Rock melting tool with annealer section
US5735355A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B33/138
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A rock melting penetrator is provided with an afterbody that rapidly cools a molten geological structure formed around the melting tip of the penetrator to the glass transition temperature for the surrounding molten glass-like material. An annealing afterbody then cools the glass slowly from the glass transition temperature through the annealing temperature range to form a solid self-supporting glass casing. This allows thermally induced strains to relax by viscous deformations as the molten glass cools and prevents fracturing of the resulting glass liner. The quality of the glass lining is improved, along with its ability to provide a rigid impermeable casing in unstable rock formations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.