Fluid actuated apparatus for mechanically splitting rock-like material

Apparatus to break rock and concrete slabs in situ when inserted into a predrilled hole in said rock and concrete slab comprising:

• first and second members each having an outer surface and a longitudinal axis parallel to each other and a wall of said predrilled hole, said first member having a longitudinal groove therein, said groove including a bottom surface parallel to said longitudinal axes of said first and second members coextensive with said first member, a pair of spaced, outwardly extending ledge-like surfaces disposed as an extention of said bottom surface in a plane parallel to said longitudinal axes of said first and second members coextensive with said bottom surface and a pair of spaced vertical surfaces extending upward from the outer edges of said ledge-like surfaces and coextensive therewith;
• a third member having a driven end, a free end, a first surface parallel to said longitudinal axes of said first and second members slidably engaging said bottom surface and said pair of ledge-like surfaces of said longitudinal groove in said first member and a second surface opposite said first surface having a first predetermined slope along a given length of said third member from a point adjacent to said driven end to said free end, said third member having a single inward stroke of a predetermined length during each cycle of operation;
• and
• first means disposed between said second surface of said third member and an inner surface of said second member slidably engaging said pair of vertical surfaces of said groove, said first means when rendered operative causing said outer surfaces of said first and second members to engage said wall of said predrilled hole and responding to said inward stroke of said third member to apply a powerful breaking force directly to said second member resulting in lateral movement thereof and to apply a reaction force equal to said breaking force to said first member to break said rock and concrete slabs surrounding said predrilled hole.