US2602426A - Rotation and feed controlling valve for rock drills - Google Patents

Description

T. A. SCHMIDT 2,602,426 ROTATION AND FEED CONTROLLING VALVE FOR ROCK DRILLS July 8, 1952 Filed Sept. 10, 1949 2 SHEETS--SHEET l INVENTOR. THEODORE A SCHMIDT I ATTORNEY T. A. SCHMIDT July 8, 1952 ROTATION AND FEED CONTROLLING VALVE FOR ROCK \DRILLS 2 Sl-IEETS-S!-IEET 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1949 7. a m 5 l 7 w 8 3 9 4 7 x 2 5 8 7 5 .7 8 I 6 7 8 7 6 8 3 7 4 5 w 3 5 3 a w M Q 9 5 1O 2 6 W 0 4 6 7 3 4 6 7 4 4 7 6 m M T mm m C s A E R 0 D 0 E H T ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1952 g g 2,602,426 ROTATION AND FEED CONTROLLING VALVE FOR ROCK DRILLS Theodore A. Schmidt, Berea, Ohio, assignor to Le Roi Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 10, 1949,,Serial No. 115,043 l This invention relates broadly to fluid actuated rock drills of the stoper type, but more particularly to an improved valve structure for controlling the feed and rotation mechanisms of such drills. 1 v

one object of this invention is to provide a self-rotating stoper with improved controls which will facilitate and render safer the operation of the tool.

Another object of this invention is to provide a self-rotating stoper with improved valves for controlling the feed and rotation mechanisms of the tool, the valves being arranged and disposed in a manner rendering them readily operable by the operator while normally holding the stoper to the work.

Other objects more or less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets tion.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa longitudinal sectional view of a stoper drill embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Figure 1. V

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 in Figure 2.

The tool embodying the invention is a fluid actuated rock drill of the stoper type which comprises a drilling motor, a feed mechanism and an auxiliary handle generally designated by A, B and C respectively.

The drilling motor is of the reciprocatory piston type well known in this art, and can brieflyv be described to include a cylinder ||l having a piston reciprocable therein. The piston II includes a stem. I2 capable of delivering impacts on the shank l3 of a cutting tool or drill steel M, which shank is slidably 'mounted' within a chuck |5. This chuck is rotatably mounted within the front 01' upper end of a chuck housing l6, which also accommodates a chuck bushing l1 geared to the chuck l5 for transmittingrotation thereto. Internally, the chuck bushing I 1 is formed with splines which mesh with similar fecting the reciprocation of the piston ZClaims. (01.1214) nately to the ends of thecyunder m for. er

M0- tive fluid is admitted to the valve I8 from a throttle valve 20 through ports and passages, not shown. The throttle valve 20 is rotatably mounted within a back head 2|, and is provided with a central port 22 having motive fluid supplied thereto'in a mannerwell known in tools ofthistype. f Y

Extending through. the valve 18,- there is a stem 23 formed with rifle splines slidably interlocked with similar splines formed in the'piston The stem 23 is also provided with a head 24 carrying pawls 25 which engage'theinternal teeth 26 of a ratchet -ring,2'|. This ring, p'aWls and rifle stem constitute the rotation mechanism through. which rotation is transmitted to the drill steel M in a manner well known in this art.

Under certain conditions of operation, it be-v comes desirable to release the rotation mechanism, that is, prevent rotation from being transmitted to the drill steel. .To that :end ,.there; is. incorporated in thisstructure the rotation control mechanism described in detail in the United States Patent No. 2,129,566.. Since-this-mechanism is not a part of tliepresent invention, no further description: of it isthought necessary other than pointing 'outthat itincludes aslidable clutch element 23 which, when positioned. as shown in Figure 1, enables normal operation of the rotation mechanism, and when movedout: of that position, enables operation of the stoper drill without rotation of the drill steel l4.

The clutch element 28is mounted on a bushing 29 in a manner forming therewith an actuating chamber 30 from whichlea'ds a, relatively small port 3|. Opening into the port 3|, there is a similarly small port 32 which is capable of communication withlthe throttle valve main port 22 through a radial. port 33. Opening into the port 3| vis-a-vis the port 32,'t here is a vent or exhaust port 34 which is somewhat larger than the port 3|. Theexhaust port 34 leads into the tapered bore 35 of a boss 36 extending transversely of the cylinder housing ID, the purpose of which will be explained later, g I

The feed mechanism'generally designated by B, includes a feed tube 3T'extending in parallel with the drilling motorA and being rigidly secured to the ends of the latter through lugs 38 and 39 extending laterally from the motor. The upper end of the feed tube 31 is closed by a 'fluid'tight plug 40, while its lower end is provided with a spacer bearing 4| through which slides a tube or piston rod 42. The lower end of this piston rod is preferably pointed as at 43 for posiinder 31 during outward movement of thepiston rod, which movement is effected by motive fluid admitted on the piston head 44 through the plug 40. To that end, the plug 4!] is formed with an annular groove 48 from which leads aradial port 49 and central bore 50.

boss adapted to receive the upper end; of a.

small tube 52, which tube extends from the lug 38, alongside the tube 31 and through the lug 89.

The throttle valve 20 is provided with another radial port 53 capable of communication with a port 54 which opens into the lower end of the tube 52 for supplying motive fluid to thefeed piston 44. th ou t ube. 52., veld d essfi annular groove; 48, port 49 and central bore 58."

Leading from the port 54, there is a vent or exhaust port 55 which opens also into the tapered bore 35 or the boss 36, but is spaced therein from the exhaust port 34 as clearly shownin Figure 2. I

Referring now more particularly to the invention. clearly shown in Figure 2, the auxiliary handle C includes, a stem 55 formed with a tapered shank .51 closely fitted into the tapered bore 35 of the boss 36, and having a threaded end 58 extending therefroxnto receive a retaining nut 59 which engages the end wall of the boss 38. For about half of its length, the nut 59 extends beyond the threaded end 58 where ity is internally machined to produce a reduced portion 68 and taperedseat 6| within which is fitted the corresponding end62 of a stem 63, ich is e y r i se r d. t t e cy de III in transversal relation therewith. The; stem 3 i x ernall fin shed to. re e e a slee e valve 64 o ablymoun ed hereon in fl i i ht lation therewith. The angle of rotation of the le 64 s l mited t t anc l e w en the ends. oi a ess. h c n s a e s ea l i h a in r sto fi jc rried hes m 63 a learl s io nin eur h' sle v 64 is o mal ma n aine n the o ition h w n Figure l. b t rs on s inghenort 34 hi h en n o he. a re bor 515inhstant communication with an annular groove 68 ormed on he stem From t e r e-H8. uid ma f hro h rad a port 3 an eitud nal r which xtc int he. s m 63 where it normally ends into the sleeve 64 rou ara a port. H. long tudinal y pac d r m he d a o l, t is a otherradial' port 12 which opens into the open endl 3 of the stem 63,- The two radial ports 'HandI'IZ may be united by a longitudinal groove" provided in the sleeve valve 6 4.v

' Thestemor handle 56. protrudes from thsbes 3,5 where it: is accessible by theoperator and is provided with a relatively large flat bottomybo-re '15 from; whichleads a smaller-central bore or port- 16 which is in constantcommunicationwith the port. 55 through radial ports 11 and-an annular groove i=8. Seated on the bottom of the bore 15., there is a valve block!!! having a stem 80, and a central bore 8 l, which bore is in constant com-' munication with the exterior of the stem- 56 through radial ports '82; annular groove 83 and vent 84. Slidable within the bore 8|," there is a Adjacent the annular grove 48, there is welded on the tube 3l ay 4 valve 85 capable of fluid tight engagement with the inner end of the bore for normally closing the bore from the bore 8|. The valve is normally held in closed position by a compression spring 86 located in the bore 16. The valve block 19 is held in position by a gland nut 86 screwed into the bore 1-5. and having a push button 8! slidable. therein and on the stem 80 for actuating the valve 85. The push button is normally main- ;tained in its extended or valve closed position by a compression spring 88.

In practice, the drilling apparatus may be held in drilling' position by the operator grasping the auxiliary handle C- which includes the stem 56,

nut 59 and 64,-or"-a;handle 88 secured to the front housing 16 of" the drilling motor and located ab ve he a xi r ha effecting thereciprocation obthe piston it and delivering impacts on the shank 13: of the drill steel I4; When the throttle valve 25, sleeve valve 64 and poppet valve 85 are positionedas shown in Figures l and 2, the clutch element 2810f the rotation mechanism is maintained in the position shown in Figure 1 by motive-fluid admitted into the actuating chamber 38 through the portsti, 32 and 33. From the throttle valve p t 33mg)- tive fluid is also free toyflow into the port 34 and auxiliary handle ports l0 and H through groove 58 and port 69, but since the radial port H is closed by the sleeve valve 64, themotivefluid will simply remain in the auxiliary handle without affecting the position of the clutch member 28. With the clutch element-28V positionedas-shown in Figure =1; the rotation mechanism; is made to operate normallycfor transmitting rotation to the drill steel 14. "When it is desired to release or stop the rotation of the drill steel 1 4, the operator holding on the auxiliary handle C, may simply turn and hold the sleeve valve 54 into engage-.-

tive to the port 3| located vis-a-vi's that of the port 32, the motive fluid from the; throttle valve 20 will be free to flow across the port 3|, thus causing asuction or partial vacuum in the actuatin'g chamber 38, causing the'clutch element to be shifted and maintained-in its other position,

not shown, In this last position of the clutch element, the rotationmechanism is inadeto be nopera i rac nditi n w i h. i st on as the sleeve valve 64 i ositioned t a munication betweenthe radial ports H and 1.2 When 5 it is desired .w. [again render the. rotation mechanism effective, thesleeve valve Mmay be rotatedin the position shown in Figure 2; During "normal operation of I the tool; the fee mechanism operatesaby rnotive fluid admitted from-the throttle valve 20 through ports 52-; and 54ptube 52, annular groove #28; port 49- and centralbore 58,, for acting-onthepiston 44- and the pointed end 43 of the piston-tube 43 1estson' the ground, the motive fluid thus admitted into. the

feed cylinder will effect-upward orfeeding mo'- tion of the drilling motor at 'a' predetermined Since the.

rate of speed. During this normal feeding operation, the motive fluid is also admitted from the port 54 into the auxiliary handle bore 16 through the port 55, groove 18 and radial ports 11. With the valve 85 closed; the pressure fluid admitted into the auxiliary handle bore 16 will simply remain therein without affecting the operation of the feeding mechanism. When it is desired to reduce the speed at which the drilling motor is fed to the work, the operator may open the valve 85 by pressing the push-button 81 inwardly. In this instance, some of the motive fluid from the port 54 will be free to exhaust from the bore 16 through the ports 82, groove 83 and vent 84, thereby reducing the amount of motive fluid supplied to the feeding mechanism and consequently reducing the rate of speed at which the drilling motor is fed to the work. The extent of reduction of feeding speed is controlled by the more or less complete opening of the valve 85. The size of the different ports as Well as the size of the valve proper, are calculated to enable collapse of the feeding mechanism upon full opening of the valve 85.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the stoper drill is provided with an auxiliary handle C which extends transversely of the drilling motor, with its free ends projecting from the motor in opposite directions, one end being formed by the stem 56 and accommodating the feed control valve or push button 81, while the other end is formed by the stem 63 on which is rotatably mounted the rotation control sleeve valve 64.

I claim:

1. In a rock drill, the combination with a drilling motor having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein and capable of rotation, of a rotation mechanism for selectively effecting such rotation including a clutch element slidable into and out of rotation producing position, of a fluid actuated feed mechanism for said drilling motor, means including ports for admitting and exhausting pressure fluid to and from said clutch element for effecting its slidable movement, means including ports admitting operating fluid to said feed mechanism and exhausting fluid therefrom for reducing its feeding speed, a boss extending transversely of the cylinder of said drilling motor, and means carried by said boss and protruding from the ends thereof to form an auxiliary handle for the rock drill, said handle including in one end thereof a rotatable sleeve valve having a groove formed on its inner sur-.

face, spring means for maintaining said valve in one position or another, a plurality of spaced radial ports in said handle adapted to communicate with one another through said groove upon the rotation of said sleeve for controlling exhaust of pressure fluid from said clutch element and a slidable valve in the other end of said handle for controlling exhaust of operating fluid from said feed mechanism.

2. In a rock drill, the combination with a drilling motor having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein and capable of rotation, of a rotation mechanism for selectively efiecting such rotation including a clutch element slidable into and out of rotation producing position, of a fluid actuated feed mechanism for said drilling motor, means including ports for admitting and exhausting pressure fluid to and from said clutch element for effecting its slidable movement, means including ports admitting operating fluid to said feed mechanism and exhausting fluid therefrom for reducing its feeding speed, a handle secured to said cylinder adapted to be grasped by the operator for normally holding the rock drill to the work, an auxiliary handle extending transversely of said cylinder, and means in said last handle including a rotatable sleeve valve having a groove formed on its inner surface, spring means-for maintaining said valve in one position or another, a plurality of spaced ra'dial ports in said handle adapted to communicate with one another through said groove upon the rotation of said sleeve for controlling exhaust of pressure fluid from said clutch element and a spring actuated reciprocating valve in one end of said last handle for controlling exhaust of operating fluid from said feed mechanism.

THEODORE A. SCHMIDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,585,641 Bayles et a1. May 25, 1926 1,585,821 Bayles May 25, 1926 2,129,566 Curtis Sept. 6, 1938

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