Drill Bit Magazine Guide Surfaces for Accurate Rig Bit Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rock drilling rigs face challenges in efficiently and reliably changing drill bits due to inaccurate positioning and potential damage to components during the bit change process.

Innovation Solution

A rock drilling rig equipped with a drill bit magazine and physical guide surfaces that provide precise positioning and orientation for the drilling unit, ensuring safe and efficient bit changes through a combination of manual and automated control mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If physical guide surfaces are introduced to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning system is segmented into two distinct components: physical guide surfaces fixed to the carrier and contact surfaces on the movable magazine. This segmentation allows each component to have a simplified structure while achieving accurate positioning through their coordinated interaction during the docking process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The physical guide surfaces act as an intermediary mechanism between the carrier and the magazine. These guide surfaces provide the necessary physical guidance and constraint during the docking motion, enabling accurate positioning without requiring complex active control systems or sensors on both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the rock drilling unit is moved to the bit change position under physical guidance, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the risk of component damage during movement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcomponent damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surfaces on the magazine are specifically designed to withstand and cushion the impact forces that occur during the docking motion. By pre-designing these surfaces with appropriate material properties and geometric features, the system absorbs the shock of the movement without causing damage to critical components, thereby enabling accurate physical guidance while protecting against harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the magazine is made movable to align bit spaces with the bit change position, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit selection flexibilityVSAvoidmagazine mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable magazine structure serves multiple functions: it stores multiple drill bits in separate bit spaces, enables selection of different bits by moving to different positions, and provides the docking interface with the carrier through its contact surfaces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby managing complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If physical guide surfaces are designed to stop and direct the feed beam, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the force required for positioning increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning force
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning process is designed as a dynamic motion where the magazine moves along the physical guide surfaces under controlled force. The guide surfaces provide directional constraint throughout the motion path, allowing the system to use relatively small continuous forces rather than large impulsive forces, thereby achieving accurate positioning with manageable force requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4538497B1Rock drilling rig and method of handling drill bits
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SANDVIK MINING & CONSTR OY
  • EP4538497B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4538497B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8
  • EP4538497B1 patent drawingFigure 9~12

AI summary

A rock drilling rig and method of handling drill bits. The rock drilling rig (1) comprises a drilling boom (3) provided with a rock drilling unit (4). The rock drilling rig also comprises one or more drill bit magazines (10) for storing the drill bits (9). The magazine comprises a bit change position (13) defined by physical guide surfaces (14) capable to direct the rock drilling unit into correct position and orientation for executing change of the drill bit.