WO2016012981A1

WO2016012981A1 - Reamer head arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2016012981A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/055615
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barend Jacobus Jordaan
Original assignee: Master Drilling South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-25
Filing date: 2015-07-24
Publication date: 2016-01-28
Also published as: ZA201701474B

Abstract

A slot reamer head arrangement comprising a substantially rectangular body from which three reaming heads extend in line is provided. In an embodiment, a central reaming head is fitted to a drill string extending from a drilling machine, in use, and thus rotates, relative to the body, as the drill string rotates. The two further reaming heads are positioned on either side of the central reaming head, to define end reaming heads, and are also arranged to rotate relative to the body. In an embodiment, the central reaming head is arranged to rotate in a first direction, and the two end reaming heads on either side of the central reaming head are arranged to rotate in an opposite direction. In this regard, the body includes a gear arrangement to interconnect the two end reaming ends with the central reaming head. In an embodiment, each reaming head comprises three rotating cutters fitted to a triangular base that is rotatably mounted to the body.

Description

REAMER HEAD ARRANGEMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a reamer head arrangement, and in particular to a slot reamer head arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drilled slots are often used in underground drilling operations. At present, these slots are drilled using a single drilling head to drill a number of inline holes, so as to define the slot. This is a time consuming process, since a number of drilling operations are required to define the slot.

It is thus an aim of the present invention to address the above shortcomings by providing an improved slot reamer head arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a slot reamer head arrangement comprising a substantially rectangular body from which three reaming heads extend in line. In an embodiment, a central reaming head is fitted to a drill string extending from a drilling machine, in use, and thus rotates, relative to the body, as the drill string rotates. The two further reaming heads are positioned on either side of the central reaming head, to define end reaming heads, and are also arranged to rotate relative to the body. In an embodiment, the central reaming head is arranged to rotate in a first direction, and the two end reaming heads on either side of the central reaming head are arranged to rotate in an opposite direction. In this regard, the body includes a gear arrangement to interconnect the two end reaming ends with the central reaming head. In an embodiment, each reaming head comprises three rotating cutters fitted to a triangular base that is rotatably mounted to the body.

In use, as the central reaming head rotates, a rotating cutter on one of the end reaming heads extends between two adjacent rotating cutters on the central reaming head. As the reaming heads continue to rotate, a rotating cutter on the central reaming head extends between two adjacent rotating cutters on each of the end reaming heads.

In an embodiment, each end reaming head is fitted with a plurality of protruding cutter elements that are fitted to a protruding rotating shaft that rotates with each end reaming head, the protruding rotating shaft being parallel to the drill string that rotates the central reaming head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a slot reamer head arrangement according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the slot reamer head arrangement shown in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 shows an end view of the slot reamer head arrangement shown in Figure 1 .

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, this invention provides a slot reamer head arrangement 10 comprising a substantially rectangular body 12, which typically houses a gearbox arrangement, from which three reaming heads 14, 16, 18 extend in line. In an embodiment, a central reaming head 16 is fitted to a drill string 19 extending from a drilling machine (not shown), in use, and thus rotates, relative to the body 12, as the drill string 19 rotates. The two further reaming heads 14, 18 are positioned on either side of the central reaming head 16, to define end reaming heads, and are also arranged to rotate relative to the body 12. In an embodiment, the central reaming head 16 is arranged to rotate in a first direction, and the two end reaming heads 14, 18 on either side of the central reaming head 16 are arranged to rotate in an opposite direction. In this regard, the body 12 includes a gear arrangement to interconnect the two end reaming ends 14, 18 with the central reaming head 16.

Each reaming head 14, 16, 18 comprises three rotating cutters 20, 22, 24, respectively, fitted to a triangular base 26, 28, 30, respectively, that is rotatably mounted to the body 12. In use, drilling machine is first used to drill a pilot hole using a conventional drilling head. Once the pilot hole has been drilled, the drilling head is removed and replaced with the slot reamer head arrangement 10 of the present invention. As the central reaming head 16 rotates, a rotating cutter 20, 24 on one of the end reaming heads 14, 18 extends between two adjacent rotating cutters 22 on the central reaming head 16, as best shown in Figure 3. As the reaming heads 14, 16, 18 continue to rotate, a rotating cutter 22 on the central reaming head 16 extends between two adjacent rotating cutters 20, 24 on each of the end reaming heads 14, 18. The operation of the heads 14, 16, 18 thus form a slot, but using a single back reaming procedure.

In an embodiment, each end reaming head 14, 18 is fitted with three protruding cutter elements 32, 34, respectively, that are fitted to a protruding rotating shaft 36, 38, respectively, that rotates with each end reaming head 14, 18. The protruding rotating shafts 36, 38 are parallel to the drill string 19 that rotates the central reaming head 16, as best shown in Figure 2.

The present invention thus provides an improved slot reamer head arrangement that address the problems associated with existing slot reamer heads. In particular, since three (in this case) holes are being drilling simultaneously using the head 14, 16, 18 to define the slot, this drilling procedure is significantly quicker when the compared to the existing approach of consecutively drilling a plurality of inline holes to define the slot. Since the same drilling machine may be used to drill both the pilot hole and operate the

slot reamer head arrangement 10 of the present invention, it may be easily implemented, thereby resulting in a more efficient operation. Also, the resulting drilling method does not require blasting, which may dilute the ore being drilled (and which would normally necessitate the transportation of more ore than what would be necessary).

Claims

1 . A slot reamer head arrangement comprising a substantially rectangular body from which three reaming heads extend in line.

2. The slot reamer head arrangement of claim 1 , wherein a central reaming head is connectable to a drill string extending from a drilling machine, in use, and thus rotates, relative to the body, as the drill string rotates.

3. The slot reamer head arrangement of claim 2, wherein two further reaming heads are positioned on either side of the central reaming head, to define end reaming heads, and are also arranged to rotate relative to the body.

4. The slot reamer head arrangement of claim 3, wherein the central reaming head is arranged to rotate in a first direction, and the two end reaming heads on either side of the central reaming head are arranged to rotate in an opposite direction.

5. The slot reamer head arrangement of claim 4, wherein the body includes a gear arrangement to interconnect the two end reaming ends with the central reaming head.

6. The slot reamer head arrangement of claim 1 , wherein each reaming head comprises three rotating cutters fitted to a triangular base that is rotatably mounted to the body.

7. The slot reamer head arrangement of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein, as the central reaming head rotates, a rotating cutter on one of the end reaming heads extends between two adjacent rotating cutters on the central reaming head.

8. The slot reamer head arrangement of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each end reaming head is fitted with a plurality of protruding cutter elements that are fitted to a protruding rotating shaft that rotates with each end reaming head, the protruding rotating shaft being parallel to the drill string that rotates the central reaming head.