T

hese drills are most suitable for coal. Being used extensively in coal these are generally
called coal drills.

These drills are electric or pneumatic hand operated machines — hand held, power
feed type or rig — mounted.

GENERAL FEATURES

Characteristically coal drills are non-reversible and consist of a motor with spindle,
gearing, handles and breastplate or shoulder pad on which thrust can be applied, and a wing-
driver chuck. For use in coal getting a rotary speed of 700 to 800 rpm has been found to
give optimum results. In stone-drifting 400 to 450 rpm is more satisfactory while in the
hardest rocks which can be satisfactorily drilled with manual thrust with 300 to 350 rpm
speed. Most coal drills cannot be adjusted in use for speed of rotation and are designed for
consistent drilling in one class of rock i.e. coal. However, drill to be modified in the workshop.

ELECTRIC COAL DRILLS

These have flameproof, squirrel cage induction motors, 2 pole wound for 125 volts, 3
phase, 50 cycles per second supply with an output of 1 to 1.25 HP and an '/2 hour rating.
These weigh from 13.5 to 19.5 kg. As the drill is normally used with load (in con tact with
the rock / coal), the 3 phase motor is used for the higher starting torque compared to single
phase motor. Normally the length of the cable from the drill panel may 100m maximum in
length. The power is supplied to the drill panel from Gate End Box input to which is 550 V
a.c. It is also safe because it will draw low current. The motor is housed in a light metal
casing incapable of producing incentive friction sparking. The body incorporates hand grips,
one of which contains a spring loaded lever operating a switch on the pilot circuit. The casing
is finned for strength and cooling purposes. The epicycle gear box containing
molybdenum-chrome steel gears is housed in front of the body of the drill which also
accommodates a slotted chuck to take the drill rod. In some models spur gears are used.
Both single and double stage reduction gears in these types may be used.

The switch is usually of the single pole type for remote control while a cable outlet is
provided with means for holding the cable firmly. The machine is usually provided with
external fan cooling, which improve the performance of the drill very considerably by
allowing the motor rating to be increased and rendering the operation of the machine more
comfort for the driller.
High frequency drills operating at 150 hertz have been designed an output is increased
2½ times. Even higher frequenting of 200,300 r 400 hertz have been used. These require
a frequency changer set in the drill panel, which is a rotary machine requiring more
maintenance. These frequency changers may be in sizes suitable for 1 to six drills and can
be trolley-mounted R.P.M. of the drill at 50 hertz is 3000 and at 150 hertz is 9000.

Victor heavy duty stone drill weigh 30.5 kg and at 50 hertz frequency the chuck- speed is 120
rpm.

COMPRESSED AIR ROTARY DRILLS

The main casing which contains the power unit and includes the framework for the
handles, is formed from a single casting of light alloy to reduce weight fitted with a bolted
on back cover. Also, of light alloy, the bolts for which pass through the casing and attach both
back cover and gear box. These are no loose parts to the casing, such as fan cowls which are
easily broken off in the pit.

As shown in the sketch, the compressed air-driven rotor C is set eccentrically in the inner
casing of the drill and the space between the rotor and the inner linear D acts as a
expansion chamber for the air until each vane B, reaches the exhaust ports. Compressed air
enters at A and imp rings against the light, strong plastic vanes B, causing the rotor C to
rotate. The vanes are thrown outwards by centrifugal forces and maintain contact with the
linear D. Rubber handles are fitted to the casing, one of which takes the form of a twist
grip to control the supply of air to the drill. The air first passes through a filter and a reducing
sleeve with openings regulating the flow of air to the drill according to the initial pressure.

For coal drill, only a single reduction gear of the epicyclic type is used, giving a normal
drilling speed of 700 rpm. For coal and stone drilling a double reduction is used to give a
speed of 350 rpm. A radial drive-chuck which takes plain round shank drill rods is used, the
chuck bearing fitted with a protection sleeve. The power developed is just over 1 H.P.

The wet-drilling an adopter may be fitted, hollow drill steels are used through which passes
a stream of water which is completely isolated from the compressed air feed.

Huwood compressed air drill operates at 3.3 to 6 kg/cm 2 and weight 13.8 kg.

ROD AND BITS

For rotary drills the rod has spirals or scrolls. Two designs are most common:

i) The diamond section — which is preferred in damp rock, offers a reasonable

clearance of the drill-hole without the rod becoming fast. It has been used for
most purposes.
ii) The turbine section — which is supposed to posses better wearing properties is
hard coal and stone.
The rods are generally solid but may be hollow for wet drilling. Spiral pitch of the rods affects
the rate of flow of the cuttings, and, therefore the ultimate penetration speed. A short pitch
makes for good lifting but tends to clog with very fast bit penetration, it has also a larger
surface area which can rub against the hole wall. A larger pitch gives slow penetration, gives
optimum results for dry friable material.

The bits generally are of two types depending on the cutting edge and the shape is like "U".

i) The eccentric tripped bit is very popular for drilling in coal. This is called eccentric
because the tips are eccentric to the center life of the bit.
ii) The concentric hit is most suitable for hard rocks. The bit should be
sodesigned that the rock being cut should cause a minimum wear of bit and
amaximum rate of penetration. Both these do not go together and a balance hasto
be obtained. The bit tips are of a special material which may be 94% tungsten
carbide and 5% cobalt and rest being manganese silicon and nickel.

Generally the bit has a cutting or tip angle of about 120 and a clearance angle. For soft rock
or coal where eccentric tips are used the tip has a positive rake angle. For medium hardness
the rake angle is zero or neutral. For stronger rocks where concentric tips are used rake
angle may be negative. The clearance angle determines the rate of penetration, the higher
the clearance angle the faster the drilling rate though the bit tip will be weaker in design.

Bit attachment: The hit and rod joint should give adequate rigidity stream lining strength
and simplicity. A pin-type attachment with a grooved hit stream is the most common
type. A spigot stream lined joint is found to give best results.

DRILLING ACTION OF ROTARY DRILLS

In rotary drilling penetration is achieved by pressure on the bit, while fracture of the rock
is affected by a shearing action in rotation. The thrust on the drill tool is therefore of
special importance, and this in turn leads to high frictional forces, which are reflected in
abrasive, wears of the cutting edge. Rotary drilling does not produce fine dust but a coarse
dust is given. So no wetting is generally needed. But wear -drilling attachment may be
fitted to give better results.