Axially Moving Drill Guard for Wall-Close and Angled Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling machines have bulky and heavy protective cages that hinder maneuverability and increase costs, making it difficult to perform drilling operations close to walls or at inclined angles while maintaining safety standards.
Innovation Solution
A drilling machine with a compact protection device that moves axially with the drilling unit, eliminating the need for large cages by integrating the protection mechanism with the gripping members, allowing for reduced size and weight, and enabling drilling near walls or at inclined angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional protective cages are used to enclose the drilling head and clamps, then safety standards are met, but the machine becomes bulky and heavy, reducing maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cage is divided into two separate cages: a first cage enclosing the lower clamp and a second cage enclosing the upper clamp. These cages can be positioned independently and do not need to form a continuous enclosure, reducing the total material required while maintaining safety for both clamping operations and drilling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cages are designed to be movable along the support structure, allowing them to follow the drilling head's position dynamically. This eliminates the need for a large stationary cage that would accommodate the full range of motion, significantly reducing the machine's overall size and weight.
2Reliability
If large protective cages are used to allow upper clamp movement and rotation, then safety is ensured, but the machine size increases to over 2 meters laterally with weight reaching 400 kg
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the protective enclosure into two independent cages for the lower and upper clamps respectively, the system allows each clamp to move and rotate within its own confined space without requiring a large unified cage structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function is extended along the longitudinal axis of the support structure rather than requiring lateral expansion. The cages can move axially to follow the drilling head, converting a lateral size problem into a longitudinal positioning solution.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If heavy protective cages are used to meet safety requirements, then operator protection is improved, but the machine requires heavier and more expensive components throughout
Solution Approach 1:
The safety protection is segmented into localized cages around each clamp and the drilling head, rather than requiring a single massive cage structure. This distributes the protective function across multiple smaller, lighter components.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cages are designed to move with the drilling head, maintaining protection dynamically throughout the drilling operation. This eliminates the need for oversized static protective structures and their associated heavy support systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the protective cage is opened to allow drill string element manipulation, then operational flexibility is improved, but safety risks increase requiring ROM mode activation
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is divided into separate cages that can be independently opened or closed. The first cage can be opened for lower clamp operations while the second cage remains closed to protect the upper clamp, allowing selective access without compromising overall safety.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2A
Figure 3A~4B
AI summary
A drilling machine (10) comprises a movement unit (20) to move it, a support and orientation unit (30) mounted on the movement unit (20), and a drilling unit (40) mounted on the support and orientation unit (30) so that the latter supports the drilling unit (40) and orients it in a work position. The drilling unit (40) comprises a protection device (80) able to shield a drilling element (53) so as to prevent access to it by an operator.