GB1441538A - Pipe handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1441538 Boring earth &c RUSTON-BUCYRUS Ltd 7 Oct 1974 [10 Oct 1973] 43406/74 Heading E1F A drill pipe rack for holding a drill pipe in an earth drilling machine includes a strut 18 carrying a socket 19 to receive one end of the drill pipe and retainer 20 consisting of two jaws articulated on a common pivot. As described the mast 5 of a mobile rotary blast hole drilling machine is provided with three drill pipe racks 15, 16, 17 each movable between a storage position (shown in full line in Fig. 2) and a position over a drill hole (shown dotted Fig. 2). Each rack is secured to the mast 5 by parallel links 21, 25 (Fig. 3) and is moved between its two positions by hydraulic ram 29. Each rack can be locked in its storage position by a latch 32 operated by pneumatic ram 37, the control mechanisms for rams 29, 37 being interlocked so that latch 32 is always released before the rack moves out of its storage position. The bottom end of drill pipe 13 is screwed into socket 19 and the top end of pipe 13 is retained by a pair of jaws 63, 64 mounted on a common pivot 69. The jaws 63, 64 are biassed to their open position by springs 72, 73 (Fig. 5) acting on rearward extensions 70, 71 of the jaws 63, 64, and, when open, the inner ends 66, 68 of the jaws project into the space defined by the jaws (shown dotted Fig. 5) so that when a drill pipe is moved into the jaws they automatically close about the pipe. The jaws 63, 64 are locked in their closed positions by a locking wedge 81 (Fig. 6) which is urged between extensions 70, 71 by a compression spring 84. The wedge 81 is lowered to open the jaws by an air motor 62 acting through piston rod 85 and slide 82. The motor 62 is controlled by a valve (not shown) operated by a sensor 50 (Fig. 3) mounted on the socket 19 so that the jaws are automatically opened or closed as a pipe 13 is screwed out of or into the socket 19.