Fuel Tank

Abstract

A fuel tank for a fuel-operated down-the-hole drill including a drill bit, is provided. A largest rotation diameter of the fuel tank is provided at or in connection with drilling equipment and is sufficiently small in order to be able to insert the fuel tank into a drill hole.

1 . A fuel tank for a fuel-operated down-the-hole drill having a drill bit, the down-the-hole drill being provided as a part of drilling equipment also having a drill rod, the fuel tank comprising a largest rotation diameter in a transverse direction of a drill hole is at the most equal to a largest rotation diameter of the drill bit, whereby the fuel tank is insertable into the drill hole and that the fuel tank is provided at drilling equipment or in connection with drilling equipment. 
     
     
         2 . A fuel tank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel tank is provided at the drill rod or in connection with the drill rod. 
     
     
         3 . A fuel tank as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fuel tank is provided at the down-the-hole drill or in connection with the down-the-hole drill. 
     
     
         4 . A fuel tank as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for pressurizing the fuel tank. 
     
     
         5 . A fuel tank as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the means for pressurizing the fuel tank comprise a flushing air channel. 
     
     
         6 . A fuel tank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel tank is divided into at least a pressure space and a fuel space, which are separated from one another by an elastic, film-like material. 
     
     
         7 . A fuel tank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the fuel tank is such that it is possible to fit at least a fuel amount consumed by the down-the-hole drill during one work shift inside it. 
     
     
         8 . A method for feeding a fuel-operated down-the-hole drill having a drill bit with fuel, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting the down-the-hole drill and a fuel tank, which is arranged at or in connection with drilling equipment, a largest rotation diameter of which in a transverse direction of a drill hole is at the most equal to a largest rotation diameter of the drill bit, into the drill hole;   producing a pressure in the fuel tank for improving the fuel feeding and   feeding fuel from the fuel tank to a motor of the down-the-hole drill.   
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein pressure in the fuel tank is produced by a flushing air channel. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein pressure in the fuel tank is produced by pre-pressurizing the fuel tank during a fill-up of the tank. 
     
     
         11 . An arrangement for feeding a fuel-operated down-the-hole drill having a drill bit with fuel, the arrangement comprising drilling equipment including a down-the-hole drill, a drill rod, a fuel tank, and means for feeding fuel from the fuel tank to the down-the-hole drill, wherein a largest rotation diameter of the fuel tank in the transverse direction of a drill hole is arranged to be at the most equal to a largest rotation diameter of the drill bit, whereby the fuel tank is insertable into the drill hole, and that the fuel tank is provided at or in connection with the drilling equipment. 
     
     
         12 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one flushing air channel, the at least one flushing air channel being arranged to produce a pressure in the fuel tank. 
     
     
         13 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 11  or  12 , wherein the fuel tank is provided at or in connection with the drill rod. 
     
     
         14 . A rock drilling rig comprising an arrangement for feeding a fuel-operated down-the-hole drill having a drill bit with fuel, the arrangement including drilling equipment having a down-the-hole drill a drill rod a fuel tank and means for feeding fuel from the fuel tank to the down-the-hole drill, wherein a largest rotation diameter of the fuel tank in the transverse direction of a drill hole is arranged to be at the most equal to a largest rotation diameter of the drill bit the fuel tank being insertable into the drill hole, and that the fuel tank is provided at or in connection with the drilling equipment.