Arrangement and method for handling drill bits

Abstract

An arrangement and method for handling drill bits used for drilling drill holes into a rock surface. The arrangement includes and implements at least one drilled drill bit storage, which is outside a rock drilling rig and is formed by drilling one or more drill holes into the rock surface. A control unit is provided and configured to manage position data of the drilled drill bit storage, whereby the control unit can assist pickup of the drill bit from the drilled drill bit storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arrangement for handling drill bits used for drilling drill holes in to a rock surface, the arrangement comprising:
 a rock drilling rig provided with a movable carrier and at least one drilling boom movably mounted on the carrier, the at least one drilling boom including a rock drilling unit having a feed beam and a rock drilling machine movably mounted on the feed beam;   at least one control unit arranged for controlling operation of the rock drilling rig; and   at least one drill bit storage for storing at least one drill bit, which is mountable and detachable to a drilling tool mountable to the rock drilling machine, wherein the arrangement is configured to implement at least one drilled drill bit storage that is positioned outside the rock drilling rig and is formed by drilling at least one drill hole into the rock surface, the control unit being configured to manage position data of the drilled drill bit storage for assisting pickup of the at least one drill bit from the drilled drill bit storage.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine position data of the drilled drill bit storage in response to sensing data received from at least one sensing device configured to determine the position of the rock drilling unit when drilling of the drilled drill bit storage is executed, wherein the arrangement further comprises at least one memory device arranged for storing determined position data of the drilled drill bit storage, and wherein the control unit is configured to position the rock drilling unit automatically to the drilled drill bit storage in response to a control command to pick up a stored drill bit from the drilled drill bit storage. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable pickup feature for automatically moving the rock drilling unit at a selected storage place of the drilled drill bit storage. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drill bit storage comprises a plurality of drill bit storages distributed at several different locations at a drilling site. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a position of the drilled drill bit storage is preselected in accordance with a drilling plan. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a user interface for providing the control unit instructions for drilling at least one drilled drill bit storage in a position instructed by an operator. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drill bit storage place of the drilled drill bit storage is drilled into the rock surface with a downwardly oblique angle orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drill bit storage includes a plurality of drilled drill bit storages, and wherein the control unit is configured to manage data on the drill bits stored in the drilled drill bit storages. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to manage status data on the drill bits stored in the drilled drill bit storages, whereby the control unit is configured to classify the drill bits into a new drill bit category and into a used drill bit category. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to manage characterizing data on the drill bits stored in the drilled drill bit storages. 
     
     
         11 . A method of handling drill bits of a rock drilling rig, the method comprising:
 storing at least one drill bit into at least one drill bit storage;   coupling and uncoupling the drill bit to a drilling tool mounted to a rock drilling machine of a rock drilling unit of the rock drilling rig;   positioning the rock drilling unit to the drill bit storage for picking the drill bit from the drill bit storage by means of the rock drilling unit;   forming at least one drilled drill bit storage by drilling at least one drill hole into a rock surface surrounding the rock drilling rig; and   managing position data of the drilled drill bit storage by means of at least one control unit for assisting a pickup of the drill bit from the drilled drill bit storage.