Swiveling Support Gate for Directional Drill Pipe Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directional drilling machines face inefficiencies and reduced hydraulic bar lift rod lifespan due to excessive resistance when loading heavy metal drilling stems, leading to potential rod skewing and breakage.
Innovation Solution
A support gate device with a swiveling gate and spring mechanism is attached to horizontal bars of the drilling machine, minimizing weight on hydraulic bar lifts during loading and unloading, allowing efficient and controlled movement of iron tubes into the pipe holding bin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic bar lifts are used to lift heavy drilling stems into the holding bin, then the drilling stems can be stored, but excessive resistance causes rod skewing and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
A gate device is introduced as an intermediary component between the drilling stems and the hydraulic bar lifts. The gate receives the weight of the drilling stems and transfers it to the horizontal bar structure, mediating the force transmission so that the hydraulic bar lifts only need to provide lifting force without bearing the full static weight, thereby reducing resistance and preventing rod skewing and breakage
Solution Approach 2:
The gate device functions as a counterweight mechanism by providing structural support that opposes the weight of the drilling stems. The horizontal bar to which the gate is attached acts as a counterbalancing structure, offsetting the downward force of the stems and reducing the burden on the hydraulic bar lifts during operation
2Duration of action of moving object
If more drilling stems are stored in the holding bin, then the machine can operate longer, but the increased weight increases resistance on hydraulic bar lifts
Solution Approach 1:
The gate device serves as a force-distributing intermediary that allows the holding bin to accumulate more drilling stems without proportionally increasing the resistance on hydraulic bar lifts. By transferring the weight burden to the gate and horizontal bar structure, the system can store more material while maintaining acceptable operational forces
3Productivity
If drilling stems are loaded quickly into the holding bin, then productivity increases, but improper positioning causes resistance and potential rod breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The gate device automatically positions itself to receive drilling stems as they are loaded into the holding bin. The gate's movement and positioning are driven by the loading process itself, allowing stems to be quickly deposited without requiring precise manual positioning, thereby maintaining high productivity while ensuring proper weight distribution and preventing rod skewing
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 support gate device enhances the efficiency and extends the life of directional drilling machines by reducing the strain on hydraulic bar lifts, preventing rod skewing and breakage, and ensuring smooth operation.
Implementation Method 1
The support gate device houses a swiveling gate with a stop plate and a spring
Data Source
AI summary
A support gate device that allows iron tubes to be loaded efficiently into a pipe holding bin of a directional drilling machine. The support gate device is a rectangular cartridge the houses a swiveling gate. The swiveling gate has a stop plate and a spring. The support gate device attaches to an end of a horizontal bar of the directional drilling machine. The directional drilling machine has a pair of horizontal bars that are linearly opposed to each other that lead into the pipe holding bin. A pair of support gate devices are installed on the horizontal bars of the directional drilling machine.