ROCK DRILLING RIG AND METHOD FOR DOWNHILL DRIVE

• US 20130056279A1
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction OY (Sandvik AB)
• Original Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction OY (Sandvik AB)
• Inventors: Osara, Jukka, Piipponen, Juha, Kuittinen, Jarno, Niemi, Timo
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/162
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/00 Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units arrangement or mounting in vehicles of electrical gearing, in which an electrical machine serves only as reduction gearing and not as the prime mover and in which no electrical storing means are used B60K17/12; control and regulation of purely electrical prime movers B60L; prime-movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors in a common engine block or housing per se F02B65/00; electric motors or motor-generators used for starting the combustion engine F02N11/04; electric motors for synchronising gearing F16H3/12 Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/06 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/586 the retarders being of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/04 Hill descent control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/17 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/087 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/022 Control of the drilling operation; Hydraulic or pneumatic means for activation or operation control circuits for drilling masts E21B15/045
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/024 having means for adapting to inclined terrain; having means for stabilizing the vehicle while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

The invention relates to a rock drilling rig and a method for downhill driving of a rock drilling rig. The rock drilling rig comprises electric drive equipment, the drive motor of which serves as a primary brake in long-term downhill driving. The drive motor thus converts kinetic energy into electric energy, with which an energy storage is charged. To consume surplus electric energy, a hydraulic system or a compressed air system is turned on. A hydraulic pump and a compressor (54) are driven by an electric motor.

Claims

1. A rock drilling rig, comprising:

a movable carrier (2);

combustion-engine-free drive equipment (16) for performing transfer drive of the rock drilling rig (1), which drive equipment (16) comprises at least one electric drive motor (M) and power transmission members (18) between the drive motor (M) and at least one traction wheel (19);

an electric system comprising at least one energy storage (B) in which electric energy used in the transfer drive can be charged;

at least one pressure medium system (V) in which pressure and flow of pressure medium is generated with at least one pump (34, 54) which is driven by at least one electric motor (33, 55) connected to the electric system;

at least one boom (3a, 3b) movable relative to the carrier (2) and provided with a rock drilling machine (6);

at least one control unit (C) comprising at least one control strategy for controlling the systems;

and wherein the drive motor (M) serves as a generator and a primary brake in long-term downhill driving;

and wherein the control unit (C) monitors the electric system and controls the electric energy generated in downhill driving to charge the energy storage (B);

characterized in that

the control unit (C) comprises a control strategy according to which it turns at least one pressure medium system (V) on in response to the electric system being insufficient to consume the surplus electric energy generated in the downhill driving, whereby the electric energy consumption can be intentionally increased by means of the pressure medium system.

2. The rock drilling rig of claim 1, characterized in that

the control unit (C) comprises a control strategy according to which the control unit (C) controls the speed of downhill driving, taking into account the capability of the systems to consume the electric energy generated in deceleration.

3. The rock drilling rig of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

the rock drilling rig (1) comprises a drilling hydraulic system (13);

and

the control system (C) comprises a control strategy according to which it turns the drilling hydraulic system (13) on to consume surplus electric energy during downhill driving.

4. The rock drilling rig of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the pressure medium system (V) is provided with at least one hydraulic component (52) causing pressure loss;

and

the control unit (C) is arranged to turn said component (52) on during downhill driving, whereby the energy consumption of the pressure medium system (V) increases.

5. The rock drilling rig of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the rock drilling rig (1) comprises at least one compressed air system (50);

and

the control unit (C) comprises a control strategy according to which the control unit (C) turns the compressed air system (50) on during downhill driving.

6. The rock drilling rig of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the control unit (C) is arranged to control, during downhill driving, the pressure medium produced by the pressure medium system (V) to cool at least one electric component (K) included in the electric system.

7. The rock drilling rig of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the rock drilling rig (1) comprises at least one liquid cooling system (21) to cool at least one electric component (K) included in the electric system;

and

the control unit (C) turns the liquid cooling system (21) on for downhill driving.

8. The rock drilling rig of claim 7, characterized in that

the pressure medium system (V) is arranged to cool the cooling liquid of the liquid cooling system (21) during downhill driving.

9. The rock drilling rig of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the control unit (C) is arranged to turn on at least one pressure-medium-driven actuator (7, 8, 10, 15) connected to at least one pressure medium system (V, 13) during downhill driving to increase the energy consumption, whereby the actuator in question is turned on without any need for the basic operation provided by it.

10. The rock drilling rig of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the electric system comprises at least one electric brake resistor (20) for converting surplus electric energy generated in downhill driving into heat.

11. A method for downhill drive of a rock drilling rig, the method comprising:

transfer-driving a rock drilling rig (1) provided merely with electric drive equipment along a downward-sloping drive surface, whereby potential energy bound to the rock drilling rig (1) is released as kinetic energy;

decelerating the motion of the rock drilling rig (1) during long-term downhill driving primarily only with at least one electric drive motor (M) included in the drive equipment (16), the electric drive motor being connected to serve as a generator for the duration of the downhill driving, whereby kinetic energy of the rock drilling rig (1) is converted into electric energy; and

charging electric energy generated during the downhill driving in at least one electric storage (B) included in the electric system of the rock drilling rig (1);

characterized by

converting electric energy generated during the downhill driving into pressure energy in response to a need to consume surplus energy.

12. The method of claim 11, characterized by

increasing the need for pressure energy during downhill driving to increase energy consumption.

13. The method of claim 12, characterized by

turning the drilling hydraulics (13) on to increase energy consumption.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, characterized by

turning on a plurality of systems related to the basic operations of the rock drilling rig (1) simultaneously without any need for the basic operations or effect of these systems during downhill driving.

15. A method of any one of preceding claims 11 to 14, characterized by

converting surplus electric energy remaining after charging the energy storage (B) into heat in a brake resistor (20).

16. The method of claim 15, characterized by

allowing, during downhill driving, momentary overload of the brake resistor (20), compared with its rated load.

17. A method of any one of preceding claims 11 to 16, characterized by

maximizing the driving speed of the rock drilling rig (1) in downhill driving, taking into account the systems'"'"' greatest electricity consumption that is aimed at.