Extractors

Bench drilling - Tunnel driving - Roof bolting - Reaming - Production drilling

Gunnar Wijk
Modified by Andreas Nordbrandt / 2003-08-13
2.8 Extractors

HYDRAULIC DRILL STEEL EXTRACTOR

- No lost drill steel
- Higher production

This feature is optional for almost all Atlas Copco rock drill models designed for Bench
drilling or Long hole drilling underground.
The hydraulic extractor unit is engaged automatically during reverse feeding. The device
gives a back-hammering effect equal to about 20% of the rock drill impact power.
As a result, the risk of the drill steel remaining stuck in the hole after jamming is virtually
non-existent.
2.8 Extractors
 2.8 Extractors
The rock drill shown above is equipped with an extractor unit. The oil-filled space around the
extractor piston is connected to a constant-flow valve, which supplies the extractor with an oil
flow of 8 dm3/min. When the feed force is directed into the rock, the return line from the
extractor unit is shut off, so that the constant-­flow valve is fully open. The constant-flow valve is
supplied with oil by the percussion pump. During normal drilling therefore, the extractor piston
and stop ring are held against the cover (i.e. the part between the extractor housing and the
gear housing) by the machine's working pressure.

When the drill steel is to be pulled out of the hole, the direction of feed is reversed. When this
happens, the return line from the extractor unit is opened automatically. A restrictor in the return
line causes the extractor flow of 8 dm3/min to build up to a pressure of 30 - 40 bar inside the
extractor unit. If the drill steel jams in the hole, the flange on the extractor shank is pulled toward
the stop ring, which in turn butts up against the extractor piston.

The extractor piston is then moved to the left in the figure, whereupon the left edge of the piston
head shuts off two holes in the same way as the edge of the damper piston in the floating reflex
damper shuts off the stroke-position controlling holes when the feed force presses the rock drill
against the drill steel.
 2.8 Extractors
The extractor pressure is therefore able to rise up to the percussion pump pressure. When the
percussion is started (sufficient extractor power can usually be, obtained by operating the
percussion at collaring pressure) the impact piston strikes the extractor piston via the stop ring,
whereupon about half the impact energy enters the drill steel in the form of a compressional
sock wave, while the other half throws the extractor piston up to the left. The extractor piston
turns after a movement of 5 - 8 mm, and returns to strike the extractor-piston flange from the
left. In doing this, it generates a tensile shock wave in the drill steel, which is very effective at
freeing the jammed drill steel.

Rock drills without extractor units also have a stop ring that butts up against the front head,
either directly or via the flushing head. A certain "extraction effect" is also obtained in this case,
when the rock drill pulls on the drill steel with the percussion mechanism running. The stroke
position is then moved forward by a few centimetres in the machine, which means that the
impact piston enters the front end-position damping zone before it is able to strike the shank
adapter.

Most of the impact energy is lost when the oil is squeezed out of the front end-position damping
zone, which is essential if vital components such as the stop ring, flushing head, front head and
side bolts are to be able to withstand the effects of idle percussion during so-called "back
hammering". However, the effectiveness of this kind of "extraction effort" is obviously not nearly
as good. If the system behind the rock drill does not have effective automatic anti-jamming
protection, and jamming is a common occurrence, then the rock drill must be equipped with an
extractor unit if drilling economy is to be acceptable.