UNDERGROUND DRILLING_proof 25/05/2016 11:02 Page 5
UNDERGROUND DRILLING
was developed to maintain operator safety. The
latched drilling system does not replace the
normal drilling controls; however it is an
enhancement to the existing system. To utilise
latched drilling, the hole must be collared before
the latch system is engaged. Without feed and
rotation pressure the latched drilling circuit
cannot be engaged, this ensures that the drill
must be in material and not free air to operate.
Guarding is added to prevent an operator from
coming into accidental contact with a latched
drill.”
This design allows fewer operators to drill and
install roof and rib bolts, which in turn lowers the
miners’ exposure per cut. The machine was
designed to reduce the operator’s exposure to
i