US2747610A - Controlling devices for rock drill feeding mechanisms - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1956 J. A. LARCEN Er Al. 2,747,610

CGNTROLLING DEVICES FOR ROCK DRILL FEEDING MECHANISMS original Filed July 19, 1949v INVENToRs. JAN AUGUST LARCEN SVEN LAURENTIUS YTTERFORS United States Patent O CGNTRLLING DEVICES FOR ROCKDRILL FEEBING MECHANISMS an August Larcen, Stockholm, and Sven Laurentius Ytterfers, Steinsberg, Nacka, Sweden, assiguors to Aktiebolaget Atlas Diesel, Nacka,V Sweden, a corporation of Sweden rlgiaai application July 19, 1949, Serial No. 105,640, new ateat No. 2,617,388, dated November 11, 19572. Divided and this application January 5, 1952, Serial No. 265,132

4 Claims. (Cl. 137-621?) This invention is a division of our co-pending patent application Ser. No. 105,640, tiled Iuly 19, 1949, now

U. S. Patent 2,617,388, and relates to controlling devices for rock drill feeding mechanisms. Such a feeding mechanism may, for instance, consist of an expausible pressure fluid operated feed leg and means on said feed leg for supporting a rock drill thereon.

One object of the invention is to provide a controlling device which is adjustable for different feed pressures. Another object of the invention is to provide a controlling device in which adjustment of a valve provided in the controlling device may be maintained irrespective of the shocks to which the controlling device is subjected during operation of the rock drill. A further object of thev invention is to provide a controlling device which is cheapV and simple in manufacture and permits quick and simple operationV and adjustment of a feeding mechanism according to prevaihng conditions.

Further objects of the invention Willbe. apparent from the following description and the claims.

in the accompanying drawings one embodiment of a controlling device according to the invention is illustrated by wav of example. lt should be understood, however, that the invention isY not limited to the embodiment described hereinbelow and may be modified in several diierent ways withinthe scope of the claims.

Fig. l is a longitudinalY section through a controlling device according to the invention anda portion of a feeding mechanism to whichitis attached. Fig. 2 is a, side elevation and partial section of a: handle forming a part ofthe. controllingdevice according to'Fig. l, and. Fig. 3 is a section onlinelillllinfig. 2.

By way of example the controlling device according, to the invention illustrated in the drawings is provided on a detachable feeding mechanism such asa feed leg comprising a piston rod 8 and a cylinder Qhaving a piston (not shown) movable therein and carriedby one end ofthe piston rod S'which at its opposite endvmay support a rock drill. NaturallyV the controlling device accordingrto the invention may also be provided on the cylinder of a feed leg or another feedingrmechanism as the case may be and itv should be understood thattheinvention is notzlimited to the Yuse ofthe controlling device on any particular feeding mechanism.

The controlling device consists of a housing or block comprising a body portion 13 and a sleeve like portion 20 forming a handle. Pressure fluid is supplied to the housing through a hose connection 14 screwed into the body portion 13 and communicating with a rst passage 15 leading to a chamber 15 in the body portion 13. From the chamber 16 a second passage 17, 1S leads to an annular groove 12 over an intermediate chamber 19, said groove 12 being formed in the piston rod 8 and communicating through a passage with the interior of the feed cylinder 9. The handle portion 2i) of the housing has internal screw threads 7 and extends from the body portion 13 substantially perpendicularly to the piston rod 8. The

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outer end of the handle portion 20 has secured therein a bushing 21 the outer end of which is partially enclosed within a knob 22. The knob 22 is secured to a spindle 23 forming a rotatable member for controlling a valve in the housing and carries a screw 24 meshing with the internal screw'threads 7 in the sleeve 20 with so much play that air may escape along said threads from the chamber 16 as will be described hereinbelow. A spring 25 is dis.- posed in a bore 26 in the spindle 23, said spring serving to push a pressure reduction valve member 27 towards a seat 6 formed atV the opening of the first passage 15 in the chamber 16. A stem 28 carrying said valve member is slideable in the bore 264 and it is easily understood that the pressure of the uid in the chamber 16 whichcommunicates with the cylinder of the feed leg through the passages 17, 13, 10 is reduced with respect to the pressure of the live air in the passage 15 an` amount corresponding to the amount the screw 24 is` screwed out by means of the knob 22. When the screw 24 is screwed all the way down by means of the spindle 23 an end face 5 of the spindle 23-engages an abutment 4 on the valve member 27 and forces the valve member towards the seat 6.

The control member for the valve may be arrested in diierent positions of adjustment by a toothed coupling provided inv the handle portion 20. For this purpose the bushing 21 is provided with radial teeth 29 at the inner end surface of the bushing, saidk teethV cooperating with radial teeth 3i) on a member 31 which is rotatable and axially displaceable within thezhandle portion 20. The member 31 consequently forms aA coupling with the toothed end of theV bushing 21. The member 31 is in constant engagement with a member 32fthrough two claws 33 on the member 32 engaging two corresponding re cesses 34m the member 31. A spring 35 is inserted between an abutment 3 in the handle portion 20 and an abutment 2 on. the member 31 andthe spring 35 consequently acts to bring the teeth 30 into engagement with the teeth 29, so that the knob 22 and spindle 23 are arrested in any position of adjustment. Air leaking from the chamber 16- along the threads of the screw 24 may flow through bores 36in the spindle 23 through a passage 37 the opening of whichv is controlled by the spring loaded ball'valve 3S, furthermore, through openings 43 to a space 44 and the atmosphere. A rod 45 is loosely fitted between the stem 28Y and the ball valve 33. A, packing 39- prevents air leakage aroundthe-spindle 23, and asv soon as the screw 24 is` screwed-out such. a distancethat the-'valve27 is open the spring load on the ball. valve-38 forcesv said valve to seated position inwhich the ball-valve prevents air leakage from the chamber 16 to the atmosphere, by closing the passage 37;

A spring loaded ball type release valve 41)Y actuated by apush button- 41 is'disposed in the intermediate chamber l'and upon actuationY of saidpush button 41- opensa third passageV 42. through which air may escape from the cylim der ofthe feed leg to theat-mosphere irrespective of the position-taken bythe knobZZIandsvalve 27., It is obvious that the controlling device above described permits very simple control of the fluid flow from the passage 15 to the feeding mechanism, and that the valve member 27 may be moved from positively closed position as illustrated in the drawings to various open positions in which the tension of the spring 25 is set by means of the knob 22 and defines the amount of pressure reduction in every position. It is also obvious that pressure release in the feeding mechanism may easily be obtained at any setting of the valve 27 by pressing the button 41. It is nally obvious that pressure is released from the feeding mechanism when the screw 24 and valve member 27 is screwed all the way down. All these operations may be carried out with one hand of an operator holding the handle portion 20.

3 What we claim is: Y 1. A controlling device for rock drill feeding mechanisms comprising a housing separate from the drill, a first passage in said housing for supplying pressure Huid, aV

second passage in the housing for conveying pressure fluid from the housing to the feeding mechanism, a third passage in the housing for conveying pressure iiuid from the feeding mechanism to the atmosphere, an automatically closing spring actuated release valve in said third passage operable from the exterior of the housing to open the third passage for releasing fluid pressure in the feeding mechanism, a control valve in the housing operable from closed position to different open positions to control the flow of pressure Huid from said tirst passage to said second passage and acted upon in opening direction by the fluid pressure in the first passage, a spring acting on said valve in closing direction, a member rotatable in the housing for controlling the tension of said spring, a screw thread in the housing, a screw member forming an abutment for said control valve and engaging said screw thread and f operable by turning of said rotatable member to change the tension of said spring acting on the control valve, a coupling between said rotatable member and the housing comprising toothed members one of which being locked against rotation in the housing and the other rotatable together with said control member, a spring actuating one of said toothed members to bring it into engagement with said other toothed member in various positions of the rotatable member.

2. A controlling device forrock drill feeding mechanisms comprising a housing separate from the drill, a iirst passage in said housing for supplying pressure iiuid, a second passage in the housing for conveying pressure fluid from the housing to the feeding mechanism, a third passage in the housing for conveying pressure uid from the ,feeding mechanism to the atmosphere, an automatically pressure uid from the housing to the feeding mechanism, a main valve in the housingfoperable from closed position to different open positions to control the ilow of pressure uid from said rst passage to said second passage and acted upon in opening direction by the uid pressure in the first passage, a spring acting on said main valve in closing direction against said uid pressure, a rotatable handle on the housing accessible from the exterior of the housing during operation for controlling the tension of said spring, and coupling means between said handle and the housing comprising a non-rotatable coupling portion Y in the housing and a coupling portion rotatable with said handle, spring means for urging said coupling portions into engagement, said coupling portions being mutually movable against spring pressure in the handle to permit engagement and disengagement of said non-rotatable and said rotatable coupling portion and thereby arresting or releasing the handle in different positions f adjustment for setting the tension of the main valve actuating spring.

4. A valve block for rock drill feeding mechanisms comprising a housing separate from the drill, a first passage in said housing for supplying pressure fluid to the housing, a second passage in the housing for conveying pressure liuid from the housing to the feeding mechanism, a main valve in the housing operable from closed position to different open positions to control the flow of pressure tiuid from said irst passage to said second passage and the pressure of the iiuid in the second passage, a rotatable closing release valve in said third passage operable from the exterior of the housing to open said third passage to permit escape of pressure fluid from the feeding mechanism to the vatmosphere upon actuation of lsaid release valve, a main valve in the housing operable from closed position to different open positions to control the flow of pressure iiuid from said iirst passage to said second passage and acted upon by the pressure fiuid,'a spring acting on said main valve against the pressure fluid, a rotatable handle on the housing accessible from the exterior ofthe housing during operation for controlling the tension of said spring, and coupling means between said handle and the housing comprising a non-rotatable member in the housing and a member rotatable with said handle, spring means for urging said members into engagement, said members being mutually movable against spring pressure axially of the elongated handle in engaging and disengaging said non-rotatable member and thereby Aarresting or releasing the handle in different positions of adjustment for setting the tension of the main valve actuating spring. 3. A controlling device for rock drill feeding mechanisrns comprising Va housing separate from the drill, a rst passage in said housing for supplying pressure fluid to the housing, a second passage in the housing for conveying handle on the housing accessible from the exterior of the housing during operation for setting said main valve in various positions of adjustment, means for Vsecuring said valve block on the feeding mechanism, and coupling means between said handle and the housing comprising a non-rotatable coupling portion in the housing and a cou-V pling portion rotatable with said handle, one of said coupling portions being provided with groove means eX- tending radially of said handle and the other coupling portion with matching cam means, said coupling portions being mutually movable to permit engagement and disengagement of said cam and groove means and thereby arresting or releasing the handle in different positions of adjustment for setting said main valve.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,586 Shackleton Dec. l, 1868 394,424 Wilkinson Dec. 11, 1888 905,745 Orr Dec. 1, 1908 1,044,106 Vidar Nov. 12, 1912 1,095,105 Goodwin Apr. 28, 1914 1,108,245 Schebler Aug. 25, 1914 1,138,338 Whitney' May 4, 1915 1,287,126 Smith Dec. 10, 1918 1,641,892 Lane Q Sept. 6, 1927 2,039,638 l Druge May 5, 1936 2,075,341 Goodman Mar. 30, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,006 Great Britain 1882

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