US3088530A - Fluid actuated feeding and supporting leg for rock drills - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1963 3,088,530

FLUID ACTUATED FEEDING AND SUPPORTING LEG FOR ROCK DRILLS Filed June 15, 1953 J. E. FEUCHT 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 iv m n Qq m mm 1: VT 6 v N Y NW 11/: r Ai 1 I 1H I C E m 3 m m mm m mm W\\M. 7 r F m mm M 9 m x w vm mm C W A mh J 2.

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J. E. FEUCHT May 7, 1963 FLUID ACTUATED FEEDING AND SUPPORTING LEG FOR ROCK DRILLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1955 INVENTOR. JACOB E. FEUCHT ATTORNEY 3,088,530 FLUID ACTUATED FEEDING AND SUPPORTING LEG FOR ROCK DRILLS Jacob E. Feucht, Garfield Heights, Ohio, assignor, by

mesue assignments, to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 15, 1953, Ser. No. 361,630 2 Claims. (Cl. 175-124) drill with an air feed leg support through which the drill Y can :be used for drilling holes in directions and positions heretofore possible with rock drills of the drifter, sinker and stoper types.

Another object of this invention is to equip a rock drill with a feed leg which will operate smoothly and relieve the operator from the shocks and vibrations to which he is normally subjected when operating a hand held rock drill.

Another object of the invention is to produce a feed leg which can readily be connected to the rock drill without necessitating the use of complicated and costly clamping devices.

A further object of the invention is to supply the actuating fluid to the feed leg directly from the rock drill, thereby making it possible to supply motive fluid to the drilling motor and feed leg through a single conduit or hose.

A still further object of this invention is to locate the feed leg controlling valve within the rock drill proper where it is easily accessible by the operator.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a rock drill embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIGURE 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 in FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a fluid actuated rock drill which includes a cylinder 11 having a front housing 12 adapted to receive the shank of a rock drill 13. A back head 14 closes the other end of the cylinder, it being equipped with a hand grip 15. This rock drill is of the usual fluid actuated percussive type 3,988,530 Patented May 7, 1963 and is also provided with the usual drill steel rotation imparting mechanism 16.

A bore 17 extends transversally through the back head 14, and has rotatably mounted therein a cylindrical throttle valve 18, which extends from one end of the bore where it is flxed to an operating handle 19 by a key 20 and retaining nut 21. A gland nut 22 is screwed in the other end of the bore 17 and has journaled thereon one end of a goose-neck connection 23. This one end has a beveled head 24 engaging a beveled seat in the nut 22 to form a fluid tight joint therewith, while the other end 25 is threaded to receive the end of a motive fluid conveying conduit such as a hose, not shown. Near its inner end, the peripheral wall of the throttle valve is provided with several spaced notches, such as 26, engageable by the rounded end of a detent or plunger 27 slidable in a bore 28 and pressed toward the valve by a compression spring 29 resting on a removable plug 30. An axial bore 31 is provided in the throttle valve, into which is delivered the pressure fluid from the gooseneck 23. From this bore extends a radial port 32, which, as shown in FIGURE 2, is capable of registering with a passage 33 formed in the back head and connecting with a similar passage 34 formed in the cylinder 11. Beside the port 32, the throttle valve has other radial ports, not shown, capable of registering with passages leading into the rock drill Iii] for supplying actuating fluid therein.

Near the back head 14, the underside of the cylinder 11 is formed with a transversally extending boss 35 having a bore 36 extending therethrough in which is rotatable a feed control valve 37. One end of the bore 36 is closed by a bushing 38 screwed therein through which extends a valve reduced end portion or shank 39. The shank forms with the valve body an annular shoulder 40 abutting against the inner end of the bushing. Preferably the two abutting faces are provided with interengaging ratchet teeth, not shown, normally maintained in interengagement to lock the valve in any desired position by a compression spring 41 acting on a valve shoulder 42 near the bottom of the bore 36. A reduced valve portion or shank 43 also extends through the other end of the boss 35. An operating handle 44 is fixed on each shank 39 and 43 by a key 45 and retaining nut 46. To prevent leakage of pressure fluid from the valve 37, both shanks 39 and 43 carry an O-ring packing 47. A central cavity or chamber 48 is formed in the valve 37, which cavity is capable of communication with the cylinder passage 34 through a radial port 49. A second radial port 50 is capable of communication through a valve groove 51 with a passage 52 extending longitudinally in the wall of the cylinder 11 as clearly shown in FIG- URE 1. A third radial port 53 affords communication of the cavity 48 with a vent or exhaust passage 54. 7

Near its front end, the underside of the cylinder 11 is formed with an integral depending lug 58 having two parallel machined side walls 59 and a bore 60 extending therethrough. One edge of this bore is chamfered in a tampered seat 61. Closely fitted over the side walls 59 of the lug 58, there are the two apertured side arms 62 and 63 of a terminal or yoke 64 which forms the outer end of a tubular casing 65. This yoke is pivotally connected to the lug 58 by a machined cross bolt 66 extending through the bore 60 and the arms 62 and 63. Its head 67 is cut away as at 68 for engagement with a stop 69 on the arm 63 to prevent rotation of the bolt relative to the yoke. The aperture of the arms 62 is enlarged to accommodate a bushing 70 closely fitting therein and on the bolt 66 and having a tapered inner end 71 pressed on the tapered seat 61 by a compresison spring 72 mounted on the bolt and having its compression adjustable by an adjusting nut 73. Thus it will be understood that since the bushing is slidable on the bolt 66 and abuts against the lug 58, the tension of the spring 72 causes the inner face of the arms 63 to be pressed against the adjacent side wall 59 of the lug, thereby resulting in a pivotal connection between the rock drill and feed leg having an adjustable pivotal movement retarding brake.

The tubular housing 65 which is integral with the terminal 64 extends angularly and downwardly therefrom toward the rear of the rock drill 10, its angle with the yoke being about 120. This relatively long housing is closely but rotatably fitted on the outer end portion of a piston rod 76 which is slidable through the upper end 77 of a feed cylinder 78. The piston rod 76 is mostly tubular, but outside of the cylinder 78 its outer end portion is made of a rod 79 on which is fitted the housing 65. The rod is preferably welded in the outer end portion of the tube 76. A piston 80 is fixed on the inner end of the tube 76 for islidable movement in the cylinder 78. This piston includes a cup-shaped packing 81, follower 82 and retaining nut 83. The lower end of the cylinder 78 is closed by a cap 84 preferably welded in place, and provided with an anchoring pointed end 85 and a foot 86 extending laterally and angularly therefrom.

Adjacent its inner end, the piston rod 79 is provided with an annular groove 87 (FIG. 4) adapted to receive the end of a spring pressed plunger 88 slidable in a boss 89 of the housing 65, and having an outside operating knob 90. The plunger in the groove 87 normally prevents longitudinal movement of the housing on the piston rod while enabling relative rotation therebetween. It can, however, be pulled out of the groove to disconnect the yoke 64 and drilling motor from its feed leg. Also provided in the groove 87 and fixed to the rod 79, there is a key 91 (FIG. 7) adapted to fit in a slot 92 provided in the end of the plunger 88, thereby affording a releasable locking device between the yoke 64 and piston rod 79 to normally prevent relative rotation therebetween. To assist in transporting the feed leg from one drilling place to another, its cylinder 78 is provided with a handle 93.

Pressure fluid from the valve 37, FIGURE 3, may be admitted into the feed cylinder 78 through the rock drill cylinder port 52 which opens into the bore 60 of the lug 58 and also into an annular groove 94, formed on the bolt 66. From there it flows through a U-shaped passage 95 into an annular groove 96 provided in the arm 63, and through a passage 97 to the inner end of the piston rod 79. Then through a piston rod central passage 98 into the piston tube 76 and through a piston port 99 to the bottom end of the feed cylinder 78. A small vent 93 extends from the port 99 radially through the piston and opens into the inactive side of the feed cylinder through a port 75.

To assure a fluid tight joint of the bolt 66 with the lug 58 and arm 63, the bolt carries a plurality of O-ring packings 57, while the outer end of the piston rod 79 carries a similar packing 56.

In the operation of the device, with the feed leg retracted as shown in FIGURE 1, the operator holding to the hand grip will balance the drill on the now substantially vertical feed leg. In this instance both anchoring point 85 and leg 86 may rest on the ground. After positioning the throttle valve 18 as shown in FIGURE 2 to admit pressure fluid to the feed valve 37 through the port 33, the feed valve may be rotated to supply pres sure fluid to the feed leg and effect its extension. To that end, the feed valve located on the under side of the rock drill near the rear end thereof, is readily accessible by the operator, and since it is provided with a handle 44 on each end thereof, it is operable from either side of the rock drill. With the feed valve port 49 in registry with the port 34, pressure fluid is admitted into the valve chamber 48 and therefrom through the valve port 50 and groove 51 to the bolt groove 94 via the cylinder port 52. From the groove 94, it is free to flow to the bottom end of the feed cylinder 78 through the passage-way of the pivotal connection between the drilling motor and its feed leg, which passage-Way comprises the U-shaped passage 95, groove 96, and passage 97, and thereafter through the piston rod passages 98 and 99. Once in the bottom end of the feed cylinder, it acts on the piston for effecting extension of the feed leg to bring the rock drill 10 to the desired drilling position and impart feeding motion thereto as the drilling progresses. From the port 99 pressure fluid is also admitted on the smaller side of the piston 80 through the vent 93 and port 75, which side has a much smaller effective area than the side adjacent the bottom end of the feed cylinder, thereby causing the chamber between the piston 80 and upper end 77 to act as a cushion chamber for the piston 80.

When it is desired to retract the feed leg, the feed valve 37 may be positioned to cut off port 34 from the valve chamber 48, and to register the latter with the exhaust port 54 through the valve port 53. In this instance, the valve chamber 48 remains in communication with the bottom of the cylinder 78 through the valve groove 51. As fluid pressure is exhausted from the bottom of the cylinder, the weight of the rock drill 10 causes the feed leg to retract or collapse.

It will be understood that the drill rig above described may be swung on its anchoring means or 86 within in any direction above the horizontal. It can also be used for drilling downward holes by anchoring its feed leg either in the side wall or roof of the place being drilled. With relation to its feed leg, the drill may be swung on the pivotal connection between the drill and the feed leg or on the axis of the feed leg by disengaging the plunger 88 from the key 91. Because of the offset yoke 64, the drill can be positioned substantially parallel to its feed leg, and while in that position is free to rotate completely around the axis of its feed leg.

It will also be understood that the feed leg is readily separated or disconnected from the drilling motor by simply pulling the plunger 88 out of the groove 87 and slipping the piston rod 79 from the tubular housing 65. When it is desired to again connect the feed leg to the drilling motor, the above operation is repeated in reversed order.

The details of structure and arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

'Iclaim:

1. A drill rig comprising a pressure fluid actuated drilling motor, a pressure fluid actuated feed leg for said motor including a feed cylinder and a piston longitudinally movable therein having a rod extending through one end thereof, a terminal for said rod extending at an obtuse angle therefrom, connecting means depending from the underside of said motor pivotally connected to said terminal by a pivot pin transversally of said motor, a feed controlling valve transversally within the underside of said motor, an operation controlling throttle for said motor having pressure fluid supplied thereto, means within said throttle for controlling supply of pressure fluid to said feed controlling valve through fluid conveying means extending therebetween, and means within the motor wall and feed leg and extending through said pivot pin controlled by said valve for supplying pressure fluid therefrom to said feed cylinder.

2. A drill rig comprising a pressure fluid actuated drilling motor having an integral lug depending from its underside, a pressure fluid actuated feed leg including a feed cylinder and a piston longitudinally movable therein having a piston rod extending through one end of said cylinder, an oifset yoke on the extending end portion of said rod, said yoke having two side arms pivotally connected to said lug by a pivot pin extending therethrough to enable pivotal movement of the motor relative to the feed leg, a feed controlling valve within said motor near the rear end thereof, an operation controlling throttle for said motor Within its rear end and having pressure fluid supplied thereto, means within said throttle for controlling supply of pressure fluid to said valve through port means Within said motor, and pressure fluid conveying means controlled by said valve leading therefrom through said pivot pin and one of said arms and through said piston rod into said feed cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Goodrum Oct. 9, 1855 McNelly Feb. 2, 1892 Gilman Aug. 17, 1915 Slater July 14, 1942 Gillerstrom Sept. 9, 1952 Morrison Nov. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 18, 1911

Claims (1)

1. A DRILL RIG COMPRISING A PRESSURE FLUID ACTUATED DRILLING MOTOR, A PRESSURE FLUID ACTUATED FEED LEG FOR SAID MOTOR INCLUDING A FEED CYLINDER AND A PISTON LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE THEREIN HAVING A ROD EXTENDING THROUGH ONE END THEREOF, A TERMINAL FOR SAID ROD EXTENDING AT ON OBTUSE ANGLE THEREFROM, CONNECTING MEANS DEPENDING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ROTOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TERMINAL BY A PIVOT PIN TRANSVERSELY OF SAID MOTOR, A FEED CONTROLLING VALVE TRANSVERSELY WITHIN THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MOTOR, AN OPERATION CONTROLLING THROTTLE FOR SAID MOTOR HAVING PRESSURE FLUID SUPPLIED THERETO, MEANS WITHIN SAID THROTTLE FOR CONTROLLING SUPPLY OF PRESSURE FLUID TO SAID FEED CONTROLLING VALVE THROUGH FLUID CONVEYING MEANS EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, AND MEANS WITHIN THE MOTOR WALL AND FEED LEG AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PIVOT PIN CONTROLLED BY SAID VALVE FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURE FLUID THEREFROM TO SAID FEED CYLINDER.

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