Protective functions L740

Protective functions
RPC-F system – L740
RPC-F, Rotation Pressure Controlled Feed.
When drilling, the drill string must have a certain rotation torque in order to keep all the rod
couplings tightened. Loosened joints increases the loss of impact energy transmitted to the
drill bit and leads to damage of the threads with drill steel breakage as a possible result.
However, too high rotation torque also has disadvantages:

• The couplings can get “over-tightened”, which makes it

difficult to loosen the couplings when withdrawing the drill
string.
• Higher load on the rock drills rotation driver, thus shorter
life length.
• Jerky rotation could cause the anti-jamming to activate
often.

Rotation torque is achieved by feed force, and will vary

depending on different rock layers. The RPC-F system will
adapt the feed force during drilling, maintaining only the
required rotation torque. The RPC-F valve, 44, senses the
pressure in the rotation circuit (rotation torque) and varies the
feed pressure between the settings of the high feed pressure
valve 47b and the low feed pressure valve 47a to maintain the
required rotation torque.

The working relation between RPC-F and anti-jamming is that, RPC-F tries to prevent the
activation of anti-jamming. But once RPC-F can not bear it anymore, i.e. the drill-bit gets
stuck, anti-jamming takes over the control of feed direction while maintaining the required
rotation torque.

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 Protective functions

Anti-Jamming system

Devices
The drill rig is equipped with two types of anti-jamming device.
• Flushing air flow switch – L740, L740CR
• Rotation pressure switch – All types
Both changes the direction of feed from forward to backward, if activated by insufficient
flushing air or too high rotation pressure, in order to avoid getting stuck.

Logic function of drill lever

Since the anti-jamming inverts the feed direction, pulling the drill lever for feeding backwards
would result in feed forward movement. To avoid this there is a pressure switch, B262,
connected to the pilot pressure line for feed backwards. B262 is connected to PLC input X16-
16, which, when active, inhibits the anti-jamming output X11-11.

Flushing air flow switch, B142 – L740, L740CR

Conditions for the flow switch activated anti jamming function:

• Switch S130 in drilling position => D552-CH1/ON

• Sensor B118 activated, RHS arm in carousel =>PLC input X10-5/ON
• Compressor load switch S180 must be on => D552-CH9/ON
• Flushing air switch S100 must be in full flushing position => D551-CH1/ON
• Flushing/Impact switch S446A or S446B must be activated, in either flushing or
impact mode => D550-CH9/10/ON
• Pressure switch B262 not activated => PLC input X16-16/OFF
• Signal from flow switch B142 => PLC input X11-7/ON
Result in:
• PLC output X11-11/ON => Solenoid Y109 activated
NOTE: The anti-jamming will be activated for at least 2 sec.

The flow switch is connected after the flushing air

valves and senses the pressure drop over a
restriction, venture pipe, in the flushing air line.
The difference in pressure between the two
connections is keeping the contact of the flow
switch open.
A too small or lost flow, e.g. if the drill-bit is
clogged, means that the pressure drop decreases or
is lost. This will allow the contact to close and
send a signal to PLC input X11-7. Given this
signal, the PLC output X11-11 activates solenoid
Y109, which inverts the pilot signal from the drill
lever. In such an event, the rock-drill will reverse
the feed direction until the pressure drop/air flow
is back to normal. When drilling is re-started after
an anti-jamming action, it will be on collaring
pressures for a period of 4 seconds before going
back to full pressures.

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 Protective functions

Adjusting B142 – L740, L740CR

The flushing air flow switch can only be set during drilling and only with full flushing air
activated.
1. Unscrew the cover of the flow switch.
2. Drill almost down to the greatest depth that will be drilled on the site. Make sure full
flushing is activated, switch S100, position (a). (see figure below)
3. Turn the adjustment screw (1) anti-clockwise until the rock-drill starts to back up. The
higher the figure on the adjustment scale, the more sensitive the flow switch will be.
Factory setting is 30 mbar.
4. Turn the adjustment screw (1) back clockwise until the rock-drill returns downwards.
5. Drill another whole to verify that the flow switch is not unintentionally activated due
to too sensitive setting. If so, back the adjustment screw off a little bit more.
6. Assemble the cover of the flow switch.
When changing dimension of drill-bit or drill steel, or if the hole depth is changed, it can be
necessary to re-adjust the flow switch in order to maintain a good anti-jamming protection.

L740 L740CR

a S100
S100

a
b

Rotation pressure switch, B134 – L740, L740CR, L830

Conditions for the rotation pressure activated anti-jamming function:

• Switch S130 in drilling position => D552-CH1/ON

• Sensor B118 activated, RHS arm in carousel =>PLC input X10-5/ON
• Impact switch S446A or S446B must be activated => D550-CH9/10/ON
• Pressure switch B262 not activated => PLC input X16-16/OFF
• Signal from pressure switch B134 => PLC input X11-6/ON
Result in:
• PLC output X11-11/ON => Solenoid Y109 activated
NOTE: The anti-jamming will be activated for at least 2 sec.
The rotation pressure switch B134 senses the rotation pressure during drilling. A drastically
increased rotation pressure can be an indication that the drill bit is getting stuck. If the rotation
pressure exceeds the preset value of the rotation pressure switch which is 80 bar (factory
setting), the rotation pressure switch will be activated and send a signal to PLC input X11-6.
Given this signal, the PLC output X11-11, which inverts the pilot signals from the drill lever
by activating solenoid valve Y109. The result is that the rock-drill reverses the feed direction
until the rotation pressure has dropped below the set value. When drilling is re-started after an
anti-jamming action, it will be on collaring pressures for a period of 4 seconds before going
back to full pressures.

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 Protective functions

Adjusting B134
Setting of the activation pressure of the anti-jamming is done on the pressure switch B134
itself. The activation pressure can be difficult to adjust during drilling because it is usually
difficult to force the rotation pressure high enough. In stead, a simulation can be done.
Warning! During the setting, the rock-drill will reverse automatically.
1. Turn the knob for adjustment of the drill rotation speed anti-clockwise until the spring
pressure is released. The rotation speed will now be 0 rpm.
2. For CR and DTH: Feed the rock drill down until the coupling sleeve of the drill steel is in
the upper break out table. Close the upper break out table to lock the sleeve.
For TH: Feed the rock drill down until the drill bit is in the upper drill steel support. Close
the upper drill steel support to lock the drill bit.
3. Activate drill rotation.
4. Activate drill feed.
5. Slowly turn the rotation speed control
clockwise while observing the drill rotation
pressure gauge. When the pressure exceeds the
preset value of the pressure switch B134, the
feed direction will change. This can be seen as
the feed pressure turns to 0 and the rock drill
tries to pull out of the drill steel support.
6. Turn the rotation speed control anti-clockwise
to lower the rotation pressure and allow the feed
to change back to downwards.
7. If the setting needs to be changed this can be
done by turning the adjustment screw on B134
clockwise to increase the activation pressure or
anti-clockwise to decrease it.
8. Repeat point 1 – 6 to verify the new setting.
9. Re-adjust the rotation speed to normal.

Feed & pump pressure during anti-jamming – L740, L740CR

Impact/pump 1 pressure:
When feed backwards is automatically activated during anti-jamming, PLC deactivates
output X11-9 for impact activation. This deactivates Y101A, and leaves logic valve B idle
hence blocking the access to the pressure relief valves 47e and 47f which control the pump
1 pressure. The pump 1 system pressure is then limited by pressure relief valve 4d,
together with the delta-p pressure, pump 1 will be working at 250 bar (LS return line +
delta-p).
Feed pressure:
The pump 1 pressure going to the drill feed directional valve 4f is then being limited by a
check valve 4m set to 190 bar for feeding backwards.

Feed pressure during anti-jamming – L830

The pump 1 pressure going to the drill feed directional valve 4f is then being limited by
check valve 4m set to 190 bar for feeding backwards.

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