Patent · US Expired

Seawater hydraulic rock drill

US5060734A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
9References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 11, 1989
Grant dateOct 29, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 11, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B7/124
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A seawater hydraulic rock drill having a trigger which when engaged by a diver allows pressurized seawater to be directed through an open supply poppet valve assembly into a drive chamber having a plunger. The pressurized seawater drives the plunger into a piston, an anvil, and a drill bit creating a percussive impact into a rock surface breaking up the rock surface. At the same time pressurized seawater exits the drive chamber through an orifice into a reversible seawater hydraulic motor which rotates the drill bit thereby pulverizing the broken rock. As the plunger approaches the end of a drive cycle, the supply poppet is pressurized closing the supply poppet valve assembly and cutting off the flow of seawater to the drive chamber. Pressurized seawater then drives the piston and plunger to their initial positions, the supply poppet valve assembly opens, and the cycle is repeated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.