U.S. patent application number 13/905427 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for rock drilling rig and method of driving compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION OY. The applicant listed for this patent is SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION OY. Invention is credited to Juha Piipponen, Tapani Sormunen.
Application Number | 20130319765 13/905427 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46245470 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130319765 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Piipponen; Juha ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
Rock drilling rig and method of driving compressor
Abstract
A rock drilling rig and a method of driving a compressor,
wherein the rock drilling rig is operated by a combustion engine
and is provided with a flushing system including a compressor for
producing pressurized air. The compressor is driven by an electric
drive motor. The combustion engine is connected to drive a
generator, which produces electric energy that is stored in an
energy storage. The stored electric energy can be utilized in
driving the compressor.
Inventors: |
Piipponen; Juha; (Tampere,
FI) ; Sormunen; Tapani; (Tampere, FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION OY |
Tampere |
|
FI |
|
|
Assignee: |
SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION
OY
Tampere
FI
|
Family ID: |
46245470 |
Appl. No.: |
13/905427 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
175/24 ; 175/71;
175/84 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 7/025 20130101;
B60L 2250/24 20130101; E21B 21/16 20130101; B60L 3/12 20130101;
B60L 2210/40 20130101; Y02T 10/62 20130101; Y02T 10/72 20130101;
B60L 50/62 20190201; Y02T 10/7072 20130101; E21B 7/022 20130101;
B60L 1/003 20130101; Y02T 10/70 20130101; B60L 2200/40 20130101;
E21B 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/24 ; 175/84;
175/71 |
International
Class: |
E21B 21/16 20060101
E21B021/16; E21B 7/02 20060101 E21B007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2012 |
EP |
12170173 |
Claims
1. A rock drilling rig comprising: a movable carrier; a tramming
unit for performing transfer drive of the carrier; at least one
drilling boom movable relative to the carrier and provided with a
drilling unit including a rock drilling machine; a flushing system
having at least one compressor for producing pressurized air
utilized in flushing a drill hole during drilling; a combustion
engine for producing kinetic energy; at least one generator
arranged to be driven by the combustion engine and arranged to
produce electric energy to an electric system; and at least one
energy storage connected to the electric system, wherein the rock
drilling rig is combustion engine operated, needed electric energy
of the rock drilling rig is produced by the at least one generator;
and the at least one compressor of the flushing system is driven by
means of at least one electric compressor drive motor connected to
the electric system.
2. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least
one electric compressor drive motor is driven by means of electric
energy received from the at least one energy storage.
3. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least
one electric compressor drive motor is driven by means of electric
energy received from the at least one energy storage and the at
least one generator.
4. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock
drilling rig includes at least one control unit for controlling the
operation of the flushing system; the control unit is arranged to
monitor the drilling unit; and the control unit is arranged to
adjust the running speed of the compressor and the production of
pressurized air according to the drilling process.
5. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock
drilling rig includes at least one control unit for controlling the
operation of the flushing system; the control unit is arranged to
monitor the tramming unit and to detect transfer drive of the
carrier; and the control unit is arranged to switch off the
electric compressor drive motor for the duration of the transfer
drive.
6. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric
system includes at least one control device for controlling
rotation of the electric compressor drive motor.
7. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tramming
unit includes at least one electric tramming drive motor connected
to the electric system and generating power for the transport
drive.
8. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock
drilling machine is electrically operated and connected to the
electric system.
9. A rock drilling rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rock
drilling rig includes a hydraulic system and hydraulic actuators
connected to the hydraulic system; the hydraulic system (HS)
includes at least one hydraulic pump for generating hydraulic
pressure; and the hydraulic pump is electrically driven and
connected to the electric system.
10. A method of driving a compressor of a rock drilling rig which
is provided with a combustion engine, the method comprising the
steps of: driving a compressor by means of a motor; conducting
produced pressurized air to a flushing system; producing the needed
electric energy for an electric system of the rock drilling rig by
at least one generator driven by the combustion engine; and driving
the compressor by means of an electric compressor drive motor
mechanically independently of the combustion engine.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electric
compressor drive motor is driven by utilizing electric energy
stored in at least one energy storage.
12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the production of
pressurized air is adjusted according to the drilling process.
13. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising determining
drilling efficiency during a drilling process; and increasing
storage of electric energy to at least one energy storage when
drilling is performed under maximum efficiency.
14. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising determining
current loading of the combustion engine; and increasing
consumption of electric energy stored in at least one energy
storage proportionally to the detected increase in the load of the
combustion engine.
15. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising determining
the current use of compressed air; and switching off the electric
compressor drive motor when com-pressed air is not used.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a rock drilling rig, and
particularly to an arrangement for driving a compressor of the rock
drilling rig.
[0002] The invention further relates to a method of driving a
compressor of a rock drilling rig.
[0003] The field of the invention is defined more specifically in
the preambles of the independent claims.
[0004] In mines and other work sites rock drilling rigs are used
for drilling bore holes to rock surfaces. Typically the rock
drilling rig comprises an internal combustion engine for producing
needed energy. Further, the rock drilling rig is provided with a
boom and a drilling unit in the boom. During a drilling procedure
drilling cuttings are formed in the bore hole. The drilling
cuttings are flushed away from the bore hole by means of flushing
medium. Typically pressurized air is used for flushing. Thus, the
rock drilling rig includes a compressor for producing the needed
flushing air. It has been noted that a flushing system causes
significant loading to the combustion engine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved rock drilling rig provided with a compressor arrangement
and a method of driving a compressor.
[0006] The rock drilling rig according to the invention is
characterized in that the at least one compressor of the flushing
system is driven by means of at least one electric compressor drive
motor connected to the electric system.
[0007] The method according to the invention is characterized by
driving the compressor by means of an electric compressor drive
motor mechanically independently of the combustion engine.
[0008] An idea of the disclosed solution is that a
combustion-engine-operated rock drilling rig is provided with a
compressed air system comprising one or more compressors. The
compressor is driven by one or more electric motors. Kinetic energy
produced in the combustion engine is not transmitted to the
compressor.
[0009] An advantage of the disclosed solution is that the
compressor can be driven mechanically and physically independently
of the combustion engine of the rock drilling rig. The compressor
can be driven accurately and according to the need for pressurized
air. This way, unnecessary production of compressed air can be
avoided and fuel consumption of a combustion engine can be
decreased.
[0010] According to an embodiment, electric energy is charged in
one or more electric energy storages and the stored electric energy
is utilized in driving the electric motor of the compressor. Thanks
to the use of stored electrical energy, loading and fuel
consumption of a combustion engine can be decreased. The energy
storage makes it possible to balance the loading of the combustion
engine, whereby a combustion engine with lower power capacity can
be used.
[0011] According to an embodiment, the electric compressor drive
motor is driven only by means of electric energy received from the
energy storage.
[0012] According to an embodiment, the electric compressor drive
motor is driven by means of electric energy received from the
energy storage and the generator driven by the combustion engine.
The use of the energy storage decreases loadings of the generator
and the combustion engine.
[0013] According to an embodiment, output capacity of the
combustion engine is dimensioned by taking into account the lower
power need due to the electric drive of the compressor and electric
power taken from the electric storage. The combustion engine may
then be dimensioned to have lower power capacity, whereby the
engine may be smaller in size and less expensive.
[0014] According to an embodiment, the electric energy storage is a
battery or a battery package including several batteries.
[0015] According to an embodiment, the combustion engine is a
diesel engine.
[0016] According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig comprises
a control unit for controlling the operation of a flushing system.
The control unit monitors the drilling unit and detects the need
for pressurized air. Based on the monitoring, the control unit is
configured to automatically adjust the running speed of the
compressor. This way, the production of pressurized air, i.e.
pressure and flow, is adjusted according to the drilling process
and consumption of pressurized air.
[0017] According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig comprises
a control unit for controlling the operation of the flushing
system. The control unit monitors a tramming unit and detects if a
carrier is transfer-driven. Based on the monitoring, the control
unit is configured to automatically switch off the electrical
compressor drive motor for duration of the detected transfer drive.
In this way, unnecessary production of pressurized air during the
transfer drive is avoided.
[0018] According to an embodiment, the operator switches off the
electric compressor drive motor for the duration of a transfer
drive of the rock drilling rig. Further, the compressor can be
stopped for the duration of any other interruptions in the drilling
procedure and situations when there is no need for pressurized air.
In this way, unnecessary production of pressurized air is avoided
and energy is saved.
[0019] According to an embodiment, the electric system comprises at
least one control device for controlling rotation of the electric
compressor drive motor. The drive of the compressor drive motor can
be controlled steplessly. The control device for controlling
running of the electric motor can be a frequency converter, such as
an inverter or a DC/AC converter. Thanks to this embodiment, the
output capacity of the compressor can be adjusted in a versatile
and effective way, and further, the control is accurate too.
Alternatively, the drive of the compressor drive motor can be
controlled in predetermined steps or ramps.
[0020] According to an embodiment, the tramming unit comprises one
or more electric tramming drive motors connected to the electric
system and generating power for the transport drive. Electric
energy stored in one or more electric energy storage can be
utilized in either entirely or partly when running the tramming
motor. Thanks to the use of stored electrical energy, loading and
fuel consumption of a combustion engine can be decreased.
[0021] According to an embodiment, the rock drilling machine is
electrically operated and connected to the electrical system.
Electrical energy stored in one or more electrical energy storage
can be utilized either entirely or partly when running the rock
drilling machine. Thanks to the use of stored electrical energy,
loading and fuel consumption of a combustion engine can be
decreased.
[0022] According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig comprises
at least one auxiliary unit which is electrically operated. The
auxiliary unit may be a hydraulic unit, for example. The hydraulic
unit may produce needed hydraulic pressure for hydraulic cylinders
of a boom and other hydraulic auxiliary actuators. The hydraulic
unit comprises a hydraulic pump which is electrically driven and
connected to the electric system. Electric energy stored in one or
more electric energy storages can be utilized either entirely or
partly when running the hydraulic pump. Thanks to the use of stored
electric energy, loading and fuel consumption of a combustion
engine can be decreased.
[0023] According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig comprises
a control unit which is configured to determine the drilling
efficiency during a drilling process. The control unit may control
an electric system to increase storage of electric energy to an
energy storage when drilling is performed under maximum efficiency.
Thus, when a drilling unit needs less power and the combustion
engine has free capacity, more electric energy can be generated by
a generator and then stored in the energy storage. Possible extra
capacity can be used for charging batteries.
[0024] According to an embodiment, the rock drilling rig comprises
a control unit which is configured to determine current loading of
a combustion engine. The control unit may control an electric
system to increase consumption of electric energy stored in an
energy storage proportionally to the detected increase in load of
the combustion engine. In this way, electric energy of the
batteries are used more and more for driving different electric
drive motors connected to the electric system in situations when
the combustion engine is heavily loaded. This embodiment balances
the loading of the combustion engine.
[0025] According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is
utilized in top hammer drilling. The drilling unit comprises a top
hammer type percussion device which is located at the opposite end
of a drilling tool relative to the drill bit.
[0026] According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is
utilized in down-the-hole (DTH) drilling. The drilling unit
comprises a down-the hole type percussion device which is located
at the same end of the drilling tool as the drill bit.
[0027] According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is
utilized in rotary drilling. The drilling unit is without any
percussion device but, instead, a drilling tool is rotated by means
of a rotating device.
[0028] According to an embodiment, the disclosed compressor
arrangement and procedure are intended for a surface drilling rig
which is designed for above ground drilling in opencast mines and
other working sites, such as in road, construction and other
contracting work sites.
[0029] According to an embodiment, the disclosed control procedures
are carried out by executing one or more software or computer
programs designed for the purpose. The computer program comprises
program code means configured to execute the disclosed actions and
steps when run on a computer.
[0030] Above disclosed embodiments can be combined in order to form
suitable solutions provided with necessary features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0031] Some embodiments are described in more detail in the
accompanying drawings, in which
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a rock drilling rig
for surface working sites,
[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a principle of
down-the-hole drilling,
[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a rock drilling rig
for underground working sites,
[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a control block diagram of a control
system of a rock drilling rig, and
[0036] FIG. 5 is a simplified chart showing an electric system of a
rock drilling rig.
[0037] For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments
of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the figures,
like reference numerals identify like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a feasible rock drilling rig 1 comprising a
movable carrier 2 which is provided with one or more booms 3
equipped with a drilling unit DR. The drilling unit DR may comprise
a feed beam 5 provided with a rock drilling machine 7 that can be
moved on the feed beam 5 by means of a feed device 6. The rock
drilling machine 7 may comprise a percussion device for generating
impact pulses on a tool 8, and a rotating device for rotating the
tool 8. Further, the rig 1 may include a flushing system FS
comprising one or more compressors CO for producing compressed air
which may be conveyed through a flushing channel 9 to the drilling
machine 7 and through the tool 8 to a bore hole 10.
[0039] Further, the rock drilling rig 1 may comprise a hydraulic
system, which includes a hydraulic pump HP, hydraulic channels, a
tank and necessary control means, such as valves and the like.
Further, one or more hydraulic actuators may be connected to the
hydraulic system.
[0040] The rock drilling rig 1 also comprises one or more control
units CU arranged to control the systems of the rock drilling rig
1. The control unit CU may be a computer or a corresponding control
device comprising a processor, a programmable logic or any other
control device suitable for the purpose, to which it is possible to
set at least one control strategy, according to which the control
unit carries out controlling independently or in cooperation with
the operator.
[0041] At a drilling site, one or more boreholes are drilled with
the drilling unit DR. After the drilling operation, the rig 1 is
moved to the next drilling site or position. The rock drilling rig
1 is provided with drive equipment which includes transmission 11
for conveying rotational movement to moving members 12, such as
chain tracks or wheels. On the carrier 2, there is also a
combustion engine DI, which may be a diesel engine. The combustion
engine DI serves as a power unit for producing needed kinetic
energy. The kinetic energy can be transmitted via the transmission
11 to the moving members 12 and further to one or more generators
for producing needed electrical energy. Electric energy can be
stored in one or more energy storages BAT, such as a battery or a
battery package. The compressor CO and the hydraulic pump HP can be
controlled according to the principles described in this patent
application. Further, the needed kinetic power for transport drive
can be formed by means of one or more electric tramming drive
motors which may also be controlled as disclosed above.
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates a basic principle of a drilling unit DR
for down-the-hole DTH drilling, which differs from the
top-hammer-drilling shown in FIG. 1 in such way that a percussion
device 13 is arranged at an opposite end of a tool 8 as compared to
a rotating device 14 of the drilling machine 7. It is also possible
that the drilling machine does not include any percussion device,
whereby it is called rotary drilling. The above-disclosed flushing
system and control principles can be applied to DTH and rotary
drilling too.
[0043] FIG. 3 discloses a rock drilling rig 1 suitable for
underground drilling when tunnels and rock cavities are excavated,
and also when ore is mined. Principles and embodiments disclosed
above apply also to this type of rock drilling.
[0044] FIG. 4 shows a control system 15 comprising one or more
control units CU and input means 16 for feeding control data and
commands to the control unit CU. The input means may include a
control device 17, such as a joy-stick, and an input device 18,
such as a keypad, by means of which an operator 19 may communicate
with the control unit CU. Further, the control unit CU may read
data from one or more memory units 20 and also store data therein.
The control unit CU may be provided with one or more control
strategies 21 including operating principles and guidelines for
controlling the flushing system FS and possibly also other electric
systems of the rock drilling rig, such as the traction system and
auxiliary systems. The control strategy 21 may include an algorithm
for automatically controlling the electric compressor drive motor
CM. Control data and parameters may be stored in the memory unit or
media 20. Monitoring information and measuring data may be gathered
by means of sensors or measuring devices from the systems and
actuators connected to the electric system. Also the operation of
the combustion engine DI can be monitored. Monitoring or sensing
data can be transmitted to the control unit CU. The control unit CU
may be a computer equipped with an appropriate processor capable of
running a software program including a control algorithm and also
processing measuring data for producing control information. On the
basis of the measuring data, manual control commands and the
control strategy, the control unit CU produces control commands for
the disclosed system and allows the disclosed control according to
the above presented principles.
[0045] In FIG. 5 it is shown a simplified chart of an electric
system ES of a rock drilling rig. The combustion engine DI drives
the generator GEN and electric energy is produced. By means of the
generated electric energy, the electric system of the drilling rig
is driven. The drilling unit DR, the tramming unit TR and the
auxiliary unit, such as the hydraulic system HS, can be driven by
the energy produced by the generator GEN. Further, the generated
energy can be used to charge the energy storage BAT. There may be a
voltage transformer between the generator and the energy storage.
The flushing system FS can be driven by means of the energy stored
in the energy storage BAT. Alternatively electric energy can be
directed to the flushing system FS from two sources, namely from
the energy storage BAT and the generator GEN.
[0046] The flushing system FS may further include a control device
CD, which may comprise a frequency converter, by which the rotation
of the electric compressor drive motor CM can be controlled
steplessly. The operation of the control device CM may be
controlled by a control unit CU.
[0047] The drawings and the related description are only intended
to illustrate the idea of the invention. In its details, the
invention may vary within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *