Support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine

Abstract

Support system (20) for a drilling rod (21) of an operating machine (10) which comprises a drilling unit (13) equipped with a support structure, or mast (17), and a rotation head (18) able to be positioned sliding on said mast (17).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine, in particular for arranging the rod in a transport position or in a work position. The drilling rod can be single or formed by a series of telescopic elements.

[0002] The present invention also concerns an operating machine, in particular an operating machine, a drilling machine or suchlike, of the type able to drill deep into the soil, in a vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect thereto, or possibly also into rocks, for example for the construction of consolidation works or foundations for civil works.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Drilling, boring and similar types of operating machines are known, whose task is to drill deep into the ground in a vertical direction, or a direction inclined with respect to the vertical, or even in a substantially horizontal direction. Some examples of such operating machines and similar apparatuses are described in documents US2006 / 180323A1, CN106194018A, US5213169A and EP3892815A1.

[0004] Drilling machines consist of a base structure, a guide beam - called mast - on which a drilling head is applied that makes an excavation tool rotate. In particular, hereafter we will refer to the technology in which the tool is applied to the base of a drilling rod that is formed by telescopic elements and moved by a winch positioned, for example, on the mast or on a base chassis of the machine. These telescopic rods can have lengths of about 8-15 m and weights of 5-15 tons. However, this support system can also be used for non-telescopic rods.

[0005] In order to carry out the drilling or boring operations for which they are designed, there is provided a step of transporting these operating machines with corresponding drilling rods to a worksite.

[0006] The drilling rods can be transported to the worksite separately from the machine, that is, on dedicated vehicles, such as trucks or suchlike, with an obvious waste of resources, logistical problems and cost increases.

[0007] The alternative is the integrated transport of the telescopic rods directly on board the machine. However, current integrated transport solutions prove to be disadvantageous in terms of weight and overall dimensions, especially in height, even if the rods are arranged in a substantially horizontal position on the chassis that the machine is equipped with.

[0008] Machines with rods on board may, due to their heavy weight and overall dimensions, not fall within the transport regulations allowed in a given country. In other words, the machine with drilling rods on board can cause a so-called "oversize load", that is, a situation in which the means of transport exceed the sizes and weight permitted by law.

[0009] Another problem with transport systems for telescopic rods that are on board machines is that the supports provided are rigid and do not allow to have a certain flexibility and variability in positioning the rods. For example, in order to reduce the transport height, the rods have to be as close as possible to the mast, while in working conditions the rods have a certain distance from the mast, or center distance, as a function of the diameter of the hole to be made in the ground. In other words, the larger the diameter of the hole to be drilled, the greater the distance of the rod from the mast.

[0010] Known systems for supporting rods on board a machine are ultimately inefficient, not flexible and do not allow to adequately reduce the overall dimensions of the machine under transport conditions.

[0011] There is therefore the need to perfect a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0012] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine that is efficient and allows the machine to have, in transport situations, an extremely limited overall dimension in height.

[0013] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine that is flexible and allows to vary the distance between the mast and the drilling rod as a function of the work or transport configuration provided.

[0014] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an operating machine that is light, compact, especially in height, and low-cost.

[0015] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0017] In accordance with the above purposes, the present invention concerns a support system for a drilling rod of an operating machine which comprises a drilling unit equipped with a support structure, or mast, and a rotation head able to be positioned sliding on the mast.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the support system comprises at least one gripping member for the connection, in a substantially horizontal transport configuration, of the drilling rod to the rotation head, and at least one support member configured to be associated with the mast and to house at least one segment of the drilling rod.

[0019] By means of the gripping member and the support member it is possible to provide a support system that allows, in a simple and efficient manner, to support the drilling rod in at least two points and to bring it close to the mast at a minimum distance, so that the overall dimension in height of the operating machine in transport conditions is advantageously reduced.

[0020] Prior art documents, see in particular US2006 / 180323A1 and CN106194018A, do not describe or suggest any gripping or connection member having the purpose of connecting the rotation head to the drilling rod, so as to increase the stability of the system during transport.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping member is connected to the drilling rod in a rotatable manner.

[0022] In this way, in transport conditions it is possible to associate the rotation head with the drilling rod in a manner that is rotatable around the axis, thus allowing for a greater flexibility in their reciprocal positioning. For example, it is possible to provide that the rotation head is inclined downward with respect to the operating machine's chassis, and allow the drilling rod to be brought even closer to the mast.

[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping member comprises a plurality of arms for connection to the rotation head.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping member comprises at least three arms, so as to assume a tripod or three-legged conformation.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the support member is positioned sliding on the mast by means of one or more sliding blocks.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, the support member comprises a guide device in which a segment of the drilling rod will be housed.

[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, the guide device is rotatable around two distinct axes so as to assume a position close to the mast and a position distanced from the mast, and so as to remain substantially parallel to the mast in both the positions.

[0028] According to another aspect of the invention, the guide device comprises a through hole in which there is positioned at least one bearing for the rotation of the drilling rod.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, the support member comprises a cradle in which a segment of the drilling rod is housed.

[0030] The invention also concerns an operating machine comprising a drilling unit equipped with a support structure, or mast, a drilling rod and a rotation head able to be positioned sliding on the mast. The operating machine comprises a support system provided with at least one gripping member configured, in a transport configuration, to connect the drilling rod to the rotation head, and at least one support member configured to be associated with the mast and to house at least one segment of the drilling rod.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: fig. 1 is a lateral view of an operating machine according to the present invention in a transport configuration; fig. 2 is a lateral view of a gripping member of a support system according to the present invention; fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a support member of the support system; fig. 4a is a lateral view of the support member in a work configuration; fig. 4b is a lateral view of the support member in a transport configuration; figs. 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h are lateral views of a sequence of the operating machine's passage from the transport configuration to a work configuration; fig. 6 is a lateral view of a variant of the support member of the support system.

[0032] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0033] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0034] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0035] With reference to the attached drawings, see in particular fig. 1, an operating machine 10 comprises a movement unit 11 for moving the operating machine 10, a support and orientation unit 12 mounted on the movement unit 11, and a drilling unit 13 mounted in turn on the support and orientation unit 12. The operating machine 10 is therefore in particular a drilling, boring or similar machine.

[0036] The movement unit 11 comprises for example a tracked chassis 14, or other comparable movement unit.

[0037] The drilling unit 13 comprises a rectilinear support structure 17, commonly called mast, on which in a work configuration a rotation head 18 can be mounted sliding, see for example fig. 5h. The drilling unit 13 also comprises a lower element 15, or mast foot. By means of suitable articulations, the lower element 15 can be inclined with respect to the mast 17, as in fig. 1, or it can be aligned with the mast 17, as for example in figs. 5d-5h. By means of these articulations, the rotation head 18 can also be inclined with respect to the mast 17, or substantially parallel to the mast 17, as in figs. 5d-5h.

[0038] The support and orientation unit 12 comprises, for example, an articulated assembly configured to move the mast 17, and therefore the drilling unit 13.

[0039] In the example shown in the drawings, the mast 17 comprises a pillar or beam, preferably having a rectangular or square cross-section.

[0040] The mast 17 defines a direction of movement for the rotation head 18, which can translate between a first end 19a of the mast 17 and a second end 19b. The direction of movement is longitudinal with respect to the mast 17. See also fig. 5h.

[0041] During a drilling operation, the mast 17 is oriented in such a way as to have the first end 19a disposed in proximity to the ground to be drilled, again see fig. 5h.

[0042] The operating machine 10 comprises a drilling rod 21 which is supported, at least in a transport configuration, by a support system 20 provided with at least one gripping member 22 configured to connect the drilling rod 21 to the rotation head 18, and at least one support member 23 associated with the mast 17 and configured to house at least one segment of the drilling rod 21.

[0043] In the transport configuration, substantially, the drilling rod 21 is connected to the rotation head 18 externally and by means of the gripping member 22. In the work configuration, as we will see, the drilling rod 21 is separated from the gripping member 22 and inserted into the rotation head 18, which is therefore configured to house the drilling rod 21 and it make rotate.

[0044] The drilling rod 21 can be a single element or be formed by a series of telescopic elements.

[0045] The drilling rod 21 is configured to receive, in correspondence with its end 24, a drilling tool, suitably chosen so as to drill a ground of any nature whatsoever, for example rocky, or soil.

[0046] The gripping member 22, see fig. 2, comprises a plurality of arms 25 by means of which it is connectable on one side to the rotation head 18, for example by means of suitable removable attachment elements positioned at the ends 26 of the arms 25. On the other side, the arms 25 converge on a support 16 which is connected to the drilling rod 21 in a manner rotatable around an axis A, by means of a pin or suchlike, for example. This rotation advantageously allows to incline the gripping member 22 and thus the rotation head 18 with respect to the drilling rod 21. In this regard, please compare fig. 1 with fig. 2.

[0047] Thanks to its conformation, the gripping member 22 is light and therefore does not significantly increase the weight of the support system 20 and of the operating machine 10.

[0048] Alternatively, the arms 25 could be integrated into the rotation head 18, for example by means of a permanent attachment of the ends 26 to the rotation head 18.

[0049] Advantageously, there can be at least three arms 25, so that the gripping member 22 can assume a tripod or three-legged conformation and remain standing if rested on the ground, see fig. 5e, and to guarantee a more uniformly distributed attachment to the rotation head 18.

[0050] The support member 23, see fig. 3, is positioned sliding on the mast 17 by means of one or more sliding blocks 38, in particular one pair of sliding blocks 38.

[0051] The support member 23 comprises a guide device 27 in which a segment of the drilling rod 21, in particular a final segment, will be housed.

[0052] The guide device 27 is internally provided with a through hole 28 and a bearing 30, or fifth wheel, attached to a casing 29. A final segment of the drilling rod 21 will be housed in the through hole 28 and the bearing 30.

[0053] The casing 29 comprises a tapered external shape so as to be able to better adapt to a flanged element of the drilling rod 21.

[0054] The guide device 27 is also rotatable around two distinct and substantially parallel axes B and C, so as to assume a position close to the mast 17 (fig. 4b) and a position distanced from the mast 17 (fig. 4a), and so as to remain substantially parallel to the mast 17 in both these positions.

[0055] The guide device 27 is provided with a support 32, substantially U-shaped, comprising two walls 33 and 34 connected to a bracket 35 by means of respective pairs of pins 36 and 37.

[0056] The pins 37 are aligned along the axis B of rotation of the support 32 with respect to the bracket 35.

[0057] The pins 36 lock the support 32 in position with respect to the bracket 35 in the work position, that is, as in fig. 4a.

[0058] The bracket 35 is connected at the lower part to a pair of sliding blocks 38 positioned sliding on the mast 17. The sliding blocks 38 are attached to the bracket 35 by means of two pairs of pins 39 and 40, and are configured to allow to vary the positioning of the support member 23 along the mast 17.

[0059] The pins 39 are aligned along the axis C of rotation of the bracket 35 with respect to the sliding blocks 38.

[0060] The pins 40 lock the bracket 35 in position with respect to the sliding blocks 38 in the work position, that is, as in fig. 4a.

[0061] The bracket 35 is therefore configured as an intermediate articulation element that is located between the support 32 and the sliding blocks 38.

[0062] Thanks to its conformation, the support member 23 is light and therefore does not significantly increase the weight of the support system 20 and of the operating machine 10.

[0063] As can be seen from the comparison of fig. 4a and fig. 4b, the support member 23 is therefore configured to pass from the work position of fig. 4a to the transport position of fig. 4b, and vice versa, in order to take the drilling rod 21 from a position distanced from the mast 17 to a position close to the mast 17, allowing to transport the operating machine 10 with an extremely reduced height.

[0064] To pass for example from the configuration of fig. 4a to the configuration of fig. 4b, the pins 36 are removed while the pins 37 are left in position, so that the support 32 and the bracket 35 can rotate reciprocally around the axis B. The pins 40 are also removed, while the pins 39 are left in position, so that the bracket 35 can rotate with respect to the sliding blocks 38 around the axis C.

[0065] As can be observed, in both positions, the through hole 28, and therefore the bearing 30, remain substantially parallel to the mast 17.

[0066] In fig. 1, the operating machine 10 is shown in a transport configuration, with the drilling rod 21 associated with the support system 20, that is, in this case with one end thereof inserted in the support member 23, in particular in the guide device 27. The other end 24 of the drilling rod 21 is associated, in particular rotatably, with the gripping member 22 engaged with the rotation head 18. Advantageously, the rotation head 18 and the lower element 15 are slightly inclined downward so that the machine assumes an even more compact configuration.

[0067] An example and non-limiting sequence of a transition of the operating machine 10 from the transport configuration of fig. 1 to the work configuration of fig. 5h is described below.

[0068] The mast 17 and the drilling rod 21, which are substantially parallel and minimally distanced from each other in the transport configuration, are lifted by means of the support and orientation unit 12, see fig. 5a. A return device 41 is positioned in proximity to the end 19b of the mast 17 opposite to the one where the rotation head 18 is located. Prior to this lifting, the pins 36 and 40 of the support member 23 are removed, so that it can pass from the transport position of fig. 4b to the work position of fig. 4a. However, these pins 36 and 40 can already be removed in the transport position of the support member 23.

[0069] The operating machine 10 also comprises a winch 42, which can be located on the mast 17 or on the movement unit 11 and which is configured to pull or release at least one rope 43. The rope 43 is returned around the return device 41 and then connected to the end of the drilling rod 21 inserted in the through hole 28 of the guide device 27. Substantially, therefore, the drilling rod 21 is supported by the rope 43. If the drilling rod 21 is formed by several telescopic elements, it is possible to provide that the rope 43 is connected to the innermost element. It is possible to provide an additional rope, pulled or released by the winch 42 and / or by an auxiliary winch, see for example the winch 47 in fig. 1. The additional rope can be associated with the support member 23, in particular with the sliding blocks 38. The rope 43 also sustains the rotation head 18 and the lower element 15, which are connected to the drilling rod 21 by means of the gripping member 22.

[0070] By means of the support and orientation unit 12, the mast 17 is rotated and inclined, for example as in figs. 5b and 5c, until it reaches a substantially vertical position, as in fig. 5c.

[0071] By acting on the winch 42 and then pulling the rope 43, the drilling rod 21 is lifted upward and distanced from the mast 17, thanks to the rotation of the support member 23 from the transport position of fig. 5a to the work position of fig. 5d, which corresponds to that of fig. 4a. The pulling of the rope 43 by means of the winch 42 also determines the sliding of the support member 23 upward along the mast 17, until it reaches the position of fig. 5d.

[0072] In fig. 5d, the drilling rod 21 and the mast 17 are substantially in the work position, as is the case for the rotation head 18, whose axis is substantially perpendicular to the ground. The mast 17 can be locked in position by means of suitable attachment elements.

[0073] The gripping member 22 is separated from the rotation head 18, rested on the ground, and the mast 17 is inclined forward, as shown in fig. 5e.

[0074] At this point, the drilling rod 21 is separated from the gripping member 22 and inserted inside the rotation head 18. The rotation head 18 is associated with movement means that allow it to slide along the mast 17, in this regard please compare figs. 5e and 5f.

[0075] Furthermore, the rotation head 18 is provided with a drive unit for rotating the drilling rod 21 around its longitudinal axis.

[0076] The next step of fig. 5g provides to once again lower the mast 17 so as to insert the pins 36 and 40 and prevent the rotation of the support 32 with respect to the bracket 35, and of the bracket 35 with respect to the sliding blocks 38 of the support member 23.

[0077] Once this operation is completed, the mast 17 can be brought back to the vertical position, as in fig. 5h, which, as mentioned, represents a work configuration of the operating machine 10. In this work configuration, the rotation head 18 makes the drilling rod 21 rotate to perform ground drilling or boring operations.

[0078] Of course, in order to switch from the work configuration back to the transport configuration, the steps described above will be performed in reverse order.

[0079] In the variant of fig. 6, the support system 20 provides a support member 44 which is substantially a cradle in which a segment of the drilling rod 21 is housed. The support member 44 can provide at least two opposing elements 45 between which the drilling rod 21 is housed. These elements 45 can be equipped with through holes 46 for one or more elements for locking the drilling rod 21 in position, for example flexible elements such as bands, ropes or suchlike, or rigid elements. The support member 44 can comprise one or more sliding blocks 31 or other devices, even fixed, for connection with the mast.

[0080] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the support system for a drilling rod and to the operating machine as described heretofore, without thereby departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0081] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of the support system for a drilling rod and of the operating machine, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0082] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0034]We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0035]With reference to the attached drawings, see in particular fig. 1, an operating machine 10 comprises a movement unit 11 for moving the operating machine 10, a support and orientation unit 12 mounted on the movement unit 11, and a drilling unit 13 mounted in turn on the support and orientation unit 12. The operating machine 10 is therefore in particular a drilling, boring or similar machine.

[0036]The movement unit 11 comprises for example a tracked chassis 14, or other comparable movement unit.

[0037]The drilling unit 13 comprises a rectilinear support structure 17, commonly called mast, on which in a work configuration a rotation head 18 can be mounted sliding, see for example fig. 5h. The drilli...

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine, in particular for arranging the rod in a transport position or in a work position. The drilling rod can be single or formed by a series of telescopic elements.

[0002] The present invention also concerns an operating machine, in particular an operating machine, a drilling machine or suchlike, of the type able to drill deep into the soil, in a vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect thereto, or possibly also into rocks, for example for the construction of consolidation works or foundations for civil works.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Drilling, boring and similar types of operating machines are known, whose task is to drill deep into the ground in a vertical direction, or a direction inclined with respect to the vertical, or even in a substantially horizontal direction. Some examples of such operating machines and similar apparatuses are described in documents US2006 / 180323A1, CN106194018A, US5213169A and EP3892815A1.

[0004] Drilling machines consist of a base structure, a guide beam - called mast - on which a drilling head is applied that makes an excavation tool rotate. In particular, hereafter we will refer to the technology in which the tool is applied to the base of a drilling rod that is formed by telescopic elements and moved by a winch positioned, for example, on the mast or on a base chassis of the machine. These telescopic rods can have lengths of about 8-15 m and weights of 5-15 tons. However, this support system can also be used for non-telescopic rods.

[0005] In order to carry out the drilling or boring operations for which they are designed, there is provided a step of transporting these operating machines with corresponding drilling rods to a worksite.

[0006] The drilling rods can be transported to the worksite separately from the machine, that is, on dedicated vehicles, such as trucks or suchlike, with an obvious waste of resources, logistical problems and cost increases.

[0007] The alternative is the integrated transport of the telescopic rods directly on board the machine. However, current integrated transport solutions prove to be disadvantageous in terms of weight and overall dimensions, especially in height, even if the rods are arranged in a substantially horizontal position on the chassis that the machine is equipped with.

[0008] Machines with rods on board may, due to their heavy weight and overall dimensions, not fall within the transport regulations allowed in a given country. In other words, the machine with drilling rods on board can cause a so-called "oversize load", that is, a situation in which the means of transport exceed the sizes and weight permitted by law.

[0009] Another problem with transport systems for telescopic rods that are on board machines is that the supports provided are rigid and do not allow to have a certain flexibility and variability in positioning the rods. For example, in order to reduce the transport height, the rods have to be as close as possible to the mast, while in working conditions the rods have a certain distance from the mast, or center distance, as a function of the diameter of the hole to be made in the ground. In other words, the larger the diameter of the hole to be drilled, the greater the distance of the rod from the mast.

[0010] Known systems for supporting rods on board a machine are ultimately inefficient, not flexible and do not allow to adequately reduce the overall dimensions of the machine under transport conditions.

[0011] There is therefore the need to perfect a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0012] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine that is efficient and allows the machine to have, in transport situations, an extremely limited overall dimension in height.

[0013] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a support system for a drilling rod on board an operating machine that is flexible and allows to vary the distance between the mast and the drilling rod as a function of the work or transport configuration provided.

[0014] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an operating machine that is light, compact, especially in height, and low-cost.

[0015] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0017] In accordance with the above purposes, the present invention concerns a support system for a drilling rod of an operating machine which comprises a drilling unit equipped with a support structure, or mast, and a rotation head able to be positioned sliding on the mast.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the support system comprises at least one gripping member for the connection, in a substantially horizontal transport configuration, of the drilling rod to the rotation head, and at least one support member configured to be associated with the mast and to house at least one segment of the drilling rod.

[0019] By means of the gripping member and the support member it is possible to provide a support system that allows, in a simple and efficient manner, to support the drilling rod in at least two points and to bring it close to the mast at a minimum distance, so that the overall dimension in height of the operating machine in transport conditions is advantageously reduced.

[0020] Prior art documents, see in particular US2006 / 180323A1 and CN106194018A, do not describe or suggest any gripping or connection member having the purpose of connecting the rotation head to the drilling rod, so as to increase the stability of the system during transport.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping member is connected to the drilling rod in a rotatable manner.

[0022] In this way, in transport conditions it is possible to associate the rotation head with the drilling rod in a manner that is rotatable around the axis, thus allowing for a greater flexibility in their reciprocal positioning. For example, it is possible to provide that the rotation head is inclined downward with respect to the operating machine's chassis, and allow the drilling rod to be brought even closer to the mast.

[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping member comprises a plurality of arms for connection to the rotation head.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping member comprises at least three arms, so as to assume a tripod or three-legged conformation.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the support member is positioned sliding on the mast by means of one or more sliding blocks.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, the support member comprises a guide device in which a segment of the drilling rod will be housed.

[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, the guide device is rotatable around two distinct axes so as to assume a position close to the mast and a position distanced from the mast, and so as to remain substantially parallel to the mast in both the positions.

[0028] According to another aspect of the invention, the guide device comprises a through hole in which there is positioned at least one bearing for the rotation of the drilling rod.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, the support member comprises a cradle in which a segment of the drilling rod is housed.

[0030] The invention also concerns an operating machine comprising a drilling unit equipped with a support structure, or mast, a drilling rod and a rotation head able to be positioned sliding on the mast. The operating machine comprises a support system provided with at least one gripping member configured, in a transport configuration, to connect the drilling rod to the rotation head, and at least one support member configured to be associated with the mast and to house at least one segment of the drilling rod.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: fig. 1 is a lateral view of an operating machine according to the present invention in a transport configuration; fig. 2 is a lateral view of a gripping member of a support system according to the present invention; fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a support member of the support system; fig. 4a is a lateral view of the support member in a work configuration; fig. 4b is a lateral view of the support member in a transport configuration; figs. 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h are lateral views of a sequence of the operating machine's passage from the transport configuration to a work configuration; fig. 6 is a lateral view of a variant of the support member of the support system.

[0032] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0033] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0034] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0035] With reference to the attached drawings, see in particular fig. 1, an operating machine 10 comprises a movement unit 11 for moving the operating machine 10, a support and orientation unit 12 mounted on the movement unit 11, and a drilling unit 13 mounted in turn on the support and orientation unit 12. The operating machine 10 is therefore in particular a drilling, boring or similar machine.

[0036] The movement unit 11 comprises for example a tracked chassis 14, or other comparable movement unit.

[0037] The drilling unit 13 comprises a rectilinear support structure 17, commonly called mast, on which in a work configuration a rotation head 18 can be mounted sliding, see for example fig. 5h. The drilling unit 13 also comprises a lower element 15, or mast foot. By means of suitable articulations, the lower element 15 can be inclined with respect to the mast 17, as in fig. 1, or it can be aligned with the mast 17, as for example in figs. 5d-5h. By means of these articulations, the rotation head 18 can also be inclined with respect to the mast 17, or substantially parallel to the mast 17, as in figs. 5d-5h.

[0038] The support and orientation unit 12 comprises, for example, an articulated assembly configured to move the mast 17, and therefore the drilling unit 13.

[0039] In the example shown in the drawings, the mast 17 comprises a pillar or beam, preferably having a rectangular or square cross-section.

[0040] The mast 17 defines a direction of movement for the rotation head 18, which can translate between a first end 19a of the mast 17 and a second end 19b. The direction of movement is longitudinal with respect to the mast 17. See also fig. 5h.

[0041] During a drilling operation, the mast 17 is oriented in such a way as to have the first end 19a disposed in proximity to the ground to be drilled, again see fig. 5h.

[0042] The operating machine 10 comprises a drilling rod 21 which is supported, at least in a transport configuration, by a support system 20 provided with at least one gripping member 22 configured to connect the drilling rod 21 to the rotation head 18, and at least one support member 23 associated with the mast 17 and configured to house at least one segment of the drilling rod 21.

[0043] In the transport configuration, substantially, the drilling rod 21 is connected to the rotation head 18 externally and by means of the gripping member 22. In the work configuration, as we will see, the drilling rod 21 is separated from the gripping member 22 and inserted into the rotation head 18, which is therefore configured to house the drilling rod 21 and it make rotate.

[0044] The drilling rod 21 can be a single element or be formed by a series of telescopic elements.

[0045] The drilling rod 21 is configured to receive, in correspondence with its end 24, a drilling tool, suitably chosen so as to drill a ground of any nature whatsoever, for example rocky, or soil.

[0046] The gripping member 22, see fig. 2, comprises a plurality of arms 25 by means of which it is connectable on one side to the rotation head 18, for example by means of suitable removable attachment elements positioned at the ends 26 of the arms 25. On the other side, the arms 25 converge on a support 16 which is connected to the drilling rod 21 in a manner rotatable around an axis A, by means of a pin or suchlike, for example. This rotation advantageously allows to incline the gripping member 22 and thus the rotation head 18 with respect to the drilling rod 21. In this regard, please compare fig. 1 with fig. 2.

[0047] Thanks to its conformation, the gripping member 22 is light and therefore does not significantly increase the weight of the support system 20 and of the operating machine 10.

[0048] Alternatively, the arms 25 could be integrated into the rotation head 18, for example by means of a permanent attachment of the ends 26 to the rotation head 18.

[0049] Advantageously, there can be at least three arms 25, so that the gripping member 22 can assume a tripod or three-legged conformation and remain standing if rested on the ground, see fig. 5e, and to guarantee a more uniformly distributed attachment to the rotation head 18.

[0050] The support member 23, see fig. 3, is positioned sliding on the mast 17 by means of one or more sliding blocks 38, in particular one pair of sliding blocks 38.

[0051] The support member 23 comprises a guide device 27 in which a segment of the drilling rod 21, in particular a final segment, will be housed.

[0052] The guide device 27 is internally provided with a through hole 28 and a bearing 30, or fifth wheel, attached to a casing 29. A final segment of the drilling rod 21 will be housed in the through hole 28 and the bearing 30.

[0053] The casing 29 comprises a tapered external shape so as to be able to better adapt to a flanged element of the drilling rod 21.

[0054] The guide device 27 is also rotatable around two distinct and substantially parallel axes B and C, so as to assume a position close to the mast 17 (fig. 4b) and a position distanced from the mast 17 (fig. 4a), and so as to remain substantially parallel to the mast 17 in both these positions.

[0055] The guide device 27 is provided with a support 32, substantially U-shaped, comprising two walls 33 and 34 connected to a bracket 35 by means of respective pairs of pins 36 and 37.

[0056] The pins 37 are aligned along the axis B of rotation of the support 32 with respect to the bracket 35.

[0057] The pins 36 lock the support 32 in position with respect to the bracket 35 in the work position, that is, as in fig. 4a.

[0058] The bracket 35 is connected at the lower part to a pair of sliding blocks 38 positioned sliding on the mast 17. The sliding blocks 38 are attached to the bracket 35 by means of two pairs of pins 39 and 40, and are configured to allow to vary the positioning of the support member 23 along the mast 17.

[0059] The pins 39 are aligned along the axis C of rotation of the bracket 35 with respect to the sliding blocks 38.

[0060] The pins 40 lock the bracket 35 in position with respect to the sliding blocks 38 in the work position, that is, as in fig. 4a.

[0061] The bracket 35 is therefore configured as an intermediate articulation element that is located between the support 32 and the sliding blocks 38.

[0062] Thanks to its conformation, the support member 23 is light and therefore does not significantly increase the weight of the support system 20 and of the operating machine 10.

[0063] As can be seen from the comparison of fig. 4a and fig. 4b, the support member 23 is therefore configured to pass from the work position of fig. 4a to the transport position of fig. 4b, and vice versa, in order to take the drilling rod 21 from a position distanced from the mast 17 to a position close to the mast 17, allowing to transport the operating machine 10 with an extremely reduced height.

[0064] To pass for example from the configuration of fig. 4a to the configuration of fig. 4b, the pins 36 are removed while the pins 37 are left in position, so that the support 32 and the bracket 35 can rotate reciprocally around the axis B. The pins 40 are also removed, while the pins 39 are left in position, so that the bracket 35 can rotate with respect to the sliding blocks 38 around the axis C.

[0065] As can be observed, in both positions, the through hole 28, and therefore the bearing 30, remain substantially parallel to the mast 17.

[0066] In fig. 1, the operating machine 10 is shown in a transport configuration, with the drilling rod 21 associated with the support system 20, that is, in this case with one end thereof inserted in the support member 23, in particular in the guide device 27. The other end 24 of the drilling rod 21 is associated, in particular rotatably, with the gripping member 22 engaged with the rotation head 18. Advantageously, the rotation head 18 and the lower element 15 are slightly inclined downward so that the machine assumes an even more compact configuration.

[0067] An example and non-limiting sequence of a transition of the operating machine 10 from the transport configuration of fig. 1 to the work configuration of fig. 5h is described below.

[0068] The mast 17 and the drilling rod 21, which are substantially parallel and minimally distanced from each other in the transport configuration, are lifted by means of the support and orientation unit 12, see fig. 5a. A return device 41 is positioned in proximity to the end 19b of the mast 17 opposite to the one where the rotation head 18 is located. Prior to this lifting, the pins 36 and 40 of the support member 23 are removed, so that it can pass from the transport position of fig. 4b to the work position of fig. 4a. However, these pins 36 and 40 can already be removed in the transport position of the support member 23.

[0069] The operating machine 10 also comprises a winch 42, which can be located on the mast 17 or on the movement unit 11 and which is configured to pull or release at least one rope 43. The rope 43 is returned around the return device 41 and then connected to the end of the drilling rod 21 inserted in the through hole 28 of the guide device 27. Substantially, therefore, the drilling rod 21 is supported by the rope 43. If the drilling rod 21 is formed by several telescopic elements, it is possible to provide that the rope 43 is connected to the innermost element. It is possible to provide an additional rope, pulled or released by the winch 42 and / or by an auxiliary winch, see for example the winch 47 in fig. 1. The additional rope can be associated with the support member 23, in particular with the sliding blocks 38. The rope 43 also sustains the rotation head 18 and the lower element 15, which are connected to the drilling rod 21 by means of the gripping member 22.

[0070] By means of the support and orientation unit 12, the mast 17 is rotated and inclined, for example as in figs. 5b and 5c, until it reaches a substantially vertical position, as in fig. 5c.

[0071] By acting on the winch 42 and then pulling the rope 43, the drilling rod 21 is lifted upward and distanced from the mast 17, thanks to the rotation of the support member 23 from the transport position of fig. 5a to the work position of fig. 5d, which corresponds to that of fig. 4a. The pulling of the rope 43 by means of the winch 42 also determines the sliding of the support member 23 upward along the mast 17, until it reaches the position of fig. 5d.

[0072] In fig. 5d, the drilling rod 21 and the mast 17 are substantially in the work position, as is the case for the rotation head 18, whose axis is substantially perpendicular to the ground. The mast 17 can be locked in position by means of suitable attachment elements.

[0073] The gripping member 22 is separated from the rotation head 18, rested on the ground, and the mast 17 is inclined forward, as shown in fig. 5e.

[0074] At this point, the drilling rod 21 is separated from the gripping member 22 and inserted inside the rotation head 18. The rotation head 18 is associated with movement means that allow it to slide along the mast 17, in this regard please compare figs. 5e and 5f.

[0075] Furthermore, the rotation head 18 is provided with a drive unit for rotating the drilling rod 21 around its longitudinal axis.

[0076] The next step of fig. 5g provides to once again lower the mast 17 so as to insert the pins 36 and 40 and prevent the rotation of the support 32 with respect to the bracket 35, and of the bracket 35 with respect to the sliding blocks 38 of the support member 23.

[0077] Once this operation is completed, the mast 17 can be brought back to the vertical position, as in fig. 5h, which, as mentioned, represents a work configuration of the operating machine 10. In this work configuration, the rotation head 18 makes the drilling rod 21 rotate to perform ground drilling or boring operations.

[0078] Of course, in order to switch from the work configuration back to the transport configuration, the steps described above will be performed in reverse order.

[0079] In the variant of fig. 6, the support system 20 provides a support member 44 which is substantially a cradle in which a segment of the drilling rod 21 is housed. The support member 44 can provide at least two opposing elements 45 between which the drilling rod 21 is housed. These elements 45 can be equipped with through holes 46 for one or more elements for locking the drilling rod 21 in position, for example flexible elements such as bands, ropes or suchlike, or rigid elements. The support member 44 can comprise one or more sliding blocks 31 or other devices, even fixed, for connection with the mast.

[0080] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the support system for a drilling rod and to the operating machine as described heretofore, without thereby departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0081] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of the support system for a drilling rod and of the operating machine, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0082] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0034]We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0035]With reference to the attached drawings, see in particular fig. 1, an operating machine 10 comprises a movement unit 11 for moving the operating machine 10, a support and orientation unit 12 mounted on the movement unit 11, and a drilling unit 13 mounted in turn on the support and orientation unit 12. The operating machine 10 is therefore in particular a drilling, boring or similar machine.

[0036]The movement unit 11 comprises for example a tracked chassis 14, or other comparable movement unit.

[0037]The drilling unit 13 comprises a rectilinear support structure 17, commonly called mast, on which in a work configuration a rotation head 18 can be mounted sliding, see for example fig. 5h. The drilli...

Claims

1. Support system (20) for a drilling rod (21) of an operating machine (10) which comprises a drilling unit (13) equipped with a support structure, or mast (17), and a rotation head (18) able to be positioned sliding on said mast (17), characterized in that it comprises at least one gripping member (22) for the connection, in a substantially horizontal transport configuration, of said drilling rod (21) to said rotation head (18), and at least one support member (23, 44) configured to be associated with said mast (17) and to house at least one segment of said drilling rod (21).

2. Support system (20) as in claim 1, characterized in that said gripping member (22) is connected to said drilling rod (21) in a rotatable manner.

3. Support system (20) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said gripping member (22) comprises a plurality of arms (25) for connection to said rotation head (18).

4. Support system (20) as in claim 3, characterized in that said gripping member (22) comprises at least three arms (25), so as to assume a tripod or three-legged conformation.

5. Support system (20) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said support member (23) is positioned sliding on said mast (17) by means of one or more sliding blocks (38).

6. Support system (20) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said support member (23) comprises a guide device (27) in which a segment of the drilling rod (21) will be housed.

7. Support system (20) as in claim 6, characterized in that said guide device (27) is rotatable around two distinct axes (B, C) so as to assume a position close to the mast (17) and a position distanced from the mast (17), and so as to remain substantially parallel to said mast (17) in both said positions.

8. Support system (20) as in claim 7, characterized in that said guide device (27) comprises a through hole (28) in which there is positioned at least one bearing (30) for the rotation of the drilling rod (21).

9. Support system (20) as in any previous claim from 1 to 4, characterized in that said support member (44) comprises a cradle in which a segment of the drilling rod (21) is housed.

10. Operating machine (10), comprising a drilling unit (13) equipped with a support structure, or mast (17), a drilling rod (21) and a rotation head (18) able to be positioned sliding on said mast (17), characterized in that it comprises a support system (20) provided with at least one gripping member (22) for the connection, in a substantially horizontal transport configuration, of said drilling rod (21) to said rotation head (18), and at least one support member (23, 44) configured to be associated with said mast (17) and to house at least one segment of said drilling rod (21).

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