Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 in which exploding step comprises serially exploding said explosive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 which further comprises connecting said second hole to a conduit and withdrawing through said second hole and conduit methane gases and conducting said methane away from said excavated area to a safer area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1 which further comprises forcing liquid under pressure into said second hole to saturate the rock surrounding said second hole and then excavating in the area of the length of said second hole, the said liquid suppressing dust which would otherwise be created during said excavating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 which further comprises boring said face with a rotary boring machine proceeding in a direction parallel to the direction of said holes, the fragmenting of the rock facilitating progress of said boring machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 which comprises drilling a first plurality of first holes in said face distributed around said second hole, said first holes being substantially equidistant from said second hole, inserting second explosive means in each of said plurality of first holes, and exploding said second means at selectively longitudinally spaced intervals along the lengths of said first holes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 6 which further comprises drilling a second plurality of first holes located at a distance from said first plurality of first holes and also a second second hole centrally located relative to said second plurality of first holes all generally parallel to said first mentioned holes, inserting in said second first holes a third series of explosive means, and exploding said third means at selectively longitudinally spaced intervals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 7 in which the third volume of rock between said first and second volumes of rock is maintained unexcavated to provide a roof support pillar and which further comprises drilling a third hole in said third volume generally parallel to said first and second pluralities of first holes, and conducting methane out from said third hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said fragmenting step comprises providing an elongated tube of a frangible material dimensioned to fit said one hole with a plurality of spaced explosive charges in said tube, firing devices for each said charge, firing wires to energize individually each said firing device extending out one end of said tube and stemming between explosive charges, inserting said tube in said one hole with said firing wires extending out of said tube and then individually electrically energizing said firing wires to explode said charges at different tiMes and which further comprises excavating said face in the direction of said holes by boring said face and said tube.