Flexible shaft for a roof drill

A flexible shaft for a roof drill comprising:

• a. a flat band wound in a helical configuration defining an outer casing, adjacent convolutions of said flat band in nesting relationship with one another wherein one edge of said flat band has a concave profile and an opposite edge of said flat band has a convex profile, and said concave edge is in said nesting relationship with said convex edge,
• b. a circular rod wound in a helical configuration defining an intermediate casing that is disposed within said outer casing, adjacent convolutions of said circular rod touching one another;
• c. a tubular member having a hollow core defining a longitudinal passage, said tubular member disposed within said intermediate casing and defining an inner sleeve, and
• d. said outer casing wound in a first direction and said intermediate casing wound in a second direction, said first direction opposite said second direction, said outer casing, said intermediate casing, and said inner sleeve coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of said shaft and extending the length of said shaft.

A system for drilling holes in a mine, said system comprising:

• a. a base,
• b. drive means mounted to said base, said ddrive means having energized and deenergized states, and wherein said drive means includes a chuck;
• c. a flexible shaft including an outer casing, an intermediate casing, and an inner sleeve, said outer casing being a flat band that is wound in a first direction into a helical configuration, said intermediate casing being a circular rod that is wound in a second direction into a helical configuration, said second direction opposite said first direction, said sleeve being a tubular member having a hollow core defining a chamber for removing chips from said drilling, and said flexible shaft being engaged by said drive means by way of said chuck thereof captively holding said flexible shaft intermediate its ends, said chuck rotating in said second direction when said drive means is in said energized state;
• d. a transition member mounted to one end of said flexible shaft;
• and
• e. a drill bit mounted to said transition member;
• f. said drive means applying torque and thrust to said flexible shaft when in said energized state, said outer casing tending to contract and said intermediate casing tending to expand for axial stability of said flexible shaft when torque is applied thereto.

A system for drilling holes in a mine, said system comprising:

• a. a base;
• b. drive means mounted to said base, said drive means having energized and deenergized states;
• c. a flexible shaft engaged by said drive means, said shaft including an outer casing, an intermediate casing, and an inner sleeve, said outer casing being flat band that is wound in a first direction into a helical configuration and wherein one edge of said flat band has a concave profile and an opposite edge of said flat band has a convex profile, said concave edge and said convex edge of adjacent convolutions being in nesting relationship, said intermediate casing being a circular rod that is wound in a second direction into a helical configuration, said second direction opposite said first direction, said sleeve being a tubular member having a hollow core defining a chamber for removing chips;
• d. a transition member mounted to one end of said shaft;
• and
• e. a drill bit mounted to said transition member;
• f. said drive means applying torque and thrust to said flexible shaft when in said energized states, said outer casing tending to contract and said intermediate casing tending to expand for axial stability of said shaft when torque is applied thereto.