Vertical Borehole Drilling With Strand-Jack and Reverse Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating vertical boreholes, especially those with large diameters and under water, face challenges such as groundwater interference, requiring costly freezing or lowering the groundwater level, and necessitate complex equipment like headgears and winches, which are not feasible for large-scale operations.
Innovation Solution
A drilling device equipped with a strand-jack system for vertical movement, a non-rotating conveying pipeline, and a reverse-circulation method using compressed air to transport loosened material, along with bracing elements for stability and a drive system for the excavating tool, allowing operation without personnel and minimizing equipment complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drilling methods are used with headgears and winches, then vertical boreholes can be created, but the equipment complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the headgear and winch components from the drilling system, extracting only the essential strand-jack mechanism that provides vertical movement functionality while eliminating unnecessary complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling device is designed to be self-supported through its strand-jack system, eliminating the need for external headgear and winch infrastructure, thereby simplifying the overall equipment requirements
2Ease of operation
If groundwater level is lowered or rock is frozen to prevent water ingress, then dry drilling is possible, but the process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent accepts the presence of groundwater rather than attempting to eliminate it, using the water-filled borehole environment as the operating condition and designing the drilling system to function effectively in this environment
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to create a dry drilling environment by lowering groundwater or freezing rock, the patent inverts the approach by designing a system that operates directly in the water-filled borehole, reversing the conventional groundwater control strategy
3Adaptability or versatility
If large-diameter boreholes are drilled under water, then operational flexibility is improved, but access for personnel becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling device is designed as an autonomous system that performs all drilling operations without requiring personnel to enter the water-filled borehole, with automated material discharge and device control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual material removal with an automated conveying system that uses compressed air to transport drill cuttings to the surface, eliminating the need for personnel access
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for sinking a vertical borehole, more particularly a shaft, an extraction borehole in a deposit body, or a foundation borehole in the ground, with at least one excavating tool for excavating material from the bottom of the borehole, with an at least one conveyance means arranged in the active region of the at least one excavating tool for conveying away from the borehole material excavated from the bottom, with a machine frame on which at least two bracing elements are arranged for locking the device in the borehole during boring, with at least one means for vertically raising and lowering the boring device in the borehole and with at least one drive for rotating the excavation tool.