DTH Hammer Cluster Distributor for Mixed Ground Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cluster drill DTH percussion hammers struggle to drill through mixed ground formations due to insufficient reaction force feedback from soft ground, leading to direct exhaust phenomenon and cessation of drilling when mixed ground is encountered, limiting their application to homogeneous rock strata only.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a special distributor with multiple rotatable intake swivels to provide independent compressed air or pressurized fluid sources for each DTH percussion hammer, allowing for continuous operation across varying ground rigidities by avoiding centralized supply issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centralized supply source of compressed air or pressurized fluid is used for all DTH percussion hammers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of drilling operation deteriorates when encountering mixed ground formation due to direct exhaust phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized supply system is segmented into multiple independent supply sources, with each DTH percussion hammer having its own dedicated compressed air or pressurized fluid supply. This segmentation prevents the direct exhaust phenomenon from affecting other hammers when one encounters soft ground, thereby maintaining drilling reliability across mixed ground formations while keeping each individual hammer system relatively simple.
2Productivity
If all DTH percussion hammers operate simultaneously on homogenous hard materials, then the productivity is maximized, but the adaptability to mixed ground formation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cluster drill system is divided into independently controllable DTH percussion hammers, each with its own fluid supply. This allows individual hammers to be operated simultaneously on hard ground for maximum productivity, while enabling selective control when encountering soft ground sections, thus adapting to mixed ground formations without compromising overall drilling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, uniform operation mode to a dynamic, adaptive mode where each DTH percussion hammer can be independently controlled based on real-time ground conditions. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain high productivity on hard ground while automatically adjusting to mixed ground formations by preventing direct exhaust phenomenon.
3Ease of operation
If compressed air or pressurized fluid is delivered through a single centralized supply source, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of energy increases due to direct exhaust bypassing
Solution Approach 1:
The single centralized supply source is divided into multiple independent supply lines, each dedicated to a specific DTH percussion hammer. This segmentation ensures that compressed air or pressurized fluid delivered to hammers on soft ground cannot bypass through direct exhaust paths to affect other hammers, thereby preventing energy loss while maintaining ease of operation through standardized independent connections.
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
Enables cluster drill DTH percussion hammers to effectively penetrate both hard and soft ground formations, preventing direct exhaust and allowing uninterrupted drilling through mixed ground, expanding their applicability beyond homogeneous rock strata.
Implementation Method 1
The DTH percussion hammer can be driven by either compressed air or pressurized fluid such as water... each of them can actuate its corresponding piston to strike on its front drill bit
Implementation Method 2
there will be enough evenly distributed reaction force feedback on to the drill bits and in turn pushing back on to the pistons to facilitate the hammering cycle
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for drilling hole, comprising: a cluster drill of down-the-hole (DTH) percussion hammers having two or more DTH percussion hammers; and a special distributor having rotatable swivels for sourcing compressed air or pressurized fluid from independent supply sources and distributing to the DTH percussion hammers; wherein the DTH percussion hammers are arranged such that one or more circumferential layers of drill bits are formed covering the drilling area; and wherein within each circumferential layer, at least one DTH percussion hammer is supplied with the compressed air or pressurized fluid from an independent supply source that is different from the independent supply source supplying the other DTH percussion hammers.