Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I NVENT I ON
The present invention relates to a drill rod
magazine, more specifically the invention relates to a
simplified drill rod magazine delivering drill rods to
operative position permitting coupllng and uncoupling of the
drill rods.
Background of the Present Invention
There are a variety of different drill rod
magazines for delivering drill rods to a drilling position.
For example, Canadian patent 944,345 issued March 26, 1974 to
Campbell discloses a pipe handling apparatus including a
storage rack and a slide to transport the pipes or rods
between the rack and the drilling position. The two arms of
the rack each have clots into which the vertical pipes are
positioned in side by side relationship. These arms are
moveable from vertical position wherein they receive the
pipes from the derrick to a horizontal storaqe position.
Suitable stops are provided at the mouths of the slots to
prevent the rods from falling out.
Canadian Patents 1,018,147 and 1,025,844 issued
September 27, 1977 and February 7, 1978 to Schwartz et al and
Canadian Patent 1,050,526 issued March 13, 1979 to Jahnke et
al, all disclose drill magazines of the cylinder type, i.e.
similar to the rotating cylinder of a pistol. Means are
provided to prevent rotation of the rods by providing
specific flattened sections on the rods and a cooperating
wrench like means in the magazine. These devices are
relatively complicated and expensive to produce and require
extra machining and weakening of the drill rods.
In many drilling operations, for example, when
constructing a road or the like through rocky, mountainous
terrain, the depth~ of drilling normally will never exceed 2
or 3~ conventional drill rod lengths. In these operations the
rods are manually positioned when being added or subtracted
from the drill string.
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Brief Description of the Present Invention
It is an objective of the present invention to
provide a simplified drill magazine for handling several
drill rods and moving them sequentially into operative
position.
sroadly the present invention relates to a drill
rod magazine comprising a mast, a main arm and an auxiliary
arm spaced along said mast, means for interconnecting said
arms for simultaneous movement between a storage position and
at least one dispensing position, a driver moveable and
rotatable about an axis along said mast in an axial
direction, a jaw on each said arm, said jaws adapted to
accommodate at least one drill rod with its longitudinal axis
substantially parallel to said axis of movement of said
driver, clamping means in said jaw of at least said main arm
adapted to clamp said at least one drill rod and prevent
movement thereof, detent means projecting from each of said
jaws to retain said at least one drill rod within said jaws
while permitting axial movement of and rotation of said at
least one rod in said jaws when said clamp means is released
and said arms are in said dispensing position, means for
moving said arms between a storage position and said at least
one dispensing position and means for activating and
deactivating said clamping means,
sroadly the present invention also relates to a
drill rod magazine comprising a pair of spaced arms each
. having a jaw or slot therein adapted to receive drill rods in
axially aligned side by side relationship, one of said jaws
embracing each of said drill rods adjacent an end of each of
said drill rods having a coupling thereon and the other said
arms being spaced towards the opposite end of said drill
rods, said one arm being adjacent to a hammer, each said arm
having detent mea~s to retain said rods in said jaws while
permitting rotation thereof about their longitudinal axis and
with clamping means adapted when activated to prevent
rotation of said rods, said clamping means in said one arm
clamping said couplings to prevent rotation of said couplings
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when said clampings means is in clamp position, said pair of
arms being movable from a storage position to a first
dispensing position wherein a drill rod closest to the mouths
of said jaws is in axial alignment with said hammer or a
second dispensing position wherein the adjacent rod to said
one closest said mouth is in axial alignment with the
longitudinal axis of said hammer.
Preferably said arm will be mounted for a pivotal
movement between said storage and said first and second
dispensing positions and will be interconnected by shaft
means fixed to each arm so that the two arms pivot
simultaneously when moving between said dispensing and said
storage positions.
Normally means will be provided for preventing
axial movement of said rods in a direction from said one arm
toward said other arm when said rods are in positions other
than said dispensing position.
In some cases it may be necessary to prevent axial
movement of said rods in a direction away from said other arm
towards said ficst arm and a lip may be provided on the side
of the first arm remote from said other arm in position to
engage said coupling and prevent axial movement of said rod
towards said hammer.
Brief Description of Present Invention
Further features, objects and advantages will be
, evident from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation schematically
illustrating the present invention positioned in relation to
the hammer and a clamp.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the main arm of the
magazine of the present invention located adjacent to the
hammer.
Figure 3 is a view along line 3-3 of Figure 2
illustrating the main arm pivoted to dispensing position.
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Figure 4 is a section through tl~e main arm shown in
Figure 3 to illustrate the clamping and detent means provided
in the jaw of the arm.
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but taken
along the lines S-5 of Figure 1 and illustrating the
auxiliary arm of the magaæine.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but
illustrating the clamping and detent means of the auxiliary
arm.
Descri tion of the Preferred Embodiments
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As shown in Figure 1 a drill magaæine generally
indicated at 10 is mounted on the mast 12 of the drilling rig
which at one end is provided with a bearing and releasable
clamping means 14 and at its opposite end with the rotatable
driving head, sometimes called the hammer 16. The hammer 16
is moveable axially as indicated by the arrow 18 and is
rotatable in both directions about its longitudinal axis as
is indicated by the arrow 20. This driving head
schematically indicated at 16 is moveable on a carriage along
the mast 12 between the bearing and clamping means 14 and its
retracted position as illustrated.
The magazine structure 10 is composed of a main arm
22 positioned adjacent the driver 16 and an auxiliary arm 24
spaced from the main arm 22 and located adjacent the clamping
means 14 at the opposite end of the mast 12. The arms 22 and
24 are each pivotably mounted on the mast 12, in the
illustrated arrangement on a shaft 26 which is mounted on
bearings indicated at 28 and 30 on mast 12 adjacent the main
and auxiliary arms 22 and 24 respectively.
The shaft 26 couples the two arms 22 nd 24 together
so that they pivot simultaneously with the shaft 26 when it
is rotated about its axis. In the illustrated arrangement
the shaft 26 has a mid bearing 32 mounted on the mast 12 for
further support.
In the illustrated arrangement the magazine can
accommodate two drill rods 34 and 36 but it could be modified
to accommodate fewer or more rods.
Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 the main arm 22 has
an open jaw or slot as indicted at 38 and defined by an upper
jaw member 40 and a lower jaw member 42. As shown in Figure
4 the upper jaw member ~0 is provided with a hydraulically
operated clamping mechanism 4~ having a clamping plate 46
mounted on pins 48 and 50 which permit limited relative
travel of the plate 46 toward the lower jaw 40. This permits
the clamp to operate if there is only one drill rod within
the jaw such as the drill rod 34 as shown in Figure 4
(obviously the clamps may be activated by any suitable
driving means). Only a single clamping mechanism has been
shown for each of the arms 22 and 24, however, a separate
clamping mechanism may be used for each rod position to
individually clamp each rod. Such an arrangement of
individual clamps for each rod is preferred particularly for
arm 24.
Ball detents 52 are provided in the upper and lower
jaw members 40 and 42 respectively. Each of these balls 52
are similarly mounted on a spring 54 urging the balls from
the face of the jaw member on which it is mounted toward the
opposing jaw member. The compression of the springs 54 may
be adjusted by a suitable adjusting means as indicated at
56.
The balls 52 hold the rods 34 and 36 in position
while permitting same to rotate when the clamping plate 46 is
in retracted position, i.e. non-clampinq position and are
displaceable by compressing the springs 54 to release the
rods as will be described in more detail below.
The main arm 22 is also provided with a retaining
device 58 which prevents axial movement of the drill rods 34
and 36 towards the clamp 14 unless the rods are in their
dispensing position, i.e. the position of the rod 36 in
Figures 3 and 5.
The retaining device 58 is composed of a plate 60
pivotably mounted on the shaft 26 and pinned to the arm 22 by
a pin 62 passing through slot 64 in the plate 60 to permit
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relative movement of the arm 22 and plate 60. It will be
noted that the plate 60 extends beyond the upper surface of
the lower jaw 42 in a position to interfere with axial
movement of the couplings 66, without interfering with the
rods 34 and 36. The plate 60 is biased in the direction of
the arrow 68 by a torsion spring 70 (Figure 2) encircling the
shaft 26.
~he arm 22 and the arm 24 are each fixed to the
shaft 26 and are movable between the various positions by
10 pivoting the shaft 26. This pivotal movement is obtained by
means of a piston and cylinder generally indicted at 72, the
piston of which is pivotally connected at one end 74 to the
arm 22 and at the other end to the bearing housing for
bearing 30 which is fixed to the mast 12. Extension of the
15 piston and cylinder 72 causes the arm 22 to pivot and rotate
shaft 26 and thereby auxiliary arm 24.
f The arms are stopped in selected operative
¦l, positions with the drill rod 34 or 36 in proper dispensing
position in axial alignment with the driver or hammer 16 by
20 suitable fixed and retractable stops.
As most clearly shown in Figure 3 the arm 22 has an
, extension 78 riqidly secured thereto and adapted to cooperate
either with the retractable stop pin 80 or the fixed stop 82
depending on whether or not the pin 80 is in the extended or
25 retracted position. The fixed stop 82 is in fixed position
relative to the frame 12. When the pin 80 is extended and is
contacted by extension 78 as illustrated in Figure 3 magazine
10 is in a first dispensing position, i.e. the drill rod 36
is in dispensing position with its longitudinal axis aligned
30 with the axis of the driver 16. When the pin 80 is retracted
the arm 22 is permitted to move farther until the extension
78 contacts the fixed stop 82 and the magazine 10 is in a
second dispensing position with the drill rod 34 in
Sf~ dispensing position.
'l 35 In the second position wherein the extension 78
`~ contacts the stop 82, the drill rod 34 is in essentially the
same physical position as the drill rod 36 when the magazine
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10 is in the first dispensin~ position where the extension 78
engages pin 80 as illustrated in Figure 3, i.e. the axis of
the rod 34 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the drill
16 and the rod 34 is in operative dispensing position.
The pin 80 may be retracted by any suitable means,
in the illustrated arrangement a pneumatic piston and
cylinder arrangement 84 has been provided (Figure 2).
In some cases where drilling upward is contemplated
provision must be provided to prevent the drill rods from
sliding rearwardly when not clamped. To prevent this
rearward movement, i.e. a movement towards the driving head
16 a suitable lip 86 is provided at the end of a flange 88
projecting rearwardly from the arm 22. This lip 86
interferes with rearward movement of the rod by engagement of
the end edges of the couplings 66 to prevent such rearward
movement. Lip 86 is of insufficient height to interfere with
the axial movement of the driving head 16 into engagement
with the couplings 66.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6, arm 24 is also
provided with an open jaw or slot 90 essentially equivalent
to the open jaw or slot 38. The slot 90 is formed by an
upper jaw member 92 and a lower jaw member 94.
he upper jaw member 92 of the arm 24 is provided
I with a single detent 52 equivalent to the detent 52 of the
¦ 25 jaw member 40 with the corresponding springs and adjusting
mechanisms 54 and 56. However, the bottom jaw member 94 has
two detents 53 essentially equivalent to detent 52 in the
main arm 24 but smaller. The function of the detents 52 and
53 are to permit rotation of the rods 34 and 36 each around
its respective longitudinal axis while holding the rods
between the jaw members 40, 42, 92 and 94 of the respective
arms 22 and 24.
A clamping mechanism 96 which is connected to a
isource of fluid pressure via line 98 is essentially the same
as the clamping mechanism 44 in arm 22. Preferably
individual clamping mechanisms 96 will be provided for each
rod 34 and 36 and the plate 46 for each will be mounted and
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sized to contact only its respective rod.
The ~aw member 94 is provided with two ball detents
53 spaced as indicated in position to contact the peripheries
of the rods 34 and 36 and align them. The use of two spaced
ball detents 53 in the jaw member 94 is to accommodate the
smaller diameter of the rods themselves as compared with the
couplings 66 which encircle the rods. comparing Figures 4
and 6 it will be apparent the spacing between the jaw members
40 and 42 or width of slot 38 is larger than the spacing
between the jaw members 92 and 94 or width of slot 90 and the
depth of the slot 90 is less than that of the slot 38 because
of the differences in outside diameters of the rods and the
couplings.
In operation two rods 34 and 36 are mounted in side
lS by side position with their longitudinal axis substantially
parallel and with the couplings 66 at one end of the rods
received and held in the slot 38 between the jaw members 40
and 42 of arm 22 by detents 53. The rods are received and
held in the slot 90 between the jaw members 92 and 94 of the
arm 24 by the detents 52 and 53. These detents (balls) 52
and 53 fix the position of the longitudinal axis of the rods
34 and 36 relative to the arms 22 and 24 and thus relative Lo
the driver 16 so that longitudinal axes of the rods may be
selectively aligned with that of the driver 16, i.e. the
direction of axial movement of the driver 16 towards the
fixed clamp 14.
In operation the arms 22 and 24 are withdrawn to
the storage position while the first rod 100 (Figure 1) with
a suitable coupling 102 connected to the drill head driver 16
30 is driven by the driver 16. When the rod 100 is fully driven
the coupling 102 thereof is gripped by the guiding and
clamping means 14 on the end of the mast 12 and the driver 16
is decoupled from the coupling 102. The driver 16 is then
withdrawn to the position shown in Figure 1.
At this point two rods 34 and 36 are held in the
magazine 10 and the arms 22 and 24 are in the storage
position, i.e. the piston and cylinder arrangement 72 is
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fully retracted so that the arms 22 and 24 are completely
clear of the path of travel of the hammer or driver 16.
To dispense the first rod 36 tle pin 80 is first
extended and then the piston and cylinder 72 is extended to
drive the stop 78 against a pin 80 and thereby position the
longitudinal axis of the rod 36 in alignment with the
longitudinal axis of the driver or hammer 16.
The clamp 46 in the main arm 22 is activated to
clamp the couplings 66 to prevent rotation thereof at the
same time the clamping plate 46 and the arm 24 may also be
activated to hold the rods 34 and 36 in position between the
jaw members 92 and 94 and prevent rotation thereof. If the
couplings are fixed to the rods simply preventing rotation of
the rods will suffice and the clamps in one or both jaws 22
and/or 24 may be provided.
The driver 16 is then advanced into coupling 66 on
the rod 36 and is rotated to thread itself into the coupling.
The clamping plate 46 in both arms 22 and 24 are
then released to permit rotation of the rod 36 and its
coupling 66 by the driver 16. The driver 16 is threaded to
the coupling 66 on the rod 36 and is advanced axially to moe
the end of the rod 36 into coupling 102 and the rod 36 is
threaded into the coupling 102 of the rod 100, i.e. as above
indicated the axis of the rod 36 and of the driver 16 are
aligned as is the axis of the rod 100. This axial movement
of the rod 36 is permitted since movement of the arm 22 into
first dispensing position wherein the rod 36 is axially
aligned with the driver 16 moves the rod 36 and coupling 66
beyond the plate 60 which is prevented from moving with the
arm 22 by engagement of the leading edge thereof with the
side of mast 12.
After the rod 36 has been threaded into the
coupling 102 the piston and cylinder 72 is activated thereby
to moe the arm 22 and through the shaft 26 the arm 24 back to
the storage position. The detents 52 are depressed as the
arms are retracted to permit the rod 36 to escape rom the
jaws.
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The drilling operation is carried on with rad 36 as
a part of the drill string until the rod 36 reaches the
position of the rod 100 in Figure 1 and the coupling 66
thereon is recei~ed within the clamping means 14. Clamping
means 14 is activated to hold the coupling 66 and the rod 36,
the driver 16 is decoupled and retracted to the position in
Figure 1. Next the piston and cylinder 72 are reactivated
but the pin 80 is not advanced and therefore remains
retracted so that the extension stop 78 now moves into
engagement with the stop 82. This position of the arms 22
and 24 aligns the longitudinal axis of the rod 34 held
between detents 52 and 53 and the back wall of the slots 38
and 90 in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the
driver 16. The procedure followed with respect to the rod 36
is now followed with respect to the rod 34 and when it is
coupled to the coupling 66 of the rod 36 the arms 22 and 24
are retracted by again withdrawing the piston and cylinder 72
with the rod 34 passing out of the slots 38 and 90 by
depressing the ball detents 52 and 53.
It will be apparent that the ball detents 52 and 53
are free to rotate in their sockets and thus the rods 34 and
36 may be rotated and axially advanced during the threading
operation when coupling the rods to the coupling clamped in
the clamping means 14. When the arms 22 and 24 are retracted
the detents 52 and 53 are simply depressed to free the rods
34 and 36 from the slots 38 and 90.
In the illustrated arrangement it was assumed that
only a maximum of 3 rods are to be useA with the rod 100
providing the first rod. If desired the slots may be deeper
and adapted to accommodate more than two rods (there will be
as many dispersing positions as rods to be dispensed).
When drilling is completed to the desired depth the
procedure is reversed. In the case where rod 34 is driven
the driver 16 is still coupled to the coupling 66 of the rod
34 and is retracted moving the coupling 66 on the rod 36 into
the clamping means 14. The clamping means 14 is activated to
clamp this coupling 66 and firmly hold same. The arms 22 and
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24 are moved to their most forward (second dispensing)
position, i~e. with extension stop 78 engaging the stop 82 so
that the rod 34 is moved into position in the arm 22 and 24
and held via the detents 52 and 53. The rod 34 and coupling
66 are clamped in the arms 22 and 24 and the driver 16 turned
to tighten the connection of driver 16 and rod 34. The rod
34 is then released and rotated so that it is dethreaded from
the coupling 66 on the rod 36 and is retracted~ The plate 60
as above indicted is clear so that it does not interfere with
axial movement of the coupling 66.
With the rod 34 decoupled from the rod 36 clamping
plates 46 in the arms 22 and 24 are activated to firmly hold
rod 34 and coupling 66 and then the driver is manipulated to
decouple its threaded connection with the coupling 66 on the
rod 34. The magazine 10 is then retracted by the piston and
cylinder arrangement 72 to move the arms 22 and 24 to their
storage positions and the driver 16 then advanced, coupled to
the coupling 66 on the end of the rod 36 and after the
clamping means 14 is released the rod 36 is retracted to
bring the coupling 102 into the clamping means 14. The above
described procedure is repeated this time with the pin 8p
extended so that the rod 36 is returned to the position
illustrated in the drawings. Thereafter the driver 16 may be
; ~ coupled to the coupling 102 and the rod 100 withdrawn.
- 25 Having described the preferred embodiments of the
present invention modifications will be evident to those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
nvention as defined in the appended claims.
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