Apparatus for fracture of material in situ with stored inertial energy

Claim 2

A mechanical system for imparting energy intermittently to an earth working implement, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; means for supporting and manipulating said implement; inertial energy storage means including a massive balanced flywheel system mounted on rotatable eccentric shaft means for storing high levels of inertial energy sufficient to meet the peak demands of said systems; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storage means; and transmission means including an impact device and a substantially rigid element establishing a positive connection of said eccentric shaft means To said impact device for converting and intermittently transmitting said stored inertial energy to said earth working implement on demand.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said implement is a rock fracturing tool; said tool is supported on a mobile vehicle for travel with the point thereof in engagement with a rock formation beneath the surface thereof to continuously separate portions from said formation along a path of travel of said vehicle; and, said impact device is adapted to intermittently engage said tool at an angle from the surface of said formation.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tool is supported so that the angle of attack with respect to said formation may be selectively varied.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said angle of attack is variable between 20* and 55* .

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said frequency of said impact is variable.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said impact device is supported by a pair of links.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said links form a quadrilateral.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said implement is supported by means of a pair of links.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said implement is a dozer blade.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the angle of attack of said blade is variable.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9 wherein the vibratory energy is imparted to said blade at an angle from the surface of the formation.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 1 comprising movable reaction means including a housing pivotally supporting said flywheel and crankshaft on said frame for permitting said transmission means to move to an equilibrium position in response to load demands on said implement.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 12 wherein said reaction means is pivotable for movement of said transmission means and said energy storage means substantially along the path of stroke of said implement.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 12 including means for biasing said transmission means toward said implement.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 12 wherein the pivotal support of said housing to said frame is disposed upward and forward of the axis of said crankshaft so that said impact device swings toward said implement under the influence of the weight of said flywheel and crankshaft so that said reaction means varies automatically in response to variable load on said implement.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 15 wherein said reaction means comprises hydraulic control means.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 1 wherein said implement is supported centrally on said vehicle within boundaries defined by four main support wheels of said vehicles so that substantially the entire weight of said vehicle may be imposed on said implement.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 17 wherein said wheels are driving wheels.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 1 wherein the r.p.m. of said prime mover means and the frequency of said transmission means are variable to maintain a high velocity ratio of said implement to the forward speed of said vehicle.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 19 wherein said implement is supported for vibratory movement by means of a quadrilateral linkage such that the instantaneous center of pivoting for said implement is slightly ahead of the cutting edge thereof.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 20 wherein said implement is a rock fracturing shank.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 20 wherein said transmission means includes an impact coupling.

Claim 24

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said implement is pivotally supported to move into and out of position for engagement by said impact device under force reaction from said formation; and, stop means operative to limit the movement of said implement into engagement with said impact device so that said eccentric means rotates at least one quarter of a revolution before engagement of said impact device with said implement.

Claim 25

The apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said Implement is a rock ripping shank pivotally mounted on said supporting means and including a chisel shaped tip extending in a forward direction; said impact means comprises a hammer pivotally mounted directly behind said shank for intermittent engagement there-with; and, said rigid element comprises a rigid link journaled at one end on said eccentric shaft means and pivotally connected at the other end to said hammer.

Claim 26

The apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said hammer is pivotally mounted directly to said shank.

Claim 27

A dynamic mechanical system for applying vibratory energy to an implement for earth working, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; a frame mounted on a mobile vehicle; said implement being pivotally supported to said frame and movable to a position for engaging said earth formation; stop means on said frame to engage and limit the pivotal movement of said implement away from said formation; means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotary crankshaft for storing sufficiently high levels of inertial energy to meet the peak power demand of said system; housing means pivotally mounted on said frame and rotatably mounting said flywheel and said crankshaft, said housing being pivoted to said frame on an axis above said crankshaft, and pivotal under the weight of said flywheel, said crankshaft, and said housing toward said implement to oppose bias of said tool away from said formation and thereby define reaction means; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storing means; and transmission means including impact means operatively connected by a rigid link journaled to said crankshaft for converting and cyclically transmitting said stored energy to said earth working implement on demand to drive said implement toward said formation.

Claim 28

A dynamic mechanical system for applying vibratory energy to an implement for earth working, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; a frame mounted on a mobile vehicle; said implement being pivotally supported to said frame and movable to a position for engaging said earth formation; stop means on said frame to engage and limit the pivotal movement of said implement away from said formation; means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotary crankshaft for storing sufficiently high levels of inertial energy to meet the peak power demand of said system; housing means pivotally mounted on said frame and rotatably mounting said flywheel and said crankshaft, said housing being pivoted to said frame on an axis above said crankshaft, and pivotal under the weight of said flywheel, said crankshaft, and said housing toward said implement to oppose bias of said tool away from said formation and thereby define reaction means; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storing means; and transmission means including impact means operatively connected by a rigid link journaled to said crankshaft for converting and cyclically transmitting said stored energy to said earth working implement on demand to drive said implement toward said formation.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 26 wherein said energy storage means stores sufficient inertial energy to prevent more than a ten per cent variation in angular velocity of the crankshaft.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said implement is supported so that the angle of attack with respect to said formation may be selectively varied.

Claim 31

The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the frequency of said impact is variable.

Claim 32

The apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein said impact device and said implement are each supported by a pair of links.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein each of said pairs links form a quadrilateral with the respective one of said impact device and said implement.

Claim 34

A mechanical system for imparting vibratory energy to an earth working implement, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; means for supporting and manipulating said implement; inertial energy storage means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotatable crankshaft for storing high levels of inertial energy sufficient to meet the peak demands of said systems; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storage means; transmission means including an impact device operatively connected to said crankshaft for converting and intermittently transmitting said stored inertial energy to said earth working implement on demand; movable reaction means including a housing pivotally supporting said flywheel and crankshaft on said frame; and a pressurized fluid circuit operatively connected to bias said housing toward said implement for permitting said transmission means to move to an equilibrium position in response to load demands on said implement.

Claim 35

A mechanical system for imparting vibratory energy to an earth working implement, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; means for supporting and manipulating said implement; inertial energy storage means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotatable crankshaft for storing high levels of inertial energy sufficient to meet the peak demands of said systems; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storage means; transmission means including an impact device operatively connected to said crankshaft for converting and intermittently transmitting said stored inertial energy to said earth working implement on demand; movable reaction means including a housing pivotally supporting said flywheel and crankshaft on said frame; and a pressurized fluid circuit operatively connected to bias said housing toward said implement for permitting said transmission means to move to an equilibrium position in response to load demands on said implement.

Claim 36

The invention of claim 32 wherein said circuit includes an accumulator.

Claim 37

A mechanical system for imparting vibratory energy to an earth working implement, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; means for supporting and manipulating said implement; inertial eNergy storage means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotatable crankshaft for storing high levels of inertial energy sufficient to meet the peak demands of said systems; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storage means; transmission means including an impact device operatively connected to said crankshaft for converting and intermittently transmitting said stored inertial energy to said earth working implement on demand; and movable reaction means including a fluid circuit and a housing pivotally supporting said flywheel and crankshaft on said frame for permitting said transmission means to move substantially along the path of stroke of said implement to an equilibrium position in response to load demands on said implement.

Claim 38

A mechanical system for imparting vibratory energy to an earth working implement, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; means for supporting and manipulating said implement; inertial eNergy storage means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotatable crankshaft for storing high levels of inertial energy sufficient to meet the peak demands of said systems; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storage means; transmission means including an impact device operatively connected to said crankshaft for converting and intermittently transmitting said stored inertial energy to said earth working implement on demand; and movable reaction means including a fluid circuit and a housing pivotally supporting said flywheel and crankshaft on said frame for permitting said transmission means to move substantially along the path of stroke of said implement to an equilibrium position in response to load demands on said implement.

Claim 39

The invention of claim 34 wherein said circuit includes an accumulator circuit.

Claim 40

A mechanical system for imparting vibratory energy to an earth working implement, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; means for supporting and manipulating said implement; inertial energy storage means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotatable crankshaft for storing high levels of inertial energy sufficient to meet the peak demands of said systems; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storage means; transmission means including an impact device operatively connected to said crankshaft for converting and intermittently transmitting said stored inertial energy to said earth working implement on demand; movable reaction means including a housing pivotally supporting said flywheel and crankshaft on said frame for permitting said transmission means to move to an equilibrium position in response to load demands on said implement; and means including a fluid circuit for biasing said transmission means toward said implement.

Claim 41

A mechanical system for imparting vibratory energy to an earth working implement, said system comprising: an implement for separating portions from an earth formation; means for supporting and manipulating said implement; inertial energy storage means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on a rotatable crankshaft for storing high levels of inertial energy sufficient to meet the peak demands of said systems; a prime mover for continuously delivering energy to said energy storage means; transmission means including an impact device operatively connected to said crankshaft for converting and intermittently transmitting said stored inertial energy to said earth working implement on demand; movable reaction means including a housing pivotally supporting said flywheel and crankshaft on said frame for permitting said transmission means to move to an equilibrium position in response to load demands on said implement; and means including a fluid circuit for biasing said transmission means toward said implement.

Claim 42

The invention of claim 36 wherein said circuit includes an accumulator.

Claim 43

A dynamic mechanical system for applying intermittent unidirectional energy to a rock fracturing implement, said system comprising: an elongated fracturing shank; means including a support frame for pivotally supporting said fracturing shank for vibratory movement; a rotatable shaft including eccentric means; means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on said rotatable shaft for storing substantial amounts of rotative inertial energy; and impact means comprising a rigid link journaled to said eccentric means to directly connect said eccentric means and said impact means to intermittently engage said shank for transmitting said energy from said flywheel to said shank in the form of high energy unidirectional blows.

Claim 44

A dynamic mechanical system for applying intermittent unidirectional energy to a rock fracturing implement, said system comprising: an elongated fracturing shank; means including a support frame for pivotally supporting said fracturing shank for vibratory movement; a rotatable shaft including eccentric means; means including a massive balanced flywheel mounted on said rotatable shaft for storing substantial amounts of rotative inertial energy; and impact means comprising a rigid link journaled to said eccentric means to directly connect said eccentric means and said impact means to intermittently engage said shank for transmitting said energy from said flywheel to said shank in the form of high energy unidirectional blows.

Claim 45

The invention of claim 38 wherein the point of impact of said energy transmitting means with said shank includes a curved surface.

Claim 46

The invention of claim 39 comprising means to shield said impact area from foreign matter.

Claim 47

The apparatus as defined in claim 40 wherein said hammer means is pivotally mounted directly on said shank.