Ram accelerator augmented drilling system
US11624235B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
75References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 2021 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/10
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile into a region of geologic material. An interaction between the projectile and the geologic material extends a borehole and forms debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.