# US 8,783,383 B2 · Borehole impact rock breaker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,383 B2 - Document ID: US8783383B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/085,875 - Filed: 2011-04-13 - Published: 2011-10-20 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-15 - Assignees: Jeffrey S. Senules - Applicants: Jeffrey S. Senules - Inventors: Jeffrey S. Senules - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783383B2 ## CPC - E21C 37/04: by devices with parts pressed mechanically against the wall of a borehole {or a slit} - B25D 17/02: Percussive tool bits {(drill bits for earth drilling E21B10/00)} - E21C: MINING OR QUARRYING - B25D: PERCUSSIVE TOOLS {(percussive machines for forging B21J; hand-held drilling machines, in general B23B45/00, for wood B27C3/08; drilling machines, used for mining or quarrying, with reciprocating tool which is turned intermittently when out of contact with the working face E21B1/00)} ## Abstract A device used to break rock from within a predrilled borehole through the use of impact pins which strike against the interior sides of a drilled hole. The device is loaded into a drilled hole and then activated by a percussive hammer located above the hole, providing percussive energy to the device which is then transferred to the sidewall of the drilled hole. The device includes an inner piston assembly which includes a driving surface for causing impact pins to strike the interior sidewall of the drilled hole in a rapid percussive manner so as to greatly improve the ability to break and shatter surrounding rock or concrete. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device used to break rock from within a predrilled borehole, comprising: a sleeve; an inner piston assembly slidably housed within the sleeve and configured for engagement with a percussive hammer, the inner piston assembly comprising at least one driving surface, wherein the inner piston assembly is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the sleeve; and at least one impact pin in communication with the driving surface and extendable from a sidewall of the sleeve, wherein movement of the inner piston assembly in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve causes the impact pin to strike a sidewall of the predrilled borehole. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of impact pins. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the device comprises a plurality of driving surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein each impact pin is in communication with a respective driving surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the impact pin is in contact with the driving surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the driving surface is a wedge or cone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the impact pin comprises a biasing member to bias the impact pin in a retracted position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the biasing member is a compression spring. ### Claim 9 A method of breaking rock from within a predrilled borehole, comprising: positioning in the borehole a device comprising: a sleeve, an inner piston assembly slidably housed within the sleeve and comprising at least one driving surface, wherein the inner piston assembly is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the sleeve, and at least one impact pin in communication with the driving surface and extendable from a sidewall of the sleeve, wherein the device is connected to a percussive hammer; and activating the percussive hammer, wherein activating the percussive hammer causes movement of the inner piston assembly in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve, causing the at least one impact pin to repeatedly strike a sidewall of the predrilled borehole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: rotating the device to align the impact pins with a desired section of the borehole. ### Claim 11 An assembly used to break rock from within a predrilled borehole, comprising: a percussive hammer; and a rock breaker device attached to the percussive hammer, wherein the rock breaker device comprises: a sleeve; an inner piston assembly slidably housed within the sleeve and engaged with the percussive hammer, the inner piston assembly comprising at least one driving surface, wherein the inner piston assembly is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the sleeve; and at least one impact pin in communication with the driving surface and extendable from a sidewall of the sleeve, wherein movement of the inner piston assembly in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve causes the impact pin to strike a sidewall of the predrilled borehole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the percussive hammer is driven by hydraulic or pneumatic force. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the percussive hammer is capable of delivering at least 200 impacts per minute. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the rock breaker device comprises a plurality of impact pins. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14, wherein the rock breaker device comprises a plurality of driving surfaces. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein each impact pin is in communication with a respective driving surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the impact pin is in contact with the driving surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the impact pin comprises a biasing member to bias the impact pin in a retracted position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The assembly of claim 18, wherein the biasing member is a compression spring.