Adjustable Drilling Rig With Five Degrees of Freedom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drill rigs for drilling micropiles in remote and difficult-to-access locations lack sufficient degrees of freedom and require complex assembly, making them inefficient and cumbersome to transport and set up.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable drill rig with five degrees of freedom, allowing for independent adjustments along the X-, Y-, and Z-axes and rotation about these axes, which can be easily transported in sub-assemblies and assembled without specialized tools, enabling drilling at various angles and positions on uneven terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a drill rig is designed with multiple degrees of freedom for drilling at various angles, then the adaptability and versatility improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drill rig is divided into separate transportable frames that can be assembled in the field. The platform, mast, and drilling assembly are segmented into modular components that can be transported separately and connected using standardized interfaces, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining multi-degree-of-freedom capability
Solution Approach 2:
The drill rig incorporates adjustable and movable components including the mast that can be positioned at various angles, the platform that can be leveled on uneven terrain, and the drilling assembly that can be oriented in multiple directions. These dynamic elements provide the five degrees of freedom without requiring an overly complex fixed structure
2Weight of moving object
If a drill rig is designed to be lightweight for aerial transport, then the ease of transport improves, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drill rig frames and structural components are constructed using composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratios. These composite structures maintain the necessary structural integrity for drilling operations while being lightweight enough for helicopter transport to remote locations
Solution Approach 2:
The drill rig is segmented into separate frames and modules that can be transported independently by air. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for weight while maintaining overall structural strength through proper design of connection points and load distribution across multiple components
3Manufacturing precision
If a drill rig requires specialized tools and expertise for assembly, then the manufacturing precision may improve, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drill rig employs standardized, universal connection interfaces and assembly mechanisms that can be used across different components and configurations. This universality allows the same simple tools and assembly procedures to be used regardless of the specific drilling application or configuration, eliminating the need for specialized tools while maintaining assembly precision
Solution Approach 2:
The drill rig is designed with self-aligning and self-locking features that guide the assembly process without requiring specialized expertise. The standardized interfaces automatically position components correctly during assembly, and the design includes built-in alignment features that ensure precise connection without requiring skilled operators or specialized tooling
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable drilling rig is provided for drilling and installation of foundational micropile matrices in difficult to access locations. A support frame of separately adjustable legs define a perimeter of the rig and drilling area. A translational frame of arms and a crossbar is selectively mounted to the support frame for easy transport and assembly at remote work sites. The crossbar is selectively slidable along the arms in a Y-axis direction. A crossbar bushing is selectively slidable along the crossbar in an X-axis direction. A mast is slidably attached to and movable with the crossbar. Various adjusters are included and are independently and selectively activated to move the crossbar, and therefore mast and attached drill head, translationally along the X- and Y-axes, optionally Z-axis, and rotationally about the X- and Y-axes to achieve five degrees of freedom in five planes for drilling at any angle within the drilling area.