Transmission system for drilling machine

Abstract

A transmission system for a drilling machine includes a drive pump, a motor driven by the drive pump, a first fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump, and a second fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump. The transmission system also includes a charge pump in fluid communication with the drive pump, a fluid charge line that fluidly couples the charge pump with the drive pump, and an accumulator disposed in the fluid charge line. In an event of a change in a load on the transmission system, the accumulator is adapted to supply additional fluid towards at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line to prevent a reduction in a pressure in at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line below a recommended operating level of at least one of the drive pump and the motor.

The following is a current listing of the claims: 
     
         1 . A transmission system for a drilling machine, the transmission system comprising:
 a drive pump;   a motor driven by the drive pump;   a first fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump;   a second fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump;   a charge pump in fluid communication with the drive pump;   a fluid charge line that fluidly couples the charge pump with the drive pump; and   an accumulator disposed in the fluid charge line and in selective fluid communication with the first fluid line and the second fluid line, wherein, in an event of a change in a load on the transmission system, the accumulator is adapted to supply additional fluid towards at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line to prevent a reduction in a pressure in at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line below a recommended operating level of at least one of the drive pump and the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The transmission system of  claim 1  further comprising a first valve disposed upstream of the drive pump and adapted to provide fluid communication between the fluid charge line and the drive pump. 
     
     
         3 . The transmission system of  claim 2  further comprising a first supply line that provides fluid communication between the first fluid line and the fluid charge line, wherein the first valve is disposed in the first supply line, and wherein the first valve allows selective fluid flow from the fluid charge line towards the first fluid line via the first supply line. 
     
     
         4 . The transmission system of  claim 1  further comprising a second valve disposed upstream of the drive pump and adapted to provide fluid communication between the fluid charge line and the drive pump. 
     
     
         5 . The transmission system of  claim 4  further comprising a second supply line that provides fluid communication between the second fluid line and the fluid charge line, wherein the second valve is disposed in the second supply line, and wherein the second valve allows selective fluid flow from the fluid charge line towards the second fluid line via the second supply line. 
     
     
         6 . The transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein, upon the supply of the additional fluid by the accumulator, the pressure in at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line is at least equal to a charge pressure in the fluid charge line. 
     
     
         7 . The transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive pump includes a bi-directional pump. 
     
     
         8 . The transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is adapted to operate at least one drilling component of the drilling machine. 
     
     
         9 . The transmission system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one drilling component includes a drill pipe, a drill bit, or a hammer. 
     
     
         10 . A drilling machine comprising:
 a frame;   at least one drilling component; and   a transmission system operatively coupled with the at least one drilling component, the transmission system including:
 a drive pump; 
 a motor driven by the drive pump and adapted to operate the at least one drilling component of the drilling machine; 
 a first fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump; 
 a second fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump; 
 a charge pump in fluid communication with the drive pump; 
 a fluid charge line that fluidly couples the charge pump with the drive pump; and 
 an accumulator disposed in the fluid charge line and in selective fluid communication with the first fluid line and the second fluid line, wherein, in an event of a change in a load on the transmission system, the accumulator is adapted to supply additional fluid towards at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line to prevent a reduction in a pressure in at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line below a recommended operating level of at least one of the drive pump and the motor. 
   
     
     
         11 . The drilling machine of  claim 10  further comprising a first valve disposed upstream of the drive pump and adapted to provide fluid communication between the fluid charge line and the drive pump. 
     
     
         12 . The drilling machine of  claim 11  further comprising a first supply line that provides fluid communication between the first fluid line and the fluid charge line, wherein the first valve is disposed in the first supply line, and wherein the first valve allows selective fluid flow from the fluid charge line towards the first fluid line via the first supply line. 
     
     
         13 . The drilling machine of  claim 10  further comprising a second valve disposed upstream of the drive pump and adapted to provide fluid communication between the fluid charge line and the drive pump. 
     
     
         14 . The drilling machine of  claim 13  further comprising a second supply line that provides fluid communication between the second fluid line and the fluid charge line, wherein the second valve is disposed in the second supply line, and wherein the second valve allows selective fluid flow from the fluid charge line towards the second fluid line via the second supply line. 
     
     
         15 . The drilling machine of  claim 10 , wherein, upon the supply of the additional fluid by the accumulator, the pressure in at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line is at least equal to a charge pressure in the fluid charge line. 
     
     
         16 . The drilling machine of  claim 10 , wherein the drive pump includes a bi-directional pump. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling machine of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one drilling component includes a drill pipe, a drill bit, or a hammer. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a transmission system of a drilling machine, the method comprising:
 operating a drive pump of the transmission system, wherein the transmission system further includes a charge pump and a fluid charge line that are in fluid communication with the drive pump;   operating a motor of the transmission system based on operation of the drive pump, wherein the transmission system further includes a first fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump and a second fluid line that fluidly couples the motor with the drive pump; and   operating, in an event of a change in a load on the transmission system, an accumulator of the transmission system to supply additional fluid towards at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line to prevent a reduction in a pressure in at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line below a recommended operating level of at least one of the drive pump and the motor, wherein the accumulator is disposed in the fluid charge line and in selective fluid communication with the first fluid line and the second fluid line.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein, upon the supply of the additional fluid by the accumulator, the pressure in at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line is at least equal to a charge pressure in the fluid charge line. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising operating, by the motor, at least one drilling component of the drilling machine based on the operation of the motor.