# US 11,898,406 B2 · Drilling tool changer apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,406 B2 - Document ID: US11898406B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/899,012 - Filed: 2022-08-30 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-01-29 - Assignees: Epiroc Drilling Solutions, LLC - Applicants: Epiroc Drilling Solutions, LLC - Inventors: Matthew Fosler; Samyuktha Pericharla; Tyler Berens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898406B2 ## CPC - E21B 19/18: Connecting or disconnecting drill bit and drilling pipe - E21B 19/20: Combined feeding from rack and connecting, e.g. automatically - E21B 19/146: {Carousel systems, i.e. rotating rack systems} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An apparatus for changing a drilling tool for a drilling rig is described, where the drilling rig comprises a drill tower supporting a drill pipe. The apparatus for changing a drilling tool has a drilling tool changer assembly moveable between a storage position and an exchange position, and the drilling tool changer assembly supports a rotatable carousel assembly. The rotatable carousel assembly is capable of being removed from the drilling tool changer assembly and capable of replacement on the drilling tool changer in the same angular position with respect to the drill pipe as when removed. The rotatable carousel assembly has a plurality of bit adaptors for holding drilling tools and is selectively rotatable to bring a selected drilling tool into coaxial alignment with the drill pipe when the drilling tool changer assembly supporting the rotatable carousel assembly is moved into the exchange position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for changing a drilling tool for a drilling rig, where the drilling rig comprises a drill tower supporting a drill pipe; the apparatus for changing a drilling tool comprising: a drilling tool changer assembly moveable between a storage position and an exchange position; the drilling tool changer assembly supporting a rotatable carousel assembly; the rotatable carousel assembly capable of removal from the drilling tool changer assembly and capable of replacement on the drilling tool changer assembly in a same angular position; the rotatable carousel assembly having a plurality of bit adaptors for holding drilling tools; and the rotatable carousel assembly selectively rotatable to bring a selected drilling tool into coaxial alignment with the drill pipe when the drilling tool changer assembly supporting the rotatable carousel assembly is moved into the exchange position; wherein the drilling tool changer assembly further comprises a detector for detecting the presence or absence of a drilling tool in a bit adaptor of the plurality of bit adaptors that is in a predetermined angular position for pick-up or drop-off of a drilling tool in the rotatable carousel assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the rotatable carousel assembly is further selectively rotatable to bring a selected bit adaptor of the plurality of bit adaptors into the pre-determined angular position for pick-up or drop-off of a drilling tool in the rotatable carousel assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the rotatable carousel assembly removed from the drilling tool changer assembly is a first rotatable carousel assembly, and the rotatable carousel assembly replaced in the drilling tool changer assembly is a second rotatable carousel assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the bit adaptors further comprise at least one nub for holding a drilling tool against a torque imparted to the drilling tool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the drilling tool changer assembly further comprises at least one indexing feature for re-aligning the rotatable carousal assembly in the same angular position after the rotatable carousel assembly is removed from the drilling tool changer assembly and replaced in the drilling tool changer assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 5, where the at least one indexing feature comprises at least one alignment pin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of alignment pins, where at least one of the alignment pins is an off-center alignment pin for indexing the rotatable carousel to the same angular position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 6, further comprising an alignment plate; where the at least one alignment pin is connected to the alignment plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 8, further comprising a carousel plate; the carousel plate removably supported by the alignment plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 8, further comprising a bull gear and a pinion; where the alignment plate is connected to the bull gear; the bull gear engaging the pinion for rotating the bull gear and the alignment plate therewith. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 9, where the carousel plate engages the at least one alignment pin to align the rotatable carousel assembly in the same angular position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the drilling tool changer assembly is pivotably hinged to bring the rotatable carousel assembly into coaxial alignment with a drill pipe supported by the drill tower. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the bit adaptors are differently sized to accommodate differently-sized drilling tools. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, further comprising a control system for controlling operations of the drilling tool changer assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 14, further comprising a first actuator for selectively rotating the rotatable carousel assembly under command of the control system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 15, further comprising a second actuator for selectively moving the drilling tool changer assembly between the storage position and the exchange position under command of the control system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the drilling tool changer assembly further comprises a sensor for identifying the one or more drilling tools located in the bit adaptors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 1, where the drilling tool changer assembly further comprises a sensor for detecting the angular position of the rotatable carousel assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 16, where the drilling tool changer assembly further comprises an enclosure; the enclosure enclosing the rotatable carousel assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus for changing a drilling tool of claim 19, where the drilling tool changer assembly further comprises a lid and a third actuator; the lid covering the enclosure; and, wherein the lid is deployed between an open position and a closed position by action of the third actuator.