Rod changer for a rock drill

Abstract

A rock drill system includes a rotatable carousal adapted to hold a plurality of drill rods. A carousal driver is in communication with the rotatable carousal. The carousal driver includes a driver gear and a driven gear. Both the driver gear and the driven gear are coated with a self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin. The rock drill system also includes a rod gripper for positioning a drill rod under a rock drill. Another rock drill system of similar design is provided in which the rod gripper includes one or more pivot pins that are coated with a self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin.

1 . A rod exchanger for a rock drill, the rod exchanger comprising:
 a rotatable carousal adapted for holding a plurality of drill rods;   a carousal driver in communication with the rotatable carousal, the carousal driver comprising a driver gear and a driven gear, the driver gear and the driven gear each coated with a self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin; and   a rod gripper for positioning a drill rod under a hammer component of a rock drill.   
     
     
         2 . The rod exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer is a nickel-fluoropolymer layer. 
     
     
         3 . The rod exchanger of  claim 2  wherein the nickel-fluoropolymer layer includes a nickel layer having a plurality of voids, the fluorine-containing resin being disposed within the voids. 
     
     
         4 . The rod exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer has a thickness from about 0.0001 inches to about 0.01 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The rod exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer has a thickness from about 0.0008 inches to about 0.001 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The rod exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer has a coefficient of friction from about 0.1 to about 0.2. 
     
     
         7 . The rod exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer has a coefficient of friction of about 0.15. 
     
     
         8 . A rod exchanger for a rock drill, the rod exchanger comprising:
 a rotatable carousal adapted for holding a plurality of drill rods;   a carousal driver in communication with the rotatable carousal; and   a first rod gripper for positioning a drill rod under a rock drill, the rod gripper having one or more pivot pins that are coated with a layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin.   
     
     
         9 . The rod exchanger of  claim 8  further comprising a second rod gripper that cooperates with the first rod gripper to position a drill rod under a rock drill. 
     
     
         10 . The rod exchanger of  claim 9  wherein the first rod gripper and the second rod gripper each independently include a first jaw section, a second jaw section, and a swing cylinder jaw pivot pin, the first jaw section and the second jaw section pivoting about the swing cylinder jaw pivot pin, the swing cylinder jaw pivot pin being coated with a layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin. 
     
     
         11 . The rod exchanger of  claim 10  wherein the first rod gripper and the second rod gripper each independently further comprise a clamp jaw pin by which the second jaw section of the first rod gripper and the second rod gripper swing in and out of a position for clamping rods. 
     
     
         12 . The rod exchanger of  claim 10  wherein the first rod gripper and the second rod gripper each independently further comprise at least one additional component for positioning rods under a rock drill, the additional components being coated with a layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin. 
     
     
         13 . The rod exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the additional components are a cylinder base mount pin, clamp cylinder base mount pin, and arm pivot pin. 
     
     
         14 . The rod exchanger of  claim 10  further comprising a clamp jaw pin by which the second jaw section of the first rod gripper and the second rod gripper swings in and out of a position for clamping rods. 
     
     
         15 . The rod exchanger of  claim 8  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer is a nickel-fluoropolymer layer. 
     
     
         16 . The rod exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the nickel-fluoropolymer layer includes a nickel layer having a plurality of voids, the fluorine-containing resin being disposed within the voids. 
     
     
         17 . The rod exchanger of  claim 8  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer has a thickness from about 0.0001 inches to about 0.01 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The rod exchanger of  claim 8  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer has a thickness from about 0.0008 inches to about 0.001 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The rod exchanger of  claim 8  wherein the self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer has a coefficient of friction from about 0.1 to about 0.2. 
     
     
         20 . A rock drill comprising:
 a drill bit;   a driver for moving the drill bit in a rotating and/or hammering motion;   a rod exchanger for adding and removing rods or pipes to a drill string, the rod exchanger including:   a rotatable carousal;   a carousal driver in communication with the rotatable carousal, the carousal driver comprising a driver gear and a driven gear, the driver gear and the driven gear each coated with a self-lubricating/anti-corrosive layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin; and   a first rod gripper for positioning a drill rod under a rock drill, the rod gripper having one or more pivot pins that are coated with a layer comprising a metal-containing composition and a fluorine-containing resin.