US3208698A - Adjustable column support - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 28, 1965 D. F. SAMHAMMER ETAL 3,208,698

ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Original Filed April 7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 28, 1965 D. F. SAMHAMMER ETAL 3,208,698

ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Original Filed April '7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 28, 1965 D. F. SAMHAMMER ETAL. 3,208,698

ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Original Filed April 7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent C) 3,208,698 ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Donald F. Samhammer and George E. Hepola, Utica,

'N.Y., assignors to 'Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company,

New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 726,927, now

Patent No. 3,061,023, dated Oct. 30, 1962. Divided and this application July 25, 1962, Ser. No. 215,235

2'Claims. '(Cl. 248-13) This application is a division of Iour parent application for Shaftv Jumbo Drill Apparatus, Serial No. 726,927, tile-d April 7, 1958, land now issued at Patent No. 3,061,023 dated October 30, 1962.

This invention relates to jumbo size drill apparatus of a type which finds particular use in drilling in rock deep vertical shafts of relatively wide diameter, which carries a number of boom-drill sets yfor this purpose, and which is adapted to be lifted, lowered or moved about by a hoist. More particularly, this invention is concerned with an improved jumbo size -d-rill apparatus of this nature which has various desirable features and consequent advantages. The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to dig a hole some 22 feet in diameter and 2,000 feet and more, deep. It is adapted to be moved down into the shaft as the shaft deepens.

A feature of the invention lies in the general overall construction of the apparatus whereby a safe and practical structure of this nature is provided. yIt is balanced in its structure and in the arrangement of a plurality of boom-drill sets thereon, whereby its presents no diculties of imbalance or dangers when in use or when it is being raised, lowered or moved about by a hoist.

Another feature of the invention is provided by various securing elements, whereby various parts are restrained Iagainst dangerous movement while the apparatus is being hoisted.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of a supporting center column whereby the usefulness of the apparatus is materially improved. The center column is made to 'function as a ladder for means of ascent and descent to and from a deck at the top of the apparatus. It is further made to function as a pneumatic supply reservoir or manifold having a plurality of desirably located taps from which various associated pneumatically powered devices can be supplied. A further advantage of t-he center column is its elevated condition relative to the ground whereby drilling operations may be effected directly below the column without moving the apparatus.

A further feature of the invention is a desirable arrangement of leg members whereby the apparatus is supported upon the ground and whereby the central column is maintained erect and elevated relative to the ground. Because of this advantageous arrangement, a hoist is not required `for Isupport nor are supporting braces required to extend from the apparatus to the side walls of the hole.

A particular feature of the leg structures lies in their adjustable nature whereby they may be selectively adjusted in length so .as to level the apparatus as needed. Their length may be further adjusted so as to maintain the bottom of the center column at a desirable distance above the ground.

A further feature of the legs is their particular manner of attachment to the apparatus. They are pivotally connected to the center column whereby they may be angularly extended for purposes of support or may be angularly collapsed to a narrow vertical position when the apparatus is being raised or lowered. Another feature is a bracket -arrangement associating the legs with the center column whereby thrust loads acting upon the legs are transmitted in large -measure to a center point of the column.

ICC

Another particular feature of the legs Ilies in a desirable foot assembly at the end of each leg. One feature of each foot assembly lies in its structure whereby it grips the Iground and prevents creeping of the apparatus on the ground. Another feature of each foot assembly is its manner of association with its leg whereby the latter may be -readiy adjusted in length while the foot assembly is engaged with the ground.

A general object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improved shaft jumbo type drill apparatus which reduces the common hazards of such structures to a minimum, is easily maneuverable, and is practical for the purposes intended.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an improved and practical supporting structure in a jumbo size drill apparatus for supporting the various associated tools thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a jumbo size drill apparatus having an overhead deck, a plurality of swivelly mounted depending boom-drill sets and a collapsible supporting leg arrangement whereby the boom-drill sets may be swivelled to a desirable position below the deck and the legs may be collapsed to a vertical condition below the deck so that in hoisting operations the .apparatus may be easily lowered or removed from a shaft without interfering with cross heads arranged about the surface end of the shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a jumbo size drill apparatus a center column which serves as the center of support of the apparatus in hoisting operations; and -functions as a pneumatic reservoir, a ladder, and as a support for a plurality of legs intended to bear the assembled weight of the apparatus and intended to hold the center column in an elevated condition relative to the ground.

The invention further lies in the 4general construction of its component parts and also in their cooperative association with one another to effect the results intended herein.

' The foregoing and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description, and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the shaft jumbo drill apparatus in end elevation; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

Reference is now directed to the several drawings wherein there is shown a jumbo size drill apparatus embodying the invention, which finds particular use in drilling into rock deep vertical shafts of substantial diameter. The apparatus includes a main supporting struct-ure 20 having a horizontally disposed platform or deck 21 mounted centrally atop an elongated vertical center post or column 22 which in turn is supported by a plurality of angularly extendible legs 23, here, four in number, three being shown in FIG. l. The deck supports at its underside a plurality of pressure fluid operated boomdrill sets 24, here, four in number, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. The supporting structure 20 serves to support various pressure fluid supply devices for supplying operat` ing fluid to the several boom-drill sets. A clevis 26 projecting vertically above the deck from the center of the supporting structure 20 is enga-geable by a hoist whereby the entire apparatus, together with the various members supported by it, may be lifted, lowered or ported and located where desi-red.

The center column 22 is a hollow cylinder sealed over wat opposite ends by plates 33 and 34-ixed thereto. Plate 34 caps the top of the column. It is relatively thick and rectangular in form. It is xed to the center underside of the floor plate 27. The clevis 26, which is fixed t-o the top of cap plate 34, projects above the floor plate 27 through a small hole 30 in the latter.

The ldepending center column is supported in vertically erect position by the legs 23 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4). Each leg is pivoted at its upper end in a separate bracket 38. These brackets are arranged circumferentially about the center column in the same plane at a short distance below the deck, and they are centered 90 degrees apart. Each 'bracket inclu-des a back or box plate 39 xed to the center col-umn, and a pair of parallel bearing flanges 41 which support between them a pivot pin 42 for the associated leg. Each leg is tubular, and has a cap 43 fixed over its top end which supports the leg between the flanges for pivot movement on pin 42. The flanges 41 of the bracket extend radially from the center column, and the arrangement of the pivot position of the leg in the flange of the bracket is such that the legs when collapsed or folded, have a vertical position in close parallel relation to the center column. From this latter position, the legs are pivotable angularly outward to the position shown in FIG. 1. The legs are relatively longer than the center column so that in their Vertical collapsed position, as well as in their fully angularly extended position, the center column is supported clear of the ground. This elevated condition of the center column from the ground level is desired, as it enables drilling operations in the ground a-rea directly below the column without necessitating removal of the overhead structure.

Each leg is locked against moving from its angularly extended position by a separate brace 44 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6). One end of the latter is pivoted on a cross pin 45 supported between a pair of parallel anchor plates 46 xed near the lower end of the associated leg. A cotter pin 40 retains the position of the cross pin. The opposite end of the brace is pivoted on a cross pin 47 supported between a pair of side flanges 48 of a bracket 49 fixed to the lower area of the periphery of the center column. The cross pins at both ends of the brace are removable to permit ready removal of the leg braces when required. In practice, however, the inner pins 47 of the several legs are adapted to be removed to permit collapsing of the legs to vertical position preparatory to elevating or lowering the legs into a shaft, or when shipping the apparatus. A separate chain 51, one of which is shown, is associated with each bracket 49. It is linked at one end to the bracket and linked at the other to the cross pin 47. It serves to keep the latter against loss subsequent to its removal from the brace. The brace anchor plates 46 extend radially inward, and the arrangement of the pivoted end of the associated brace 44 between them is such that the brace is pivotable up or down into parallel close relation to the leg. The brace at times is pivoted upwards when collapsing the related leg, and is held when so pivoted, to the latter by a wrap-around chain 52 anchored at one end to the leg. The arrangement of the cross pins 45, 47 and their associated brackets is such that each brace in the angularly extended position of its associated leg is maintained at right angles to the center column, thus materially strengthening the legs against inward collapse under the load of the entire apparatus as well as under the added thrust developed by the several boom-drill sets during operation.

Each leg is provided with a foot assembly 53 (FIGS. 1, 2) which functions to provide a secure footing for the overhead structure, and which is adjustable, when required because of an uneven ground surface, to obtain a level condition of the deck 21. It is desired that the deck have a level condition to assure a firm ground hold of the entire structure during work and drilling operations. To accommodate the foot assemblies, the legs 23 are hollow and open in their bottom ends. A foot assembly includes an internally threaded short sleeve 54 which is fixed in the bottom end of the leg and has a radially enlarged external head 55 which abuts the end wall of the leg. An end of an elongated adjusting screw 56 is threadedly received through sleeve 54 axially into the interior of the leg. A head 57 pinned upon the inner end of the screw is adapted to ride over the interior wall of the leg as a support for the screw. In a fully axially extended condition of the screw the head end 57 thereof is adapted to abut against the inner end of the sleeve 54, thus preventing escape of the screw from the leg. The screw terminates at its lower end in a ball head 58. The latter is retained in a socket 59 of a foot piece 60, and forms with the socket a universal joint. The foot piece has a plurality of cone shaped teeth 61, here three, two being shown, which depend in triangular relation from the underside thereof. These are adapted under the weight of the overhead structure to bite into the ground surface and thereby prevent creeping or slipping of the position of the overhead structure during drilling operations. Each leg is axially adjustable in length by threading screw 56 in or out of the leg as required, until a level condition of the deck is obtained. Cross holes 62, located through a thickened portion of the shank of the screw just above the universal joint accommodate a rod or tool handle for manually effecting rotation of the screw. The anchorage of the foot piece to the ground, and the associated universal joint enable rotation of screw 56 without consequent rotation of the foot piece 60'. A manually operable winged lock nut 63 threaded on the external end of the screw is adapted, when tightened against the leg end 55, to lock the screw against further rotation.

The foot assembly may take the modified form shown in FIGS. 7, 8. In this form, the extensible elongated adjusting screw indicated at 64 is not axially threaded into the end ofthe associated leg. Instead, there is fixed on the outside of the lower end of the associated leg 23 an internally threaded open ended short cylinder 65 through which the screw is threadable. Anchor plates 46 pivotally supporting the brace 44 at one end strengthen the support of cylinder 65 to the leg 23. When the associated leg is angularly extended to its full radial distance from the center column, the short cylinder 65 and screw 64 therein will have the vertical position in FIG. 7. The bottom end of the screw terminates in a ball 66 which is retained for universal movement in a socket provided in a foot pad 68. The screw is formed with a thickened head 69 at its upper end having cross holes 70 which are adapted to accommodate a tool for turning the screw as desired in one direction or the other. A winged lock nut 71 on the screw is adapted, when threaded tightly into abutment with the adjacent end of cylinder 65, to lock the screw in its adjusted position.

Some of the load carried by each leg 23 reacts strongly against its pivoted upper end. The bracket 38 is here designed to reduce strain at this point upon the pivot pin 42 and to transfer it substantially to the center column 22. To this end (FIGS. 1, 3, 4), a block 72 is fixed between the top ends of the flanges of the bracket and is angularly thickened on its underside as at 73. The rear of this block is unitary with the -back plate 39 of the bracket. The thickened portion 73 declines downward toward the center column. The declining undersurface of this thickened portion is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the related leg when the latter is fully extended angularly outward, as in FIG. 1. The leg cap 43 forming the pivoted end of the leg has an end surface 74 which is adapted to abut flush against the underside 73 of the thickened portion upon pivoting of the leg to its angular position. To enable this abutment and pivoting, a rounded corner 75 is formed on the leg cap 43.

The center column 22, as earlier mentioned, is hollow and sealed at both ends. In a physical embodiment, it is approximately ten inches in diameter and about fourteen feet in height. These dimensions are mentioned as an indication of the jumbo size of the entire apparatus. Accordingly, it provides an interior chamber of substantial volume, which here serves as a pressure air supply reservoir for effecting operation of the various associated pneumatically powered devices. A pair of pressure air supply pipe lines 148, 149 pass down through the central area of the deck 21 and tap at opposite areas into the upper end of the center column. These pipe lines are adapted at their upper ends for connection above the deck to a suitable source of pressure air, such as an air compressor, not shown, which would be located on the ground surface. Because of the use of the center column as an air reservoir, the compressor can be located at a remote point from the shaft.

About midway of the center column are four outlet pipe lines 152, two of which are shown in FIG. 1. These tap into the interior of the column. These outlet pipe lines are spaced 90 degrees apart and extend down in parallel close relation to the center column for a short distance. Each outlet pipe includes a manually operable shut-off valve 153, and is intended to supply a separate one of the boom-drill sets 24 with the required operating pneumatic uid.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable leg assembly in a jumbo drill apparatus of the character described including a rock drill loadable elongated column and a plurality of leg means supporting the column in erect position, each leg means comprising a leg member pivotable from a position angularly disposed relative to the column to a depending vertical position adjacent the column, a bracket pivotally supporting an upper end of the leg to the column, and a brace disposed at right angles to the lower end of the column having one end pivoted to the leg and its opposite end detachably supported to the column; wherein the bracket is characterized by a pair of parallel plates eX- tending radially from the column, a pivot pin supported betweent the plates, and a thick block piece having a rear wall fixed in parallel abutment with the column and having an undersurface inclined upward above the pivot pin; and wherein the upper end of the leg is pivoted on the pivot pin between the plates and is characterized by a flat end surface formed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the leg and adapted to abut flush with the undersurface of the block piece upon pivoting of the leg member from a vertical position outwardly to the said angularly pivoted position, so that the load of the column is transmitted through the block piece and the tlat end surface over substantially the entire cross area of the leg, and the pivot pin is free of such load.

2. In a jumbo drill apparatus of the character described, including a main supporting column, an adjustable leg assembly adapted together with similar other leg assemblies to support the column in erect position, the leg assembly comprising an elongated leg mounted at one end to the column and extending downward and angularly away therefrom, a brace connected at one end to the lower end of the leg and at the other to the lower area of the column and at right angles to the latter, and an elongated ground engaging member selectively extendible axially out of the free lower end of the leg toward the ground, wherein the leg is tubular, a nut is fixed in the bottom end of the leg, the ground engaging member has an elongated threaded portion threadedly extending through and beyond the nut freely into the interior of the leg, and a bearing member is xed upon the upper end of the interiorly extending threaded portion, which bearing member at all times engages and is adapted to ride over the interior wall surface of the leg as the ground engaging member is threaded in and out of the leg, whereby radial movement of the upper end of the threaded portion of the ground engaging member relative to the interior wall surface of the leg and consequent binding of one to the other is avoided.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,938 11/41 Howard 248--188 2,338,092 l/ 44 Brown 248--193 X 2,416,848 3/47 Bothery 248--170 2,496,851 2/50 Bunker 248-170 2,578,826 12/51 Mrofka 248- 193 X 2,885,181 5/59 McCully 248-193 X FOREIGN PATENTS 625,839 7/ 49 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LEG ASSEMBLY IN A JUMBO DRILL APPARATUS OF THE CHHARACTER DESCRIBED INCLUDING A ROCK DRILL LOADABLE ELONGATED COLUMN AND A PLURALITY OF LEG MEANS SUPPORTING THE COLUMN INN ERECT POSITION, EACH LEG MEANS COMPRISING A LEG MEMBER PIVOTABLE FROM A POSITION ANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE COLUMN TO A DEPENDING VERTICAL POSITION ADJACENT THE COLUMN, A BRACKET PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING AN UPPER END OF THE LEG TO THE COLUMN, AND A BRACE DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LOWER END OF THE COLUMN HAVING ONE END PIVOTED TO THE LEG AND ITS OPPOSITE END DETACHABLY SUPPORTED TO THE COLUMMN; WHEREINN THE BRACKET IS CHARACTERIZED BBY A PAIR OF PARALLEL PLATES EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM THE COLUMN, A PIVOT PIN SUPPORTED BETWEEN TTHE PLATES, AND A THICK BLOCK PIECCE HAVING A REAR WALL FIXED IN PARALLEL ABUTMENT WITH THE COLUMN AND HAVING AN UNDERSURFACE INCLINED UPWARD ABOVE THE PIVOT PIN; AND WHEREIN THE UPPER END OF THE LEG IS PIVOTED ON THE PIVOT PIN BETWEEN THE PLATES AND IS CHARACTERIZED BY A FLAT END SURFACE FORMED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO TH ELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE LELG AND ADAPTED TO ABUT FLUSH WITH THE LEG MEMBER FROM A VERTICAL POSITION OUTWARDLY TO THE LEG MEMBEER FROM A VERRTICAL POSITION OUTWARDLY TO THE SAID ANGULARLY PIVOTED POSITTION, SO THAT TE LOAD OF THE COLUMN IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE BLOCK PIECE AND THE FLAT END SURFACE OVER SUBSTANTIALLY THEE ENTIRE CROSS AREA OF THE LEG, AND TTHE PIVOT PIN IS FREE OF SUCH LOAD.

Images