Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for penetrating hard materials using a energetic slurry

US6591731B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
12References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 2002
Grant dateJul 15, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 24, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21C37/14
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method and apparatus for drilling and penetrating hard materials utilizes a high velocity gun system that fires multiple shots of a projectile and an energetic slurry at the surface of the material to be penetrated. The penetrating device includes one or more firing barrels that are loaded with a propellant, a projectile and an energetic (explosive) slurry, and are controlled to fire in a preselected firing sequence. The projectile enters the material to be penetrated generating a hole into which the energetic slurry is also fired. The energetic slurry detonates upon contact with the material causing an explosion that further fractures the material and which blows the material out of the hole. The process is repeated until a desired penetration depth is obtained.

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