Laser alignment device for use with a drill rig

Abstract

A laser alignment device for use with a drill rig having an elongate drill rod, the laser alignment device including a head unit having at least one laser emitting device to indicate the drill rod orientation and an inertial measurement device to indicate at least the azimuth of the at least one laser emitting device, and an attachment arrangement to attach the head unit to a drill rig wherein the alignment device is used to align at least the azimuth of the drill rod relative to one or more survey points. The attachment arrangement includes a head chuck, tail chuck and connecting rod which allows the laser emitting device to be located and orientated in a direction which simulates the drill rod.

1 . A laser alignment device for use with drill rig having an elongate drill rod, the laser alignment device including a head unit having at least one laser emitting device fixed in orientation to indicate the drill rod orientation, and a gyrocompass to indicate at least the azimuth of the at least one laser emitting device, and an attachment arrangement to attach the head unit to a drill rig wherein the alignment device is used to align at least the azimuth of the drill rod relative to one or more survey points by adjusting the position of the drill rig using the at least one laser emitting device to point to a desired drilling location. 
     
     
         2 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device is also used to align the drill rod to a required drill rod dip angle. 
     
     
         3 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the laser alignment device is provided with a mechanism to locate the drill rig. 
     
     
         4 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the least one laser emitting device points forwardly, that is in the direction of the drilling. 
     
     
         5 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an inclinometer is provided to align the drill rod to a required drill rod dip angle. 
     
     
         6 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 1  further including a display device to display any parameters measured or indicated by the head unit. 
     
     
         7 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a spindle including a bearing race is provided as a part of said attachment arrangement in order to allow the gyrocompass of the head unit to self-position. 
     
     
         8 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said attachment arrangement includes a head chuck, a tail chuck and a connecting rod located between the head chuck and tail chuck. 
     
     
         9 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said head chuck is attached to the connecting rod and said tail chuck is removably attached to said connecting rod at an opposite end to the head chuck and is movable along at least a portion of the length of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         10 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the head chuck is substantially conical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the head chuck is substantially frustoconical. 
     
     
         12 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said connecting rod is mounted permanently to the head chuck and is received through the tail chuck in order that the tail chuck can be removed from the connecting rod and also moved along the length of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         13 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein a threaded portion is provided at least partially along the length of the connecting rod of sufficient length in order to fit the head chuck and tail chuck on either side of a collar drives. 
     
     
         14 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the tail chuck is substantially conical in shape. 
     
     
         15 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the tail chuck is substantially frustoconical. 
     
     
         16 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the tail chuck is oriented in a reverse direction to the head chuck. 
     
     
         17 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the tail chuck includes a bore extending through the tail chuck. 
     
     
         18 . A laser alignment device for use with drill rig having an elongate drill rod, the laser alignment device including
 a. a head unit having at least one laser emitting device to indicate the drill rod orientation;   b. an inertial device to indicate at least the azimuth of the at least one laser emitting device, and   c. an attachment arrangement to attach the head unit to a drill rig wherein the alignment device is used to align at least the azimuth of the drill rod relative to one or more survey points   wherein the position of the drill rig is adjusted to align at least the azimuth of the drill rod relative to one or more survey points and the laser emitting device is maintained in a fixed orientation indicating the orientation of the drill rod using the at least one laser emitting device to point to a desired drilling location.   
     
     
         19 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the head unit is permanently attached to a drill rig. 
     
     
         20 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the inertial device is permanently attached to a drill rig. 
     
     
         21 . A laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein at least one of the head unit and the inertial device transmit alignment information to an electronic graphic display remote from the head unit and the inertial device. 
     
     
         22 . A drill rig including a laser alignment device as claimed in  claim 19  linked to drive apparatus such that drilling parameters can be entered into a control panel or other computing device to enable the drill rig to move to a location corresponding to the entered parameters. 
     
     
         23 . A drill rig as claimed in  claim 22  wherein display and control software is provided on a display device capable of transmission of control information to the drive apparatus such that a visual display of a drill site can be produced on the display device and control instructions can be issued from the display device to the drive apparatus to navigate the drill rig to a hole location allowing both navigation and alignment of the drill rig. 
     
     
         24 . A method of aligning a drill rig having an elongate drill rod using a laser alignment device including a head unit having at least one laser emitting device to indicate the drill rod orientation an inertial device to indicate at least the azimuth of the at least one laser emitting device, and an attachment arrangement to attach the head unit to a drill rig the method including the steps of adjusting the position or orientation of the drill rig for the required azimuth and dip angle to ensure the correct positioning and using the at least one laser emitting device maintained in a fixed orientation pointing to indicate the orientation of the drill rod to ensure the drill rod points to a desired drilling location.