Handheld Pneumatic Tool For Breaking Up Rock

A one-way pneumatic actuator, comprising:

• a. a body (14) having an opening (16) therethrough forming a barrel (18),
• b. the barrel (18) having a top and a bottom (20 and 22), an opening (30) at the bottom (22) thereof, and a pressure input (44) for fluid communication into the barrel (18), wherein the barrel (18) receives a piston (24) therein, and has a magnet (23) at the top (20) of the barrel (18), which magnet (23) is contiguous with the pressure input (44);
• and
• c. the piston (24) having a top (52) and a bottom (54), and being slidably disposed in the barrel (18) between the magnet (23) and the opening (30), wherein the magnet (23) attracts and holds the top (52) of the piston (24) with a force M when in partial contact therewith and the pressure input (44) is in fluid communication with the top (52) of the piston (24);
• and
• d. a strike sensitive throw which is actuated upon being struck by the bottom (54) of the piston (24).

A kit (110) containing a pneumatically triggered tool (12) for breaking rock, comprising:

• a. a tool (12) for breaking hard material (R), tubing (94), and a package (120);
• b. wherein the tool (12) comprises
• i. a body (14) having an opening (16) therethrough forming a barrel (18), wherein the barrel (18) has a top and a bottom (20 and 22), an opening (30) at the bottom (22) thereof, and a pressure input (44) for fluid communication into the barrel (18), and the barrel (18) receives a piston (24) therein, and has a magnet (23) at the top (20) of the barrel (18), which magnet (23) is contiguous with the pressure input (44);
• ii. an actuator pin tube (26) having first and second ends (32 and 34), and an opening (36) therethrough for slidably engaging an actuator pin (38), wherein the first end (32) of the actuator pin tube (26) is engaged securely in the opening (30) at the bottom (22) of the barrel (18), and the second end (34) of the actuator pin tube (26) extends from the opening (30) at the bottom (22) of the barrel (18);
• iii. the actuator pin (38) having a tip (40) and a retention head (42) at opposing ends (41 and 43) thereof, wherein the retention head (42) is wider than the opening (36) in the actuator pin tube (26), and the actuator pin (38) is longer than the actuator pin tube (26) permitting the tip (40) to extend through the second end (34) of the actuator pin tube (26);
• and
• iv. the piston (24) having a top (52) and a bottom (54), and being slidably disposed in the barrel (18) between the magnet (23) and the retention head (42), wherein the magnet (23) attracts and holds the top (52) of the piston (24) with a force M when in contact therewith, and the pressure input (44) is in fluid communication with the top (52) of the piston (24).

A method of breaking hard material, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a tool (12) for breaking hard material, wherein the tool (12)
• i. comprises a body (14) having an opening (16) therethrough forming a barrel (18), wherein the barrel (18) has a top and a bottom (20 and 22), an opening (30) at the bottom (22) thereof, and a pressure input (44) for fluid communication into the barrel (18), and the barrel (18) receives a piston (24) therein, and has a magnet (23) at the top (20) of the barrel (18), which magnet (23) is contiguous with the pressure input (44);
• ii. an actuator pin tube (26) having first and second ends (32 and 34), and an opening (36) therethrough for slidably engaging an actuator pin (38), wherein the first end (32) of the actuator pin tube (26) is engaged securely in the opening (30) at the bottom (22) of the barrel (18), and the second end (34) of the actuator pin tube (26) extends from the opening (30) at the bottom (22) of the barrel (18);
• iii. the actuator pin (38) having a tip (40) and a retention head (42) at opposing ends (41 and 43) thereof, wherein the retention head (42) is wider than the opening (36) in the actuator pin tube (26), and the actuator pin (38) is longer than the actuator pin tube (26) permitting the tip (40) to extend through the second end (34) of the actuator pin tube (26);
• and
• iv. the piston (24) having a top (52) and a bottom (54), and being slidably disposed in the barrel (18) between the magnet (23) and the retention head (42), wherein the magnet (23) attracts and holds the top (52) of the piston (24) with a force M when in contact therewith and the pressure input (44) is in fluid communication with the top (52) of the piston (24);
• b. providing a hose (94) in fluid communication with a pump (P) and the pressure input (44);
• c. providing a cartridge (84) having a tubular shaped casing (96) with a closed bottom (100) at one end and a primer (102) at the opposing end and a load (98) interspersed therebetween the bottom (100) and the primer (102);
• d. drilling a borehole (B) in a hard material (R) wherein the borehole (B) will accommodate the full length of the actuator pin tube (26) which extends from the opening (30) at the bottom (22) of the barrel (18);
• e. cleaning out the borehole;
• f. shaking the tool (12) to ensure free movement in the actuator pin (38);
• g. inserting the load cartridge (84) all the way into the borehole (B) so the primer (102) will come into contact with the tip (40) of the actuator pin (38) once the actuator pin tube (26) is engaged in the borehole (B);
• h. inserting the actuator pin tube (26) into the borehole (B) such that the tip (40) of the actuator pin (38) meets the primer (102) of the cartridge (84);
• i. extending the hose (94) to its full length;
• and
• j. communicating the pressure in the hose (94) to detonate the cartridge (84).