Method and apparatus for detection of drill bit wear

• US 8,899,350 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Nadeau, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Giovanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALKER, RICHARD K
• Application Number:
  US13/278,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20120152618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 175/39, 175/40, 175/24, 175/57
• US Class Current: 175/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 12/02 Wear indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24077 Module detects wear, changes of controlled device, statistical evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2616 Earth moving, work machine

Abstract

A method for determining wear of a drill bit is disclosed. The method includes drilling a first hole in a worksite based on a hole pattern having a plurality of planned holes and determining an energy required to drill the first hole. The method also includes drilling a second hole in the worksite and determining an energy required to drill the second hole. The method further includes determining a wear of the drill bit using the determined energy required to drill the first hole and the determined energy required to drill the second hole.

Claims

1. A method for determining wear of a drill bit, comprising:

drilling a first hole in a worksite based on a hole pattern having a plurality of planned holes;

determining an energy required to drill the first hole;

drilling a second hole in the worksite;

determining an energy required to drill the second hole;

determining a wear of the drill bit using the determined energy required to drill the first hole and the determined energy required to drill the second hole; and

determining strata through which the drill bit is passing during drilling the first hole and drilling the second hole.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the wear further comprises determining a delta between the determined energy required to drill the first hole and the determined energy required to drill the second hole.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining if the delta exceeds a threshold delta.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising discontinuing further drilling when the delta exceeds the threshold delta.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing an alert when the delta exceeds the threshold delta.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the drilling is performed by a drill rig having a drill and the alert is provided to at least one of maintenance personnel or an operator of the drill rig.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the energy required to drill the first hole is determined as a function of a torque on the drill, a rotational speed of the drill, a diameter of the first hole, a weight on the drill bit, and a rate of penetration of the drill.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the strata are displayed to an operator via an operator display.

9. A control system for a mobile drill rig, comprising:

a drill; and

a controller configured to;

drill a first hole in the worksite with the drill based on a hole pattern having a plurality of planned holes;

determine an energy required to drill the first hole, wherein the determined energy required to drill the first hole is used to identify strata through which the first hole passes;

drill a second hole in the worksite with the drill adjacent the first hole;

determine an energy required to drill the second hole, wherein the determined energy required to drill the second hole is used to identify strata through which the second hole passes;

determine a wear of the drill bit using the determined energy required to drill the first hole and the determined energy required to drill the second hole; and

communicate the strata information and wear information to an operator of the drill rig.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the wear further comprises determining a delta between the determined energy required to drill the first hole and the determined energy required to drill the second hole.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to determine if the delta exceeds a threshold delta.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to discontinue further drilling when the delta exceeds the threshold delta.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to provide an alert when the delta exceeds the threshold delta.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the alert is provided to at least one of maintenance personnel or an operator of the drill rig.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the energy required to drill the first hole is determined as a function of a torque on the drill, a rotational speed of the drill, a diameter of the first hole, a weight on the drill bit, and a rate of penetration of the drill.

16. A method for determining wear of a drill bit, comprising:

drilling a first hole in a worksite based on a hole pattern having a plurality of planned holes;

determining an energy required to drill the first hole, wherein the determined energy required to drill the first hole is used to identify strata through which the first hole passes;

drilling a second hole in the worksite adjacent the first hole;

determining an energy required to drill the second hole, wherein the determined energy required to drill the second hole is used to identify strata through which the second hole passes;

determining a wear of the drill bit using the determined energy required to drill the first hole and the determined energy required to drill the second hole; and

displaying strata and wear information to an operator of the drill rig.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the wear further comprises determining a delta between the determined energy required to drill the first hole and the determined energy required to drill the second hole.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining if the delta exceeds a threshold delta.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing an alert when the delta exceeds the threshold delta.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising discontinuing further drilling when the delta exceeds the threshold delta.