Automatic drill bit changing magazine
A magazine for auto drill-bit changes including a housing. The housing includes a first and second housing guide and at least two drill-bit pockets. The magazine also includes a bracket, an actuator, and a lid dimensioned to enclose the housing. The housing and lid pivotally coupled to the bracket, wherein the housing is actuatable between a parked, closed position and an open, tilted position when the actuator transitions from a first state to a second state. The lid includes a guide plate disposed on an underside of the lid. When the housing is in the parked position, the first and second housing guides engage the second portion of the guide plate and, when the housing is in the open, tilted position, the first guide engages the second portion of the guide.
1 . A magazine for auto drill-bit changes, the magazine comprising:
a housing, defining a volume, including:
at least one sidewall defining an interior volume;
a first housing guide;
a second housing guide; and
at least two drill-bit pockets disposed within the volume of the housing;
a bracket having a first end and a second end, the housing pivotably coupled to the first end of the bracket;
an actuator pivotably coupled to both the sidewall of the housing and the bracket, the actuator actuatable between a first state and a second state;
a lid dimensioned to enclose the housing, the lid pivotably coupled to the second end of the bracket; and
a guide plate disposed on an underside of the lid having a first portion with a first height and a second portion, spaced apart from the first portion, having a second height smaller than the first height;
wherein the housing is actuatable between a parked, closed position and an open, tilted position when the actuator transitions from the first state to the second state, and
wherein, when the housing is transitioning from the parked, closed position to the tilted, open position, the first and second portions of the guide plate engage the first and second housing guides and, when the housing is in the open, tilted position, the first portion of the guide plate engages the second housing guide.
2 . The magazine for auto-drill bit changes of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second housing guides includes a low-friction roller.
3 . The magazine for auto-drill bit changes of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator.
4 . The magazine for auto-drill bit changes of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is pivotably coupled to the bracket between the first end and the second end of the bracket.
5 . The magazine for auto-drill big changes of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall by a distance, and
wherein, the first housing guide and the second housing guide are disposed at approximately a midpoint between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
6 . The magazine for auto-drill bit changes of claim 5 , wherein the housing rotates between 40 degrees (°) and 65° from the parked position and the tilted position.
7 . The magazine for auto-drill bit changes of claim 1 , wherein the first housing guide is disposed on an interior surface of a second sidewall and the second housing guide is disposed on an exterior surface of the second sidewall.
8 . A drilling rig, comprising:
a machine body comprising a platform that defines a reference axis;
a mast attached to the machine body and configured to tilt a drill between a range of angles with respect to the reference axis, wherein the range of angles includes a first angle and a second angle;
one or more ground-engaging members configured to facilitate the drill engaging a ground; and
the magazine of claim 1 , wherein the magazine is attached to the platform and each of the one or more ground engaging members are disposed in one of the drill-bit pockets.
9 . The drilling rig of claim 8 , wherein the magazine includes at least four drill-bit pockets.
10 . The drilling rig of claim 8 , wherein the magazine is fixedly secured to the platform.
11 . The drilling rig of claim 10 , wherein the bracket of the magazine is fixedly secured to the platform and the housing is indirectly secured to the platform via the bracket.
12 . The drilling rig of claim 8 , wherein the first end of the bracket is disposed on the platform and the second end of the bracket overhangs the platform.
13 . A method of auto-changing a drill bit, comprising:
determining, via a controller, to change a used drill bit with a new drill bit disposed in the magazine of claim 1 ;
activating the actuator of the magazine to transition the housing from the parked position to the open, tilted position; and
in response to determining to change the used drill bit,
selecting an empty one of the at least two drill-bit pockets of the magazine;
controlling the mast to tilt the drill to an angle, with respect to the reference axis, that matches an angle of the selected empty drill-bit pocket;
operating a drill string of the drill to release the used drill bit into the selected empty drill bit pocket;
selecting an occupied one of the at least two drill-bit pockets in the magazine;
controlling the mast to tilt the drill to an angle, with respect to the reference axis, that matches an angle of the selected occupied drill-bit pocket; and
operating the drill string of the drill to engage a new drill bit held by the selected occupied drill-bit pocket.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein activating the actuator causes the housing to rotate between 40 degrees (°) and 65° from the parked position and the tilted position.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein activating the actuator causes the lid to rotate between 60 degrees (°) and 90° about the second end of the bracket.