Drill rod handling system for moving drill rods to and from an operative position

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10047576-B2
Application number	US-201715416083-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2017
Priority date	Dec 30, 2013
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A drill head assembly for receiving a drill rod in an operative position. The drill head assembly has a chuck and cradle configured for movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the longitudinal axis of the chuck is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a drill mast. In the second position, the longitudinal axis of the chuck is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill mast. From the first position, the cradle is configured for sequential axial and then pivotal movement relative to the transverse axis to reach the second position, with pivotal movement being restricted until axial movement is completed. Drill rod handling systems having such drill head assemblies, and methods of using such drill head assemblies, are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A loading device for engaging a drill rod moving relative to a translation axis, the loading device comprising:
a first base assembly;
a second base assembly, the first base assembly being spaced from the second base assembly relative to the translation axis;
a clamping assembly, comprising:
a frame securely coupled to and positioned between the first and second base assemblies, the frame having a longitudinal axis substantially axially aligned with the translation axis;
a carriage operatively coupled to the frame and configured for selective movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
a vice assembly supported thereon the carriage, the vice assembly defining a central space configured to receive a portion of the drill rod, wherein the vice assembly is selectively adjustable to securely engage the drill rod in an operative position;
a first shaft supported by the first base assembly and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the translation axis;
a second shaft supported by the second base assembly and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the translation axis; and
a chain positioned over the first and second shafts and defining a chain loop, the chain being securely coupled to the carriage, wherein the chain is operatively coupled to the first shaft such that:
rotation of the first shaft in a first direction effects advancement of the chain loop in a corresponding direction and the carriage is advanced toward the second shaft relative to the translation axis, and
rotation of the first shaft in an opposed, second direction effects advancement of the chain loop in a corresponding direction and the carriage is advanced toward the first shaft relative to the translation axis.

2. The loading device of claim 1 , wherein the vice assembly comprises first and second walls that define the central space, and wherein the first wall is selectively moveable relative to the second wall to selectively adjust the width of the central space.

3. The loading device of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises first and second guide blocks that are configured to receive a portion of the drill rod, wherein the first guide block is positioned proximate a first end of the frame and the first base assembly, and wherein the second guide block is positioned proximate a second end of the frame and the second base assembly.

4. The loading device of claim 3 , wherein the vice assembly is positioned in between the first and second guide blocks relative to the translation axis.

5. The loading device of claim 4 , wherein the first and second guide blocks are substantially axially aligned with the vice assembly.

6. The loading device of claim 3 , wherein the frame has a central opening extending along a length of the frame between the first and second base assemblies.

7. The loading device of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises at least one bearing operatively coupled to the first shaft and at least one bearing operatively coupled to the second shaft.

8. The loading device of claim 1 , wherein the first base assembly comprises a bearing operatively coupled to the first shaft, and wherein the second base assembly comprises a bearing operatively coupled to the second shaft.

9. The loading device of claim 6 , wherein the chain loop has:
a first portion that is securely coupled to the carriage through the central opening; and
an opposed second portion comprising a stop element that prevents rotation of the chain loop beyond at least one predetermined rotational position.

10. The loading device of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined rotational position comprises a rotational position corresponding to contact between the carriage and the first or second guide blocks of the frame.

11. The loading device of claim 1 , further comprising a sprocket that operatively couples the first shaft to the chain.

12. The loading device of claim 1 , further comprising a wheel that is configured for rotation relative to a rotational axis, wherein the first shaft is operatively coupled to the wheel, and wherein the wheel is configured to selectively impart rotational motion to the first shaft, thereby causing advancement of the chain in a desired direction.

13. The loading device of claim 1 , wherein the frame is operatively secured to the first and second base assemblies by at least one removable fastener.

14. The loading device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second base assemblies comprises:
a cross bar configured for engagement with an end portion of the frame; and
a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the cross bar.

15. The loading device of claim 14 , wherein first base assembly comprises an arm that extends outwardly from the first base assembly and defines a notch for receiving at least a portion of the first shaft.

16. The loading device of claim 14 , wherein the height of the first and second base assemblies is selectively adjustable.

17. A loading device for selectively moving a drill rod relative to a translation axis, the loading device being spaced from a drill head assembly and comprising:
a first base assembly;
a second base assembly, the first base assembly being spaced from the second base assembly relative to the translation axis;
a support platform extending between and coupled to the first base assembly and the second base assembly, the support platform having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the translation axis, the support platform being configured to support at least a portion of the drill rod as the drill rod is moved relative to the translation axis; and
a driving assembly, comprising:
at least one driving roller, each driving roller having a respective longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of each driving roller is substantially perpendicular to the translation axis, and wherein each driving roller is configured for rotation about its longitudinal axis;
at least one drive assembly, each drive assembly being positioned in operative communication with a respective driving roller, wherein each drive assembly is configured for selective activation to selectively rotate a respective driving roller; and
at least one guide roller, each guide roller having a respective longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of each guide roller is substantially perpendicular to the translation axis and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each respective driving roller, wherein the at least one driving roller and the at least one guide roller cooperate to define a receiving space, the receiving space being configured to receive at least a portion of the drill rod, wherein the at least one driving roller and the at least one guide roller are configured for engagement with the drill rod when at least a portion of the drill rod is received within the receiving space, and wherein, when at least a portion of the drill rod is received within the receiving space, rotation of the at least one driving roller in a first direction is configured to advance the drill rod toward the drill head assembly.

18. The loading device of claim 17 , wherein each driving roller comprises a flexible material that is configured to provide a surface for frictional engagement with a drill rod.

19. The loading device of claim 17 , wherein each drive assembly is a hydraulic drive assembly.

20. The loading device of claim 17 , wherein the support platform is operatively secured to the first and second base assemblies with at least one removable fastener.

Assignees

• Bly Ip Inc

Inventors

• Wright Christopher Allen
• Markham Anthony Charles William

Classifications

• E21B19/20

  Combined feeding from rack and connecting, e.g. automatically · CPC title

• E21B19/24

  Guiding or centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes · CPC title

• E21B15/00

  Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts · CPC title

• E21B19/06

  Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices · CPC title

• E21B19/155 Primary

  Handling between horizontal and vertical position · CPC title