Pneumatic and hydraulic power control of drill
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for the operation of a mechanism having varying power requirements comprising:
- means for providing a source of pressurized gas having control means for selectively varying the flow of the gas over a predetermined range in response to a pressurized hydraulic fluid;
pump means operably connected to the output of said control means for providing a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid generally responsive to the flow of the varying gas flow from said control means;
at least one hydraulically actuated mechanism means for translating hydraulic energy into mechanical energy;
at least one valve means for alternatively selectively communicating at least a portion of the pressurized hydraulic source to said mechanism means or to said control means as a hydraulic signal such that said control means reduces the flow of the gas when said valve means is not placing the hydraulic source in communication with said mechanism means.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of controlling the input power to a drill feed or other hydraulic system in which the hydraulic power source is obtained from a compressed air supply. Wherein, the flow of air is varied in response to a hydraulic signal controlled by the load demand of the hydraulic system. Low and high mode controls are provided to operate hydraulically actuated mechanisms; and a hydraulic absorbing load is imposed to prevent stall or overspeed of the pump and motor during low load conditions.
14 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the operation of a mechanism having varying power requirements comprising:
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means for providing a source of pressurized gas having control means for selectively varying the flow of the gas over a predetermined range in response to a pressurized hydraulic fluid; pump means operably connected to the output of said control means for providing a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid generally responsive to the flow of the varying gas flow from said control means; at least one hydraulically actuated mechanism means for translating hydraulic energy into mechanical energy; at least one valve means for alternatively selectively communicating at least a portion of the pressurized hydraulic source to said mechanism means or to said control means as a hydraulic signal such that said control means reduces the flow of the gas when said valve means is not placing the hydraulic source in communication with said mechanism means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a mobile drill used for boring holes in rock and earth having a plurality of hydraulically actuated mechanisms for performing drilling functions and having a source of pressurized gas a power control apparatus comprising:
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control means for selectively varying the pressure of such gas over a predetermined range in response to a pressurized hydraulic fluid; pump means operably connected to the output of said control means for providing a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid generally responsive to the varying gas flow from said control means; and at least one valve means for alternatively selectively communicating at least a portion of the pressurized hydraulic source to one of such mechanisms or to said control means as a hydraulic signal such that said control means reduces the flow of the gas when said valve means is not placing said hydraulic source in communication with said one mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a mobil drill comprising:
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supplying a source of pressurized gas to such drill; varying the flow of such pressurized gas in response to a hydraulic signal; converting the varying flow of said pressurized gas into a hydraulic fluid flow generally varying in response to such varying gas flow; dividing such hydraulic flow into a generally fixed flow rate portion and a remainder portion; selectively alternatively diverting at least a portion of said remainder portion to actuate the feeding and retracting movements of such drill or to provide a hydraulic fluid signal to initiate the varying of the flow of said gas; imposing a load on the hydraulic flow by absorbing at least a portion of the flow of said remainder portion at a predetermined pressure; selectively alternatively diverting at least a portion of such fixed flow rate portion to actuate the feeding and retarding movements of such drill or to impose a load on the hydraulic flow by absorbing at least a portion of such fixed flow rate at a predetermined pressure. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification