An Automatic Bit Changer (ABC) that is designed to change rotary tricone bits significantly faster than manual exchanges and eliminate human interaction with the drill string, has recently been introduced.

Epiroc’s ABC enables hands-free bit changes on Pit Viper 270 and Pit Viper 290 series drill rigs used in rotary drilling. The ABC allows operators to complete hands-free drill bit changes with the touch of a button and the use of an interactive screen, to make or break joints, select drill bits, and add or remove bits. Drill bit changes can be done from a control room or from inside the cab. The ABC drill bit helps ensure a safer, more efficient way to operate a drill fleet, by improving productivity and reducing exposure to live work environments.

“The early collaboration with customers and cross-functional teams resulted in an auto bit changer that is repeatable, keeps the operator out of the line of fire, and improves machine uptime,” said senior design engineer: surface division Matthew Fosler.

The carousel design of the ABC allows up to four bits to be changed faster and safer than a single manual exchange. The removable bit carousel can store rotary tricone bits in varying sizes and cutting structures, with a total of four on-board bits, aimed at enhancing flexibility and versatility on a drill site. The ABC allows users to safely replace the worn drill bits with a range of bit types and sizes.

Available for new drills and retrofit of existing drills, the ABC is designed to be easy to maintain, and its compact, above deck design also makes it more compact. The above deck design aims to ensure that maintenance procedures are simpler and safer to perform and operator viewing angles are optimised.  Retrofits for the working Pit Viper fleet are also available.

Epiroc asserts that customising a Pit Viper 270 or Pit Viper 290 drill rig with the ABC option offers a range of benefits, such as easing operator workload, as well as reducing human error, injuries related to heavy lifting, lost time on manual adjustments, accidents and exposure to dust and noise.