US 12,359,515 B2
Drill carousel for machine
Yagneshwar Natarajan, Chennai (IN)
Assigned to Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Denison, TX (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Denison, TX (US)
Filed on May 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/143,162.
Claims priority of application No. 2022203165 (AU), filed on May 11, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366276 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 19/14 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 19/146 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pipe rack for a machine, the pipe rack comprising:
a drill carousel adapted to support at least two drill strings, the drill carousel defining a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end along a first axis of the machine, the drill carousel including:
a base disposed proximate to the first end of the drill carousel; and
a plurality of receptacles coupled to and extending from the base, wherein at least two of the plurality of receptacles are adapted to at least partially receive a corresponding drill string from the at least two drill strings, wherein each of the at least two drill strings include a drill bit, wherein each receptacle is adapted to receive a removable sleeve for accommodating different sizes of the drill bit on the corresponding drill string;
a retainer plate coupled to the drill carousel proximate to the second end of the drill carousel, wherein the retainer plate is adapted to couple with the at least two drill strings; and
at least one breaker plate disposed between the base and the retainer plate, wherein the at least one breaker plate is spaced apart from the retainer plate along the first axis.