US3693731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for tunneling by melting
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-01-08
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A machine and method for drilling bore holes and tunnels by melting in which a housing is provided for supporting a heat source and a heated end portion and in which the necessary melting heat is delivered to the walls of the end portion at a rate sufficient to melt rock and during operation of which the molten material may be disposed adjacent the boring zone in cracks in the rock and as a vitreous wall lining of the tunnel so formed. The heat source can be electrical or nuclear but for deep drilling is preferably a nuclear reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale E Armstrong
- 👤 Berthus B Mcinteer
- 👤 Robert L Mills
- 👤 Robert M Potter
- 👤 Eugene S Robinson
- 👤 John C Rowley
- 👤 Morton C Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:19
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/14; E21B7/15; E21B7/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
Earth drilling apparatus for drilling bore holes and tunnels in rock by melting a path for itself comprising an elongated hollow drill housing having a first hollow portion and a second hollow portion, a heat source supported in said first hollow portion having a temperature of not less than about 1,100* C, heat pipe chains for thermally coupling the heat source to the interior surface of the walls of the said second hollow portion, each of said heat pipes comprising a plurality of thermally coupled heat pipe sections, each of the heat pipe sections having an evaporator end and a condenser end, and being coupled with the condenser end of a preceding heat pipe being adjacent the evaporator end of the next succeeding heat pipe, the initial evaporator of each of the heat pipe chains is supported in close thermal contact with the heat source and the terminal condenser of each heat pipe chain is affixed in tight thermal conductive relation to the interior wall of the said second hollow portion, and propulsion means supported by the said first hollow portion for translating the drilling apparatus in the direction of elongation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
Earth drilling apparatus for drilling bore holes and tunnels in rock by melting a path for itself comprising an elongated hollow drill housing having a first hollow portion and a second hollow portion, a heat source supported in said first hollow portion having a temperature of not less than about 1,100* C, heat pipe chains for thermally coupling the heat source to the interior surface of the walls of the said second hollow portion, each of said heat pipes comprising a plurality of thermally coupled heat pipe sections, each of the heat pipe sections having an evaporator end and a condenser end, and being coupled with the condenser end of a preceding heat pipe being adjacent the evaporator end of the next succeeding heat pipe, the initial evaporator of each of the heat pipe chains is supported in close thermal contact with the heat source and the terminal condenser of each heat pipe chain is affixed in tight thermal conductive relation to the interior wall of the said second hollow portion, and propulsion means supported by the said first hollow portion for translating the drilling apparatus in the direction of elongation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the propulsion means is a double thruster bore hole lock-on mechanism and means for operating the double thruster comprising a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure and hydraulic rams supported in the drill housing first portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the walls of the housing second portion converge toward the forward end whereby molten rock is distributed laterally against the bore hole walls to in situ form a vitreous casing thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the propulsion means is a drill pipe stem made up of standard drill pipe segments and having a length coextensive with the bore hole plus one additional pipe segment or a portion thereof, said drill pipe stem being connected at one end to the rearward end of the drill housing first section and extending out of the bore hole at its other end, whereby said drill stem is adapted to forcefully urge the rock drill forward by its own weight and by force applied to said other end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the walls of the heat source and drill first section are water cooled, water transmission means, hydraulic pressure hoses and electrical power transmitting conductors being housed and supported in the drill stem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in combination with a surface facility, said surface facility comprising electrical generating means, electrical signaling means, water coolant storage and pumping means and vertical force generating means, electrical conducting means connecting the electrical generating means to the electrical power transmitting conductors, coupling means for coupling the signaling means to the rock drill, and hoses connected between the coolant pumping and storage means and the rock drill water transmission means for circulating water through the heat source armor and drill body first section for cooling the same and conveying the heat thereby obtained to the surface facility.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US1993641A
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US3117634A
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US3225843A
Cited
US3115194A
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US3396806A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |