Drill Rod Magazine for Simultaneous Pre-Greasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing greasing methods for drill rods are labor-intensive, costly, and prone to errors, leading to difficulties in coupling and uncoupling, with a high risk of mess and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A drill rod magazine assembly that organizes drill rods in a predetermined pattern, allowing for simultaneous pre-greasing of fittings through exposed slots, with a cover to prevent contamination and residue, facilitating easy and efficient greasing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fittings are individually lubricated as the stem is assembled, then coupling between drill rods is facilitated, but labor and cost increase and operation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine pre-greases the fittings of multiple drill rods in advance before they are needed for assembly. This preliminary action eliminates the need for individual greasing during assembly operations, reducing labor while maintaining easy coupling through the pre-applied lubrication on all fittings.
2Ease of operation
If fittings are individually lubricated as the stem is assembled, then coupling is facilitated, but the process adds additional steps and labor
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine is designed to pre-grease all fittings of multiple drill rods in advance. This eliminates the time-consuming step of individual greasing during assembly, allowing for rapid coupling operations without additional labor steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine combines multiple greasing operations into a single pre-greasing process. Instead of greasing each fitting individually during assembly, the system greases all fittings simultaneously in advance, merging multiple operations into one efficient step.
3Ease of operation
If greasing is performed with a wire brush and container of grease, then fittings are lubricated, but it makes a mess around controls and driving unit
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine is designed to self-grease the fittings automatically as drill rods are inserted. The system includes internal grease application mechanisms that apply lubrication without requiring external wire brushes or containers, eliminating mess around controls and driving units while maintaining easy coupling.
Data Source
AI summary
A magazine for greasing drill rods includes a magazine assembly couplable with a drill assembly, for instance, a directional drill. The magazine assembly includes a magazine coupled with the drilling assembly. The magazine is sized and shaped to house a plurality of drill rods. The magazine further arranges the plurality of drill rods so a fitting of each drill rod is in a predetermined pattern relative to other drill rod fittings. A cover is moveably coupled with magazine and sized and shaped to conceal the fittings of the plurality of drill rods when in a closed position. A method for greasing drill rods includes positioning a plurality of drill rods within the magazine. The magazine is sized and shaped to arrange the plurality of drill rods so a fitting of each drill rod is in a predetermined pattern relative to other fittings. The method further includes pre-greasing two or more of the fittings of the plurality of drill rods at one time.