Rock Drilling Rig Turning Device Alternating Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rock drilling machines pose safety risks due to rotating parts, with existing protection measures like physical guards increasing weight, cost, and reducing visibility, and lacking reliability in preventing entanglement injuries.

Innovation Solution

A rock drilling rig with a turning device that reverses direction repeatedly, controlled by alternating turning systems, limiting movements to predetermined maximum values, and equipped with independent safety systems to monitor and stop excessive turning, eliminating the need for physical guards and enhancing safety without reducing productivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical protective devices such as protection cages are used to enclose dangerous rotating parts, then safety protection is improved, but weight increases, costs increase, and visibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidweight of drilling unit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the dangerous rotating parts (drilling tool and machine parts) from the accessible zone by using a drilling machine design where these parts are positioned in a way that prevents personnel access to the dangerous zone, eliminating the need for additional protective cages while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical protective devices (cages, guards) with a control system that monitors the position of the drilling tool and automatically stops rotation when approaching the dangerous zone, using electrical/electronic control instead of mechanical protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If physical protective devices such as protection cages are used to enclose dangerous rotating parts, then safety protection is improved, but visibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidvisibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for visual-obstructing protective cages by designing the drilling machine so that the dangerous rotating parts are positioned in an inaccessible zone, allowing clear visibility while maintaining safety through positional control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If access control systems are used to monitor the dangerous drilling zone, then access control is improved, but reliability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess controlVSAvoidprotection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor the position of the drilling tool relative to the dangerous zone, and the system automatically responds by stopping rotation when the tool approaches the hazardous area, providing reliable automated protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The drilling machine performs self-protection by automatically monitoring its own operating parameters and stopping rotation when safety conditions are violated, without requiring external intervention or access control personnel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If the drilling tool is rotated continuously in one direction, then productivity is maintained, but wearing of the drilling tool is uneven and service life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling productivityVSAvoidservice life of drilling tool
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic reversal of rotation direction during drilling operations, alternating between forward and reverse rotation in cycles, which evenly distributes wear on the drilling tool components while maintaining continuous drilling progress and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3144465B1Apparatus, rock drilling rig and method for rock drilling
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 SANDVIK MINING & CONSTR OY
  • EP3144465B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3144465B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3144465B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus, rock drilling rig and method for rock drilling. The apparatus comprises a turning device (TD) for moving a drilling tool (8) around longitudinal axis of the tool. The turning movement (T) is controlled by means of an alternating turning system (ATS) so that direction of turning movement is continuously reversed to first and second turning directions. Turning angle of the tool is restricted and a safety system (SS) is configured to monitor the operation and to ensure that a predetermined turning angle is not exceeded.