ROD HANDLING SYSTEM

摘要

A rod handling system (12) is described for a drill rig (10) having a drill tower (14) and a rod bin (16). The rod handling system (12) comprises a rod gripping mechanism (26) and a transfer mechanism (28). The rod gripping mechanism (26) is controllable to selectively grip and release a drill rod (20). The transfer mechanism (28) is operable to move the rod gripping mechanism (26) between the drill tower (14) and the rod bin (16) while maintaining a constant inclination of a rod (20) held by the rod gripping mechanism (26). Thus the system (12) enables rods (20) to be transferred between the tower (14) and the bin (16).