TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a drill arrangement. It further relates to a method for drilling holes.

BACKGROUND

Mining can be carried out by raise caving, which is a mining method where the mining starts from the bottom of a shaft and moves upwards. Raise caving can be performed at down to several thousands of meters in vertical or inclined shafts. The raise caving operation starts by boring the shafts, which are then widened from the bottom to the top. This is performed by using a drill arrangement to drill holes at the lowest level of the shaft, charging the holes with blasting agent, and blasting away the rock. Those steps are repeated, moving upwards in the shaft. Hence, drill patterns and movements of the drill arrangement and the equipment used for filling drill holes with blasting agent are complicated and are to be performed at several thousands of meters depth. There is therefore a desire to on the one hand to facilitate movement of the drilling arrangement down to the drill level as much as possible, and on the other hand to be able to move the drill equipment with high precision once it is located at the drill level.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure intends to provide an in at least some aspect improved drill arrangement to be used at large depths, for example for raise caving.

According to a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a drill arrangement comprising a drill equipment and a drill adjuster according to claim 1. The drill equipment is arranged to be operationally connectable to a platform via the drill adjuster and the drill equipment is tiltably connected to the drill adjuster so that the drill equipment is tiltable with respect to the drill adjuster about a pivot axis. Further, the drill adjuster is arranged to be rotatably connectable to the platform so that the drill adjuster is rotatable with respect to the platform around a rotational axis extending perpendicularly to the pivot axis. The drill equipment comprises a drill which extends along a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis, the pivot axis and the rotational axis intersect in a common centrum point. The rotational axis may herein extend perpendicularly to a surface of the platform, such as to a bottom surface of the platform to which the drill adjuster is connectable, and/or to a top surface of the platform. The rotational axis may coincide with the centrum axis of the shaft.

When the longitudinal axis, the pivot axis and the rotation axis intersect in a common centrum point the movement of the drill within the shaft will be facilitated. The drill will be movable in several directions. The drill and the drill equipment will be rotatably movable around the rotational axis and they will be tiltable around the pivot axis. By the intersection of the three axes in a common point, the movement of the drill arrangement will be facilitated and may be performed with high precision. Further, the planning of the drilling will be facilitated. The drill equipment will be staying in a certain area or volume and the planning of the drilling will be facilitated by that the drill will not extend outside this volume and no consideration has to be taken for that the movement of the drill equipment could be hitting the shaft wall for example. When the drill equipment is located at a certain level in the shaft, all holes drilled at that level will extend out from the centrum point without any need to be concerned about the extension of the drill equipment, since there is no risk that the drill equipment would hit the shaft wall.

Optionally, the drill equipment may be tiltably connected to the drill adjuster via a pivot element, such as a pivot pin, which extends along the pivot axis. The drilling may then be performed at different heights of the shaft while the drill arrangement is kept at one level in the shaft without moving upwards or downwards in the shaft. Further, the drill holes may be formed at different angles in relation to the shaft wall.

Optionally, the drill equipment may comprise a feed beam extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis, and the feed beam may be mechanically connected to the drill adjuster. The feed beam may be used for arranging different components and elements of the drill equipment thereon.

Optionally, the drill may be arranged on a drill cradle which may be slidably connected to the feed beam. The drilling may thereby be performed with precision. Optionally, the feed beam may be arranged in a longitudinally fixed position with respect to the drill adjuster. Thereby the feed beam may not be moved along the longitudinal direction of the beam. However, the feed beam may be arranged to be pivotably movable by pivoting the feed beam around the pivot axis. The extension of the drill equipment will hereby be limited which is advantageous in that a compact and robust drill arrangement is achieved. In the disclosure, when referring to the drill, the drill comprises a machine which makes the drill rod rotate or rotate and percuss. The drill has a first end which includes an insertion location for a drill rod. A drill rod may be inserted into an end of the drill. When the drill is used for drilling, a drill rod is inserted into the insertion location of the drill. Further, the drill may be slidably connected to the feed beam by a drill cradle holding the drill. The drill may then not be moved outside the extension of the feed beam. This further means that the drill is not extending outside a specific volume in which the drill equipment is movable. This reduces the risk for the drill to collide with the shaft walls for example.

Optionally, the drill may be movable along the feed beam. The drilling process will thereby be improved and high precision of the drilling may be achieved.

Optionally, the drill equipment may be arranged centrally below the platform. A stable and robust drill arrangement may thereby be achieved.

Optionally, the drill may have a first end configured to be directed towards a first shaft wall portion located at the first side of the drill equipment. The drill equipment may comprise at least one supporting element, which supporting element is arranged to be extendable towards and engageable with a second shaft wall portion located at a second side of the drill equipment to support the drill equipment against the shaft wall. The second side is opposite to the first side. The first end of the drill may be configured to receive a drill rod. Further, the drill equipment may comprise two supporting elements, one of the supporting elements may be located at the first side of the drill equipment and another supporting element may be located at a second side of the drill equipment, to support the drill equipment against the shaft wall. The drill may be placed at the second side of the drill equipment, but the first end of the drill is directed to the first side of the drill equipment. The drilling may hereby be performed with precise location of the drill rod and the force of the drilling may be improved. Optionally, the drill arrangement may comprise means for fixing the drill arrangement to a shaft wall of a shaft in which the drill arrangement is located. The drill arrangement will be robust and stable at the level selected for drilling.

Optionally, the drill arrangement may comprise the platform. The platform may be a good support for the drill equipment when the drill equipment is used in shafts for drilling holes. The drill adjuster is herein connected to the platform. The rotational axis may preferably extend perpendicularly to a surface of the platform to which the drill adjuster is connected.

Optionally, the drill equipment may be suspended from the platform via the drill adjuster. If the drill equipment is suspended from the platform, it will achieve flexibility when moving in the shaft for drilling holes.

Optionally, the drill arrangement may be a drill arrangement for raise caving. The flexibility and precision of the drill equipment is specifically advantageous for raise caving, especially at depths far below the ground surface.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for drilling holes in a vertical or an inclined shaft, wherein the drill arrangement according to the first aspect of the disclosure is lowered into the vertical or inclined shaft to a drill level. The method comprises: arranging the drill equipment so that the longitudinal axis of the drill extends at a selected angle with respect to the rotational axis, and drilling a hole in the shaft wall at the selected angle. A high precision drilling process may be performed with the method and the drilling is facilitated.

Optionally, the method may further comprise: extending at least one supporting element of the drill equipment towards and against the shaft wall as a support for the drill equipment before the drilling of the hole. The drilling will be possible to be performed with high precision and the force of the drilling may be increased.

Optionally, the method may comprise: tilting the drill equipment around the pivot axis, and drilling holes in the shaft wall at different angles of 30 to 150 degrees with respect to the rotational axis. The drilling may be performed at different levels and with different angles at different locations of the height of the shaft wall without the need to move the drill arrangement in the height direction.

Optionally, the method may further comprise: rotating the drill equipment around the rotational axis to at least one selected rotational position, and drilling a hole in the shaft wall at each one of the selected rotational positions. Many locations for the drill rod will be reached and the spreading of holes will be facilitated with the possibility to rotate the drill equipment.

Optionally, the method may be a method for raise caving. The method is advantageous to use for raise caving at depths far below the ground surface which will be far away from the control of the drill arrangement.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the disclosure are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be further explained hereinafter by means of non-limiting examples and with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a drill arrangement as disclosed herein;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a drill arrangement as disclosed herein when the drill equipment in a tilted position;

Figure 3 shows a drill arrangement, as disclosed herein, in a view from above; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a drill arrangement as disclosed herein.

Figure 5 shows a flow chart disclosing the actions of the method according to the disclosure.

The drawings are schematic and not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drill arrangement according to the disclosure may be entered into a shaft, which may be vertical or inclined, and the drill arrangement is transported to a level of the shaft where the drilling is to be performed. The drill arrangement may be lowered in the shaft with the aid of one or more cables or some other, for this purpose, suitable means.

As disclosed herein, the drill equipment may be attached to a platform for carrying the drill equipment. The platform may be a vehicle. The vehicle may for example be a wheel borne vehicle, slide on skis, slide on one or more rails or move with the aid of one or more cables attached to the vehicle.

A drill arrangement as disclosed herein is shown in figures 1-4. Figure 1 shows a drill arrangement 101 comprising a drill equipment 103 and a drill adjuster 104. The drill equipment 103 is arranged to be operationally connectable to a platform 102 via the drill adjuster 104. Further, the drill equipment 103 is tiltably connected to the drill adjuster 104 so that the drill equipment 103 is tiltable with respect to the drill adjuster 104 about a pivot axis PA. By this construction it will be possible to drill holes extending in several directions. Further, the drill adjuster 104 is arranged to be rotatably connectable to the platform 102 so that the drill adjuster 104 is rotatable with respect to the platform 102 around the rotational axis RA extending perpendicularly to the pivot axis PA. Further, the drill equipment 103 comprises a drill 106 which extends along a longitudinal axis LA, and the longitudinal axis LA, the pivot axis PA and the rotational axis intersect in a common centrum point CP. This is most clearly seen in figure 4, showing the drill arrangement 101 without the platform 102 in a perspective view.

The drill adjuster 104 is rotatable around a rotational axis RA. As mentioned, the rotational axis RA is perpendicular to the pivot axis PA. Further, the rotational axis RA may be perpendicular to the platform 102. Thus, the rotational axis RA may be perpendicular to the pivot axis PA and the platform 102. The drill equipment 103 is connected to the drill adjuster 104 and when the drill adjuster 104 is rotated around the rotational axis RA, the drill equipment 103 connected to the drill adjuster 104 will also be rotated around the rotational axis RA and holes may be drilled around the perimeter of the shaft. A shaft wall 121 is shown in the figures.

The rotation of the drill equipment 103 may be performed with the aid of slew ring 132 driven by one or more motors 122 as shown in figure 4. However, this could be performed with another device, such as a gearbox, worm gear, rotary actuator, hydraulic motor or electric motor, hydraulic components or pneumatic components (not shown). Motors 122 or alternative components for driving the rotation and components for controlling the movement and regulation of the drill arrangement 101 may, for example, be enclosed in a casing 123 as shown in figure 1.

The drill equipment 103 may be tiltably connected to the drill adjuster 104 via a pivot element 105, such as a pivot pin 105. The pivot element 105 extends along the pivot axis PA. Alternatively, the pivot axis may be extending between two pivot fastening elements. The drill equipment 103 may then be tiltably connected to the pivot element in the form of at least two pivot fastening elements and is thereby pivotable around the pivot axis PA. When pivoting the drill equipment 103 around the pivot axis PA the drilling can be performed in different angles to the shaft wall 121 and at different heights of the shaft wall 121.

The tilting movement of the drill equipment 103 may be performed with hydraulic means. In figure 1 the hydraulic means is a hydraulic cylinder 119. However, this could be performed with another device, such as a slew ring, a gearbox, worm gear, rotary actuator, pneumatic components, hydraulic components, a motor, such as a hydraulic motor or electric motor (not shown).

The drill equipment 103 comprises a drill 106 which extends along a longitudinal axis LA. The drill 106 may be a percussion drill or a rotation drill .In a rotation drill the drill rod is rotated. Further, an alternative rotation drill may rotate the drill rod and hammer the drill rod. In such a rotation drill the drill rod may be rotated and the hammering may be achieved by a hammer arranged between a drill bit and a drill rod. The hammer may be driven by a medium, such as air or liquid, which is lead in via a drill and further through the drill rod to the hammer.A percussion drill may hammer the drill rod 125 into the shaft wall 121 when the hole is produced. Further, rotation of the drill rod 125 may be achieved with a percussion drill.

Further, the drill equipment 103 may comprise a feed beam 113 extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis LA. The feed beam 113 may be mechanically connected to the drill adjuster 104. To achieve the tilting movement of the drill equipment 103 with respect to the drill adjuster 104, the feed beam 113 may for example be pivotally connected to the drill adjuster 104. Such a connection could be that the feed beam 113 is connected to an attachment element 115 via a rod connection 116, as shown in figure 4, wherein the attachment element 115. may mechanically connect the feed beam 113 to the drill adjuster 104. The connection could further be via a pivot element 105, such as a pivot pin, such that the attachment element 115 is connected to the pivot element 105. The attachment element 115 and the rod connection 116 may be formed in one part. For example, they may be manufactured in one part, or they could be connected to each other. They could for example welded together into one part. The pivoting or tilting movement of the feed beam 113 may be performed by a hydraulic cylinder 119. However, this could be performed with another device, such as a slew ring, a gearbox, worm gear, rotary actuator, pneumatic components, hydraulic components, motors, such as a hydraulic motor or electric motor (not shown).

The drill equipment 103 may comprise further components to be used in the drilling process, not further described herein.

The drill 106 may be arranged on a drill cradle 108 which may be slidably connected to the feed beam 113. The drill 106 may thus be movable along the feed beam 113. The drill 106 may be moved in the drilling direction (in the direction of the arrow in figures 1-4) by the movement of the drill 106 which may be arranged on a drill cradle 108. When the drilling step is to be performed into the shaft wall 121 , a force may be applied on the drill cradle 108. This may be performed by arranging a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) for the cradle on the feed beam and connect to the drill cradle in order to drive the drill cradle 108 in the desired direction along the feed beam 113. Alternatively, another component may be connected to the drill in order to drive the drill cradle 108. Alternatively, the drill cradle may be driven by a chain, a cable or a ball screw. The drill cradle 108 may be moved in both directions in parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the drill along the feed beam 113.

The feed beam 113 may be arranged in a longitudinally fixed position with respect to the drill adjuster 104. By “longitudinally fixed position” is meant that the feed beam is not movable in the longitudinal direction as defined by the longitudinal axis LA. However, the feed beam 113 is pivotably movable around the pivot axis PA. The feed beam 113 is mechanically connected to the drill adjuster 104 which makes the feed beam 113 fixed in the longitudinal direction in relation to the pivot axis PA and the longitudinal axis LA of the drill 106. The mechanical connection may be achieved by an attachment element 115 connected to the pivot element 105. Further, a rod connection 116 may be used for connecting the feed beam 113 to the pivot element 105 via the attachment element 115. By such a connection, the feed beam 113 may be pivotable around the pivot axis PA, but it will not be possible to move the feed beam 113 in the longitudinal direction which is in parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. This will further protect the drill 106 from hitting the shaft wall 121 during movement upwards and/or downwards in the shaft and during the tilting and/or rotating movement for choosing different drill angles and drill positions on a drill level. Alternatively, the feed beam 113 may be movable in the longitudinal direction.

The longitudinal axis LA, the pivot axis PA and the rotational axis RA intersect in a common centrum point CP. By this arrangement it is possible to move the drill equipment 103 with high precision. Due to the common centrum point, it is predictable where the drill equipment 103 is going to hit the wall 121 when pivoting the drill equipment or rotating the drill equipment around the rotational axis RA. This is an important advantage since the maneuvering of the drill arrangement 101 is performed for example from the ground surface and far away from the drill level. The movement of the drill arrangement 101 through the shaft is also facilitated due to the arrangement of the longitudinal axis LA, the pivot axis PA and the rotational axis RA intersecting in a common centrum point CP. The drill 106 and the drill equipment 103 will move/pivot around the pivot axis PA and will be kept inside a volume which will not extend outside the extension of the feed beam 113. The drill 106 and the drill equipment 103 will rotate and pivot around a common point CP. By this movement pattern the drill equipment 103 will not risk to touch or hit into the shaft wall 121.

The drill equipment 103 may be arranged centrally below the connectable platform 102. By such an arrangement the drill arrangement 101 will occupy a relatively small space in the shaft and the drill equipment 103 will be flexible and smooth to transport and maneuver in the shaft when drilling holes at a large depth below the ground surface.

The drill 106 may have a first end 110 configured to be directed towards a first shaft wall portion located at a first side 111 of the drill equipment 103. The first end 110 may include an insertion location 126 for a drill rod 125. The first end 110 of the drill 106 is directed towards the first side 111 of the drill equipment 103. The drill equipment 103 may comprise at least one supporting element 107, which supporting element 107 is arranged to be extendable towards and engageable with a second shaft wall portion located at a second side of the drill equipment 103 to support the drill equipment 103 against the shaft wall 121 , the second side 112 being opposite to the first side 111. Further, the drill equipment 103 may comprise at least two supporting elements 107, 118, which supporting elements 107, 118 are arranged to be extendable towards and engageable with a shaft wall 121. One of the supporting elements 118 is located at the first side 111 of the drill equipment 103 and another supporting element 107 is located at a second side 112 of the drill equipment 103, to support the drill equipment 103 against the shaft wall 121. The second side 112 is opposite to the first side 111 of the drill equipment 103. The drill rod 125 will be kept in a safe position during the drilling which is performed on the first side 111 of the drill equipment 103. Further, the engagement of the supporting elements 107, 118 on the shaft wall 121 will facilitate the drilling process so that the drill equipment 103 is fixed when the drilling is performed and a force may be needed to drive the drill rod 125 into the shaft wall 121.

Before a drilling step, the drill 106 may be arranged at the second side 112 of the drill equipment 103. The drill rod 125 comprises a first tip 127 which is directed towards the location where a drill hole 109 is intended to be drilled. Further, the drill rod 125 comprises a second tip 128. The drill 106 may be located at the second side 112 of the drill equipment 103 before and at the moment of starting the drilling. Further, the drill equipment 103 may comprise a drill rod feeding device 114 comprising several drill rods to be used during the drilling. It may be desired to drill long holes and the drill rod needs to be prolonged during the drilling process.

As mentioned above, the drill 106 may be provided on the feed beam 133. The drill 106 may be slidably connected to the feed beam 113. Further, the drill rod feeding device 114 may be provided on the feed beam 113. The drill rod feeding device 114 may be arranged in parallel with the longitudinal axis LA of the drill 106.

When drilling, a drill rod 125 is introduced into the insertion location 126 of the drill 106. The drill 106 may have a drill rod 125 inserted from start or obtain a drill rod from the drill rod feeding device 114. The first tip 127 of the drill rod 125 is the tip to be used for drilling into the shaft wall 121 and may have a drill bit 130 arranged thereon. The second tip 128 of the drill rod 125 is introduced into the insertion location 126 of the drill 106. The drill equipment 103 comprises a drill rod support 117 for supporting the drill rod 125 which may be relatively long. The first tip 127 of the drill rod 125 is entered through the drill support 117, comprising an opening for the insertion of the drill rod 125. The drill rod 125 has a limited length and further drill rods may be stored in the drill rod feeding device 114. With long drill rods, the drill rods may be declined during the drilling or before starting the drilling. When the drill rod 125 is inserted in the drill support 117 when drilling, a more precise drilling will be obtained. Further, the drill rod support 117 is used when prolonging the drill rod 125. When drilling is started the drill 106 will be moved in the direction from the second side 112 of the drill equipment 103 towards the first end 111 of the drill equipment 103, in the direction of the arrow. First, a drill rod 125 is inserted into the drill insertion location of the drill 106. The first tip of the drill rod 125 is entered through the drill support 117 comprising an opening for the insertion of the drill rod 125. The drill 106 may be moved forwards, as indicated by the arrow in figures 1-4 when a hole 109 is drilled. The drill rod 125 is supported by the drill rod support 117 during the drilling step. When the drill rod 125 has been drilled all the way into the shaft wall 121 or almost into the shaft wall 121 it is desired to prolong the drill rod 125 and the drilling will be stopped for a moment. The first tip 127 of the drill rod 125 will be clamped in the drill rod support 117 and the second tip 128 of the drill rod 125 will be loosened from the drill 106. The drill 106 will be moved backwards. Then a second drill rod will be taken out from the drill rod feeding device 114 and inserted into the insertion location 126 for the drill rod 125. The first tip of the second drill rod will be connected to the second tip of the drill rod which for the moment is clamped in the drill rod support 117. A new drilling step is performed with the prolonged drill rod and the drill hole 109 will be drilled deeper and longer. This is repeated until the desired length of the drill hole 109 has been drilled.

The drill arrangement 101 may comprise the platform 102. The drill equipment 103 may be connected to the platform 102 via the drill adjuster 104.

Further, the drill arrangement 101 may comprise means for fixing the drill arrangement 101 to the shaft wall 121 of a shaft in which the drill arrangement 101 is located. The means for fixing the drill arrangement may comprise one or more supporting devices 131 which may be extendable from the platform 102 towards and engageable with a shaft wall 121. The supporting device(s) 131 may be similar to the supporting elements which may be arranged on the drill equipment 103. A supporting device 131 is shown in figures 1 and 2 schematically as a rectangular box with dashed lines. This will further improve the precision of the drilling to be performed in selected parts of the shaft wall 121. The drill arrangement 101 will be kept in place during the drilling step. The drill equipment 103 may be suspended from the platform 102 via the drill adjuster 104. When the drill equipment 103 is suspended from the platform 102, a smooth and flexible arrangement is provided. The drill arrangement 101 suspended from the platform

102 will be hanging down from the platform 102 and will follow the movement of the platform 102 upwards and downwards the shaft. Further, the movement of the drill equipment 103 at the drilling level will also be smooth with the drill equipment 103 suspended from the platform 102.

Alternatively, the drill equipment 103 may be connected to the platform 102 on the upper side of the platform 102. The drill equipment may be connected to the platform 102 to a top surface of the platform 102.

In figures 1 and 2 is a casing 123 disclosed. The casing 123 may comprise devices for controlling and driving the drill arrangement 101.

The drill arrangement 101 may be a drill arrangement for raise caving. In raise caving, the drilling starts at the bottom of a shaft where holes 109 are drilled. The holes 109 are filled with blasting agent which is then blasting away rock. The process is repeated as the drill arrangement is moved upwards in the shaft. The drilling may be performed at thousands of meters below the ground surface while the drilling arrangement 101 and drill equipment

103 is maneuvered from e.g. the ground surface far away from the drilling arrangement 101. It is important that the drilling is easy to perform with high precision and that the movement of the drilling arrangement 101 down to the bottom of the shaft and then upwards is possible to perform without difficulty and that the drilling arrangement 101 and drill equipment 103 is not damaged. The movement may take place in shafts which are vertical in direction or that have an inclined direction. The drill equipment 101 as disclosed herein has many possibilities to drill holes 109 in varying directions and around the shaft wall 121 at the same level without moving the drill arrangement 101 between different heights for one drilling performance. Then the drilling arrangement 101 is moved to another level and the steps are repeated.

In figure 1 , the drill equipment 103 is arranged in a horizontal direction. The tilt angle a in relation to the rotational axis is thus 90 degrees and the holes 109 which are drilled at this location will have an angle a of 90 degrees in relation to the rotational axis RA. The drill equipment 103 extends in a longitudinal direction in parallel to a longitudinal axis LA. The pivot element 105 extends along the pivot axis PA which in figure 1 is in a horizontal direction. Wheels 129 may be arranged on the platform 102 for an easy movement of the platform 102 in the shaft when the wheels 129 are rolling along the shaft wall 121, which are shown in figures 1 and 2.

Figure 2 shows the drill arrangement 101 shown in figure 1 but with the drill equipment 103 in a tilted position. The drill equipment 103, extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis LA, is mechanically connected to the drill adjuster 104. The drill equipment 103 is tilted in an angle a in relation to the rotational axis RA. The holes 109 drilled by the drill 106 arranged on the drill equipment 103 which is tilted by an angle a will then be drilled at an angle a in relation to the rotational axis RA.

Figure 3 shows the drill arrangement 101 in a view from above and without the platform 102. The pivot axis PA can be seen in figure 3. As seen from figure 3, holes 109 may be drilled at different locations within a plane of the shaft wall 121, such as a horizontal plane of a vertical shaft, by rotating the drill equipment 103 around the rotational axis RA. In the figures are also holes 109 shown having circular or elliptical form on the shaft wall (121), In figure 1 the reference figure 109 is indicated in the figure. However, several holes are shown in figures 1-4 but without reference numbers.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the drill arrangement 101 shown in figure 3.

The present disclosure further provides a method for drilling holes 109 in a vertical or an inclined shaft, wherein the drill arrangement 101 as disclosed herein is lowered into a vertical or inclined shaft to a drill level. The method is illustrated in a flow chart shown in figure 5 and comprises the actions listed below, which may be taken in any suitable order. Optional actions are marked by dashed lines.

Action 501: arranging the drill equipment 103 so that the longitudinal axis LA of the drill 106 extends at a selected angle a with respect to the rotational axis RA.

Action 510: drilling a hole 109 in the shaft wall 121 at the selected angle a. A drilling pattern will be obtained by choosing different angles of the drilling holes.

The actions may be repeated. The method may comprise an optional action 502 of extending at least one supporting element 107 of the drill equipment 103 towards and against the shaft wall 121 as a support for the drill equipment 103 before the drilling of the hole 109. The action may comprise extending at least two supporting elements 107, 118 of the drill equipment 103 towards and against the shaft wall 121 as a support for the drill equipment 103 before the drilling of the hole 109. The supporting element 107 will make it possible to obtain drilling holes with high precision. When several holes are drilled, the action 502 may be repeated prior to each drilling action.

The method may further comprise an optional action 511 of tilting the drill equipment 103 around the pivot axis PA, and an optional action 512 of drilling holes 109 in the shaft wall 121 at different angles of 30 to 150 degrees with respect to the rotational axis RA. The actions may be repeated.

The method may further comprise an optional action 520 of: rotating the drill equipment 103 around the rotational axis RA to at least one selected rotational position, and an optional action 521 of: drilling a hole 109 in the shaft wall 121 at each one of the selected rotational positions. The actions may be repeated.

The optional actions 510 of tilting and 520 of rotating the drill equipment 103 can be made in any order. The action 510 may then be followed by a drilling action according to the optional action 511 of drilling a hole 109 and the action 520 may be followed by the drilling action according to the optional action 521 of drilling a hole 109.

The method may further comprise: tilting the drill equipment 103 around the pivot axis PA and/or an optional action of: rotating the drill equipment 103 around the rotational axis RA and drilling holes 109 at selected locations in the shaft wall 121. The drilling may start at one location and then the drill equipment 103 may be pivoted and the drilling will be performed at several points along a line of the shaft following the pivot direction. Further, the method may comprise an optional action of: rotating the drill equipment 103 around the rotational axis RA and drilling will be performed at the location and action: tilting will be performed in order to drill at several angles at that location. This may continue by rotating and pivoting the drill equipment 103 in any order. Any order may be used in the method. For example rotating may be performed in several steps using one tilting angle and several holes will be drilled at one level. Then a tilting of the drill equipment 103 will give a new angle and the drilling will be performed several times at that angle by rotating the drill equipment 103 around the rotational axis RA.

The method may comprise moving the drill 106 along the feed beam 113 when performing a drilling step.

The method may be a method for raise caving.

The drilling is followed by lowering a filling equipment for filling the drilling holes 109 with blasting agent. The filling of the blasting agent will be done in the holes 109 which have been drilled with the drill equipment 103. The drilling may have been performed by drilling the holes in a certain order. The filling of the holes with blasting agent may be performed in the same order as the drilling of the holes have been made. This may be performed manually by the person handling the drilling arrangement or it may be performed by a data program. A data program may be provided for setting the order for drilling holes and a data program may be provided for setting the order for filling the holes with blasting agent.

With the method as disclosed herein, the planning of the drilling will be facilitated. The drilling will follow a certain pattern when the drill equipment is pivoted around the pivot axis and/or rotated around the rotational axis. The possible pattern to drill will be easier to survey and the same refers to the filling pattern.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.