Rock drilling rig and method of driving compressor

Abstract

A rock drilling rig and a method of driving a compressor, wherein the rock drilling rig is operated by a combustion engine and is provided with a flushing system including a compressor for producing pressurized air. The compressor is driven by an electric drive motor. The combustion engine is connected to drive a generator, which produces electric energy that is stored in an energy storage. The stored electric energy can be utilized in driving the compressor.

1 . A rock drilling rig comprising:
 a movable carrier;   a tramming unit for performing transfer drive of the carrier;   at least one drilling boom movable relative to the carrier and provided with a drilling unit including a rock drilling machine;   a flushing system having at least one compressor for producing pressurized air utilized in flushing a drill hole during drilling;   a combustion engine for producing kinetic energy;   at least one generator arranged to be driven by the combustion engine and arranged to produce electric energy to an electric system; and   at least one energy storage connected to the electric system, wherein the rock drilling rig is combustion engine operated, needed electric energy of the rock drilling rig is produced by the at least one generator; and the at least one compressor of the flushing system is driven by means of at least one electric compressor drive motor connected to the electric system.   
     
     
         2 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric compressor drive motor is driven by means of electric energy received from the at least one energy storage. 
     
     
         3 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric compressor drive motor is driven by means of electric energy received from the at least one energy storage and the at least one generator. 
     
     
         4 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rock drilling rig includes at least one control unit for controlling the operation of the flushing system; the control unit is arranged to monitor the drilling unit; and the control unit is arranged to adjust the running speed of the compressor and the production of pressurized air according to the drilling process. 
     
     
         5 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rock drilling rig includes at least one control unit for controlling the operation of the flushing system; the control unit is arranged to monitor the tramming unit and to detect transfer drive of the carrier; and the control unit is arranged to switch off the electric compressor drive motor for the duration of the transfer drive. 
     
     
         6 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electric system includes at least one control device for controlling rotation of the electric compressor drive motor. 
     
     
         7 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tramming unit includes at least one electric tramming drive motor connected to the electric system and generating power for the transport drive. 
     
     
         8 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rock drilling machine is electrically operated and connected to the electric system. 
     
     
         9 . A rock drilling rig as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rock drilling rig includes a hydraulic system and hydraulic actuators connected to the hydraulic system; the hydraulic system (HS) includes at least one hydraulic pump for generating hydraulic pressure; and the hydraulic pump is electrically driven and connected to the electric system. 
     
     
         10 . A method of driving a compressor of a rock drilling rig which is provided with a combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:
 driving a compressor by means of a motor;   conducting produced pressurized air to a flushing system;   producing the needed electric energy for an electric system of the rock drilling rig by at least one generator driven by the combustion engine; and   driving the compressor by means of an electric compressor drive motor mechanically independently of the combustion engine.   
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the electric compressor drive motor is driven by utilizing electric energy stored in at least one energy storage. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the production of pressurized air is adjusted according to the drilling process. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising determining drilling efficiency during a drilling process; and increasing storage of electric energy to at least one energy storage when drilling is performed under maximum efficiency. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising determining current loading of the combustion engine; and increasing consumption of electric energy stored in at least one energy storage proportionally to the detected increase in the load of the combustion engine. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising determining the current use of compressed air;
 and switching off the electric compressor drive motor when com-pressed air is not used.