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IMPACT MECHANISM FOR SEAWATER ROCK DRILL
Phone: (603) 643-3800
An innovative pistonless impact mechanism for a seawater hydraulic rock drill is proposed. Compared to the current poppet-kicker port cycle, and poitentially higher impact energy. The proposed mechanism eliminates heavily loaded sliding elements, a chief problem in current mechanisms. The pistonless impact mechanism requires no protective coatings or complex, close tolerance machaning. It relies on abrupt deceleration of a rapidly moving water column to create a waterhammer at the bottom of the drive cylinder. By simplifying the impact mechanism, it offers increased reliability and lower manufacturing costs while retaining compatability with existing seawater hydraulic power supplies. In Phase I, we will design a waterhammer impact mechanism and perform proof-of-principal tests to demonstrate the feasibility of the impact mechanism. If proven feasibile, we will design a waterhammer-driven rock drill to be fabricated and tested in Phase II.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *