AND SUPPORTING METHOD

The present invention relates to a drilling machine, and in particular to a drilling machine, a supporting machanism and a supporting method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drilling machines, such as rock drilling machines, can be used in various fields, e.g., underground quarrying and infrastructure construction sites. Due to the ambient condition, e.g., the subterranean light is always very weak, the operator of the drilling machine confronts with many inconveniences, e.g., blurred vision, while controlling the drilling operations of the machine. In order to make it convenient for the operator (usually the operator controls the drilling operations of the drilling machine inside a canopy, which is called canopy control mode), the drilling equipment, e.g., a drill bit, is preferred to be installed facing the canopy, and all kinds of cables such as electric cable are placed on the other side, so that it would not block the operator's vision of the drilling equipment. However, the operator sometimes, gets off the canopy and walks around the drilling machine to monitor/remote-control the drilling operations (which is called remote control mode), in this case, the mechanism supporting the drilling equipment and the cables like eletric cable will influence the operator's vision towards the drilling operations and thus influence the controlling operations performed by the operator. Therefore, there is a need to provide a drilling machine that is convenient for the operator in both canopy control mode and remote control mode.

SUMMARY In one embodiment, a supporting mechanism for supporting, moving and rotating a feed beam of a drilling machine, includes a boom assembly, a drill boom and a rotating device.The boom assembly connects to the feed beam and is configured to support the feed beam. The drill boom lifts the boom assembly. The rotating device connects between the drill boom and the boom assembly, and is configured to guide the boom assembly to rotate horizontally relative to the drill boom, in order to extend the feed beam to a certain position.

In another embodiment, a drilling machine includes a feed beam, a boom assembly, a drill boom and a rotating device. The feed beam guides a drill bit of the drilling machine to drill a hole. The boom assembly connects to the feed beam, and is configured to support, move and rotate the feed beam. The drill boom lifts the boom assembly. The rotating device connects between the drill boom and the boom assembly, and guides the boom assembly to rotate horizontally relative to the drill boom.in order to extend the feed beam to a certain position.

In yet another embodiment, a supporting method for a feed beamof a drilling machine includes: connecting a rotating device between a boom assembly and a drill boom, wherein the boom assembly connects to and supports the feed beam, and the drill boom lifts the boom assembly; driving, viathe rotating device, the boom assembly to rotate horizontally relative to the drill boom; and extending the feed beam to a certain position, according to the rotation of the boom assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Features and advantages of embodiments of the claimed subject matter will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds, and upon reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals depict like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a drilling machine, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a supporting mechanism, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of partial the supporting mechanism in FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of partial the supporting mechanism in FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a supporting method, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a drilling machine 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching. As shown in FIG. 1 , the drilling machine 100 includes a rotating device 102, a drill boom 110, a boom assembly 112, a feed beam 114 and a canopy 1 16. The feed beam 114 guides a drill bit of the drilling machine 100 to drill a hole. The boom assembly 112 connects the feed beam 114, and supports, moves and rotates the feed beam 114. The drill boom 110 lifts the boom assembly 112. The rotating device 102 connects between the drill boom 110 and the boom assembly 112, and guides the boom assembly 112 to rotate horizontally relative to the drill boom 110, in order to extend the feed beam 114 to a certain position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotating device 102 guides the boom assembly 112 to rotate to at least two positions: a position between the feed beam 114 and the canopy 1 16, and a position in front of the feed beam 114 and canopy 1 16. If the boom assembly 112 rotates to the position in front of the feed beam 114 and the canopy 116, that is, if the feed beam 114 locates between the boom assembly 112 and the canopy 1 16, the operator of the drilling machine 100 can observe clearly inside the canopy 116 regarding the guiding of the feed beam 114 towards the drill bit. In this case, it is convenient for the operator to monitor/control the drilling operations of the drilling machine 100. If the boom assembly 112rotates to the position between the feed beam 114 and the canopy 116, that is, if the feed beam 114 locates in front of the boom assembly 112 and the canopy 1 16, the operator can get off the canopy 1 16 and walk around the drilling machine 100 to monitor and remote-control the drilling operations of the drilling machine 100 more accurately.Conclusively, by providing the rotating device 102 to rotate the boom assembly 112 horizontally relative to drill boom 110, the drilling machine 100 can provide with two control modes: canopy control mode and remote control mode, and these two control modes can be switched to each other very conveniently.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a supporting mechanism 200, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching. The supporting mechanism 200 supports, moves and rotates the feed beam 114 of the drilling machine 100. FIG. 2 is described in combination with FIG. 1 , and elements that are labeled the same as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 have similar functions. In the FIG. 2 embodiment, the supporting mechanism 200 includes a rotating device 102, a drill boom 110and a boom assembly 112. As mentioned above, the rotating device 102 connects between the drill boom 110 and the boom assembly 112, and guides the boom assembly 112 to rotate horizontally relative to the drill boom 110, in order to extend the feed beam 114 to a certain position.

In one embodiment, the rotating device 102 includes a power unit 202, that provides power to drive the rotating device 102 to rotate, and thus guides the boom assembly 112 to rotate.The power unit 202 can be installed inside or outside the rotating device 102, and can be selected from a group including a motor, an engine and a hydraulic rotary actuator (also hydraulic swing cylinder). However, this is not for the purpose of limitation, any mechanisms that can provide power to drive a mechanical device to rotate can be embodied as the power unit 202 or as part of the power unit 202 of the present invention.

If the power unit 202 provides power to drive the rotating device 102 so as to rotate the boom assembly 112 to a certain position, e.g., a position between the feed beam 114 and the canopy 1 16, or a position in front of the feed beam 114 and the canopy 116, the power unit 202 stops driving the rotating device 102, such that the boom assembly 112 is static relative to the drill boom 110. In one embodiment, the supporting mechanism 200 further comprises a fastening piece 204 that fastens the rotating device 102 to stop the boom assembly 112 rotating, such that the boom assembly 112 is static relative to the drill boom 110. In the FIG. 2 embodiment, the fastening piece 204 is configured with several holes. When the fastening piece 204 rotates as the rotating device 102 rotates, a fixed bolt/latch can be used to stop the fastening piece 204 rotating, and thus to fasten the rotating device 102. However, this is not for the purpose of limitation, and in another embodiment of this invention, the fastening piece 204 can have other shapes and structures. In yet another embodiment, the fastening piece 204 can be omitted from the supporting mechanism 200, and instead, the rotating device 102 can have at least two mechanical limits. The at least two mechanical limits can be configured inside or outside the rotating device 102. When the rotating device 102 guides the boom assembly 112 to rotate, if one of the at least two mechanical limits is reached, the rotating device 102 stops guiding the boom assembly 112 to rotate, and thus the boom assembly 112 is static relative to the drill boom 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of partial the supporting mechanism 200 in FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching. FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of partial the supporting mechanism 200 in FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are described in combination with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and elements that are labeled the same as in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 have similar functions.

Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the rotating device 102 includes a rotating part 302 and a fixed part 402. The rotating part 302 rotates relative to the fixed part 402, and in one embodiment, the rotating part 302 and the fixed part 402 can be connected flexibly. However, this is not for the purpose of limitation, and in another embodiment of this invention, the rotating part 302 and the fixed part 402 can be, e.g., welded, as an integral structure.

In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the rotating part 302 connects to the boom assembly 112, and the fastening piece 204 and the power unit 202 are installed on the rotating part 302. In the FIG. 4embodiment, the fixed part 402 connects to the drill boom HO.However, this is not for the purpose of limitation, and in another embodiment of the present invention, the rotating part 302can be installedon either one of the drill boom 110 and the boom assembly 112, while the fixed part 402 can be installed on the other one of the drill boom 110 and the boom assembly 112, and the fastening piece 204 and the power unit 202 can be installed on either one of the rotating part 302 and the fixed part 402; in yet another embodiment, the rotating part 302, the fixed part 402, the drill boom 110 and the boom assembly 112 can be, e.g., welded, as an integral structure to support, move and rotate the feed beam 114. In general, the connection between the fixed part 402 and the rotating part 302; the connection between the rotating part 302 and one of the drill boom 110 and the boom assembly 112; and the connection between the fixed part 402 and the other one of the drill boom 110 and the boom assembly 112, can be selected from a group of connections including bolt connection, rivet connection and weld connection.

As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the fastening piece 204 can be omitted and replaced by other limiting pieces or fastening pieces, e.g., mechanical limit, with other structures. By way of example, at least two mechanical limitsare configured on the fixed part 402 and the rotating part 302. When the rotating part 302 rotates relative to the fixed part 402, if one of the at least two mechanical limits is reached, the rotating part 302 stops rotating relative to the fixed part 402, and thus the boom assembly 112is static relative to the drill boom 110.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a supporting method 500 for the feed beam 114, in accordance with one embodiment of the present teaching. Although specific steps are disclosed in FIG. 5, such steps are examples for illustrative purposes. That is, the present invention is well suited to performing various other steps or variations of the steps recited in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is described in combination with FIG. 1 , FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

In step 502, a drilling machine (e.g., 100) includes a rotating device (e.g., 102), a drill boom (e.g., 110), a boom assembly (e.g., 112), a feed beam (e.g., 114) and a canopy (e.g., 1 16), herein, the boom assembly 112 connects to and supports the feed beam 114, and the drill boom 110 lifts the boom assembly 112. Moreover, the rotating device 102 connects between the boom assembly 112 and the drill boom 110. In step 504, the rotating device 102 drives the boom assembly 112 to rotate horizontally relative to the drill boom 110. In one embodiment, the rotating device 102 includes a power device (e.g., 202), for providing power to drive the rotating device 102 to rotate, and thus to guide the boom assembly 112 to rotate relative to the drill boom 110.

In step 506, as the boom assembly 112 rotates, the feed beam 114 can be extended to a certain position. For example, the rotating device 102 guides the boom assembly 112 to rotate until at least two positions: a position between thefeed beam 114 and the canopy 116, and a position in front of the feed beam 114 and the canopy 116. If the boom assembly 112 rotates to the position in front of the feed beam 114 and the canopy 1 16, thus the feed beam 114 locates between theboom assembly 112 and the canopy 1 16. If the boom assembly 112 rotates to the position between the feed beam 114 and the canopy 1 16, thus the feed beam 114 locates in front of the boom assembly 112 and the canopy 1 16.

Advantageously, when thefeed beam 114 locates between the boom assembly 112 and the canopy 1 16, the operator of the drilling machine 100 can observeclearly inside the canopy 116 regarding the guiding of thefeed beam 114 towards a drill bit of the drilling machine 100, and thus it is convenient for the operator to monitor/control the drilling operations of the drilling machine 100; and when the feed beam 114 locates in front of the boom assembly 112 and the canopy 116, the operator can get off the canopy 116 and walk around the drilling machine 100 to observethe guiding of the feed beam 114 towards the drill bit, so as to monitor/remote-control the drilling operations of drilling machine 100 more accurately.

In step 508, after the feed beam 114 is extended to the aforementioned certain position, the rotating device 102 is fastened to stop the boom assembly 112 rotating, so that the boom assembly 112 is static relative to the drill boom 110. In one embodiment, the drilling machine 100 includes a fastening piece (e.g., 204), that fastens the rotating device 102 to stop the boom assembly 112 rotating. In another embodiment, the fastening piece 204 is omitted and instead, at least two mechanical limits are configured on the rotating device 102. When the rotating device 102 is guiding the boom assembly 112 to rotate and one of the at least two mechanical limits is reached, the rotating device 102 stops the guiding, and thus the boom assembly 112 is static relative to the drill boom 110.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the principles of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of form, structure, arrangement, proportions, materials, elements, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not limited to the foregoing description.