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US 12,049,825 B2Granted
Projectile augmented boring system
AssigneeHypersciences, Inc.
InventorMark C. Russell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems for forming or extending a tunnel or shaft within a working surface may include a ram accelerator assembly for accelerating a projectile into geologic material to weaken a region of the geologic material. A cutting tool may then be used to remove the weakened material. A collection assembly may be used to move debris away from the working surface while the projectile and cutting operations are performed to enable generally continuous use of the system. The number of projectiles that are accelerated and the rate at which projectiles are used may be controlled based on characteristics of the geologic material and the rate at which created debris may be removed.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a ram accelerator assembly comprising:
- a first launch tube having an end oriented toward a first region of geologic material;
- a projectile within the first launch tube;
- a propellant material within the first launch tube, wherein ignition of the propellant material applies a first force to the projectile to accelerate the projectile out from the first launch tube and into contact with the first region of the geologic material;
- and
- a first source of motive force, wherein the ram accelerator assembly is movable toward and away from the first region of the geologic material;
- a boring assembly comprising:
- a cutting tool having at least one cutting surface, wherein one or more of the cutting tool or the at least one cutting surface is movable to contact one or more of the first region or a second region of the geologic material adjacent to the first region, wherein the at least one cutting surface includes a first orifice having a first diameter and a second orifice having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and wherein the first orifice is associated with the first launch tube and the second orifice is associated with a second launch tube;
- and
- a second source of motive force, wherein the boring assembly is movable toward and away from the first region of the geologic material and is movable independently from the ram accelerator assembly;
- and
- a collection assembly comprising:
- a first member positioned below the first launch tube and the cutting tool, wherein the first member is movable to contact debris that is created by one or more of the contact between the projectile and the first region or the contact between the at least one cutting surface and the one or more of the first region or the second region, and wherein movement of the first member moves at least a portion of the debris onto the first member;
- and
- a second member associated with the first member, wherein the second member applies a second force to the at least a portion of the debris on the first member to move the at least a portion of the debris away from the one or more of the first region or the second region of the geologic material.
12 more elements
A method comprising:
- accelerating a first projectile through a first launch tube and through a first orifice of a cutting surface into contact with a first region of geologic material, wherein the first orifice of the cutting surface has a first diameter and the first projectile at least partially weakens the geologic material at the first region;
- accelerating a second projectile through a second launch tube and through a second orifice of the cutting surface into contact with one or more of the first region or a second region of the geologic material, wherein the second orifice of the cutting surface has a second diameter that differs from the first diameter;
- contacting the geologic material with the cutting surface to displace at least a portion of the geologic material and form a first section of a shaft;
- and
- moving the cutting surface into the first section of the shaft.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a cutting tool having a cutting surface;
- a first launch tube associated with a first projectile and first propellant material for accelerating the first projectile toward a first region of geologic material, wherein the first launch tube is positioned to pass the first projectile through at least one first orifice in the cutting surface having a first diameter to contact the first region of the geologic material, and the cutting surface is movable to contact the first region;
- and
- a second launch tube associated with a second projectile that is larger than the first projectile, wherein the second launch tube is positioned to accelerate the second projectile through at least one second orifice having a second diameter larger than the first diameter.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.