Agitator for a drill and related methods
AssigneeJ.H. Fletcher & Co.
InventorKerry Hopf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus assists in preventing the accumulation of debris in a flow path during the formation of a borehole. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a drill head including a drive shaft for driving a drilling element to form the borehole. Preferably, the drilling element includes a passage forming a flow path for debris from the borehole. A carrier positioned adjacent the flow path is connected to at least one agitator connected to the carrier for agitating debris in the flow path. A related method pertains to manufacturing a drill head including an agitator.
Claims24
An apparatus for assisting in preventing the accumulation of debris in a flow path during the formation of a borehole in a face of a mine passage using a drilling element, comprising:
- a drill head including a housing at least partially defining the flow path, said housing including a rotatable drive shaft for driving the drilling element to form the borehole, said drive shaft having an internal passage forming part of the flow path;
- and
- at least one agitator positioned in the housing for agitating debris in the flow path.
A drilling or bolting unit for use with a drilling element for forming a borehole in a face of a mine passage, comprising:
- a drill head including a housing having a rotatable drive shaft for driving the drilling element to form the borehole, said drive shaft at least partially defining a flow path for debris;
- a carrier connected to the drive shaft;
- and
- at least one agitator connected to the carrier, the at least one agitator for agitating debris in the flow path;
- wherein the at least one agitator does not obstruct an opening of the drive shaft forming a portion of the flow path.
An apparatus for assisting in preventing the accumulation of debris in a flow path during the formation of a borehole in a face of a mine passage, comprising:
- a drill bit including a passage forming a flow path for debris from the borehole;
- a drill head including a housing and a drive shaft for driving the drill bit to form the borehole;
- and
- at least one agitator within the housing and separate from the drill bit for agitating debris in the flow path.
A method of manufacturing a drill head for assisting in preventing the accumulation of debris in a flow path during the formation of a borehole in a face of a mine passage using a drill bit actuated by a drive shaft having a passage forming a part of the flow path, comprising:
- providing the drill head with at least one agitator for agitating debris in the flow path;
- rotating the drive shaft within a housing forming part of the drill head;
- and
- using a pressure source to cause flow through the flow path, including the passage of the drive shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.