Drill Rod Clamping Head With Cylindrical Jaw Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping head arrangements for drill rods are costly to manufacture due to the use of complex guide tracks with undercuts, such as dovetail guides, which are sensitive to dirt and damage, requiring expensive tools and laborious finishing processes.
Innovation Solution
The guide tracks are redesigned as partially cylindrical guide channels, and the clamping jaw elements are made with cylindrical guide bodies, allowing for easy production using conventional tools and precise finishing, with a clearance fit for secure guidance and clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If guide tracks with undercut (dovetail guide, T-guide) are used, then reliable fixture and guidance of clamping jaw elements is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and the guide tracks become sensitive to dirt and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex undercut guide tracks (dovetail or T-shape) with simple cylindrical guide channels. The cylindrical geometry eliminates the need for undercuts while providing smooth guidance surfaces that are less sensitive to dirt and damage. The clamping jaw elements feature corresponding cylindrical guide bodies that fit into these channels, achieving reliable guidance through simple curved surfaces rather than complex angular undercuts.
2Reliability
If guide tracks with undercut are used, then good guidance is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases due to special tools and complex finishing processes
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical guide channels can be manufactured using standard drilling and boring operations followed by conventional cylindrical grinding or honing processes. This eliminates the need for expensive special-purpose undercut forming tools and complex multi-step finishing operations required for dovetail or T-shaped guides. The simple cylindrical geometry allows for efficient production using common machining equipment.
3Ease of operation
If clamping jaw elements are displaceable along guide tracks, then clamping and release function is achieved, but the jaw elements may fall out when drill rod is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical guide channels provide continuous curved surfaces that surround the cylindrical guide bodies of the clamping jaw elements. This 360-degree cylindrical enclosure prevents the jaw elements from falling out or becoming dislodged when the drill rod is removed, while still allowing smooth axial displacement for clamping and release operations. The circular cross-section provides inherent retention without requiring additional locking features.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a clamping head arrangement, in particular for clamping a drill rod element, having a plurality of clamping jaw elements, each of which has a clamping surface which is designed in particular for clamping contact with a contact side of the drill rod element, and a main body with guide tracks, along which the clamping jaw elements are displaceably mounted, wherein the guide tracks are angled to a centre axis of the clamping head arrangement, so that displacement of the clamping jaw elements along the guide tracks causes axial and radial displacement of the clamping jaw elements with respect to the centre axis. According to the invention it is provided that the clamping jaw elements are each designed with a cylindrical or partially cylindrical guide body, and that the guide tracks in the main body are formed as partially cylindrical guide channels, in each of which a clamping jaw element with the cylindrical or partially cylindrical guide body is displaceably mounted.