Drilling machine power pack which includes a clutch
AssigneeAtlas Copco Drilling Solutions LLC
InventorsTimothy Ledbetter, Iain A. Peebles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drilling machine includes a compressor coupled to a prime mover through a hydraulic clutch, wherein the hydraulic clutch is repeatably moveable between engaged and disengaged conditions. The compressor is allowed to provide air and is restricted from providing air in response to the hydraulic clutch being in the engaged and disengaged conditions, respectively. The hydraulic clutch is moveable between the engaged and disengaged conditions during operation of the prime mover.
Claims16
A method of operating a drilling machine, the method comprising:
- requesting to activate operation of a compressor through a control system;
- commanding inlet butterfly and blow down valves to close;
- commanding a prime mover to operate at a first predetermined revolutions per minute;
- sending a clutch engage signal in response to the prime mover operating at about the first predetermined revolutions per minute;
- engaging a hydraulic clutch;
- commanding the prime mover to operate at maximum revolutions per minute in response to engaging the hydraulic clutch;
- commanding the air compressor to operate in air production in response to the prime mover operating at a greater than a second revolutions per minute, wherein the second revolutions per minute is greater than the first revolutions per minute;
- and
- performing drilling operations in response to operating the air compressor.
A method of operating a drilling machine, the method comprising:
- requesting to deactivate operation of a compressor through a control system;
- reducing inlet butterfly valve to minimum allowable inlet pressure;
- opening a blow down valve to relieve receiver tank pressure at a constant depressurization rate;
- terminating a clutch engage signal in response to pressure of the receiver tank moving less than a first predetermined pressure;
- disengaging the clutch in response to terminating the clutch engage signal;
- deactivating the compressor in response to disengaging the clutch;
- opening fully the blow down valve in response to the receiver tank moving less than a second predetermined pressure, wherein the second predetermined pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure;
- and
- terminating drilling operations in response to deactivating the compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.