Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC

Isaac A Jones

Matthew Meredith Noble

Christopher R Beasley

A method and system for capturing and aligning a drill pipe of a surface drill includes a first arm assembly and a second arm assembly. Each arm assembly features an end effector coupled to a position adjustment mechanism configured to receive a plurality of shims for positional adjustments relative to the drill pipe. The end effectors include ramp features and elongate fingers forming ends of the effectors. The arm assemblies are arranged at an obtuse angle to each other, creating a receptacle for the drill pipe. The method includes positioning the arm assemblies on a mast, actuating them upward and inward, engaging the drill pipe with the elongate fingers, guiding the drill pipe along the ramp features, and capturing the drill pipe in the receptacle formed by the end effectors.

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Mackinaw, IL, United States of America

Isaac A Jones