Hydraulic drive for rotation of a rock drill

Abstract

The invention provides an In-The-Hole hydraulic drive unit for rotating a rock drill. A hydraulic motor having a fixed rear trailing end and a rotating front drilling end converts hydraulic power into a rotational drive force. The hydraulic motor receives high pressure hydraulic fluid through a receiving inlet and discharges lower pressure hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic outlet. A drive shaft connected to the rotating front drilling end is disposed within the hydraulic motor. A fluid transfer conduit within the drive shaft transfers hydraulic or pneumatic drill fluid to power the rock drill. The fluid transfer conduit bypasses the hydraulic motor for independent supply and operation of the rock drill. The fluid transfer conduit receives the drill fluid from the surface and transfers the drill fluid toward the rock drill. The drive shaft contains a drill rotator attached to the front drilling end adapted to receive and rotate the rock drill.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.