Headplate and a drilling rig including the same

Abstract

A head plate apparatus for a drilling apparatus includes a support plate having an opening therethrough and at least one guiding member supported by the support plate for guiding a consumable. The at least one guiding member is movable between a park position and a work position, wherein in the work position the at least one guiding member or the at least one guiding member together with an inner edge of the support plate surrounding the opening defines a substantial closed bore within the opening. The head plate apparatus further includes a gripping device supported by the support plate for gripping the consumable. The gripping device is configured to be movable between a park position and a work position, wherein in the work position the gripping device is configured to exert a gripping force on the consumable, to limit relative movement of the consumable with respect to the guiding member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head plate apparatus for a drilling apparatus, the head plate apparatus comprising:
 a support plate including an opening therethrough;   a guiding means supported by the support plate, for guiding a consumable, the guiding means including at least one guiding member configured to be movable between a park position and a work position, wherein in the work position the at least one guiding member or the at least one guiding member together with an inner edge of the support plate surrounding the opening defines a substantial closed bore within the opening, the bore being configured to receive the consumable and permit movement of the consumable in an axial longitudinal direction of the bore relative to the guiding means while preventing the consumable from escaping the bore laterally; and   a gripping means supported by the support plate for gripping the consumable, the gripping means being configured to be movable between a park position and a work position, wherein in the work position the gripping means is configured to exert a gripping force on the consumable, to limit relative movement of the consumable with respect to the gripping means.   
     
     
         2 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding means and gripping means are spaced circumferentially around the opening and situated substantially on the same plane in the axial longitudinal direction of the bore. 
     
     
         3 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuator embedded in the support plate for moving the guiding means and/or the gripping means, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic means. 
     
     
         4 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding means comprises a pair of guiding members, each guiding member including a curved surface spaced circumferentially around the opening in the support plate, the curved surfaces defining the bore in the work position of the guiding means. 
     
     
         5 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping means comprises a pin actuated by the actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate includes a plurality of hydraulic channels formed as fluid passages. 
     
     
         7 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding means and/or the gripping means are embedded in the support plate. 
     
     
         8 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate comprises two side plates defining the opening in-between. 
     
     
         9 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a slot allowing the consumable to enter laterally. 
     
     
         10 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping means is a wedge-shaped element, configured to move upwards or downwards and/or laterally, actuated by the actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding means comprises a pair of jaws. 
     
     
         12 . The head plate apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each at least one guiding member of the guiding means includes a recess on its front portion such that the guiding member is configured, at its work position, to provide a passage for allowing at least a portion of the gripping means to pass through thereby to reach inside the bore and grip the consumable. 
     
     
         13 . A drilling rig or bolter for drilling and/or installing a bolt into a rock surface, the drilling rig or bolter comprising:
 a base frame;   a timber jack movably coupled to the base frame;   a feed module movably coupled to the base frame;   a drive unit coupled to the feed module and configured to receive and rotate a consumable; and   a head plate apparatus according to  claim 1  coupled to the timber jack.