Earth Drilling Device Feed Cylinder Rolling Element Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing earth drilling devices face challenges in coordinating rotary and translational drives, resulting in lower propulsion power and higher production costs, especially in smaller devices, due to the need for additional drive components and increased weight.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves converting the back-and-forth movement of the carriage into a rotational movement of the drill string using a rolling element, eliminating the need for an additional drive motor or cylinder, and utilizing the existing feed cylinder for rotation, with a conversion device optionally setting a gear ratio to achieve this.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotary drive is integrated into the earth drilling device, then drilling performance is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling performanceVSAvoiddrive system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing feed cylinder is made to perform dual functions: generating translational motion for pushing/pulling the drill string and generating rotary motion through the rolling element mechanism. This eliminates the need for a separate rotary drive motor or cylinder, thereby improving drilling performance without increasing device complexity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The translational drive and rotary drive functions are merged into a single integrated system where the feed cylinder's linear motion is converted to rotary motion of the drill string through the rolling element and conversion device, combining two drive functions into one mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If a rotary drive is integrated into the earth drilling device, then drilling performance is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling performanceVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The feed cylinder serves dual purposes as both the translational drive and the rotary drive source, eliminating the need for additional heavy components such as a separate rotary motor or cylinder, thus improving drilling performance without increasing device weight

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

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary drive function is extracted from a separate motor/cylinder and instead generated through the rolling element mechanism that converts the existing feed cylinder's linear motion into rotary motion, removing the need for additional heavy drive components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If a rotary drive is integrated into the earth drilling device, then drilling performance is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The feed cylinder is designed to perform both translational and rotary drive functions, eliminating the need for an additional drive motor or cylinder, thereby improving drilling performance while reducing manufacturing costs through component consolidation

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

Solution Approach 2:

Two drive functions (translational and rotary) are merged into a single integrated mechanism using the rolling element and conversion device, reducing the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thus lowering manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If a rotary drive is integrated into the earth drilling device, then drilling performance is improved, but propulsion power decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling performanceVSAvoidpropulsion power
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The rolling element acts as an intermediary mechanism that converts the linear motion of the feed cylinder into rotary motion of the drill string. This mechanical conversion allows the existing feed cylinder to provide both translational and rotary drive functions without requiring additional power sources, maintaining propulsion power while improving drilling performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances propulsion performance while reducing weight and production costs, allowing for efficient operation in smaller earth drilling devices and more difficult ground conditions without the need for additional drive components.

Implementation Method 1

at least one rolling element is provided, which is configured to roll during the translational movement of the carriage, whereby the rotational movement of the rolling element can be converted into a rotary movement of the drill string

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4036367B1Arrangement of an earth boring device, method for operating an earth boring device and use of an arrangement of an earth boring device
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 TRACTO TECHN
  • EP4036367B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4036367B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Arrangement of an earth drilling device (1) for pushing or pulling a drill string (5) into soil, wherein the arrangement has a frame (8) and a carriage (4) which is movable back and forth relative to the frame with a translational movement, wherein at least one rolling element (15) is provided which is designed to roll down during the translational movement of the carriage and a conversion device is provided which is connected to the rolling element and is designed to convert the rotational movement of the rolling element into a rotary movement of the drill string.