Method and apparatus for fracturing brittle materials by thermal stressing
AssigneeDiversified Industries Ltd.
InventorNorman L. Arrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of fracturing or breaking rock includes the step of directing high intensity white light (radiation) at the rock to induce thermal stress sufficient to fracture the rock. The intensity of the energy source may be varied to control the manner in which the rock fractures. An approach for generating high intensity white light includes an elongate arc chamber and an elongate concave reflector. The arc chamber and reflector may be shielded from airborne particulate matter by an air shield or a rotating or reciprocating translucent shield.
Claims7
A method of fracturing rock by inducing shear stress on the rock surface, comprising the step of directing radiation generated by a high-intensity arc lamp operating in excess of 4000° C. onto the rock surface.
A method of fracturing rock by inducing shear stress or tensile stress, or shear stress and tensile stress in the rock by directing radiation generated by a high-intensity arc lamp and varying the intensity of the arc lamp to achieve either shear stress or tensile stress, or shear stress and tensile stress, as desired.
A method of fracturing a brittle material, comprising the step of directing radiation generated by a high-intensity arc lamp operating in excess of 4000° C. upon a mass of rock until the rock fractures due to induced thermal stresses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.