System for determining health of drill string components of drilling machines

A drilling machine, comprising:

• a mast frame;
• a drill string component configured to perform an operation of the drilling machine;
• a deck wrench configured to move between a disengaged position to allow a rotational movement of the drill string component and an engaged position to restrict the rotational movement of the drill string component;
• an actuator coupled to the mast frame, the actuator having a rod portion coupled to the deck wrench to move the deck wrench from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the rod portion having a first position wherein the rod portion positions the deck wrench in the disengaged position and a second position wherein the rod portion positions the deck wrench in the engaged position, the actuator configured to shift the rod portion and the deck wrench coupled thereto in a first linear direction to move the deck wrench toward the drill string component and a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction to move the rod portion and the deck wrench coupled thereto away from the drill string component, the rod portion having a stroke length that corresponds to linear movement of the rod portion in the first linear direction as the actuator shifts the rod portion from the first position to the second position;
• a sensing device configured to measure the stroke length of the rod portion of the actuator;
• and
• a controller having a memory configured to store an initial stroke length representative of an initial clearance between the deck wrench and the drill string component when the drill string component is unworn;
• the controller configured to:
• receive, from the sensing device, the stroke length of the rod portion of the actuator that corresponds to linear movement of the rod portion from the first position to the second position;
• compare the stroke length of the rod portion moving linearly from the first position to the second position and the initial stroke length representative of the initial clearance between the deck wrench and the drill string component when the drill string component is unworn;
• and
• determine a wear level of the drill string component based on the comparison of the stroke length of the rod portion of the actuator as the rod portion is moved from the first position to the second position corresponding to the engagement of the deck wrench with the drill string component and the initial stroke length.

A method for determining health of a drill string component of a drilling machine, the method comprising:

• causing an actuator to move a rod portion through a stroke length in a linear direction from a first position to a second position, the rod portion coupled to a deck wrench to move the deck wrench upon movement of the rod portion;
• measuring, via a sensing device, the stroke length of the rod portion of the actuator from the first position wherein the deck wrench is disengaged from a drill string component and permits rotational movement of the drill string component relative to the deck wrench to the second position wherein the deck wrench is engaged with the drill string component and restricts rotational movement of the drill string component relative to the deck wrench;
• comparing the stroke length of the rod portion moving linearly from the first position to the second position and an initial stroke length representative of an initial clearance between the deck wrench and the drill string component when the drill string component is unworn;
• and
• determining, by a controller, a wear level of the drill string component based on the comparison of the stroke length of the rod portion of the actuator corresponding to the engagement of the deck wrench with the drill string component and the initial stroke length.