Drilling rig
AssigneeJoy MM Delaware, Inc.
InventorsWill Eddowes, Gregory Wayne Broad, John Edward Bailey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bolting apparatus and method for inserting a rod into a surface, the bolting apparatus including a base having a foot end and a head end, at least one stabilizing rod extendable from the base head end and having a stabilizing rod end adapted to contact a surface to be drilled, and a mechanism attached to the base between the base foot end and the stabilizing rod end and adapted to grip the rod.
Claims32
A method of changing the connection of a rod to a rotation unit on a rig having a base and a jack extendable from the base, the rotation unit being moveably mounted on the base, said method comprising:
- transferring a rod from a storage device to the rotation unit, transferring the rod including selectively gripping the rod with a cradle and extending the cradle to position the rod between a locating means coupled to the rig base;
- while the jack is extended, gripping the rod with the locating means while changing the connection of the rod to the rotation unit;
- and
- releasing the locating means to allow the rod to be moved relative to the locating means by the rotation unit while the locating means guide the rod.
A method of operating a drilling rig, the drilling rig including a base, a jack, and a first pair of arms coupled to the base, the jack including a first end coupled to the base and a second end positioned away from the base, the method comprising:
- positioning the jack such that the second end engages a surface;
- actuating the first pair of arms to an open state to receive a rod to be inserted in the surface;
- actuating the first pair of arms to a closed state such that the arms grip the rod;
- operating a rotation unit moveably coupled to the base to move the rod with respect to the first pair of arms and insert the rod into the surface while the arms guide the movement of the rod;
- and
- moving the first pair of arms and the rotation unit together relative to the base.
A method of operating a drilling rig, the drilling rig including a base having a jack and a rotation unit moveably coupled to the base, the jack including a first end coupled to the base and a second end that can be extended away from the base, the method comprising:
- extending the jack such that the second end of the jack engages a surface;
- actuating a first pair of arms to an open state to receive a rod, the arms being moveably coupled to the base;
- actuating the first pair of arms to a closed state such that the arms grip the rod;
- actuating the first pair of arms to a relaxed state such that each arm moves away from the rod by a defined distance, wherein the arms permit the rod to be moved through the arms while also guiding the movement of the rod;
- operating the rotation unit to rotate the rod and move the rod relative to the first pair of arms to insert the rod in the surface;
- and
- moving the first pair of arms and the rotation unit together relative to the base until the first pair of arms moves a maximum distance, and then moving the rotation unit relative to the first pair of arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.