Segmented Flexible Drill Rod Connectors for Mine Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In low profile and extra low profile mines, the need for continuous drilling with rock support requires long drill rods, but existing flexible drill rods are expensive and inefficient to extend, leading to high replacement costs and safety risks due to manual handling.
Innovation Solution
A flexible drill rod composed of lengthwise sections with connectors that allow for easy attachment and detachment, enabling the replacement of worn sections without replacing the entire rod, and adjustable length by adding or removing sections, along with a locking system to prevent unintentional decoupling and ensure torque transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire flexible drill rod is replaced when worn, then the drilling continuity is maintained, but the cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible drill rod is divided into multiple detachable sections that can be independently replaced. Each section has connectors with locking mechanisms that allow safe detachment and reattachment, enabling only the worn portions to be replaced rather than the entire rod, thus reducing replacement time and cost while maintaining drilling continuity.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling of rods is used, then space restrictions are accommodated, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drill rod is segmented into manageable sections with standardized connectors. This allows the rod to be handled in smaller, safer portions while still achieving the required total length through connection of multiple sections, reducing safety risks associated with manual handling of long rods in confined spaces.
3Length of moving object
If extension drilling by adding rods is used, then the required drilled length is achieved, but the process efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible drill rod features dynamic connectivity through detachable connectors that allow quick addition or removal of sections. This enables the rod length to be adjusted adaptively during drilling operations, maintaining high productivity by allowing efficient extension when needed without the time loss of traditional rod addition methods.
4Strength
If the flexible drill rod is made rigid to transmit torque, then drilling performance improves, but flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drill rod is constructed as a series of rigid sections connected by flexible connectors. Each section maintains rigidity for effective torque transmission, while the connector regions provide the necessary flexibility to navigate tight spaces and curved paths, achieving both drilling performance and adaptability to confined mine gallery conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A lengthwise section (1) of a flexible drill rod (100), a flexible drill rod and a method. The lengthwise section comprises an outer tube (2), wherein at least part of the outer tube (2) is flexible in a transverse direction of the section (1). The section (1) further comprises an internal pipe (4) inside the outer tube (2) for managing flushing medium flow through the section (1). Connectors (5, 6) are arranged at the ends (7, 8) of the outer tube (2) and the internal pipe (4). The connectors (5, 6) are adapted to be connectable to each other so that a first connector (5) is attachable to a second connector (6) of another lengthwise section (1) of the flexible drill rod.