Patent · US Expired

Method for removing hard rock and concrete by the combination use of impact hammers and small charge blasting

US6145933A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
37References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 11, 1999
Grant dateNov 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 11, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21C37/12
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for breaking rock and other hard materials using small-charged blasting techniques followed by a mechanical impact breaker. In small-charge blasting techniques, a gas is released into the bottom of a sealed hole located at a free surface of the hard material. The gas pressure rises rapidly in the hole until the gas pressure causes the hard material to fracture. In one embodiment, the a deeper hole is drilled and/or a small amount of blasting agent is used to cause the formation of a network of subsurface fractures while either not removing any of the rock or removing the rock with very low energy flyrock. In another embodiment, only the central portion of the face is broken and/or removed by blasting. The impact breaker is then used to complete fracturing and removal of the material.

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