US 6,938,702 B2Granted

Method and equipment for controlling operation of rock drilling apparatus

AssigneeSandvik Inteleectual Property AB

InventorsHeikki Saha, Markku Keskiniva, Antti Koskimäki, Esa Rantala, Tapani Pöysti, Vesa Peltonen, Jaakko Niemi, Timo Kemppainen, Vesa Uitto, Pauli Lemmetty

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Abstract

A method and an equipment for controlling the operation of a rock drilling apparatus, which rock drilling apparatus comprises a percussion device for producing impact energy to a tool of the rock drilling apparatus, a rotating device for rotating the tool in a drill hole, a feeding device for feeding the tool in the drill hole and a flushing device for supplying flushing agent through the tool and the bit for flushing loose drilling waste from the hole. The feed force and the percussion power are determined and the relation between the feed force and the percussion power is adjusted to a targeted operation area within an upper and a lower limit.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method for controlling the operation of a rock drilling apparatus, which rock drilling apparatus comprises a percussion device, a rotating device, a feeding device, a flushing device, a tool and a bit arranged in the tool, and in which rock drilling apparatus the percussion device is arranged to produce impact energy directed to the tool, the rotating device is arranged to rotate the tool in a drill hole, the feeding device is arranged to feed the tool in the drill hole and the flushing device is arranged to supply flushing agent through the tool and the bit for flushing detached drilling waste from the hole, the method comprising

setting the highest allowed feed force of the feeding device and the lowest allowed feed force of the feeding device,
setting the highest allowed percussion power of the percussion device and the lowest allowed percussion power of the percussion device,
setting upper and lower limits for the relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device, which upper and lower limits serve as limits for a targeted operating area of the relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device,
determining the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device,
determining the relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device on the basis of the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device and
adjusting the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device such that the relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device is within the targeted operating area limited by said upper and lower limits.

3 more elements

Equipment for controlling the operation of a rock drilling apparatus, which rock drilling apparatus comprises a percussion device, a rotating device, a feeding device, a flushing device, a tool and a bit arranged in the tool, and in which rock drilling apparatus the percussion device is arranged to produce impact energy directed to the tool, the rotating device is arranged to rotate the tool in a drill hole, the feeding device is arranged to feed the tool in the drill hole and the flushing device is arranged to supply flushing agent through the tool and the bit for flushing the detached drilling waste from the hole, the equipment comprising

means for setting the highest allowed feed force of the feeding device and the lowest allowed feed force of the feeding device,
means for setting the highest allowed percussion power of the percussion device and the lowest allowed percussion power of the percussion device,
means for setting upper and lower limits for the relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device, which upper and lower limits serve as limits for a targeted operating area of the mutual relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device,
means for determining the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device,
means for determining the relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device on the basis of the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device,
and at least one control unit for adjusting the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device such that the relation between the feed force of the feeding device and the percussion power of the percussion device is within the targeted operating area limited by said upper and lower limits.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.