Drilling tool changer device and a method for making the change

(2) from a first rest position to a second working position on the drilling rod;

• on said drilling platform, the drill bit and string are already in an elevated position so that the drilling element storage and reception of drill bits (3) can be exactly below said drilling string and drill bit to be changed;
• (b) on the drilling platform said clamp element (2) takes the guide bushing of the drilling string and makes it ascend along said string so that the drill bit element to be changed is visible, then said string and drill bit descend to remain in an empty unit of the drill bit storage and reception element (3);
• (c) with said unit already occupied with the drill bit storage and reception element (3), with the drilling torque breaking tool the tightening of the drill bit to be changed is released;
• the string rotates and unscrews from the bit to be changed;
• the string then rises above the bit storage and reception element (3);
• (d) the drill bit storage and receiving element (3) is moved by means of the drive unit (6) and the hydraulic, electric motor unit (7) or another type until a new drill bit element is found that will be connected to the drill string;
• and
• (e) the drilling string is then lowered to connect and screw it to the new drill bit and then said clamp element (2) which has the drilling string guide bushing is lowered to place said bushing in the drilling string and leave the unit ready for a new drilling cycle.

A device to change the drill bits, tricone bits or DTH bits of the drilling strings in surface and production drilling machines in large mining and the guide bushings of said string on the drilling platform characterized in that said equipment comprises:

• (a) an arm element (3) that is capable of rotating, vertical or horizontal, frontal and retractable movement;
• (b) a bit storage and reception element (2) that is arranged at the end of said arm (3), this bit reception element (2) carries inside it in suitably arranged spaces new bits that will replace the used bits of the drilling string and empty spaces that will house the used bit that is removed from said string;
• the bit storage and receiving element (2) has a revolver-type rotating surface or may be of another type, also with motor elements to supply the rotating movement or a movement of another type;
• said bit storage and changing element (2) also contains the support parts, necessary for the task of breaking torque of the threaded end of the bits, tricone bits or DTH of the drilling strings in surface and mining production drills, which allows the torsional and vertical stresses to be dissipated through the general structure of the machine;
• (c) a set of manipulation of the guide bushing of the drilling rig that is located immediately before said arm (3) and said bit receiving element (2);
• said set of manipulation of the guide bushing is composed of an extension arm (5) that is capable of moving in a rotating, vertical, horizontal, frontal or retractable manner;
• at the top of said extension arm (5) there is a clamp or fork element (1) that moves up and down in order to manipulate the guide bushing of the drilling platform, with vertical movement which allows the height clearance of the machine component allowing access to the break key and thus releasing the drilling tool (drill bit, Tricone or DTH) from the drilling string and the consequent provision of the bit for replacement;
• (d) said bits storage and reception elements (2) with the arm element (3) and the said platform guide bushing manipulation assembly are arranged in a container (4) in its inactive or rest position;
• (e) a PLC control panel capable of handling said arm element (3), said bit storage and reception element (2) to change the bits, tricone bits or DTH bits of the drilling strings in surface and mining production drills and, said extension arm (5) and said clamp or fork (1) for handling the guide bushings of said string on the drilling platform;
• and
• (f) a remote control element installed in the cabin with which the operator controls the device from the cabin coordinating the sequence with the functions and movements of the drill.