Controlled fracture method and apparatus for breaking hard compact rock and concrete materials

A method for rapid excavation using controlled penetrating cone fracture breakage techniques comprising performing a substantially continuous and sequential series of drilling and blasting operations, each successive sequential series of which being advanced further in the direction of excavation, the sequential series of steps further comprising:

• positioning a pivot point of a boom on an excavation face;
• advancing a drill toward the face;
• drilling a hole of predetermined aspect ratio;
• removing the drill from the face;
• indexing the drill out of alignment with the hole and indexing a gun mounted on the boom into alignment with the hole;
• advancing the gun into the borehole;
• sealing the borehole with a sealing means on the gun;
• loading a propellant charge into the gun and igniting the charge;
• withdrawing the gun rearward on the boom;
• and
• advancing the boom along the face in the direction of excavation and repeating the series, all the while performing substantially continuous mucking.

Apparatus for breaking hard compact materials, such as rock and concrete, comprising:

• a charge-containing device for inserting into a hole drilled into the material;
• a seal wrapped around the device for sealing the device and containing high pressure gas in the hole;
• a charge in the device for generating a high-pressure gas which is then injected into the hole;
• and
• an ignition system for igniting the charge;
• for causing and effecting formation and propagation of a preferred fracture from a bottom of the hole such that a volume of the material is effectively fractured, broken and removed.

A method for breaking hard compact materials, such as rock and concrete, comprising:

• drilling a hole in the material;
• containing a charge in a device;
• inserting a barrel of the device into the hole drilled into the material;
• wrapping a seal around a barrel of the device, sealing the device and containing high pressure gas in the hole;
• igniting the charge and causing the charge to burn;
• generating high-pressure gas from the burning charge;
• injecting the gas into the hole;
• forming and propagating a preferred fracture from a bottom corner of the hole;
• and
• breaking, fracturing and removing a volume of material.