Pacific Technologies and Hanjin D&B's hands-free rod handling system
A hands-free rod handling system which is designed to fully automate the loading of drill rods and core barrel operation, has been released.
Pacific Technologies and its drilling rigs supplier, Hanjin D&B, announced the new solution which is said to be particularly suited for applications such as exploration drilling, water drilling, reverse circulation and geothermal drilling.
The company explains that the automated solution is different to most hands-free rod handlers, which automate only the rods but not the core barrel. The new fully hands-free system aims to offer better performance than competitive products, while also ensuring a safer working environment as a result of reduced human intervention.
In addition, users of the product will have access to the latest technology, while also ensuring compliance with government regulations, which are leaning towards 100% hands-free rod handling solutions, in an effort to improve safety records.
The technology includes a remote control for tramming of the rig, the rod loader and rod carrier. The technology facilitates the handling of drill rods from the rod carrier using the rod loader, feeding the rods into the rod feeder, which in turn feeds the rods into the rod handler. All of which is fully automated and hands free.
The solution comprises an air-conditioned cabin, with the rod handler attached to the rig. The rod loader has a magnetic handler which lifts the rod magnetically and, as an added safety feature, the rod loader also has ‘jaws’ for the handling of rods. The magnetic and jaw system is designed to enable the rod loader to handle the core barrel with greater ease and without manual intervention.