ZA200901979B - Drill rig - Google Patents

Description

DRILL RIG di . DE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drill rig, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a drill rig suitable for use in drilling vertical holes in a roof of a mine stope or a travelling way for the installation of roof bolts.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many different drilling configurations and apparatus are known in the mining industry. One particular type of drill is referred to as a roof bolter, and comprises a drill configured to drill vertical holes (suitable for receiving roof bolts) in the roof of a mine stope or a travelling way.

A common problem experienced with existing roof bolters is that the accuracy of a hole drilled is often not sufficient. This is predominantly caused by the drill of the drill arrangement not being properly supported and aligned relative to the roof, especially considering the fact that the drill must be displaceable relative to the roof, and thus the stope, and as such a rig on which the drill is mounted cannot be a permanent fixture.

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It is foreseeable that an intricate but stable frame structure may be erected to stabilize and align the drill, but this will probably prove not to be a cost- effective solution.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a drill rig that will, at least partially, alleviate the above disadvantages.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drill rig that will be a useful alternative to existing drilling configurations and apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a drill rig, suitable for drilling vertical holes in a roof of a mine stope, the drill rig including: - a frame; - stabilising means located on the frame for stabilising the frame relative to the roof; and - a carriage assembly suitable for receiving a drill, the carriage assembly being displaceable relative to the frame.

The frame may include transportation means that allows the frame, and thus the drilling apparatus, to be easily displaceable along a floor of the stope or a travelling way. Preferably the transportation means is in the form of a set of wheels provided on the frame.

The stabilising means is preferably in the form of two piston and cylinder arrangements secured to the frame. More preferably, cylinders of the piston and cylinder arrangement are stationary relative to the frame, while pistons of the piston and cylinder arrangements are displaceable relative to the cylinders, and thus the frame.

There is provided for stabilising rods to extend from the pistons, and for ends of the stabilising rods to engage the roof of the stope when the pistons are displaced away from the cylinders, in so doing stabilising the frame relative to the roof of the stope.

According to a further feature of the invention the carriage assembly includes a carriage and a guiding arrangement.

The guiding arrangement is preferably in the form of two guide rails that are mounted on the frame, and the carriage may include complementary engagement formations adapted slideably to engage the guide rails.

There is also provided for the carriage to be displaced relative to the guide rails by way of a thrust imparting mechanism. The thrust imparting mechanism is preferably in the form of a telescoping cylinder arrangement.

According to a still feature of the invention there is provided for the frame, stabilising means and carriage assembly to be modular configuration.

There is further provided for the drill rig to be used in combination with a 5 pneumatic drill or a hydraulic drill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of a non-limiting example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drill rig in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a rear plan view of the drill rig of figure 1, with stabilising means thereof having been actuated;

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the drill rig of figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the drill rig of figure 2; and

Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the drill rig of figure 4.

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DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION a 2 0 0 J / 0 1 9 7 9

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like features, a drill rig is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The rig 10 is of modular configuration, and includes a frame 20, stabilising means 30 secured to the frame 20, and a carriage assembly 40 for receiving a drill 50.

The frame 20 of the rig 10 may be made of many different materials, but in this example is constructed from tubular elements that are secured to one another so as to form a housing for receiving both the stabilising means 30 and the carriage assembly 40. The frame includes a lower end 21, which in use abuts the floor of a stope or a travelling way in which the rig 10 is used, and an upper end 22, which in use faces the roof of a stope or a travelling way in which the rig 10 is used. Wheels 23 are provided on the frame 20 to allow for easy and manual transportation of the frame 20, and thus the entire rig 10.

The frame 20 also includes securing means 24 for receiving and securing the stabilising means 30 to the frame 20. The securing means 24 is in the form of planar sheets with suitable slots provided therein, but it will be appreciated that many different configurations will suffice. oo : The stabilising means 30 is in the form of two piston and cylinder arrangements 31, of which the cylinders 33 are secured to the frame 20 by way of the securing means 24 described above. The pistons 32 (best seen in

Figure 2) are displaceable relative to the cylinders 33, and terminate in end formations 35 that are forced into abutment with the roof of the stope when the piston and eylinder arrangements 31 are activated, thus stabilising the frame 20, and thus the rig 10, relative to the roof of the stope (not shown) in which a hole must be drilled. In the embodiment shown the stabilising means is hydraulically actuated, but it will be appreciated that it may also be pneumatically actuated. Although not a preferred embodiment, the stabilising means may also be manually driven, for example utilising a gearing arrangement.

The carriage assembly 40 includes a carriage 41 that is adapted to removably receive the drill 50, and which is also displaceable relative to the frame 20 in order for an elongate hole to be drilled in the roof of the stope when the carriage is displaced relative to the frame 20. More particularly, the carriage 41 is displaceable in a controlled and aligned manner relative to the frame 20, by sliding on guide rails 43 that are secured to the frame 20. The guide rails : 43 are substantially v-shaped in cross section. The carriage 41 includes engagement formations 44 that are configured and dimensioned snugly and precisely to engage and slide along the guide rails 43. This configuration ensures that the carriage 41 is accurately displaced relative to the frame 20, thus resulting in a more accurate hole being drilled.

To facilitate the drilling process, thrust imparting means are provided for displacing the carriage 41 relative to the frame 20. In this embodiment the thrust imparting means is in the form of a telescoping cylinder arrangement oo 8 45, which can be actuated so as to displace the carriage 41 relative to the frame 20.

In use, the rig 10 will be utilised to drill accurate and properly aligned holes in the roof of a stope or a travelling way. These holes will be drilled for the purpose of receiving roof bolts, and the drill rig and drill combination is therefore also referred to as a roof bolter.

Using the rig 10 will comprise the following steps: - positioning the rig in a suitable location using the wheels provided on the frame; - stabilising the rig by actuating the stabilising means; - | installing a drill in the carriage (which may also be done in advance); and - actuating the thrust imparting means so as to urge the carriage, and thus the drill, towards the roof of the stope.

The inventor believes that the improved drill rig will be easier to use when compared to existing technology, whilst the resultant holes drilled will also be more precise and accurate due to the stabilising means, and precision guiding system forming part of the drill rig 10.

There is also provided for the rig 10 to be of a modular arrangement, with the frame 20, stabilising means 30.and carriage assembly 40 being the three primary modules.

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It will be appreciated that the above is only one embodiment of the invention, and that there may be many variations without departing from the spirit and/or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (13)

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1. A drill rig, suitable for drilling vertical holes in a roof of a mining stope, the drill rig including a frame, stabilising means located on the frame for stabilising the frame relative to the roof, and a carriage assembly suitable for receiving a drill, the carriage assembly being displaceable relative to the frame.

2. A drill rig according to claim 1 wherein the frame includes transportation means that allow the frame, and thus the drilling apparatus, to be easily displaceable along a floor of the stope.

3. A drill rig according to claim 2 wherein the transportation means is in the form of a set of wheels provided on the frame.

4. A drill rig according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stabilising means is in the form of two piston and cylinder arrangements secured to the frame.

5. A drill rig according to claim 4 wherein the cylinders of the piston and cylinder arrangements are stationary relative to the frame, while pistons of the piston and cylinder arrangements are displaceable relative to the cylinders, and thus the frame.

6. A drill rig according to claim 5 wherein stabilising rods extend from the pistons, and ends of the stabilising rods being adapted to engage the roof of the stope when the pistons are displaced away from the cylinders, in so doing stabilising the frame relative to the roof of the stope.

7. A drill rig according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the carriage assembly includes a carriage and a guiding arrangement.

8. A drill rig according to claim 7 wherein the guiding arrangement is in the form of guide rails that are mounted on the frame, and the carriage includes complementary engagement formations adapted to slideably engage the guide rails.

9. Adrill rig according to claim 8 wherein the carriage is displaced relative to the guide rails by way of a thrust imparting mechanism.

10.A drill rig according to claim 9 wherein the thrust imparting mechanism is preferably in the form of a telescopic cylinder arrangement.

11.A drill rig assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame, stabilising means and carriage assembly is modular in configuration.

12.A drill rig assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, which can be used in combination with a pneumatic drill or a hydraulic drill.

13.A drill rig assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this oY) day of Mah Yoo] 2% / Agent for the Applicant