Fluid-powered impact device and tool therefor

A mobile percussion device for breaking apart or forming cuts or holes in a stationary work piece, such as a rock, cement or other hard material, comprising:

• a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and an elongated shank extending therebetween;
• an outer body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• a drive member extending generally coaxially within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said body, said drive member bore having drive means for transmitting selective rotational drive force from said drive member to said tool as said drive member is selectively rotated within said limited rotational range and for restraining said tool against rotation when said drive member is held stationary by the application of fluid within said body through said ports, said drive means permitting substantially unrestricted axial movement of said tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said drive member holding said tool working head positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work piece and said tool rearward end portion positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member further including lock means at said forward drive member end for limiting forward axial travel of said tool shank within said drive member bore and locking said tool shank against forward removal from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range;
• a percussion hammer attached to said body, said hammer having a striker movable with reciprocating motion to repeatedly and axially endwise impact said tool rearward end portion to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is moved into engagement with the work piece;
• transmission means, disposed within said body and surrounding said drive member, for converting the selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports into selected clockwise and counterclockwise rotational drive force to said drive member to move said drive member relative to said body within said limited rotational range by a limited first amount in a clockwise direction and a limited second amount in a counterclockwise direction, and for selectively holding said drive member stationary within said body;
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• a mobile vehicle having a movable arm supporting said hammer and said body for selective general positioning of said body with said tool working head engaging the work piece, whereby once positioned the application of fluid pressure within said body is used to rotate or hold stationary said drive member and hence said tool as desired to selectively angularly rotate or hold stationary said tool working head relative to said body, with subsequent further angular rotation of said tool working head being achievable by the further application of pressurized fluid within said body without the need to move said vehicle.

A percussion device for breaking apart or forming cuts or holes in a stationary work piece, such as a rock, cement or other hard material, comprising:

• a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and an elongated shank extending therebetween, said shank having a shank portion;
• an outer body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• a drive member extending generally coaxially within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said body, said drive member bore having an engagement portion longitudinally positioned to engage said tool shank portion, said tool shank portion and drive member engagement portion being sized and shaped to matingly mesh to transmit selective rotational drive force to said tool as said drive member is selectively rotated within said limited rotational range and to restrain said tool against rotation when said drive member is held stationary by the application of fluid within said body through said ports, while permitting substantially unrestricted axial movement of said tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said tool working head being positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work piece and said tool rearward end portion being positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member including a chuck portion at said forward drive member end to limit forward axial travel of said tool within said drive member bore and to lock said tool against forward removal of said shank portion from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range;
• a percussion hammer attached to said body at said rearward body end, said hammer having a striker positioned generally coaxial with said body and axially movable with reciprocating motion to repeatedly and axially endwise impact said tool rearward end portion to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is moved into engagement with the work piece with sufficient force to axially move said tool rearward within said drive member bore such that said tool rearward end is positioned for impact by said reciprocating striker;
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• transmission means, disposed within said body and surrounding said drive member, for converting the selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports into selected clockwise and counterclockwise rotational drive force to said drive member to move said drive member relative to said body within said limited rotational range by a limited first amount in a clockwise direction and a limited second amount in a counterclockwise direction, and for selectively holding said drive member stationary within said body.

A device for breaking apart or forming cuts or holes in a stationary work piece, such as a rock, cement or other hard material, the device being usable with a percussion hammer having a striker movable with reciprocating motion to provide repeated impact, comprising:

• a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and an elongated shank extending therebetween, said shank having a shank portion;
• an outer body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• a drive member extending generally coaxially within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said body, said drive member bore having an engagement portion longitudinally positioned to engage said tool shank portion, said tool shank portion and drive member engagement portion being sized and shaped to matingly mesh to transmit selective rotational drive force to said tool as said drive member is selectively rotated within said limited rotational range and to restrain said tool against rotation when said drive member is held stationary by the application of fluid within said body through said ports, while permitting substantially unrestricted axial movement of said tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said tool working head being positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work piece and said tool rearward end portion being positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member including a chuck portion at said forward drive member end to limit forward axial travel of said tool within said drive member bore and to lock said tool against forward removal of said shank portion from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range, said tool being movable axially within said limited longitudinal range to a position whereat said tool rearward end portion is axially endwise impacted by the striker to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is moved into engagement with the work piece with sufficient force to axially move said tool rearward within said drive member bore;
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• transmission means, disposed within said body and surrounding said drive member, for converting the selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports into selected clockwise and counterclockwise rotational drive force to said drive member to move said drive member relative to said body within said limited rotational range by a limited first amount in a clockwise direction and a limited second amount in a counterclockwise direction, and for selectively holding said drive member stationary within said body.

A device for breaking apart or forming cuts or holes in a stationary work piece, such as a rock, cement or other hard material, the device being usable with a percussion hammer having a striker movable with reciprocating motion to provide repeated impact, comprising:

• a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and a shank extending therebetween;
• an outer body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• a drive member extending within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said drive member, said drive member bore having drive means for transmitting selective rotational drive force from said drive member to said tool as said drive member is selectively rotated within said limited rotational range by the application of fluid within said body through said ports, said drive means permitting substantially unrestricted axial movement of said tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said drive member holding said tool working head positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work piece and said tool rearward end portion positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member end for locking said tool against forward removal from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range, said tool being movable axially within said limited longitudinal range to a position whereat said tool rearward end portion is axially endwise impacted by the striker to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is moved into engagement with the work piece;
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• transmission means, disposed within said body and surrounding said drive member, for converting the selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports into selected clockwise and counterclockwise rotational drive force to said drive member to move said drive member relative to said body within said limited rotational range by a limited first amount in a clockwise direction and a limited second amount in a counterclockwise direction.

A mobile multiple tool mining device for engaging a stationary work surface, comprising:

• a plurality of units held fixed in side-by-side relation, each including:
• (a) a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and an elongated shank extending therebetween, said shank having at least a lengthwise portion with longitudinally extending substantially straight splines;
• (b) an outer generally cylindrical body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• (c) a drive member extending generally coaxially within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said body, said drive member bore having a lengthwise portion with longitudinally extending substantially straight splines positioned and matingly sized for meshing with said shank portion splines to transmit rotational drive force to said tool as said drive member is rotated within said limited rotational range by the application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports, while permitting substantially unrestricted axial movement of said tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said tool working head being positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work surface and said tool rearward end portion being positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member including a shaft portion positioned within said body, a chuck portion at said forward drive member end to limit forward axial travel of said tool within said drive member bore and to lock said tool against forward removal of said shank portion from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range, and a gear portion generally coaxial with said shaft portion and drivingly connected thereto for meshing with adjacent gear portions of adjacent drive members of said plurality of units so as to transmit drive force between the adjacent drive members and synchronize the rotation of adjacent tool working heads driven by the adjacent drive members;
• (d) a percussion hammer attached to and supporting said body at said rearward body end, said hammer having a striker position generally coaxial with said body and axially movable with reciprocating motion to repeatedly and continuously axially endwise impact said tool rearward end portion while the device is working to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is moved into engagement with the work surface with sufficient force to axially move said tool rearward within said drive member bore such that said tool rearward end is positioned for impact by said reciprocating striker;
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• (e) linear-to-rotary transmission means, disposed within said body and operable in response to selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through alternating ones of said ports, for converting linear reciprocating movement of a piston into limited rotational movement of said drive member relative to said body alternately in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, said piston being axial mounted for axial reciprocating movement within said body, axial forward movement of said piston in response to pressurized fluid causing a corresponding amount of rotational movement of said drive member in one or the other of said clockwise or counterclockwise directions and axial rearward movement of said piston in response to pressurized fluid causing a corresponding amount of rotational movement of said drive member in the other of said clockwise or counterclockwise directions;
• pressurized fluid control means for the simultaneous and substantially continuous alternating application of pressurized fluid within said body through alternating ones of said ports of each of said plurality of units to repeatedly and continuously, while the device is working, cause rotational movement of each of said drive members and tool working heads within said limited rotational range, first in one rotational direction and then in the other rotational direction, with adjacent ones of said drive members and tool working heads being simultaneously rotated in opposite rotational directions;
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• a mobile vehicle having a movable arm supporting said hammers of said plurality of units in generally side-by-side relation to position said gear portions of adjacent drive members of said plurality of units in driving engagement and to position said tool working heads of said plurality of units so as to work together and define a multiple tool work surface engaging device, said arm being movable to selectively position said plurality of units with said tool working heads engaging the work surface, whereby the application of fluid pressure within each said body of each of said plurality of units is used to simultaneously rotate each of said drive members and hence said tools first in one rotational direction and then in another, with adjacent ones of said tool working heads simultaneously rotating in opposite rotational directions.

A mobile multiple tool mining device for engaging a stationary work surface, comprising:

• a plurality of units held fixed in side-by-side relation, each including
• (a) a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and an elongated shank extending therebetween;
• (b) an outer body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• (c) a drive member extending within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said drive member, said drive member bore having drive means for transmitting rotational drive force from said drive member to said tool as said drive member is rotated within said limited rotational range by the application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports, while permitting substantially unrestricted axial movement of said tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said drive member holding said tool working head positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work surface and said tool rearward end portion positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member including lock means at said forward drive member end for locking said tool against forward removal of said shank portion from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range, and a gear portion drivingly connected to said drive member for meshing with adjacent gear portions of adjacent drive members of said plurality of units so as to transmit drive force between the adjacent drive members and synchronize the rotation of adjacent tool working heads driven by the adjacent drive members;
• (d) a percussion hammer attached to said body, said hammer having a striker movable with reciprocating motion to repeatedly and continuously axially endwise impact said tool rearward end portion while the device is working to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is in engagement with the work surface;
• and
• (e) transmission means, disposed within said body and surrounding said drive member, for converting selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports into alternating clockwise and counterclockwise oscillating rotational drive force to said drive member to move said drive member relative to said body within said limited rotational range alternately by a limited first amount in a clockwise direction and a limited second amount in a counterclockwise direction;
• pressurized fluid control means for the simultaneous and substantially continous application of pressurized fluid within said body of each of said plurality of units to repeatedly and continuously, while the device is working, cause rotational movement of each of said drive members and tool working heads within said limited rotational range, first in one of said clockwise or counterclockwise directions and then in the other direction;
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• a mobile vehicle having a movable arm supporting said plurality of units in generally side-by-side relation to position said gear portions of adjacent drive members of said plurality of units in driving engagement and to position said tool working heads of said plurality of units so as to work together and define a multiple tool work surface engaging device, said arm being movable to selectively position said plurality of units with said tool working heads engaging the work surface, whereby the application of fluid pressure within each said body of each of said plurality of units is used to simultaneously rotate each of said drive members and hence said tools first in one of said clockwise or counterclockwise directions and then in the other direction.

The device of 29 wherein for each of said plurality of units, said tool shank has a circumferentially extending recess positioned to a side of said shank portion toward said tool working head, and said drive member includes an elongated shaft portion within said body and within which said drive means is positioned, said chuck portion of said drive member including an attachment head fixedly attached to said shaft portion and a lock member rotatably attached to said attachment head and selectively rotatable between a release position and a lock position, said lock member having an aperture sized to receive said tool shank therewithin with said tool shank being in generally coaxial arrangement with said drive member, said lock member aperture having a lock portion sized and shaped so that when said lock member is selectively rotated into said release position said lock portion is circumferentially aligned with said drive member engagement portion to permit insertion and removal of said tool shank portion from said drive member bore, and so that when said tool shank is positioned within said drive member bore with said shank recess and said lock portion longitudinally aligned, said lock member is selectively rotatable into said lock position whereat said lock portion is circumferentially misaligned with said drive member engagement portion to lock said tool shank within said drive member bore while permitting unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range, each of said plurality of units further including stop means for preventing rotation of said lock member between said lock and release positions when the device is in use.

A multiple tool mining device for engaging a stationary work surface, comprising:

• a plurality of units held fixed in side-by-side relation, each including:
• (a) a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and an elongated shank extending therebetween, said shank having a shank portion;
• (b) an outer body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• (c) a drive member extending generally coaxially within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said body, said drive member bore having an engagement portion longitudinally positioned to engage said tool shank portion, said tool shank portion and drive member engagement portion being sized and shaped to matingly mesh to transmit rotational drive force to said tool as said drive member is rotated within said limited rotational range by the application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports, while permitting substantially unrestricted tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said tool working head being positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work surface and said tool rearward end portion being positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member including a shaft portion positioned within said body, a chuck portion at said forward drive member end to limit forward axial travel of said tool within said drive member bore and to lock said tool against forward removal of said shank portion from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range, and a gear portion drivingly connected to said shaft portion for meshing with adjacent gear portions of adjacent drive members of said plurality of units so as to transmit drive force between the adjacent drive members and synchronize the rotation of adjacent tool working heads driven by the adjacent drive members;
• (d) a percussion hammer attached to said body at said rearward body end, said hammer having a striker positioned generally coaxial with said body and axially movable with reciprocating motion to repeatedly and continuously axially endwise impact said tool rearward end portion while the device is working to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is moved into engagement with the work surface with sufficient force to axially move said tool rearward within said drive member bore such that said tool rearward end is positioned for impact by said reciprocating striker;
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• (e) transmission means, disposed within said body and surrounding said drive member, for converting the selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports into alternating clockwise and counterclockwise oscillatory rotational drive force to said drive member to move said drive member relative to said body within said limited rotational range alternately by a limited first amount in a clockwise direction and a limited second amount in a counterclockwise direction;
• pressurized fluid control means for the simultaneous and substantially continuous application of pressurized fluid within said body of each of said plurality of units to repeatedly and continuously, while the device is working, cause rotational movement of each of said drive members and tool working heads within said limited rotational range, first in one of said clockwise or counterclockwise directions and then in the other direction, with adjacent ones of said drive members and tool working heads being simultaneously rotated in opposite rotational directions;
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• means for supporting said plurality of units in generally side-by-side relation to position said gear portions of adjacent drive members of said plurality of units in driving engagement and to position said tool working heads of said plurality of units so as to work together and define a multiple tool work surface engaging device.

A multiple tool mining device for engaging a stationary work surface, comprising:

• a plurality of units held fixed in side-by-side relation, each including:
• (a) a tool having a working head at a forward end portion, an impact member at a rearward end portion, and an elongated shank extending therebetween;
• (b) an outer body having a forward end and a rearward end, and having ports for introducing pressurized fluid within said body;
• (c) a drive member extending within said body and supported for rotation relative to said body within a limited rotational range, said drive member having an interior bore extending fully and generally coaxially through said drive member from a forward drive member end to a rearward drive member end, said drive member bore being sized to receive said tool shank therewithin in generally coaxial arrangement with said drive member, said drive member bore having drive means for transmitting rotational drive force from said drive member to said tool as said drive member is rotated within said limited rotational range by the application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports, while permitting substantially unrestricted axial movement of said tool relative to said drive member within a limited longitudinal range, said drive member holding said tool working head positioned at said forward body end exterior of said body to engage the work surface and said tool rearward end portion positioned at said body rearward end, said drive member including lock means at said forward drive member end for locking said tool against forward removal of said shank portion from said drive member bore while permitting substantially unrestricted reciprocal axial movement of said tool within said limited longitudinal range;
• (d) a percussion hammer attached to said body, said hammer having a striker movable with reciprocating motion to repeatedly and continuously axially endwise impact said tool rearward end portion while the device is working to drive said tool forward when said tool working head is in engagement with the work surface;
• and
• (e) transmission means, disposed within said body and surrounding said drive member, for converting selected application of pressurized fluid within said body through said ports, into alternating clockwise and counterclockwise oscillatory rotational drive force to said drive member to move said drive member relative to said body within said limited rotational range alternately by a limited first amount in a clockwise direction and a limited second amount in a counterclockwise direction;
• pressurized fluid control means for the simultaneous and substantially continuous application of pressurized fluid within said body of each of said plurality of units to repeatedly and continuously, while the device is working, cause rotational movement of each of said drive members and tool working heads within said limited rotational range, first in one of said clockwise or counterclockwise directions and then in the other direction;
• and
• means for supporting said plurality of units in generally side-by-side relation to position said tool working heads of said plurality of units so as to work together and define a multiple tool work surface engaging device.