Abstract: A method for designing a drilling pattern for rock cavity excavation and a software product implementing the method. The drilling pattern is created by means of a design program. The drilling pattern defines several starting points of drill holes in a navigation plane, end points of the drill holes on the bottom of a round and further the directions and lengths of the drill holes. The face of the round is designed to have a desired shape by determining the locations of the end points for the desired face profile. A three-dimensional face profile is entered into the design program, which subsequently places end points to the face profile automatically.

Abstract: A thrust bearing system for a roller cone rock bit includes at least one roller cone disposed on a leg having an air channel therethrough, the thrust bearing system including a primary thrust bearing surface on the leg configured to contact a corresponding primary bearing surface on the roller cone, wherein the primary thrust bearing surface on the leg includes at least one air circulation port in fluid communication with the air channel.

Abstract: A method of driving mine vehicles in a mine, and a transport system. A plurality of mine vehicles is arranged in succession and driven in convoy between working areas. A master vehicle in the convoy is driven manually, and slave vehicles follow the master, provided with no mechanical connection. In the working areas, the convoy is disassembled, since single vehicles are each driven separately. When assigned tasks in the working areas have been completed, the vehicles are reassembled into a convoy so as to be driven to a next working area.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a rock drilling rig, and a rock drilling rig. A rate of flow of a flushing medium of the rock drilling rig is determined, and the operation of the rock drilling rig is controlled on the basis of the determined rate of flow by influencing pressure of the flushing medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus as well as to a computer program for adjusting the operation of a hydraulically operated boom, the boom (1) comprising at least two mutually movably coupled boom parts (1a, 1b), which are coupled to move with respect to one another by means of a hydraulic actuator (5a-5b, 7a-7b), control means (13, 14) for controlling the hydraulic actuators, a detector (15) for detecting the position between the boom parts (1a, 1b), whereby for adjusting the operation of the boom (1) it is possible to configure a movement-specific adjustment parameter of the joint controller in the control means (13, 14) for each particular movement.

Abstract: A method of small-charge blasting, a rock drilling unit and a front guide to be used therein. By means of a rock drill machine provided in the rock drilling unit, a hole is first drilled into a material to be excavated and, subsequently, a drilling tool is pulled out of the hole. Next, one or more propellants comprising a propellant charge are fed to the bottom of the hole through a propellant feed channel provided in connection with a feed beam. Then, the hole is sealed and the propellant is ignited, whereupon a high gas pressure is generated, which causes fractioning in the material to be excavated. During the feeding and ignition of the propellant, the rock drill machine is kept in a parallel direction with respect to the hole.

Abstract: A method for small-charge blasting, and a rock drilling unit used therein. By means of a rock drilling machine of the rock drilling unit, a drill hole is first drilled into material to be excavated, after which one or more cartridges comprising a propellant charge are fed through a drilling tool onto the bottom of the drill hole. The drilling unit comprises a cartridge feed station, which is separate from the rock drilling machine and from which the cartridges may be fed into a longitudinal channel in the drilling tool.

Abstract: In a heading machine (1) including a travelling mechanism (2) and a cutting boom (3) or frame, the cutting boom (3) or frame carries at least two rotating cutting heads (5) whose axes of rotation (6) extend in the heading direction or enclose acute angles with the heading direction and which, together, define a cutting profile having a profile width (a), as well as two cutting rollers (8,10) arranged substantially parallel and behind the cutting heads (5) and capable of being positioned on the floor (9) and on the roof (7), respectively. Both cutting rollers (8,10) comprise end portions (25) which are extendible to the width (a) of the profile for the formation of a substantially rectangular cutting profile.

Abstract: A method for weighing a payload of a transport vehicle, a transport vehicle and a bogie structure. Vertical loads exerted on wheel suspension of the transport vehicle are measured with sensors and the measurement data is conveyed to a calculating unit of weighing. Further, on a side surface of a horizontal arm belonging to the bogie structure there is arranged a sensor for measuring the vertical load exerted on the horizontal arm.

Abstract: A method for sucking dust in connection with a rock drilling rig, and a rock drilling rig. The rock drilling rig (1) comprises a dust collection system provided with a suction device (11) to produce suction for sucking dust from a drill hole (8) through a first suction channel (12). The rock drilling rig further comprises a second suction channel (17) allowing the suction effect of the dust collection system to be utilized for sucking dust from a location other than the drill hole, for example from the control cabin (15). Exhaust suction is controlled by means of a control unit (26, 48).

Abstract: The invention relates to a rock drill apparatus comprising a feed beam (1) and a rock drill machine moving to-and-fro therealong, a pressure fluid driven feed cylinder (4) which, by means of a flexible transfer element, is connected so as to transfer the rock drill machine in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, the feed beam (1) being provided with a space in its longitudinal direction wherein the feed cylinder (4) is installed. The rock drill apparatus comprises a measuring device comprising a measuring wheel (7a) for a measuring line (9), the measuring wheel (7a) being connected to rotate a measuring sensor of the measuring device.

Abstract: In a steering arrangement for vehicles, in particular underground transport vehicles, including at least four steerable wheels (2), wherein, during cornering, a respective curve-inner wheel is turned more sharply than the respective curve-outer wheel, at least two wheels (2) located opposite each other in respect to the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle are coupled with each other via angle levers (21) and a tie rod (22) connected to the angle levers (21). Curve-inner or curve-outer wheels consecutively arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are coupled to common pivotal movement via a gear. The angle levers (21), via a coupling rod (24), are each connected with a steering lever (13) each connected with a steerable wheel (2) via a steering rod (10).

Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring the location of a mining vehicle in a mine. The mine includes a first and a second work area. At least one identifier whose exact location is known is arranged in the first work area. The location of the mining vehicle is determined continuously by use of a dead reckoning. The location data, based on the dead reckoning, can be updated by use of the identifier. The location data are transmitted to a mine control system for monitoring the mining vehicle.

Abstract: A method for loading a dumper with broken rock or the like and an apparatus for implementing the method. In the method, a loading area is defined for the dumper. The dumper is stopped at the loading area at a predefined position for loading. An emptying area is correspondingly defined in advance for a loader for transporting the material in its bucket onto the dumper box. The apparatus includes a controller for controlling the dumper at least during loading, and the controller includes means for stopping the dumper for loading at the predefined position so that the material transported by the loader can be emptied onto the dumper box in a predefined location in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a rock drilling rig for drilling a hole in a rock. In the method the hole is drilled with a so-called top-hammer rock drilling rig including a drill rod and a cone roller bit at the end of the drill rod. During drilling with the percussion device, stress pulses of low amplitude are produced at a high frequency of at least 200 Hz. In the rock drilling rig, the cone roller bit (3) at the end of the drill rod and the percussion device are configured to feed stress pulses of low amplitude, at the frequency of at least 200 Hz, via the drill rod and the cone roller bit to the rock.

Abstract: A method of reducing the torque required to provide relative rotation of two connected members includes providing impacts at or adjacent the connection between the two members at a rate of at least two impacts per second. An apparatus for reducing the torque required to provide relative rotation of two connected members includes an impact member adapted to provide an impact to at least one of the connected members, a driver for driving the impact member, wherein the driver is operable to cause the impact member to automatically and repeatedly impact upon the at least one member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring a stress wave and to a measuring device and a rock breaking device. A percussion device (7) gives impact pulses to a waveguide (21), where a compression stress wave and a reflected tensile stress wave are generated, which propagate in the waveguide. The compression stress wave causes an extension in the waveguide and the tensile stress wave a thinning, in which case properties of the waveguide may be determined by measuring geometric changes in the cross section of the waveguide. The measurement data are utilized in controlling the rock breaking device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of quarrying dimensional stone and to a line drilling apparatus used therein. The drilling apparatus (8) is frameless and comprises a first boom (11) and a second boom (12), between which is arranged a joint mechanism (13), allowing the booms to be moved relative to each other. Furthermore, in connection with the joint mechanism is arranged a stone support (14) adaptable against the stone once the drilling apparatus is coarse-positioned in the vicinity of a drill hole line (6). Fine positioning of the drilling apparatus in the direction of the drill hole line is performed by joints comprised by the joint mechanism. Positioning at drill holes (7) takes place by turning the second boom (12) along an arched motion path and by turning the drilling unit (15) towards the stone to be drilled.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for employing a drill steel centralizer (6) travelling on a feed beam (1) of a rock drill machine (2). The drill steel centralizer (6) has a pressure fluid-operated actuator for closing a transfer opening intended for a drill rod (4) during drilling, whereby pressure fluid is fed into the actuator during drilling.

Abstract: A method and a storage device including a software product for modifying a drilling pattern, and a rock drilling rig. One or more holes whose location is to be changed may be selected from a drilling pattern prior to drilling. The hole is assigned a new location by means of a drilling unit and, subsequently, the drilling pattern is updated.