Pivoting Gripper Wedge Actuation for Drill String Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual handling of drill string components in rock drill rigs is risky and imprecise, leading to potential injuries and thread damages due to the weight and length of the components, and existing devices lack precision and are costly.
Innovation Solution
A gripping device with pivotally movable gripper elements supported by a body, featuring a wedge mechanism and hydraulic cylinders for precise control and high force application, allowing for robust and compact design with enhanced precision and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual handling of drill string components is used, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but safety and precision deteriorate due to heavy weight and length of components
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device is designed to automatically grip and release drill string components without requiring manual intervention. The self-service mechanism eliminates the need for operators to manually handle heavy components, thereby improving safety while maintaining operational simplicity through automated gripping action.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping device utilizes a wedge mechanism actuated by hydraulic or pneumatic forces to generate sufficient gripping force on heavy drill string components. This allows the system to handle heavy loads reliably without requiring complex mechanical lifting mechanisms, thus improving reliability while keeping the overall system relatively simple.
2Device complexity
If a drill string component is held at only one end using a one way hole holder, then device simplicity is maintained, but positioning precision deteriorates due to length and weight of the drill string
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device divides the single-point holding approach into multiple gripping points along the drill string component. By using several gripper elements distributed along the component length, the system achieves better positioning precision and control while maintaining relatively simple construction through modular gripper units.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional holding (single point) to multi-dimensional gripping by distributing gripper elements along the length of the drill string component. This spatial distribution improves positioning precision and stability without significantly increasing construction complexity, as the additional gripping points follow a linear arrangement along the component.
3Ease of operation
If gripper elements are made pivotally movable to enable gripping and releasing, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional pivot joints and actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot joints of multiple gripper elements are merged into a common rotational axis or shared mounting structure on the body. This allows all gripper elements to be actuated simultaneously through a single actuation mechanism, thereby improving ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity through structural integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot joints serve multiple functions: they enable individual gripper element rotation for gripping/release, accommodate variations in component diameter, and provide a universal mounting interface for all gripper elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Reliability
If a robust gripping device with high force capability is designed, then gripping reliability is improved, but device size increases making it unsuitable for space-constrained environments
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device employs a wedge mechanism actuated by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to generate high gripping forces within a compact volume. The fluid pressure system allows force multiplication without requiring large mechanical leverage structures, thereby achieving high gripping reliability while maintaining a compact device size suitable for space-constrained environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge angle and surface area of contact are optimized to maximize gripping force within the available space. By adjusting these geometric parameters, the device achieves high mechanical advantage and gripping reliability in a compact configuration, allowing robust performance without excessive device volume.
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
The solution enables precise and efficient handling of drill string components, reducing the risk of injuries and thread damages, while being cost-effective and suitable for space-constrained environments, ensuring secure and precise gripping and positioning.
Implementation Method 1
each movable gripper element is provided with an actuation portion, which co-operates with a wedge device being movable in directions parallel to said axial direction for pivoting said movable gripper element
Implementation Method 2
A spring device is suitably arranged inside the body for actuation of said movable gripper elements against the open position
Data Source
AI summary
A gripping device for a drill string component handling device in a rock drill rig. Gripper element pairs are supported by a body and include at least one gripper element, being pivotally movable around a pivot joint, between a closed position, including a gripping position, and an open position. The pivotally movable gripper element is pivotal in a respective gripper plane forming a right angle to an axial direction. Each movable gripper element includes an actuation portion, which co-operates with a wedge device being movable in directions parallel to the axial direction for pivoting said movable gripper element. A method, a drill string component handling device for a rock drill rig and a rock drill rig including a drill string component handling device.