Drill steel for drilling mine roofs and associated method of drilling bores
OwnerJohn Wanginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drill member, or “drill steel,” is used in a drilling system for installing roof bolts in a mine. The drill member comprises an elongated bar having a central through bore and opposite open ends. The bar has a cross section that defines a circular outside perimeter and a polygonal inside perimeter. The polygonal inside perimeter is configured for coupling of the drill steel to drill bits at one end and to a motorized drill driving device at an opposite end.
Claims16
A drilling system for drilling vertical holes in a mine roof, comprising:
- a base assembly configured to be driven in rotation by a motorized drill driving device, said base assembly including a stub member, said stub member having an upper portion having a cross section defining a polygonal outside perimeter;
- a drill member having an elongated hollow body having open ends, having a cross section defining a round outside perimeter and a constant polygonal inside perimeter along substantially the entire length of said drill member;
- and
- a drill bit having a base with a bit fixture extending rearwardly thereof, said bit fixture having a cross section with a polygonal outside perimeter;
- and
- said stub member and said bit fixture sized and shaped to fit snugly inside said open ends of said drill member.
A drill member for use in a drilling system for installing roof bolts in a mine, comprising:
- an elongated bar having a central through bore and opposite open ends, said bar having a constant transverse cross section along substantially the entire length thereof that defines a smooth circular outside perimeter and a polygonal inside perimeter.
A method of drilling bores for installing bolts in a mine roof, comprising the steps of:
- providing a length of a hollow drill member, said drill member having a round outside perimeter and a polygonal inside perimeter that is constant throughout substantially the entire length of said hollow drill member;
- providing a drill bit having a hollow bit fixture, said bit fixture having a polygonal outside perimeter sized and shaped to fit snugly within an open end of said drill member to be coupled for rotation therewith;
- providing a hollow stub member coupled to a source of rotary power and having a polygonal outside perimeter sized and shaped to fit snugly within an opposite open end of said drill member;
- and
- fitting one end of said drill member onto said stub member;
- fitting said bit fixture into an opposite end of said drill member;
- and
- rotating said stub member and urging said drill member upwardly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.