US3744577A

US3744577A - Earth boring machine with a readily replaceable drill rod chuck

Info

Publication number: US3744577A
Application number: US00185603A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Williams
Original assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
Current assignee: Tamrock Canada Inc
Priority date: 1971-10-01
Filing date: 1971-10-01
Publication date: 1973-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-10

Abstract

Rotary, compressive and tensile forces are transmitted through a replaceable chuck to a rotary drill string to bore a large diameter hole by initially drilling a small diameter hole and subsequently enlarging the small diameter hole into the desired large diameter hole with a reaming operation. The drill string is rotated with rotary drilling equipment mounted upon a movable carriage. The uppermost drill rod of the drill string is connected to the main drive spindle of the rotary drilling equipment by the replaceable chuck. A pair of cap screws and a clamp ring allow the replaceable chuck to be easily and quickly removed from the main drive spindle. Rotary force from the main drive spindle is transmitted to the replaceable chuck by a square recess on the main drive spindle that mates with a raised square on the replaceable chuck. The replaceable chuck is provided with an axial floating action for make up and break out of the threaded connection between the drill stem and the replaceable chuck. A register pilot on the replaceable chuck mates with a pilot recess on the main drive spindle to provide alignment.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 7 1111 3,744,577

Williams 1 July 10, 1973 l EARTH BORING MACHINE WITH A [57] ABSTRACT READILY REPLACEABLE DRILL ROD Rotary, compressive and tensile forces are transmitted CHUCK through a replaceable chuck to a rotary drill/string to [75 Inventor: Raymond Leroy Williams, bore a large diameter hole by initially drilling a small Beaumont, diameter hole and subsequently enlarging the small diameter hole into the desired large diameter hole with Asslgneel Dreiser Industries, u Dallas, a reaming operation. The drill string is rotated with rotary drilling equipment mounted upon a movable car- [22] Flled' 1971 riage. The uppermost drill rod of the drill string is conl l PP N05 185,603 nected to the main drive spindle of the rotary drilling equipment by the replaceable chuck. A pair of cap 52 Us. (:1 173/163, 64/1, 175/170, Screws and a Clamp ring allow the replaceable chuck 287/130 be easily and quickly removed from the main drive 511 1m. (:1 E2lb 17/046 spindle- Rmary fmce the main drive Spindle is 58 Field of Search 173/163, 164, 152-158; transmitted replaceable chuck by a Square recess 175/52 5 122 170. 4/1. 2 7/111 113 130 on the main drive spindle that mates With a raised square on the replaceable chuck. The replaceable l 56] References Cited chuck is provided with an axial floating action for make up and break out of the threaded connection between 3 343 612 I J PATENTS 173" the drill stern and the replaceable chuck. A register owers 1 p1lot on the replaceable chuck mates with a p1lot recess ii on the main drive spindle to provide alignment. 3:463:24? 8/1969 Klein 175/85 x Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser 18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures A ttdrney-Robert W. Mayer, Eddie E. Scott et al.

PATENIEUJUL 1 mm SHEU 1 0F 2 FIG. 3

FIG. I

INVENTORI RAYMOND L. WILLIAMS FIG. 2

ATTORNEY PATENTEB 1 01975 SHEET 2 [If 2 FIG. 4

' INVENTORY RAYMOND .L. W/LLIAM$ ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the art of earth boring and more particularly to a drill rod chuck that may be easily and quickly replaced and will withstand large axial and torque loads.

This invention has special utility in a raise drilling system wherein the raise hole boring operation proceeds by the drilling of a relatively small pilot hole followed by enlargement of the pilot hole to the desired size. Raise drilling operations require a wide range of drilling speeds and torques. For example, when drilling the pilot hole, a small diameter bit is used and rotated at high speed with low torque. When the pilot hole is being enlarged into the large diameter raise hole, a much larger bit is connected to the drill string and the drill string is rotated at slow speed with high torque. The pilot hole drilling operation places a compressive axial load upon the drill string and the raise operation wherein the pilot hole is being enlarged into a large diameter hole places a tensile load upon the drill string.

It will therefore be appreciated that the chuck used to connect the drill string to the rotary drilling equipment must be strong and durable to withstand the wide variety of loads imposed upon it. In addition, the connection between the drill string and the rotary drilling equipment must be failure proof to insure that the large diameter raise bit and the drill string will not be dropped when enlarging the pilot hole into a large diameter hole. The dropping of the large diameter bit and the drill string would not only result in damage to the equipment but would create a serious safety hazard. The large diameter bit and the drill string falling downward through the portion of the large diameter hole that has already been bored travels with a great amount of force and any personnel working below would be in danger.

The threads of the chuck that connect the uppermost drill rod of the drill string to the rotary drilling equipment may become worn or damaged during the drilling operation through the repeated make up and break out of the drill string. As previously explained, the high loads imposed upon the chuck during the drilling operation and the dangers involved in dropping the drill string are great and any weakness in the system must be avoided. Therefore, once the threads in the chuck become worn or damaged, the chuck must be replaced. Because of the large expense involved in this type of a drilling operation, the time the equipment is not drilling must be kept to a minimum. It is therefore important that a removable chuck be-provided that is easily and quickly replaceable. When providing a replaceable chuck, it is desirable to provide a chuck that has few intricate parts that require time-consuming adjustments and handling. In addition, the chuck is subjected to corrosive forces during the drilling operation such as dust that accumulates in the working parts and drilling fluid that contacts the working parts. The rotary drilling equipment is generally positioned in the confines of a mine and the chuck must be adaptable to being changed with a limited amount of access and without requiring the use of large tools.

It is also highly desirable to be able to reduce the ex penses involved in manufacturing the drilling equipment. This means that the elements of the equipment should be of a simple design and adaptable to being manufactured according to less expensive manufacturing operations. This is particularly true for a replaceable element of the drilling equipment such as the replaceable chuck. The chuck is only used until it becomes worn or damaged. It is then replaced by a new chuck and the drilling operation continued.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART A general summary of raise drilling is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,494 to R. E. Cannon, et al., patented Nov. 30, 1965. A large diameter raise hole is produced between two levels of a mine by positioning rotary drilling equipment at the upper level of the mine and drilling a small pilot hole from the upper level of the mine to a mine level below. The small diameter pilot bit is then removed from the drill string and a large diameter raise cutter head or raise bit attached to the drill string. The pilot hole is enlarged to the desired size by rotating and hydraulically raising the raise bit along the pilot hole.

In U. S. Pat. No. 3,463,247 to H. T. Klein, patented Aug. v26, 1969, a system for connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment and for breaking out the sections of the drill string from the rotary drilling equipment is shown. This system includes a drive head that is connected to the rotary drilling equipment. A collar having internal threads is positioned within the drive head for engaging the threads on the upper portion of the drill string. The drive head and collar are locked to the rotary drilling equipment by a series of bolts. A series of splines transmit torque from the drive head to the internal collar.

The system shown in the Klein patent has the disadvantage of the bolts and the splines tending to shear during the drilling operation. Since the bolts connect two flat surfaces together, the sharp angular edges of the surfaces produce a shearing force on the bolts under the high torque load. The bolts are also subjected to high tensile loads and are subject 'to failure. When the large diameter bit is being moved along the pilot hole during the raising operation, the bolts are sub jected to both the weight of the entire drill string and the large load that is placed upon the bit to move it along the pilot hole and ream the pilot hole into a large diameter hole.

This system also has the disadvantage of the bolts tending to become loose during the drilling operation. The bolts must therefore be periodically tightened and failure to do so may result in the dropping of the drill string.

When it becomes necessary to change the internal collar because the collar has become'worn or damaged, all of the bolts must be undone and the head removed. A new collar is inserted and the bolts are replaced and tightened. This requires a considerable amount of time and difficulty. It can also be appreciated that the corrosive environmental conditions of the mine may make the loosening and tightening of a large number of bolts very difi'icult. The large number of bolts and splines are also quite expensive to manufacture.

In U. S. Pat. No. 3,490,546 to .l. S. Hattrup, et al., patented Jan. 20, 1970, a drilling machine for use in small tunnels is shown. This machine includes a connector with internal threads that allows the drill string to be connected to the rotary drilling equipment. The connector has an upper ball portion with an outer spherical v surface that mates with the inner spherical surface on a bell element connected to the main shaft of the rotary drilling equipment. A retainer bolts the bell element to the output shaft of the rotary drilling equipment and a series of splines are positioned to transmit rotary torque from the bell to the connector. This system for connecting the drill stem to the rotary drilling equipment of the machine has all of the disadvantages associated with the connecting system mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a replaceable chuck that will eliminate stress failures in connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment. The chuck may easily and quickly be removed from the rotary drilling equipment and a new chuck attached to replace a chuck that has become worn or damaged or for inserting a new chuck of a different size to allow the use of drill string components of various sizes. Rotary torque is transmitted from the main drive spindle of the rotary drilling equipment to the chuck by an angular protrusion adapted to mate with a matching angular recess. Axial forces are transmitted from the main drive spindle to the chuck by a clamp ring positioned around the spindle and the chuck. The clamp ring is locked in place by at least one replaceable locking element. A register pilot allows the chuck to be easily positioned in axial alignment with the drill string and the main drive spindle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a chuck for connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment that may easily and quickly be replaced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chuck for connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment that is easily aligned with the drill string and the main drive spindle when it is being replaced.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a chuck for connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment that will eliminate stress failures.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a chuck for connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment that will transmit high torque loads from the rotary drilling equipment to the drill string.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a chuck for connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment that will transmit high tensile loads from the rotary drilling equipment to the drill string.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a chuck for connecting a rotary drill string to rotary drilling equipment that will allow a limited amount of axial movement of the chuck relative to the rotary drilling equipment.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of an earth boring machine with a replaceable chuck constructed in accordance with the present invention connecting a rotary drill string to the rotary drill equipment of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the replaceable chuck that connects the drill string to the main drive spindle of the rotary drilling equipment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the replaceable chuck shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the replaceable chuck of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the replaceable chuck shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, shown therein and generally designated by the reference number 10 is an earth boring machine. The rotary drilling equipment of the machine is held in place by a pair of support columns (one column 12 being shown in FIG. 1) pivotally mounted upon a base 14 by a pair of hinges (one hinge 16 being shown in FIG. 1). The supports are held in position by at least one brace 18 which is connected between the base 14 and the upper portion of the support 12. The brace 18 is attached to the base 14 by a connection 20, and to the upper portion of the support 12 by a connection 22. A means of adjusting the length of brace 18 is provided consisting of a threaded sleeve 24 that is connected with threaded portions of the brace 18. When the sleeve 24 is rotated in one direction the length of the brace 18 will be shortened and when the sleeve 24 is rotated in the other direction, the length of the brace 18 will be extended. A movable carriage 26 is positioned between the pair of support columns and adapted to travel along the support columns. A main thrust cylinder 28 is connected to the movable carriage 26 and has a piston rod connected to the base member 14 by a hinge. The rotary drilling equipment consisting of a power assembly 30 and a transmission 32 are mounted upon the movable carriage 26. Actuation of the main thrust cylinder 28 causes the carriage and the associated rotary drilling equipment to move either up or down along the support columns.

When drilling a large diameter hole, the earth boring machine 10 is positioned at one level in a mine. The uppermost drill rod of a rotary drill string 34 is connected to the rotary drilling equipment by a chuck 36. A small diameter pilot bit connected to the drill string 34 is rotated by the power assembly 30 through transmission 32, chuck 36 and drill string 34. Axial force is applied to the drill string by the thrust cylinder 28 and the pilot bit is rotated and moved downward to form a small diameter pilot hole. When the thrust cylinder 28 reaches its lowest position, a new drill rod must be added to the drill string. This may be accomplished according to the system shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,446,284 to N. D. Dyer, et al., patented May 27, I969. The drill string 34 is disengaged from the chuck 36 and an additional drill rod is positioned between the chuck 36 and the drill string 34. The upper threads of the new drill rod are engaged with the threads on the chuck 36 and the lower threads of the new drill rod are engaged with the drill string 34.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the chuck 36 is shown in greater detail. The chuck 36 consists of a lower portion having internal threads 38 adapted to mate with the external threads 40 on the uppermost drill rod of the drill string 34. The upper portion of the chuck 36 includes a raised cylindrical register pilot 42 that protrudes upward and is adapted to mate with a cylindrical pilot recess 44 in the main drive spindle 46 of the earth boring machine 10. A somewhat larger driving square 48 protrudes upward from the upper portion of the chuck 36 and is adapted to mate with a square driving recess 50 in the main drive spindle 46 of the earth boring machine 10. Rotary torque is transmitted from the main drive spindle 46 to the chuck by the driving square 48 and the matching square driving recess 50. The rotary torque of course is then transmitted to the drill string 34 through the matching

threads

38 and 40. The register pilot 42 provides centering and axial alignment between the main drive spindle 46 and the chuck 36 when the chuck 36 is being mounted upon the main drive spindle 46. A central passage 51 allows drilling fluid to be pumped through the main drive spindle 46, the chuck 36 and the drill string 34.

Tensile force is transmitted from the main drive spindle 46 to the chuck 36 by a clamp ring 52 having an upper flange 54 and a lower flange 56. The upper flange 54 fits into a groove 58 on the main drive spindle 46, and the lower flange 56 fits into a groove 60 on the chuck 36. The clamp ring 52 thereby transmits the axial load from the main drive spindle 46 to the chuck 36 and the axial load is then transmitted to the drill string 34 by the matching

threads

38 and 40.

A top view of the chuck 36 and clamp ring 52 is shown in FIG. 3. The clamp ring 52 is divided into two separate semi-circular clamp ring sections 52' and 52". The two clamp ring sections 52' and 52" are connected by a pair of

cap screws

62 and 62. It is therefore very simplevto remove the chuck 36 by loosening the cap screws 62 and 62 thereby allowing the two

sections

52 and 52" of the clamp ring 52 to be withdrawn from the

grooves

58 and 60. A new chuck is positioned below spindle 46 and the register pilot 42 moved into the pilot recess 44. This provides alignment of the new chuck and the main drive spindle 46. The new chuck can then be turned until the driving square on the new chuck moves into the square driving recess 50. The two sections 52' and 52" of the clamp ring 52 are again inserted into the groove on the new chuck and the groove 58 on the main drive spindle 46. The cap screws 62 and 62 are tightened to draw the two sections ofthe clamp ring together insuring a firm connection between the main drive spindle 46 and the new chuck.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the replaceable chuck of the present invention is shown. The chuck 64 in this embodiment consists of a lower portion having internal threads 66 adapted to mate the external threads 68 on a drill string 70. The upper portion of the chuck 64 includes a raised cylindrical register pilot 72 that protrudes upward and is adapted to mate with a cylindrical pilot recess 74 in the main drive spindle 76 of an earth boring machine. The somewhat larger driving square 78 protrudes upward from the upper portion of the chuck 64 and is adapted to mate with a square driving recess 80 in the main drive spindle 76 of the earth boring machine. The chuck 64 and the main drive spindle 76 do not abut against one another and a space is maintained to provide a limited amount of axial movement of the chuck 64 relative to the main drive spindle 76. This limited amount of axial movement of the chuck facilitates the make up and break out of the drill rod and prevents the internal threads 66 of the chuck 64 from becoming damaged.

Rotary torque is transmitted from the main drive spindle 76 to the chuck 64 by the driving square 78 and the matching square driving recess 80. The rotary torque, of course, is then transmitted to the drill string through the matching

threads

66 and 68. The register pilot 72 provides centering and axial alignment between the main drive spindle 76 and the chuck 64 when the chuck64 is being mounted upon the main drive spindle 76. A central passage 82 allows drilling fluid to be pumped through the main drive spindle 76, the chuck 64 and the drill string 70.

Tensile force is transmitted from the main drive spindle 76 to the chuck 64 by a clamp ring 84 having an upper flange 86 and a lower flange 88. The upper flange 86 fits into a groove 90 on the main drive spindle 76 and the lower flange 86 fits into a groove 92 on the chuck 64. The clamp ring 84 therefore transmits the axial load from the main drive spindle 76 to the chuck 64 and the axial load is then transmitted to the drill string 70 by the matching

threads

66 and 68.

A top view of the chuck 64 and clamp ring 84 is shown in FIG. 5. The clamp ring 84 is divided into two separate semicircular clamp ring sections 84' and The two clamp rings sections 84' and 84" are connected by a hinge 94. This allows the two clamp ring sections 84' and 84" to be pivoted away from each other about hinge 94 and removed from the

grooves

86 and 92. A cap screw 96 is provided to lock the two clamp ring sections 84' and 84" together once they have been positioned around the chuck 84 and spindle 76. It is therefore very simple to remove chuck 64 by loosening the cap screw 96 thereby allowing the two sections 84' and 84" of the clamp ring 84 to be separated and withdrawn from the grooves and 92. A new chuck is positioned below spindle 76 and the register pilot 72 moved into the pilot recess 74. This provides alignment of the new chuck and the main drive spindle 76. The new chuck can then be turned until the driving square 78 moves into the square driving recess 80. The two sections 84' and 84" of the clamp ring 84 are again inserted into the

grooves

90 and 92 and closed about the chuck 64 and the main drive spindle 76. The cap screw 96 is inserted to connect the sections of the clamp ring together. Rotary torque is transmitted from the main drive spindle 76 to the chuck 64 and at the same time a limited amount of axial movement of the chuck 64 relative to the main spindle 76 is provided.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as fol-' lows:

1. An apparatus for transmitting; rotary, compressive and tensile forces to a drill string to drill a large diameter hole,'comprising:

rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle, a motor for rotating said main drive spindle and means for moving said drive spindle axially;

first angular means on said drive spindle for transmitting rotary force, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle;

a repleaceable chuck including a connection for attaching the drill string;

second angular means on said replaceable chuck that cooperate with said first angular means for transmitting rotary force, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and, clamp means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting compressive and tensile forces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including alignment means for providing alignment between the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said alignment means includes a register pilot extending from the replaceable chuck and a pilot recess in the main drive spindle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said connection for attaching the drill string includes a set of threads on the rotary drill string and a matching set of threads on the replaceable chuck.

5. The apparatus of claim 4. wherein said set of threads on the rotary drill string is an external set of threads and the set of threads on the replaceable chuck is an internal set of threads.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said clamp means is a clamp ring with a pair of flanges that engage the main drive spindle and the replaceable chuck respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 6. wherein the clamp ring is divided into two semicircular ring elements that are connected by a pair of screws.

8. The apparatus of claim 6. wherein said clamp ring consists of a pair of semicircular portions connected by a hinge and a lock means.

9. The apparatus of claim 6. including floating means for allowing said replaceable chuck to float linearly relative to said main drive spindle.

10. An earth boring maching for drilling by the transmission of rotary and linear forces to a rotary drill string, comprising:

rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle with first angular means for transmitting rotary forces, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle;

a replaceable chuck with means for connecting the rotary drill string, said replaceable chuck having second angular means for transmitting rotary force that cooperate with said first angular means to transmit rotary force from said rotary drilling equipment to the drill string, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and,

clamp ring means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting linear force between the rotary drilling equipment and the drill string.

11. The earth boring machine of claim 10 wherein said means for connecting the rotary drill string to the rotary drilling equipment includes a set of threads on the rotary drill string and a matching set of threads on the replaceable chuck.

12. The earth boring machine of claim 11 wherein said set of threads on the rotary drill string is an external set of threads and the set of threads on the chuck is an internal set of threads.

13. The earth boring machine of claim 12 wherein said clamp ring means is a clamp ring with a pair of flangesthat engage the main drive spindle and the replaceable chuck respectively.

14. The earth boring machine of claim 13 wherein the clamp ring is divided into two semicircular ring elements that are connected by a pair of cap screws.

15. The earth boring machine of claim 13 wherein said clamp ring consists of a pair of semicircular portions connected by a hinge and a lock means.

16. The earth boring machine of claim 13 including floating means for allowing said replaceable chuck to float linearly relative to said main drive spindle.

17. The earth boring machine of claim 16 including alignment means for providing for alignment between the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle.

18. The earth boring machine of claim 17 wherein said alignment means includes a register pilot extending from the repleaceable chuck and a pilot recess in the main drive spindle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting rotary, compressive and tensile forces to a drill string to drill a large diameter hole, comprising: rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle, a motor for rotating said main drive spindle and means for moving said main drive spindle axially; first angular means on said main drive spindle for transmitting rotary force, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle; a replaceable chuck including a connection for attaching the drill string; second angular means on said replaceable chuck that cooperate with said first angular means for transmitting rotary force, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and, clamp means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting compressive and tensile forces.

10. An earth boring maching for drilling by the transmission of rotary and linear forces to a rotary drill string, comprising: rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle with first angular means for transmitting rotary forces, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle; a replaceable chuck with means for connecting the rotary drill string, said replaceable chuck having second angular means for transmitting rotary force that cooperate with said first angular means to transmit rotary force from said rotary drilling equipment to the drill string, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and, clamp ring means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting linear force between the rotary drilling equipment and the drill string.

13. The earth boring machine of claim 12 wherein said clamp ring means is a clamp ring with a pair of flanges that engage the main drive spindle and the replaceable chuck respectively.

18. The earth boring machine of claim 17 wherein said alignment means includes a register pilot extending from the replaceable chuck and a pilot recess in the main drive spindle.