US 11,725,514 B2
Bolter
Willem Fourie, Warrendale, PA (US); Xuanwen Luo, Warrendale, PA (US); Vijayanath Subaschandran, Parkhurst (AU); Patrick Ross Willaman, Stump Creek, PA (US); and Michael Georgiou, Moss Vale (AU)
Assigned to Joy Global Underground Mining LLC, Warrendale, PA (US)
Filed by Joy Global Underground Mining LLC, Warrendale, PA (US)
Filed on Oct. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/492,521.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/086,392, filed on Oct. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0106838 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. E21D 20/00 (2006.01); G01D 5/14 (2006.01); E21D 20/02 (2006.01); E21B 7/02 (2006.01); E21B 19/08 (2006.01); E21D 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21D 20/006 (2013.01) [E21D 20/003 (2013.01); G01D 5/142 (2013.01); E21B 7/022 (2013.01); E21B 19/08 (2013.01); E21D 20/02 (2013.01); E21D 20/026 (2013.01); E21D 21/0006 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fully automated operation of a drill rig for an automatic bolter, the method comprising:
receiving, with a controller of the drill rig, a full automation mode request;
automatically performing, using the drill rig, a drilling operation on a working surface in response to receiving the full automation mode request;
automatically performing, using the drill rig, a resin injection operation on the working surface subsequent to the drill operation; and
automatically performing, using the drill rig, a bolting operation on the working surface subsequent to the resin injection operation,
wherein automatically performing the resin injection operation includes
rotating, using a first actuator, a carousel of the drill rig to a resin cartridge loading position;
securing a resin cartridge from the carousel to a loading arm of the drill rig;
loading, using the loading arm, the resin cartridge in a drill head of the drill rig;
injecting resin into the hole drilled in the working surface;
securing resin cartridge from the drill head to the loading arm; and
unloading, using the loading arm, the spent resin cartridge to the carousel.
 
15. A drill rig for an automatic bolter comprising:
a carousel rotatable about an axis and configured to store one or more consumables;
a drill head configured to apply the one or more consumables to a working surface;
a loading assembly including
a loading arm configured to move laterally between the carousel and the drill head, and
clamps at one end of the loading arm configured to secure the one or more consumables;
a controller coupled to the carousel, the drill head, and the loading assembly and configured to
receive a full automation mode request;
automatically perform a drilling operation on the working surface in response to receiving the full automation mode request;
automatically perform a resin injection operation on the working surface subsequent to the drill operation; and
automatically perform a bolting operation on the working surface subsequent to the resin injection operation,
wherein to automatically perform the resin injection operation the controller is configured to
rotate, using a first actuator, the carousel to a resin cartridge loading position;
secure a resin cartridge from the carousel to the loading arm;
load, using the loading arm, the resin cartridge in the drill head;
inject resin into the hole drilled in the working surface;
secure resin cartridge from drill head to loading arm; and
unload, using the loading arm, the spent resin cartridge to the carousel.