Drilling apparatus

Abstract

.[.A carriage movable by a power unit along a track carrying a drive shaft connected sequentially to a plurality of drill rods. The drill rods are supplied by spaced apart transversely movable rack assemblies having upwardly opening spaced recesses therein. Transverse, spaced apart support arms are mounted for pivotal movement in vertical planes about a common axis selectively to an upper position in alignment with the drive shaft and to a lower position beneath the drill rods carried by the rack assembly. The rack assemblies are moved to position drill rods sequentially in alignment with the path of movement of the support arms..]. .Iadd.A drilling apparatus and more particularly a drilling apparatus adapted for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth and including thereon improved drill rod carrying and transfer means.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth comprising: a. a generally horizontal translatable frame,   b. at least one carriage mounted for horizontal movement longitudinally of said frame,   c. a power operated drive shaft carried by said carriage,   d. a plurality of drill rod sections,   e. means detachably connecting sequentially one end of each drill rod section to said drive shaft so that said drill rod sections are fed forward sequentially,   f. spaced apart rack assemblies having upwardly opening spaced apart recesses therein for supporting said drill rod sections at an elevation below said drive shaft and in parallel relation thereto and adapted for movement transversely of said frame,   g. transversely extending, spaced apart support arms mounted on said frame for pivotal movement in generally vertical planes about a common axis and having upwardly opening recesses therein for receiving a drill rod section and movable selectively to a lower position at an elevation below a drill rod section carried by said rack assemblies and an upper position in alignment with said drive shaft,   h. means to move said rack assemblies concomitantly to position said drill rod sections sequentially in alignment with the path of movement of said support arms, and   i. means to move said support arms from said lower position to said upper position after each drill rod section is moved into alignment with the path of movement of said support arms whereby said drill rod sections are removed sequentially from said rack assemblies and positioned in alignment with said drive shaft.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which each of said rack assemblies comprises: a. an elongated movable member having said upwardly opening recesses therein,   b. guide members supporting said movable member for .[.longitudinal.]. movement .Iadd.transversely of said frame .Iaddend.to selected positions, and   c. power actuated means for moving said movable member to said selected positions.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which said spaced apart support arms are carried by an elongated shaft-like member which in turn is operatively connected to at least one fluid pressure operated cylinder for moving said support arms selectively to said upper and lower positions. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth as defined in claim 2 in which at least one indicator member is operatively connected to said shaft-like member to indicate angular positions of said arms. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth as defined in claim 2 in which switch elements are operatively connected to said shaft-like member to supply current for operation of said fluid pressure operated cylinder. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which indicator members are operatively connected to said rack assemblies to indicate when said rack assemblies are in position to support a drill rod section in alignment with movement with said support arms. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth as defined in claim 5 in which an actuating switch element is operatively connected to at least one of said rack assemblies and is operable each time said rack assemblies are moved forward in position to present another drill rod section in alignment with movement of said support arms. .Iadd. 8. A drilling apparatus comprising: a generally horizontally extending drill guide frame; rotary drive means supported for reciprocating movement on said guide frame along the axis of rotation of said drive means; rack means carried by said guide frame for supporting a plurality of elongated drill steels with the longitudinal axes thereof being generally parallel to said axis of rotation and at least one such drill steel being below said axis of rotation; transfer means carried by said guide frame for removing said one such drill steel from said rack means and for subsequently transporting said one such drill steel upwardly into a position in alignment with said axis of rotation. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. A drilling apparatus as specified in claim 8 wherein said rack means comprises a substantially horizontal member having upwardly opening spaced apart recesses therein for respectively supporting such drill steels against horizontal movement with respect to said rack means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. A drilling apparatus as specified in claim 8 wherein said rack means supports such drill steels in a manner that all the longitudinal axes of such drill steels are located below said axis of rotation. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. A drilling apparatus as specified in claim 8 wherein said transfer means includes a drill steel support portion movable along a path from below said one such drill steel into contact with said one such drill steel and upwardly to a point wherein said one such drill steel is in alignment with said axis of rotation and wherein said support portion is movable along said path in a substantially continuous motion in one direction along said path. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A drilling apparatus as specified in claim 11 wherein said rack means is movable transversely with respect to said axis of rotation to move individual ones of such drill steels into said path prior to the respective transferring thereof by said transfer means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. A drilling apparatus as specified in claim 11 wherein said transfer means comprises at least one transfer arm pivoted at one end portion thereof to said guide frame and including said drill steel support portion at the opposite end thereof, and wherein said path is an arcuate path. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A drilling apparatus as specified in claim 13 wherein said transfer means comprises a plurality of transfer arms pivoted to said guide frame, each transfer arm having the same pivotal axis which extends in a direction generally parallel to said axis of rotation. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A drilling apparatus as specified in claim 14 wherein said drill steel support portion comprises a plurality of substantially upwardly opening recesses. .Iaddend.