Drill positioning system for jumbo carrier unit

Abstract

A rock drilling and bolting vehicle includes a drill feed adapted to slide on a drill feed rail and a bolter feed adapted to slide on a bolter feed rail. The vehicle includes a first wireless or ultrasonic transmitter disposed on the drill feed rail for transmitting a first signal, a second wireless or ultrasonic transmitter disposed on the drill feed for transmitting a second signal. The vehicle includes first, second and third wireless or ultrasonic receivers each capable of receiving the first signal and the second signal. A processor coupled to the receivers processes the signals to determine positions of the first and second wireless or ultrasonic transmitters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rock drilling and bolting vehicle comprising:
 a drill feed rail;   a bolter feed rail;   a drill feed adapted to slide on the drill feed rail;   a bolter feed adapted to slide on the bolter feed rail;   a first transmitter for transmitting a first signal through air, the first transmitter being disposed on the drill feed rail;   a second transmitter for transmitting a third signal through the air, the second transmitter being disposed on the drill feed;   a first receiver disposed on the vehicle for receiving the first signal and the second signal;   a second receiver disposed on the vehicle for receiving the first signal and the second signal;   a third receiver disposed on the vehicle for receiving the first signal and the second signal; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the first, second and third receivers to process the first and second signals to determine a first position of the first transmitter and a second position of the second transmitter.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second transmitters are ultrasonic signal transmitters and wherein the first, second and third receivers are ultrasonic signal receivers. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second transmitters are wireless radiofrequency transmitters and wherein the first, second and third receivers are wireless radiofrequency receivers. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a rock face imager for generating an image of the rock face and wherein the processor is communicatively connected to the rock face imager to position the drill feed relative to the rock face. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the rock face imager comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and sensor for mapping the rock face. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the rock face imager comprises a laser scanner for mapping the rock face. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an ultrasonic probe for non-destructive testing of installed rock bolts. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a data transceiver for receiving rock face map data showing a desired rock bolt location, a vehicle position system for positioning the vehicle relative to the rock face and wherein the processor is further configured to automatically position the rock drill at the desired rock bolt location. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising an ultrasonic probe for non-destructive testing of the rock bolt after installation. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising transmitting a bolt installation report to a remote recipient after testing is complete. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising receiving an updated bolting pattern in response to sending a report notifying of a poorly installed bolt.