Drill rod handler
First Claim
1. A drilling system comprising a drilling mast which is to be associated with drill string located in a bore hole and a drill rod handling device which in use is intended to be mounted adjacent the drilling mast, the drill rod handling device comprising:
- a base adapted to be supported from the drill rig;
a movable clamp coupled to the base, the moveable clamp being configured to grasp a drill rod from a first, storage position with a first orientation;
a first drive for rotating the moveable clamp about a first axis that is parallel and offset from the drill rod when grasped in the moveable clamp;
a second drive for rotating the moveable clamp about a second axis to move the drill rod from the first orientation toward a vertical orientation and into a second orientation;
a third drive for rotating the moveable clamp about a third axis to move the drill rod into a second, drilling position while maintaining the drill rod in the second orientation, the third axis being parallel and offset from the drill rod when in the second orientation, wherein when the drill rod is in the second orientation the third axis is parallel and offset from the first axis and when the drill rod is in the first orientation the third axis is transverse to the first axis.
19 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An elongate item handling means comprising a base (11) adapted to be fixed to a fixture, an elongate member support (13) having a first axis, the elongate member support comprising an engagement means (19) adapted to engage an elongate item and support the elongate item such that it is parallel to the first axis and to move the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support, wherein the elongate member support is supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis whereby the elongate item when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position, the base being movable on the fixture between a first position located at a desired erect position of the elongate item and one or more positions clear of the first position, said elongate member support.
55 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A drilling system comprising a drilling mast which is to be associated with drill string located in a bore hole and a drill rod handling device which in use is intended to be mounted adjacent the drilling mast, the drill rod handling device comprising:
-
a base adapted to be supported from the drill rig; a movable clamp coupled to the base, the moveable clamp being configured to grasp a drill rod from a first, storage position with a first orientation; a first drive for rotating the moveable clamp about a first axis that is parallel and offset from the drill rod when grasped in the moveable clamp; a second drive for rotating the moveable clamp about a second axis to move the drill rod from the first orientation toward a vertical orientation and into a second orientation; a third drive for rotating the moveable clamp about a third axis to move the drill rod into a second, drilling position while maintaining the drill rod in the second orientation, the third axis being parallel and offset from the drill rod when in the second orientation, wherein when the drill rod is in the second orientation the third axis is parallel and offset from the first axis and when the drill rod is in the first orientation the third axis is transverse to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of installing lengths of a drill rod into a drill string associated with a drilling mast comprising:
-
grasping a drill rod within a moveable clamp when the drill rod is in a first orientation, wherein the drill rod is capable of rotation about a first axis that is parallel and offset from the drill rod when in the first orientation; rotating the drill rod about a second axis into a second orientation parallel to the drilling mast, wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axis; rotating the drill rod about the first axis that is parallel and offset from the drill rod when grasped in the moveable clamp; and rotating the drill rod about a third axis and into a drilling position above the drill string, wherein when the drill rod is in the second orientation the third axis is parallel and offset from the first axis and when the drill rod is in the first orientation the third axis is transverse to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of removing a length of drill rod from a drill string associated with a drilling mast comprising:
-
grasping a drill rod in a drilling position having a first orientation using a movable clamp positioned at an end of a radial arm coupled to the drilling mast; rotating the radial arm, the moveable clamp, and the grasped drill rod about a first axis to move the drill rod out of the drilling position; rotating the moveable clamp and the grasped drill rod independent from the radial arm about a second axis that is parallel and offset from the drill rod when grasped in the moveable clamp; rotating the moveable clamp and the grasped drill rod about a third axis to move the drill rod into a storage orientation, wherein when the drill rod is in the first orientation that first axis is parallel and offset from the second axis and when the drill rod is in the storage orientation that second axis is transverse to the first axis; and releasing the drill rod from the moveable clamp. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
Specification