A method for breaking hard material, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a tool (12) for breaking hard material, wherein the tool (12)
- i. comprises a body (14) having an opening (16) therethrough forming a barrel (18), which receives a spring assembly (24) therein, the barrel (18) having a threaded opening (28) at a first end (20) of the barrel (18) and a fitted opening (30) at a second end (22) of the barrel (18);
- ii. an actuator pin tube (26) having a first and a second end (32 and 34), and an opening (36) therethrough for slidably engaging an actuator pin (38), wherein the first end (32) of the actuator pin tube (26) is engaged securely in the fitted opening (30), and the second end (34) of the actuator pin tube (26) extends from the fitted opening (30);
- iii. the actuator pin (38) having a tip (40) and a retention head (42) at opposing ends (41 and 43) of the actuator pin (38), wherein the retention head (42) is wider than the opening (36) in the actuator pin tube (26), and the actuator pin (38) is longer than the actuator pin tube (26) permitting the tip (40) to extend through the second end (34) of the actuator pin tube (26);
- iv. the spring assembly (24) comprises a hammer guide (44) engaged in the threaded opening (30), a hammer (46) slidably engaged through the hammer guide (44), a handle mechanism (55) for manually cocking the hammer (53) disposed on a first end of the hammer (46), a spring retainer (52) disposed adjacent a second end (50) of the hammer (46), and a spring (54) engaged on the hammer (46) between the spring retainer (52) and the hammer guide (44), wherein the second end (50) of the hammer (46) is formed into a hammerhead (51), and the hammerhead (51) is extended towards the retention head (42) when the spring (54) is fully relaxed;
- and
- v. a release mechanism (56) for releasably engaging the hammer (46) by pulling a pull cord (94) engaged on the release mechanism (56);
- b. providing a cartridge (84) having a tubular shaped casing (96) with a closed bottom (100) at one end and a primer (102) at the opposing end and a load (98) interspersed therebetween the bottom (100) and the primer (102);
- c. drilling a borehole (B) in a hard material (R) wherein the borehole (B) will accommodate the full length of the actuator pin tube (26) which extends from the fitted opening (30) of the barrel (18);
- d. cleaning out the borehole;
- e. inserting the load cartridge (84) all the way into the borehole (B) so the primer (102) will come into contact with the tip (40) of the actuator pin (38) once the actuator pin tube (26) is engaged in the borehole (B);
- f. shaking the actuator pin (38) into position so that the tip (40) extends from the second end (34) of the actuator pin tube (26);
- g. inserting the actuator pin tube (26) into the borehole (B) such that the tip of the actuator pin (38) meets the primer (102) of the load cartridge (84);
- h. connecting the pull cord (96) to the handle mechanism (55);
- i. extending the pull cord (96) to its full length;
- and
- j. pulling the pull cord (96) to detonate the load cartridge (84).