Modified Backhead Unit For Rock Drill

Patent Information

Abstract

Abstract: A backhead unit for a rock drill, comprising a water valve housing operably connected through valve plunger (12M); a valve spring configured for operating (19) in conjunction with valve plunger (12M); a back head plug for accommodating a water tube and to block back head from the top; a pin configured for locking valve housing; a throttle valve operably connected through valve plunger; a plug connected with valve housing (22) for supporting the valve operation (19); a screen used as a water valve for flow control; and a water stem nut used as a top in back head and water stem; wherein the flow of water and air flow is regulated together while in operation.

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Specification

Claims:1. A backhead unit for a rock drill, comprising
a water valve housing operably connected through valve plunger (12M);
a valve spring configured for operating (19) in conjunction with valve plunger (12M);
a back head plug for accommodating a water tube and to block back head from the top;
a pin configured for locking valve housing;
a throttle valve operably connected through valve plunger;
a plug connected with valve housing (22) for supporting the valve operation (19);
a screen used as a water valve for flow control; and
a water stem nut used as a top in back head and water stem; wherein the flow of water and air flow is regulated together while in operation.
2. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the throttle valve is rotatable and operably connected with a lever.
3. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backhead unit further includes two separate delivery tubes communicating with a hollow drill steel.
4. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 3, wherein the backhead unit comprises first passageway leading from the water inlet to a water valve chamber disposed in the backhead.
5. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backhead unit further includes a water valve housing positioned in one end of a counter bore, the other end of the counterbore being connected by a second passageway to the water valve chamber.
6. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backhead unit further includes third passageway for conduction of pressurized air from the throttle valve through the water valve housing to the counter bore.
7. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 6, wherein the water valve housing blocks the third passageway off from the counter bore to prevent passage of water into the third passageway.
8. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the throttle valve is rotated to a first position, water flows from the water valve chamber into the second passageway, which further allows flow of pressurized air from the throttle valve into the third passageway and when the throttle valve is rotated to a second position the flow of water is stopped from the water valve chamber into the second passageway.
9. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backhead unit accommodate water inlet from the right side of the operator for enabling the control of water flow from air throttle system.
10. The backhead unit for a rock drill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backhead unit is a modified version of backhead unit of M610 rock drill part No. 610 03405X of M610 rock drills (equivalent to S215 rockdrills).
, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to modified back head for use with the rock drills. More particularly the present invention relates to a single lever valve designed for operation of both water and air control therefor to operate the Jackleg Rockdrill .
BACKGROUND ART
In underground mining industries Handheld Rock Drills apparatus are used as a part of drilling process. Along with rock drilling process, the application requires flushing process either by air or by water for smooth drilling and for evacuation of dirt & broken rocks during drilling process. Since the air flushing is hazardous for health due to dust, the most safest and adopted flushing is water. The water is flushed through drilling for cleaning & removal of rock particles.
In the prior art, the backhead is provided with a transverse handle, a throttle valve, and suitable bores adapted to receive the side bars for the drill. In order to supply the elements necessary for drill operation, an air hose is suitably connected to the upper and outer portion of the backhead and a water hose is also connected to it at a location somewhat near the air hose. In the conventional or standard type of rock drill as shown in Fig 1, a solid water tube plug is threaded into a cylindrical hole or recess located at the center portion of the backhead opposite the end of a water tube which leads through the drill to the cutting head. A separate water tube plug serves to provide a means which may be easily removed for access to the water tube and related passages, for example to clean the same. Tube is flanged at its inner end and secured to a washer which in turn bears tightly against an encircling packing in such a way that leakage of water along the water tube and into the drill is effectively prevented.
In use, as shown in Fig 2(a), the user of the prior art devices use a plurality of controls to operate the Jackleg. For example - Lever 2 & connection 5 is used to control the airflow and water flow to the rock drill. A Knob 9 is used to control the Leg Operation. As the Jackleg is Pneumatic, the drill operates as per the air flow into it. If the Air flow is stopped, the drill operation will stop. Due to this design, while operating the drill, the operator use to control the drilling operation through a separate lever, and water would flow continuously even if the drill is stopped intermittently leading to loss of valuable water and flooding of floor in the mines.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present down hole drill water removal devices. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative for Back Head of M610 rock drill part No. 610 03405X of M610 rock drills (equivalent to S215 rock drills) is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides in a rock drill including a backhead, a single lever valve disposed in the backhead, and plurality of delivery tube communicating with a hollow drill steel. The said single lever valve is designed for operation of both water and air comprises of water inlet in the Back Head, leading the water to a water chamber when the throttle valve is in close position. The operating valve while in open position allows water to the passage created to its circumference to pass to a position entering into the water flushing tube. At the same time, the air also flows through throttle valve and air flows inside the backhead through passage and enters into the rock drill. While the throttle valve is at shut off position, the operating valve disconnects the connections and do not allow water to enter into the rock drill and also stops the airflow into the drill. Both air & water are being regulated through a single lever operation.
Such as herein described, there is provided a backhead unit for a rock drill, comprising a water valve housing operably connected through valve plunger (12M); a valve spring (13M) configured for operating valve (19) in conjunction with valve plunger (12M); a back head plug (14) for accommodating water tube and to block back head from the top; a pin configured for locking valve housing (17); a throttle valve operably connected through valve plunger (11M); a plug (25) connected with valve housing (22) for supporting the valve operating (19); a screen used as a water filter; and a water stem nut (29) used as a top in back head and water stem (30); wherein the flow of water and air flow is regulated together while in operation.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rock drill a single air and water control valve which will automatically effect, upon moving the operating lever and before starting the drilling operation, with an additional water valve assembly operated by valve plunger which allows water to flow through water valve housing through an additional slot provided in the throttle valve.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rock drill a single air and water control valve wherein the wetting with the water of the bottom of the hole being drilled ahead of the compressed air flow.
It is another object of the invention to provide a rock drill a single air and water control valve wherein under condition that the throttle handle is in shut off position, air and water are disconnected and when the throttle handle is on position both the air and water connections are activated to run the drill and to allow water to be flushed through the water tube.
It is another object of the invention to provide a rock drill a single air and water control valve wherein the water and air flow is regulated together, both air and water flows together or is stopped together. As such, as soon as the operator stops the drill, water flow is also stopped.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a single combination air and water control valve for rock drills, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, compact and kept within minimum size, convenient and efficient in use.
Other objects of the invention are to provide 'a combined air and water control for rock drills of the single valve wherein the control is embodied in the back head of the drill, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is compact and takes up little space, is easy to assemble, has little chance of breaking, is durable, automatic and efficient in operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Fig 1 illustrates the prior art (working principle of rock drill) in accordance with the present invention;
Fig 2(a) illustrates back head of M610 rock drill before modification in accordance with the present invention;
Fig 2(b) illustrates back head of M610 rock drill after modification in accordance with the present invention;
Fig 3(a) illustrates back head of M610 including valve in open condition in accordance with the present invention;
Fig 3(b) illustrates back head of M610 including valve in close condition in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention provides in a rock drill including a backhead, a rotatable throttle valve disposed in the backhead as illustrated in Fig 2(b). The backhead herein includes a single lever operated air & water valve control through which water can be regulated alongwith air regulation with a single click. The innovative design for the backhead of M610 rock drill comprises of 30 components (including the Back Head) with an additional water valve assembly operated by valve plunger which allows water to flow through water valve housing through an additional slot provided in the throttle valve. When the throttle handle is in shut off position, air and water are disconnected and when the throttle handle is on position both the air and water connections are activated to run the drill and to allow water to be flushed through the water tube.
The assembly incorporates a rotatable throttle valve disposed in the backhead, and water delivery tube communicating with a hollow drill steel; a combined air and water control arrangement as shown in Fig 3(a) including water inlet arranged in the backhead, a first passageway leading from the water inlet to a water valve chamber disposed in the backhead, a water valve housing positioned in one end of a counter bore, the other end of the counter bore being connected by a second passageway to the water valve chamber, said counter bore having therein an open end of the delivery tube, a valve in the water valve chamber., a third passageway for conduction of pressurized air from the throttle valve through the water valve housing to the counter bore, the water valve housing normally blocking the third passageway off from the counter bore to prevent passage of water into the third passageway and a cam on the throttle valve adapted to move the valve when the throttle valve is rotated to a first position so that water may flow from the water valve chamber into the second passageway, and to allow flow of pressurized air from the throttle valve into the third passageway, and being further adapted when the throttle valve is rotated to a second position to allow the valve to stop water flow from the water valve chamber into the second passageway as shown in Fig 3(b). Due to this design the water and air flow is regulated together, both air and water flows together or is stopped together. As such, as soon as the operator stops the drill, water flow is also stopped.
A single lever valve is used for operation of both water and air comprises of water inlet in the Back Head (Sl No. 30), leading the water to a water chamber to position a-1 when the throttle valve is in close position. The operating valve (Sl No. 19) while in open position allows water to the passage created to its circumference to pass to a-2 position entering into the water flushing tube. At the same time, the air also flow through throttle valve (Sl No. 11M) and air flows inside the Back Head through passage a-3 and enters into the rock drill. While the throttle valve is at shut off position, the operating valve Sl No.19 disconnects the connection between a-1 & a-2 and do not allow water to enter into the rock drill and also controls the air of position a-3. The operating valve in (Sl No. 19) is actuated by valve plunger 12M through a virtue of a slot provided in throttle valve (Sl No. 11M). Thus both air & water are being regulated through a single lever operation.
DESIGN
The Back Head was totally redesigned with induction of 17 new parts Sl No. 14 to Sl No. 30 (as per the exploded view) and modifying the design of existing 4 parts as per Sl No. 10M to Sl No 13M as per details given below :

List of Modified Parts
Cat. Sl. No Part Description Function
10M Back Head (Mod) The back head design has been modified to accommodate water inlet from the right side of the operator to enable control of water flow from air throttle system.
11M Throttle Valve Additional slot provided to activate throttle valve (12m) when the valve plunger (12M) falls into the slot of throttle valve. The water valve gets activated and allow water to flow inside the drill.
12M Plunger The earlier plunger which was having function of locking throttle valve has been modified to work as a valve (apart from locking plunger) which is a very critical to operate.
13M Plunger Spring The length of earlier spring has been modified.

This has been provided for a total solution for shut off of the water while the drill is not in use. The total time taken for designing of the new concept was approx. 500 hours

List of Newly Inducted Parts
Cat. Sl. No Part Description Function
14 Back Head Plug This is to be used to accommodate water tube and to block back head from the top.
15 O-Ring Used as sealing ring
16 O-Ring Used as sealing ring
17 Pin Used for locking valve housing
18 O-Ring Used as sealing ring
19 Valve Operating This operate through valve plunger and opens the water valve when throttle valve is ON
20 O-Ring Used as sealing ring
21 O-Ring Used as sealing ring
22 Water valve housing This is a very critical part of the design which works as water valve housing when the valve Sl No. 19 is operated through valve plunger (12M), the water flows to the housing inside the drill.
23 Valve Spring Help valve operating (19) in conjunction with valve spring (12M)
24 O-Ring Used as sealing ring
25 Plug Working as a plug to valve housing (22) and supports valve operating (19)
26 Screen Used as a water valve
27 Rubber Packing Used as sealing ring
28 Copper Washer Used as sealing ring
29 Water Stem Nut Used as a top in back head and water stem.

The product was tested with water pressure of 8 Bar and it was observed that the system of control of water flow through Throttle Valve was working perfectly.

This unique design of Back head which controls water with the operation of air through Throttle Valve which will save millions of gallons of water in underground mines. This will not only give the benefit of water conservation but will also make the working environment more comfortable for the underground miners.

Although the foregoing description of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

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