Percussive/rotating drill with blow-out, broken bit, and pressure loss detection systems

Abstract

A drilling system includes a control system that monitors operating parameters so as to protect the drilling machine from damage and increases drilling operation efficiency. A method of using a hydraulic system of a percussive drill as a sensing system includes sensing a drill bit blow-out event by measuring changes in the operating hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic system used to operate the percussive drill.

What is claims is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a hydraulic system of a percussive drill as a sensing system, the method comprising:
 sensing a drill bit blow-out event by measuring changes in the operating hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic system used to operate the percussive drill.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising stopping the percussive drill operation if the change in operating hydraulic fluid pressure has a pressure spike exceeding a predetermined pressure value. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising retracting a drill bit attached to the percussive drill after stopping the percussive drill operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing a system failure event by monitoring a pressure loss within the hydraulic system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the system failure event is a broken drill bit event. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sounding an audible alarm when a blow-out event is sensed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing a broken drill bit event by measuring changes in the rate of cut by the percussive drill. 
     
     
         8 . A drilling attachment configured to attach to a vehicle, the drilling attachment comprising:
 a drill bit;   a first motor for rotating the drill bit;   a second motor for controlling the thrust applied to the drill bit, wherein the first and second motors include hydraulic connections for attaching to an external hydraulic system; and   a drill bit blow-out sensing system being operatively connected to the first and second motors, wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system senses a drill bit blow-out event based on a change in an operational hydraulic pressure within at least one of the first and second motors.   
     
     
         9 . The drilling attachment of  claim 8 , further comprising a dust collection system for removing dust near the drill bit, the dust collection system including a compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The drilling attachment of  claim 8 , wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system compares the change in the operational hydraulic pressure to a predetermined value, and wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system stops the operation of the drill bit if the change in operational hydraulic pressure exceeds the predetermined value. 
     
     
         11 . The drilling attachment of  claim 8 , wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system also senses a broken drill bit event by monitoring a hydraulic pressure loss within at least one of the first and second motors. 
     
     
         12 . The drilling attachment of  claim 8 , wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system is configured to sound an audible alarm when a blow-out event is sensed. 
     
     
         13 . A drill bit monitoring system for a percussive drill comprising:
 a vehicle including:
 an engine; 
 a hydraulic system having a pump at least partly powered by the engine; and 
 a boom operated by the hydraulic system; 
   a drilling attachment removably attached to the boom of the vehicle, the drilling attachment including:
 a drill bit; 
 a first motor for rotating the drill bit; 
 a second motor for controlling the thrust applied to the drill bit, wherein the first and second motors are connected to the hydraulic system of the vehicle; and 
 a drill bit blow-out sensing system being operatively connected to the first and second motors, wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system senses a drill bit blow-out event based on a change in an operational hydraulic pressure within at least one of the first and second motors. 
   
     
     
         14 . The drill bit monitoring system of  claim 13 , further comprising a dust collection system for removing dust near the drill bit, the dust collection system including a compressor. 
     
     
         15 . The drill bit monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system is an integral part of the hydraulic system of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The drill bit monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system compares the change in the operational hydraulic pressure to a predetermined value, and wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system stops the operation of the drill bit if the change in operational hydraulic pressure exceeds the predetermined value. 
     
     
         17 . The drill bit monitoring system of  13 , wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system also senses a broken drill bit event by monitoring an operational hydraulic pressure loss within at least one of the first and second motors. 
     
     
         18 . The drill bit monitoring system of  13 , wherein the drill bit blow-out sensing system is configured to sound an audible alarm when a blow-out event is sensed.