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 encountering both hard and soft materials.
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 preventing direct exhaust and ensuring adequate fluid supply to all hammers.
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 deteriorates when encountering mixed ground formation due to direct exhaust phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized supply system 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 by ensuring that fluid supply to each hammer is not affected by the ground conditions at other locations, thereby maintaining drilling reliability in mixed ground formations.
2Reliability
If multiple independent supply sources are provided for each DTH percussion hammer, then the reliability improves for drilling mixed ground formation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional distributor assembly that serves multiple purposes: it distributes compressed air or pressurized fluid to multiple DTH percussion hammers, supports the drill bits, and enables independent supply control. By making the distributor assembly multi-functional, the patent reduces the overall system complexity despite providing multiple independent supply sources.
3Productivity
If all DTH percussion hammers simultaneously impact homogenous hard materials, then the productivity is maximized through evenly distributed reaction force feedback, but the adaptability deteriorates when encountering soft ground formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hammer operations into independent units, each with its own supply source. This allows individual hammers to adapt to local ground conditions independently while maintaining overall drilling productivity. When encountering mixed ground, hammers can adjust their operation based on local conditions without affecting the entire cluster.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities to the DTH percussion hammers through independent supply sources, allowing each hammer to adjust its operating parameters in real-time based on ground conditions. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to maintain high productivity across varied ground formations.
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, overcoming the limitation of drilling only in homogeneous rock strata and allowing for deeper penetration in mixed ground conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The DTH percussion hammer can be driven by either compressed air or pressurized fluid such as water
Implementation Method 2
each of them can actuate its corresponding piston to strike on its front drill bit
Implementation Method 3
when all the DTH percussion hammers are simultaneously impacting the homogenous hard materials or ground formation, 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
Implementation Method 4
The compressed air or pressurized fluid then escapes directly from the drill bit through the main exhaust holes in piston instead of going through the bottom chamber
Data Source
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.