sensor arranged in a rock drill and adapted to detect the impact machine pressure, wherein the recording device is arranged to register said impact machine pressure as a second drill machine parameter. According to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the other rock bottom slot parameters are some of the following: service interval, operating time, impact machine pressure, customer identification, drilling machine identification, drill machine identification.

According to one embodiment of the recording device according to the invention, the recording device is connected to a piezoelectric pressure sensor arranged on the impulse generating device and adapted to detect the impacting pressure, the hydraulic pressure using the impacting mechanism, wherein the recording device is arranged to register said impacting pressure.

According to one embodiment of the recording device according to the invention, the recording device is incorporated in a housing part of the impulse generating device. In a preferred embodiment of the recording device according to the invention, the recording device is included in a housing, such as a fastening device. Thus, the recording device is well arranged to detect the vibrations of the drill. Because of this investment, the recorder will continue to be simple to install and operate. The recorder also becomes robust and durable against dirty environments because it is encased. In this case, it is also possible to use the recorder on already manufactured machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method as mentioned in the introduction which solves the above problems. The method encompasses the corresponding advantages such as those described above for the device.

The invention further comprises a computer program, the program comprising program code for controlling a method according to claims 7-11. The invention further comprises a computer readable medium having a computer program stored, the computer program being designed to cause the logical unit to perform the steps of any one of claims 7-11.

The invention also comprises a drilling device having a recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Preferred further developments of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drill comprising the recording device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3A is an axial sectional view of Fig. 2; Fig. 3B illustrates another recording device according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4A shows a reading of the recording device with a handheld unit according to the invention, Fig. 4B shows a handheld unit of Fig. 4A, schematically illustrates a method according to the invention in block diagram form; in the form of a block diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES

The following description describes an underground drilling rig, but the invention can also be applied to a ground drilling rig.

Figure 1 shows a rock drilling device 10 for tunneling, ore mining, or installing rock reinforcing bolts, e.g., in tunneling or mining. The drilling device 10 comprises a boom 11 whose one end 11a is controllably secured to a bracket 12, such as a vehicle, through one or more control members, and at one end 11b of which is a feed beam 13 carrying an impact mechanism according to the invention including an impulse generating device. in the form of a drill 14. The drill machine 14 is movable along the feed beam 13. The drill itself can be mounted, for example, on a carriage, which in turn runs along the feed beam. The drill comprises a percussion machine which produces impact waves which are transmitted through the drill tube 15 and the drill bit 18 into the rock 17. The percussion machine then comprises an impact member, a reciprocating percussion piston and a neck adapter (not shown). The neck adapter is provided with means, for example threads, not shown, for connection to the drill pipe 15. The impact piston is arranged to operate by impact against the upper end of the neck adapter, the first portion of the impact piston being adapted to impact the neck adapter and thereby transfer the impact energy to the drill rods. By driving the sled and thus the drill machine along the feed beam in the direction of the rock, the drill bit presses against the rock. Hydraulic pressure that uses a hydraulic motor that drives a percussion machine is commonly referred to as percussion machine pressure and indicates the force by which the drill bit presses against a rock.

Figure 2 is a perspective view in more detail of the drill machine 14 of Figure 1. The drill machine 14 comprises a machine housing 22 with a reciprocating percussion piston. The machine housing 22 consists of a plurality of shell portions 22a-22d. The machine housing is arranged to substantially close the impact mechanism hydraulically. Inside the machine housing, not shown, is a piston tube arranged to position the percussion piston movable. A recording device 28 is provided on the drilling machine. The recording device 28 is arranged to identify when the drilling machine is active and to register and store drilling machine parameters. The recording device 28 is included in a housing adapted to be mounted on a housing part of the drill. In this case, the recording device is disposed within the clamping device 30, a helical screwdriver. When mounting the recorder, a hole is drilled into the housing portion 22c where the recorder is to be mounted and the fastener is screwed into the hole. The recorder is here molded into a housing to withstand a stressful environment with e.g. strong vibrations and impurities such as dust, drill powder and oil. The housing may also be other, such as another type of fastening device, such as a bolt. The size and requirements of the recorder enclosure determine the physical size and shape of the recorder body. In this case, the purpose is to make it easy to install.

Figure 3A shows an axial sectional view of an embodiment of the recording device of Figure 2. The recording device 28a is incorporated in a screw comprising threads 29 and end 30. The recording device 28a comprises an electronic circuit comprising a logic unit 31 such as a CPU, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other logical programmable unit, and a memory member 32 comprising a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and / O unit 34 (writing / reading means) for storing data and accessing data stored in memory. The recording device 28a is provided with at least one directional sensor 35, which is arranged on the impulse generating device to detect longitudinal oscillations R which is consistent with the axial longitudinal direction of the drilling machine by comprising a piezoelectric crystal.

The recording device 28 also comprises a piezoelectric generator 36 for supplying power to the recording device 28. The piezoelectric generator 36 is arranged to provide current when it oscillates in a predetermined direction. When drilling with or without rock contact, the drill vibrates due to shock waves caused by the drill. The vibrations are thus most intense in the drilling direction, i.e. the axial longitudinal direction of the drill. The resulting oscillations convert the piezoelectric crystal into electrical energy that can be utilized to use the electrical circuit in the piezoelectric generator 36. In this case, the piezoelectric generator is physically arranged to produce current only when the drill machine oscillates in the drilling direction. The current of the piezoelectric generator 36 is then utilized as the operating current of the recording device 28.

The recording apparatus further includes a time recording unit 38A, which registers time period T as a drill machine parameter in memory 32. The time recording unit 38A comprises a clock having an oscillator circuit, the time recording unit adding a new pulse to memory each time the time recording unit calculates the current time basis. The time recording unit may use, for example, a 1 Hz oscillator circuit, in which case the time basis is one (1) second and here a new pulse is added once per second. The electronic circuit clock of the recording device is arranged such that one pulse is added every second while vibration is in progress. Thus, the operating time can be recorded in memory 32. The number of pulses K is stored in the memory unit 32. The total number of cycles is then the total time that the recording device has registered the time. Other time criteria can be used, such as 0.5 to 10 s. The time criterion is selected based on how accurate the measurement is to be made of how long the drill has been in use. A time basis with a different purpose, such as time between two maintenance intervals, may also be used. Since the current of the piezoelectric generator 36 is utilized as the operating current of the recorder 28 while the drill is active, the recorder is arranged to record time only when the piezoelectric generator is operating the recorder. When drilling stops and therefore vibrations stop, the calculator stops due to a lack of energy, i.e., the piezoelectric generator stops generating electrical energy. Because the memory is of static type, non-volatile, the memory retains the last stored value when the voltage is lost. In this way, the total operating time can be stored as a drill machine parameter in the static memory.

In this case, the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system is used to read data such as drill machine parameters from the recorder memory 32. An RFID system consists of three components, an RFID unit: a transponder, an antenna, and a read unit. The antenna generates an electromagnetic field which vibrates at a specific frequency. The field activates and uses a transponder that transmits a unique code that is captured by the antenna. The reading unit translates and interprets the signal and displays it, for example, on the reading screen. The transponder consists of a small antenna in the housing and a logic unit, such as a microchip (IC chip).

The recorder then also comprises an RFID unit 42 having a transponder 43 and an antenna 46. In this case, the hole is drilled into the bolt / housing and the antenna 46 is mounted in the hole. The antenna 46 is, for example, copper wire or something with similar characteristics. In order to obtain a greater range for the RFID unit, the antenna is galvanically isolated from the rest of the enclosure. In this case, the RFID system also includes a non-shown handheld unit. The handheld unit comprises an antenna, a logic unit, a read unit, and a memory. The handheld unit uses RFID technology.

As the recorder is read, for example, when reading a drill machine parameter such as operating time T, transponder 43 is activated on the RFID unit 42 of the recorder by an antenna signal received from a handheld unit. The handheld unit then transmits both the data signal and a sufficiently large amount of energy to activate the RFID unit 42 so that it can transmit data before it is power-free again. This technology allows the memory to be read and programmed by the recorder without simultaneously supplying its own energy, but instead receiving energy with the antenna signal transmitted from an external handheld unit. Thus, the drill machine parameters can be read, even if the drill machine is not active, so that the piezoelectric crystal uses a recording device. The RFID unit 42 then retrieves information such as drill machine parameters, such as operating time T, from the memory via the I / O unit (read / write unit) and the antenna 46 and sends it to the handheld unit.

Figure 3B shows an axial sectional view of another embodiment of the recording device 28b. What distinguishes this embodiment from the above is that several time recording units are included in the same electronic circuit. These can be used for different things, e.g., time recorder 38B, which can be reset, and time recorder 38C, which cannot be reset.

The number of memory locations 32a-32c may also be increased in the memory unit. Further, the number of time recording units 38a-38c may be increased. For example, a memory location can be defined so that it cannot be reset where the usage time is stored. One or more memory locations 32a-32c are used to store drill machine parameters M1, M2, M3, such as time between service, time spent on a particular machine part, etc. Further, memory locations 32a-32c can be used to store other drill machine parameters such as service interval, customer authentication, drill identification etc. The RFID unit may also be used to program the memory unit with other information in addition to the operating time, e.g., drill machine identity, customer, date, maintenance interval, and drilling device type.

A pressure transducer 48 may also be provided in the hydraulic impact mechanism circuit which is connected to an electrical circuit, such as a piezo-electric pressure transducer. To allow the sensor to detect, for example, the impact machine pressure in the hydraulic system of the impact machine, a hole connecting the hydraulic system to a sensor at a suitable location in the drill machine 14 is drilled. The location of the sensor in the drill is important and is preferably selected so that drilling an extra hole is a simple operation in the production of the drill. The pressure sensor detects the hydraulic oil pressure in the stroke gear circuit and this is stored as an additional drill machine parameter in memory. The pressure transducer is then connected to an internal logic unit 31 in the register unit 30. This allows the detected frequency and pressure measurement values to calculate and document the current frequency, impactor pressure, impact energy, output power and operating time, and to store this information in memory M3. The po-blade parameters are registered in the control system of the drilling rig. By utilizing the sampling theorem and recording the impactor pressure at at least twice the impactor frequency, it is possible to record the current impactor frequency at each time.

By connecting a plurality of sensors conveniently located in the drill machine to the sensors of the recording apparatus of the invention, it is also possible to register other drill machine parameters such as current damping pressure and / or rotational speed, such that the sensor is suitably positioned on the hydraulic motor. Another sensor may also be provided to detect atmospheric pressure from the lubricating oil circuit. Recognition and recording of many different drill machine parameters makes it easier for the user to perform field tests and follow-up maintenance.

Embodiments of combinations or portions of the above embodiments are also possible.

FIG. 4A illustrates how a user 60 reads a recording device 28c of the same type as the recording device described above with the aid of a handheld unit 62 as mentioned above. The user 60 is standing very close to the drilling device 10, which is not shown in its entirety. In this case, the user reads, programs or updates information stored in the memory of the recording device 28c, such as the drill machine parameters described above, with the handheld unit 62 via wireless data transmission via RFID technology. The reading distance in this case is limited to <10 m. The handheld unit 62 is further adapted to our purpose by providing it with a specific user program.

For radio frequency identification, the electronic tagging is performed on the RFID unit by a unique code stored in its memory. The code can be read by a handheld unit by means of an antenna 63 arranged in the handheld unit. The recorder can be read via wireless communication regardless of the activation level of the impulse generating device, since the transponder receives energy from the radio signal.

Figure 4B shows a handheld unit 62 shown in Figure 4A. The handheld unit comprises a logical unit 64 for controlling the unit, a memory unit 65 for storing data to be transmitted or received, an antenna 63, an RFID circuit 70, and an I / O unit comprising a keyboard 72 and a display 74.

Figure 5A schematically illustrates a method according to the invention in the form of a block diagram.

Position 100 indicates the beginning of the sequence.

Position 110 activates the registration unit.

Position 120 registers that the impact mechanism is active.

Position 130 indicates registration of the drilling machine parameter.

Position 140 indicates the storage of the drill machine parameter.

Position 150 indicates completion of the sequence.

Figure 5B schematically illustrates a method according to the invention in the form of a block diagram.

Position 200 indicates the beginning of the sequence.

Position 210 indicates activation of the registration unit.

Position 220 indicates receipt of a query to read a drill machine parameter in memory.

Position 230 indicates the transmission of the drill machine parameter stored in the memory.

Position 240 indicates termination of the sequence.

Claims (15)

A recording device (28a-28c) for mounting on a rock drill (14), wherein the recording device is arranged to register at least one drilling machine parameter (T, M1-M3) when drilling rock (17), characterized in that the recording device comprises an internal generator, which supplies power to the recorder when the rock drill is active and a directional sensor (35) arranged to detect that the drill vibrates in its axial longitudinal direction (R), wherein the recorder comprises means for registering the first drill parameter as the time (T) oscillates in its axial longitudinal direction (R), and that the recording device further comprises a transponder (43) arranged to temporarily supply power to the recording device via an external radio signal. The recording device (28a-28c) of claim 1, wherein the direction sensor (35) comprises a piezoelectric sensor. The recording device (28a-28c) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein said generator comprises a piezo-electric generator (36). The recording device (28a-28c) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording device is coupled to a piezoelectric pressure sensor (48) arranged in a rock drill and adapted to detect impact engine pressure, wherein the recorder is arranged to register said impact engine pressure as a second drill machine parameter (M1-M3). The recording device (28a-28c) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recording device is incorporated in the shell part (22c) of the rock drilling machine (14). The recording device (28a-28c) according to claim 5, wherein the recording device is incorporated in the fastening device (28). Method for recording at least one drill machine parameter with a recorder (28a-28c) arranged in a drill while drilling rock, characterized in that - the recorder (28a-28c) is powered by an internal generator when the rock drill (14) is active, ) oscillates in its axial longitudinal direction (R), - registering as the first drill machine parameter the time period (T) that the tilting machine (14) oscillates in its axial longitudinal direction (R), and transmitting the transponder (43) included in the recording device (28a-28c); to the recording equipment by means of energy from an external radio signal. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises registering said vibrations with a piezoelectric sensor (35). A method according to any one of claims 7-8, wherein a piezo-electric generator (36) is provided to the recording device (28a-28c) to convert said oscillations into an electrical voltage. The method of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the recording device (28a-28c) is coupled to a piezoelectric pressure sensor (48) arranged on the rock drill (14) and adapted to detect impact machine pressure, wherein the recording device (28a-28c) is configured to register said impact machine pressure. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said registered time period (T) or the corresponding registered punching machine pressure is read by wireless communication. A computer program, the program comprising a program code for controlling a method according to any one of claims 7 to 10. A computer readable medium having a computer program stored, the computer program being designed to cause the logical unit to perform the steps of any one of claims 7 to 10. A rock drill (14) comprising a recording device (28a-28c) according to claims 1-6. A drilling device (10) comprising a rock drilling machine (14) according to claim 14. claim