Pneumatic rock drill
AssigneeSulzer South Africa Limited
InventorsMichael R. Davies, David J. Gee, James Creswell, Stephen E. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic rockdrill having a housing; a cylinder connected to a compressed air supply inlet by a set of air passages; an impact piston, at least part of which is reciprocable within the cylinder; and a controller for the supply of compressed air from the air supply inlet to the cylinder. At least one pair of contact surfaces are located at the interface between the piston and the cylinder, where those relatively moving parts contact one another. At least one water supply inlet and water paths connected to the water supply inlet(s) are configured so as in operation to convey water to a drilling tool to flush a hole being drilled, and to supply water to wet the contact surfaces.
Claims28
A pneumatic rockdrill comprising:
- a housing, including an air supply inlet for receiving compressed air, and a cylinder connected to the air supply inlet by a set of air passages;
- an impact piston, at least part of which has an interface with and is reciprocable within the cylinder;
- airflow control means for controlling the supply of compressed air from the air supply inlet to the cylinder;
- a water supply inlet adapted in operation to convey water to a drilling tool so as to flush a hole being drilled;
- at least one pair of corresponding contact surfaces at the interface where the relatively moving impact piston and the cylinder contact one another;
- and
- water paths connected to the water supply inlet so that at least the interface between the impact piston and the cylinder is supplied with lubricating water or lubricating water-laden air.
A method of operating a pneumatic rockdrill including a cylinder, an impact piston, at least a part of which is reciprocable within the cylinder, and at least one pair of contact surfaces at an interface between the piston and the cylinder, the method including the steps of:
- supplying compressed air to the rockdrill so as to cause reciprocation of the impact piston;
- providing a water supply to the rockdrill;
- causing water to be exhausted through a drilling tool into a hole being drilled;
- and
- wetting said contact surfaces with water so that at least the interface between the impact piston and the cylinder is supplied with lubricating water or lubricating water-laden air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.