AU2010200944B2

AU2010200944B2 - Drilling Apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2010200944B2
Application number: AU2010200944A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Kosovich
Original assignee: JFK EQUIPMENT Ltd
Current assignee: JFK EQUIPMENT Ltd
Priority date: 2009-09-17
Filing date: 2010-03-12
Publication date: 2018-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-17
Also published as: AU2010200944A1

Abstract

Abstract A drilling apparatus comprising a hydraulically powered hammer comprising a hammer pressure oil line and at least one drill rod comprising at least one connection valve for connection of the drill rod to a like connection valve of a like drill rod, or a like connection valve of another drilling apparatus component wherein the at least one drill rod also comprises at least one filter in fluid communication with the hammer pressure oil line. -12 -10

Description

DRILLING APPARATUS

Statement of Corresponding Applications

This application is based on the complete specification filed in relation to Australian Patent Application No, 2006904823, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

This invention relates to a drilling apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a hydraulic “down-the-hole" (DTH) percussion drilling apparatus for drilling holes in a terrain.

Background Art

The service life of hydraulic DTH drilling apparatus' used in situations requiring the addition and removal of rods during drilling is adversely affected by contamination introduced to the oil during rod changes. Controlling and/or removing contamination is a key technical hurdle to be overcome in the pursuit of apparatus reliability and longevity and thus the reduction in overall drilling cost.

Removing contamination requires that the oil used during operation of the apparatus is passed through a filtration device and is isolated in its purest form before it spreads through the rest of the apparatus and especially before it reaches the percussion mechanism..

Contamination control and/or removal can be built into a purpose built drilling apparatus design but the applicant is not aware of any system which can be retrofitted to existing DTH drilling apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprising' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprising' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or' comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a drilling apparatus comprising: a hydraulically powered hammer comprising: a hammer pressure oil line; and at least one replaceable drill rod comprising: a first connection valve at a first end of the drill rod for connection of the drill rod to the hammer; and a second connection valve at an opposite end of the drill rod for connection of the drill rod to the first connection valve of a like drill rod, or a like connection valve of another drilling apparatus component; wherein the first connection valve and the second connection valve comprise at least one poppet valve positioned proximate to a corresponding valve seat; and the at least one drill rod also comprises at least one filter in fluid communication with the hammer pressure oil line.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of using a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus comprising the steps: a. disconnecting a drill rod at a connection valve from a like drill rod or a connection valve of a hydraulically powered hammer; b. connecting a first connection valve of a filter drill rod to the disconnected connection valve of the drill rod or the connection valve of a hydraulically powered hammer; and c. connecting a second connection valve of the filter drill rod to the disconnected connection valve of the like drill rod, wherein the first connection valve and second connection valve of the filter drill rod comprise at least one poppet valve positioned proximate to a corresponding valve seat and the filter drill rod comprises at least one filter which, when the filter drill rod is connected, is in fluid communication with a pressure oil line of the hammer.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a drill rod for use with a drilling apparatus, the drill rod comprising: a drill rod body; a pressure oil line; a first connection valve at a first end for connection of the drill rod to a drilling apparatus; a second connection valve at an opposite end for connection of the drill rod to a first connection valve of a like drill rod, or a like connection valve of another drilling apparatus component, wherein the first connection valve and second connection valve comprise at least one poppet valve positioned proximate to a corresponding valve seat; and at least one filter in fluid communication with the pressure oil line.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a drilling apparatus comprising: • a hydraulically powered hammer comprising: o a hammer pressure oil line; and • at least one drill rod comprising: o at least one connection valve for connection of the drill rod to a like connection valve of a like drill rod, or a like connection valve of another drilling apparatus component; wherein • the at least one drill rod also comprises at least one filter in fluid communication with the hammer pressure oil line.

In this way, contamination removal is achieved by purifying the supplied oil in the drill rods upstream of the hammer.

Preferably, the at least one filter is housed within a dedicated filter drill rod.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus comprising the steps: a. disconnecting a drill rod at a connection valve from a like drill rod or a connection valve of a hydraulically powered hammer b. connecting a like first connection valve of a filter drill rod to the disconnected connection valve of the drill rod or the connection valve of the hydraulically powered hammer; and c. connecting a like second connection valve of the filter drill rod to the disconnected connection valve of the like drill rod.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a drill rod for use with a drilling apparatus, the drill rod comprising: • a drill rod body; • a pressure oil line; • at least one connection valve for connection of the drill rod to a like connection valve of a like drill rod. or a like connection valve of another drilling apparatus component; and • at least one filter in fluid communication with the pressure oil line.

Brief Description of Drawings

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1: and

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a filter rod.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention

The invention is now described in relation to one preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 1 to 2.

Given the harsh underground environment that DTH drilling apparatus 100 (as shown in Figure 1) has to operate in there will always be a certain amount of contamination introduced by the rod handling process. As a measure to protect the oil supplied to the hammer 10 (as shown in Figure 1) and other system components at least one pressure oil filter 11 may be used. The filter 11 is in the form of a filter drill rod section 12 which is connected in-line to the apparatus 100 (preferably behind at the top of the hammer 10 as shown in figure 1).

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the filter drill rod section 12. This filter drill rod section 12 has a first 13 and second 14 connection valve at either end compatible with those of the drill rod 3, 5 and the hammer 10, These connection valves 13, 14 screw into either end of a reversible wear sleeve 15 thereby ‘sandwiching1 the filter elements 11 and their housings between opposing threads 16 of the sleeve 15.

In use, the filter drill rod section 12 would be unscrewed and replaced with another one periodically during drilling. This change of filter drill rod section 12 could be implemented within a few minutes and would create minimal disruption to production. The filter drill rod section 12 would then be disassembled in a clean environment away from the work area and the standard (off the shelf) hydraulic filter elements 11 replaced with dean ones. The filter drill rod section 12 would then be delivered back to the drilling rig for reuse as required.

Thus, preferred embodiments of the present invention may have a number of advantages over the prior art which can include: • failsafe contamination protection of oil from drilling debris (cuttings); • failsafe contamination protection of cuttings from oil (important in mineral sampling applications); and • improved reliability through prolonged service life and consequent reduced maintenance costs. • Low construction cost as a result of modular design and reversible drill casing. • Ease of use as a result of the integrated filter rod concept

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A drilling apparatus comprising: a hydraulically powered hammer comprising: a hammer pressure oil line; and at least one replaceable drill rod comprising: a first connection valve at a first end of the drill rod for connection of the drill rod to the hammer; and a second connection valve at an opposite end of the drill rod for connection of the drill rod to the first connection valve of a like drill rod, or a like connection valve of another drilling apparatus component; wherein the first connection valve and the second connection valve comprise at least one poppet valve positioned proximate to a corresponding valve seat; and the at least one drill rod also comprises at least one filter in fluid communication with the hammer pressure oil line.
2. A drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one filter is housed within a dedicated filter drill rod.
3. A method of using a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus comprising the steps: a. disconnecting a drill rod at a connection valve from a like drill rod or a connection valve of a hydraulically powered hammer; b. connecting a first connection valve of a filter drill rod to the disconnected connection valve of the drill rod or the connection valve of a hydraulically powered hammer; and c. connecting a second connection valve of the filter drill rod to the disconnected connection valve of the like drill rod, wherein the first connection valve and second connection valve of the filter drill rod comprise at least one poppet valve positioned proximate to a corresponding valve seat and the filter drill rod comprises at least one filter which, when the filter drill rod is connected, is in fluid communication with a pressure oil line of the hammer.
4. A drill rod for use with a drilling apparatus, the drill rod comprising: a drill rod body; a pressure oil line; a first connection valve at a first end for connection of the drill rod to a drilling apparatus; a second connection valve at an opposite end for connection of the drill rod to a first connection valve of a like drill rod, or a like connection valve of another drilling apparatus component, wherein the first connection valve and second connection valve comprise at least one poppet valve positioned proximate to a corresponding valve seat; and at least one filter in fluid communication with the pressure oil line.