Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
  • E21B7/18—Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B10/00—Drill bits
  • E21B10/60—Drill bits characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
  • E21B43/29—Obtaining a slurry of minerals, e.g. by using nozzles
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B44/00—Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
  • E21B44/005—Below-ground automatic control systems
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
  • E21B7/04—Directional drilling
  • E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to drilling and cutting means that utilize direct, pulsating, fast-flowing, tightly focused streams of fluid such as water under controlled feed conditions.
• Waterpower is well known as a means of spraying, eroding, shearing, fragmenting and conveying materials. It is also well known for its conversion to electrical, heat and mechanical energy.
• Mechanical means have been reaching practical technological, size, complexity, power, utility and operational limits, particularly when optimum recovery is needed along with minimum environmental disturbance to obtain relatively inaccessible resources.
• the present invention attempts to solve these existing problems by using a hydrojet cutter that operates at 10,000 psi., but no greater than 20,000 psi. and offers the cutting capacities of the substantially more high-powered hydrojet cutters by controlling the lateral shear movement of a 10,000 psi. hydrojet cutter in patterns that permit greater penetration and material removal with less energy required by prior art designs, depending on the strata.
• the rotating cutter jets conically penetrate and then intersect to free untouched fragments.
• This multi-directional acute angle shearing technique gives much the same advantage as a sculpter or skilled log chopperusing less energy.
• Hydrojet drilling and cutting means and methods of feed are presented. These means comprise a base, at least one drilling head, and in a preferred embodiment exactly one drilling head coupled to the base. Stabilizing means are coupled to a variety of feed control means and both are coupled to the drilling head. A source of cutting fluid such as recyclable, treated water is supplied to the drilling head. Cutting fluid pressure means of intensification are coupled to the drilling head.
• the base means comprise a structural means of support for alignment means of reference for feed controlling means, for fluid supply and mucking means, for power supply means and for systems deployment means.
• a purpose of this invention in both its preferred embodiment and its alternatives is to provide hydrojet drilling and cutting means and feeding methods that are in their combined effect more efficient in the use of energy and cutting fluid in the penetration and volumetric removal of rock and other host materials than those of individual hydrojet drilling and cutting means and methods by prior art. Such efficiency is derived partly from the avoidance of counter-productive attributes of the prior art.
• Another purpose of this invention is to provide means for effectively exploiting the inherent weaknesses of various host materials such as laminar structure, permeability, porosity, inelasticity, low bond strength and erosion resistance, low shear and tensile strengths and granular displacement.
• Another purpose of this invention is to provide accurate control of the geometric patterns of cutting and hole alignmentduring advancement.
• Another purpose of this invention is to provide a hydrojet drilling and cutting means and feeding methods that are more commercially acceptable for a wide range of applications.
• the drilling head comprises a self-rotating, high pressure plenum defining structure coupled to a plenum body of the output plenum of the pressure intensification means in a substantially fluid type coupling to receive boosted pressure fluid from the intensification means.
• the interior surface of the high pressure plenum defining structure defines a generally axially symmetric plenum rotating about an axis.
• the output of the plenum defining structure comprises at least three flow lines with orifices, exactly three in the first example, disposed generally symmetrically at equal angles about the axis of the plenum.
• the orifice flow lines originate tangentially from the axially symmetric plenum in substantially the same relative orientation and exit at a downward acute angle of approximately 25 degrees in a first example from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the plenum.
• Pressurized fluid enters the tangentially disposed orifice flow lines to induce a rotational moment of the plenum defining structure and to provide successive hydraulic jet impingements in a pulse-like manner during cut and clear jet penetration and shearing from a plurality of directions as new rock or other materia is exposed, cut and displaced.
• the exterior surface of the plenum defini structure is generally axially symmetric and is coupled non-rotatably with a generally axially symmetric internal retainer bearing.
• a non-rotating housing means comprises an interior surface defining a female bearing structure which rotatably mates in a substantially frictionless coupling with an axially symmetric rotating internal retainer bearing.
• Rotational velocity controlling means of the non- rotating housing means are adjustably affixed to a plenum body external mounting means.
• the housing interior surface is rotatably coupled to the rotating internal retainer bearing means affixed to the plenum defining structure.
• Bearing frictional adjustments permit selected variations of rotational velocity of the plenum defining structure.
• Housing guard and stand-off means are disposed around the exterior surface of the plenum defining structure extending in a circle below the lowest exposure of the rotating plenum defining structure but within a cone defined by jet stream angle extension.
• the housing means comprise a hardened nut which nut retains the assembly, permits frictional rotational speed adjustment, establishes a minimum jet stream stand-off distance and provides structural protection for the rotating plenum defining structure in a first example.
• Labyrinth seals seal with low leakage at least certain of the rotating cylindrical bearing surfaces of the plenum body.
• the labyrinth seals in one example seal at least certain flat bearing surfaces of the internal retainer bearing means and the plenum body.
• Matching bearing surfaces of the housing means and the conical bearing surfaces of the internal retainer bearing means may absorb and translate externally applied shock loads througjh the bearing surfaces to the base mounting surfaces of the plenum body.
• the means of pressure intensification provided for the drilling means comprises a closed loop hydraulic double-acting intensifier system capable of boosting a low pressure, high volume cutting fluid supply to sustain uniform pressures of about 10,000 to 20,000 psi.
• a means of pressure intensification using one or more double-acting intensifiers comprises modified end caps or retaining structures shaped as a triangle to reduce the intensifier closed loop hydraulic system configuration circumferential size for confined areas.
• the means of pressure intensification provided for the drilling means may comprise one or more open loop, stacked, positive displacement pumps serially boosting input cutting fluid supplied at low pressures to a uniform output pressure of 10,000 psi. at the plenum.
• a variety of cutting motions for the drilling head are made possible by means of the dynamic stabilizer feed and control means which moves the drilling head in a generally circular pendulum arc, an elliptical pendulum arc or generally linear pendulum-like arc, which linear arc may or may not rotate, and other possible motions during shearing of selected materials.
• the control system may comprise any of a number of micro-positioner computers available with logic accomplished by prior art computer circuitry or electronic circuitry.
• the dynamic stabilizer means comprise a stabilizing means, and a plurality of separate control means for feeding and correcting the location of the drilling head.
• the control means comprise means for sequential horizontal feeding and vertical angular alignment thereby directly controlling the drilling head movement according to correction signals.
• the control means cause the drilling head axis to move in a general daisy pattern in a first example such as would be superimposed by the center of the drilling head on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drilling head. The pattern may be altered by control regulating the speed and sequencing of drilling head movement.
• the control means provide feeding and alignment adjustment in one example by employing inflators.
• the inflators receive programed and metered amounts of pressurized fluid as a function of photocell positions and signal transmittal means causing the inflators to react with the walls defining a drilled hole or slot.
• the Inflators may be repeatably and variably inflated and are fabricated from a relatively toush, smooth, flexible fluid-tight material such as neoprene impregnated nylon scrim.
• An alternate dynamic stabilizer means of control and feed of the drilling head position and rate is by reaction jets which receive programed and metered amounts of pressurized fluid as a function of photocell position and signals.
• the jet total impulse and fluid mass is capable of reacting effectively with the denser mucking fluid and the wall defining the drilled hole or slot.
• control and feeding means of the drilling head may be provided by pistons as part of the dynamic stabiliser means.
• the piston means receive programed and metered amounts of pressurized fluid or other power as a function of the photocell position and signals
• the piston means exert force on the walls defining the drilled hole.
• a separate water source is pumped from the settling pond at pressures of 200-500 psi. to the dynamic stabilizer means for feeding and alignment control in an example using jets for control and the fluid is metered through the control orifices to then contribute to the mucking supply.
• the separate water source may also be used to supply the inflators and pistons.
• a plurality of controlled columnar light sources which may be lasers are coupled to a base and projected in a selected single direction parallel to each other to provide fixed references for drilling alignment control.
• the plurality of controlled columnar light sources may comprise leveling means adjustable for fixed horizontal positioning of the light sources perpendicular to the axis of drilled hole or slot.
• the plurality of controlled columnar light sources may comprise a leveling means adjustable for predetermined non-horizontal positioning of the light sources for reference in slant hole drilling.
• a plurality of controlled columnar light sources may comprise lowering means of the light sources as a reference to lower elevations while maintaining one only relationship of the fixed horizontal positions of the light sources with other fixed non-horizontal positioning of the light sources in the drilled hole.
• Each columnar light source generates a light source parallel to that of each other columnar light source and shines on a coupled one of a plurality of matching photocells or arrays, one for each columnar light source.
• the photocell arrays are coupled by circuitry to the dynamic stabilizer reaction control means of the drilling head.
• the photocell arrays are positioned a sufficient distance above the mucking waterline in relative close proximity to the dynamic stabilizer.
• the control means utilize the columnar light sources and the plurality of matching photocell arrays to control orientation of the drilling head without creating cumulative errors because of independence of surface variations of the drilled hole or slot.
• the control means include repositioning and relocation circuitry known to the prior art which permits programed sequencing and other control means to reposition and correct the drilling head during drilling pursuant to instructions from the control means.
• the photocell arrays that are matched and coupled to the columnar light sources generate signals as a function of where light is received on the photocell array, one cell activated by receipt of a matching columnar light input.
• the signal from the activated photocell is coupled to a corresponding control means which meters a specific amount of reaction fluid for control.
• the mucking means comprises a plurality of lift pipes known to the prior art that extend to the bottom of the drilled hole.
• the lift pipes are comprised of water pipes combined with side-entering air injection tube means which induce a differential pressure for muck removal.
• a portion of the mucking fluid is derived from the cutting fluid passing through the drilling head for localized mucking enhancement where cutting takes place.
• the rate of lateral feed and drilling head advance is a function of the mucking rate efficiency of the lift pipes.
• Other sources of make-up fluid are derived from the dynamic stabilizer control fluid, from water pumped directly from the settling pond, and by random seapage from any aquifers encountered during drilling.
• a float valve means controls pond make-up water input and muck level.
• Lift tube means in conjunction with pump-located relief valves divert excess pressurized material to storage.
• Power means are coupled to pumps for delivery of cutting fluid to the drilling head means, water for the dynamic stabilizer means and mucking means, liquid and solid mixtures for hole casing means, and for coupling to power distribution means for light source reference means, and for electrical sensing, control and drive means of thesystem.
• Continuous wall casing means comprise a plurality of radially and axially moveable segments capable of retaining the injection and pressure for rapid curing of chemical and shotcrete material during wall lining of the drilled hole. Wall casing means may intrude into the mucking area.
• the drilling means may comprise a plurality of drilling heads, each drilling head including a separate rotating high pressure plenum defining structure.
• the drilling means may comprise a plurality of rotating plenum defining structures within each drilling head structure , each drilling head structure utilizing a common high pressure plenum.
• hydrojet drilling and cutting means and methods of this invention in full or in part have applications for a wide range of industrial use.
• this refers to the adaptations of one or a plurality of drilling head means, plenum, cutting fluid intensification means, dynamic stabilization, control and feeding means, and alignment means for hand-held tools, machines and systems.
• the industrial areas include surface and underground mining of coal and orei oil, gas, steam and water recovery; road and airstrip resurfacing and treatment; shaft development; dry rock geothermal drilling; tunneling; descaling of boilers and boiler tubes; marine paint and fouling removal; trenching and mole boring for pipe and conduit emplacement.
• FIGURE 1 shows a side view of an example of drilling means:
• FIGURE 2 shows enlarged lower portion of the drilling means;
• FIGURE 2A shows a section view example of the intensification means;
• FIGURE 3 shows a daisy pattern cutting example of the drilling head;
• FIGURE 3A details an example of drilling means with reaction jets;
• FIGURE 3B shows a drilling head swinging in a pendulum arc pattern;
• FIGURE 4 shows an end view of jet flow lines;
• FIGURE 5 shows a cutaway side view of the drilling head;
• FIGURE 6 shows an example of inflators used for control and alignment;
• FIGURE 7 shows one inflator with control and alignment means;
• FIGURE 8 shows timed sequence of inflators controlling drilling head;
• FIGURE 9 shows a side view of jet flow reaction control and alignment;
• FIGURE 10 is a schematic diagram for dynamic stabilizer circuit;
• FIGURE 11 shows positions of photocell array and light source;
• FIGURE 3C top view shows spiral locus of each
• Figure 1 shows a side view of drilling means and methods 10 in accordance with present invention and includes a drilling head 12 also known as cutting head 12, a dynamic stabilizer assembly 14, a pressure intensifier 16 also known as a pump 16, a plurality of air hoses 18 and lift pipes 20,
• the drilling head 12 cuts a hole which is filled with mucking water 22 and maintained at a level below waterllne 195.
• a wall casing 28 may be formed to firm the sides during hole excavation.
• Drilling head coupling means 30 also known as a stringer 30 couple the drilling head to a base 54 or rig 54 located at or above the surface of the ground,
• a plurality of light sources 32 each transmits parallel columnar light references for corresponding photocell arrays 26 assembled above the waterline 195 to establish position and provide signals for metering control means coupled to the drilling head 12 for correction.
• the pre-programed control means meter pressurized fluid to provide stability and positioning means coupled to the drilling head 12 .
• the controls 36 shown on a crawler vehicle at the surface but could be at any convenient place.
• a sleeve and collar arrangement 34 conventionally reinforces the hole entrance.
• the surface equipment on the vehicle also includes a compressor 38 powered by a generator 40,
• a water pipe 52 from a diked settling pond 50 is coupled directly to pump 56 for mucking make-up water or jet supply to the alternative dynamic stabilizer 14. Mucking removes the mucking water 22.
• the mucking water 22 is pumped by surface pumps 44 through lift pipes and airlift 18 supplied by air compressor 38 back to the settling pond 50. Heavy particles precipitate in the settling pond 50.
• Water for cutting fluid from the settling pond 50 is pumped and filtered by a separator 42 which separates out all particles in excess of 15 microns.
• the surface pumps 44 pump cutting fluid through waterlines 46 to the rig 54 where cutting fluid additive 48 is proportionately added to the water.
• FIG. 2 and Figure 2A shows a more detail e d view of the drilling head system.
• the drilling head 12 is coupled with a downhole fluid pressure intensification means 16 which may be a pump 16 which receives fluid from the stringer 30. Other cutting fluids than water may be utilized for select purposes.
• the input of the high pressure plenum 70 comprises a water feedline 68 coupled to the output of the pressure intensification means 16 in a substantially fluid tight coupling to receive high pressure fluid intensification means 16.
• the output of plenum 70 is coupled to a plenum defining structure 116 comprising in this example, three orifice flow lines 112 (shown in Figure 4) disposed symmetrically about the axis of the plenum defining structure 116 at equal angles.
• the orifice flow lines originate tangentially from the plenum defining structure interior surface in substantially the same relative orientation about the axis.
• the orifice flow lines 112 exit at a downward acute angle from a plane perpendicular to the axis as shown in Figure 5.
• a retainer block 72 which holds the parts together, limit switch control valves74 which reverse the intensifier , a control valve 76 which directs fluid flow, the stringer 30 which includes the water feedline and the means of suspension, and the pump 16.
• Figure 2 shows a double acting pressure intensifier means for boosting pressure to approximately 10,000 psi.
• the accumulator 58 sustains the pressure of the fluid which is fed to plenum 70 into plenum body 124 and plenum defining structure 116.
• FIG. 2A represents a cutaway section of a portion of Figure 2 showing the relative positions of the drilling head 12, the double acting intensifier 16, the accumulator 58 and the cutting fluid supply manifold 60.
• Intensifiers are known to the prior art and are to boost pressure of surface supplied cutting fluid.
• Accumulator 58 sustains uniform pressure. Accordingly, pressure intensified water at plenum 70 passes through plenum body 124 to the plenum defining structure 116 where the cutting fluid is exited through three orifice flow lines 112 at high velocities.
• Figure 5 further discloses non-rotating housing means 120 having an interior surface defining a female structure 136 and a bearing surface 138 rotatably mating in a substantially frictionless coupling with a rotating internal retainer bearing, 134.
• the internal retainer bearing 134 is affixed to the plenum defining structure 116 which is rotated by moments induced by the velocity vector components of orifice flow lines 112.
• the housing 120 and plenum body 124 are adjustably affixed.
• FIG. 5A illustrates an alternate variation in drilling head design.
• the drilling head 12 comprises substantially the same principles and performs identical functions of the drilling head shown in Figure 5.
• the non-rotating housing 120 and plenum body 124 are adjustably affixed. This permits selection variation of the rotational velocity of the plenum defining structure 116' by a mere tightening or loosening of the housing 120. Tightening the housing 120 will increase the friction of bearing surfaces thereby reducing the rotational velocity of the plenum defining structure 116' and frequency per revolution of pulsed jets exiting through orifice flow lines 112'.
• a retaining nut 122 locks the housing 120 in place.
• Figure 5A further discloses non-rotating plenum body 124 having an interior surface defining a female structure 136' and a housing 120 coupled to a thrust bearing 138' rotatably mating in a substantially frictionless coupling with a rotating internal retainer bearing 134'.
• the internal retainer bearing 134' is affixed by means of a locking taper means to the plenum defing structure 116' which is rotated by moments induced by the reaction of high velocity jets exiting through the offset, tangential orifice flow lines 112'.
• the locking taper means provide for rapid assembly and disassembly of the plenum defining structure 116' with the internal reatiner bearing 134'.
• Figure 4A illustrates an alternate variation of the orifice flow lines 112' of the plenum defining structure 116'.
• the end view shows the tangential origin of the orifice flow lines 112' coming directly from the plenum having a circular cross section as defined by the plenum defining structure 116'.
• the orifice flow lines 112' point downward toward the workface at an approximately 25 degree acute angle from a plane normal to the axis of the plenum defining structure 116'.
• Material for plenum defining structure 116 is composed of a high strength and hardness cermet that is resistant to flowing material erosion.
• the cermet bearing surface may be plated 128 for truing and lap fit purposes.
• Labyrinth seals 130 prevent leakage between the plenum body 124 and the plenum defining structure 116.
• Other bearing surfaces surfaces may be treated or otherwise augmented by means known to the prior art to prevent wear and leakage.
• Housing 120 provides a guard and stand-off means which are disposed around the exterior surface of the plenum defining structure 116 extending in a circle below the lowest point on the plenum defining structure 116 but above a cone defined by the rotation of an extension of orifice flow lines 112 which point downward at an acute angle of about 25 degrees.
• Figures 3, 3A, and 3B illustrate lateral feed motion of the drilling head 12.
• a preferred pattern for a single drilling head 12 is shown in Figure 3 and is referred to as a daisy pattern as projected on a planar surface.
• Figure 3A shows one technique used to stabilize and control the drilling head 12 by the use of reaction jets 100A, B, C, D and E. Fluid flow metering of the reaction jets 100 permit the drilling head to be moved in any pattern in a pendulura-like arc.
• the reaction jets 100 may be oriented as shown on a stacked positive displacement pump 16 and mounted radially offset at an angle from the axis of the stringer 30 for modifying drilling head 12 motion.
• Figure 3B shows the daisy pattern 110 formed by pendulum-like arc motion in which the same drilling head 12 is shown in two extreme positions.
• the daisy pattern or alternate patterns greatly extend the lateral cutting range of the jets from the orifice flow lines 112 according to their acute angle and operating pressure. Even larger holes may be drilled simply by increasing the oscillation diameter of the daisy pattern or alternate pattern and by increasing the water pressure or by using a plurality of drilling heads 12, For medium hard rock, drilling of large holes of approximately two feet diameter using a single drilling head 12 should cut at three times the rate of prior art mechanical means.
• Figures 6,7,8,and 9 show selected parts of alignment control means which activate inflators 140 or reaction jets 100 for reaction with walls 144 defining a drilled hole or with muck respectively.
• Inflators 140 or reaction jets 100 are disposed around the stringer 30 and are activated to the extent pursuant to instructions received from the controls 36.
• Figure 6 shows in cross section air hoses 18 and lift pipes 20. The air hoses feed air downhole to inflators 140 and to the lift pipes for mucking purposes. Inflation of a particular inflator 140 causes that inflator to push against the side 144 thereby moving the stringer 30 and the drilling head 12 in the opposite direction. A precise succession of movement of the drilling head 12 may be achieved by proper inflation of selected inflators 140 as shown in Figure 8. Stability, pre-programed feed and alignment correction are simultaneously accomplished.
• Figure 7 gives partially cutaway side views of inflator 140, the dynamic stabilizer 14 and columnar light sources 148 along with associated circuitry.
• Each light source 32 of columnar ligjit source 148 is at a selected point substantially above the photocell arrays 126 as much as a quarter of a mile depending on drilling advance.
• Horizontal or non-horizontal leveling of columnar light source 148 is made with respect to the axis of stringer 30 and is accomplished by angle adjustment of two mercury switches 33.
• Mercury switches 33 are mounted at right angle to each other in substantially the same plane,
• the photocell array system 168 shown in Figure 7 comprises photocell arrays 26 and associated power circuitry with pass through means for power and water-supply line 46 or air line 46 according to the type of control means used.
• the dynamic stabilizer 14 comprises the inflators 140 and associated fluid and electrical circuitry including solenoid valve 160, switch 152 and rotary switch 158.
• Figures 7 and 11 may best illustrate the use of columnar light sources to align and control drilling head 12. The light sources received are converted into signals which,when amplified and applied by switching, provide metering of pressurized fluid which is air for the inflators 140 and water for the reaction jets 100 (as shown in Figure 3A).
• Other means known to the prior art such as electric motors or pistons (not shown) may also be used to control feed and correction of drilling head 12, Pistons would use water or air as the pressurized fluid.
• Each control device utilizes associated columnar light reference sources 148 and photocell receivers 168.
• Each light reference photocell array 26 of receiver 168 corresponds to an inflator 140 or reaction jet 100 control.
• Each photocell array comprises a plurality of cells, in this example exactly three as shown in Figure 11. As the drilling head 12 moves according to a pre-programed pattern, the top position shown represents a neutral feed with no correction for metering flow. This neutral cell receives source light 32 which is converted to an electrical signal and amplified to provide metered flow of fluid through an oppositely located solenoid valve.
• the cell provides its signal to decrease orifice size of the valve which in turn decreases inflation of inflator 140 or decreases mass for reaction jet 100 and the hole size and alignment is corrected.
• Underfeeding is shown in the third position. Constriction of the solenoid valve orifice reduces flow and results in a smaller hole size and alignment correction.
• the circuitry 150 utilized to perform this task is shown in large part In Figure 10. Parts not shown are well known to the prior art.
• Figure 10 shows a typical circuit comprising three amplifiers 154 coupled through adjustable resisters 152 to a rotary position switch 158 and a solenoid valve 160.
• Each of the three amplifiers 154 corresponds to a photocell of the array 26,
• the six position rotary switch 158 is utilized for flow selection among the six solenoid valves 160 and this allows for the pre-programed patterns. Other switch and circuit arrangements may be also be utilized and exist in prior art.
• the variable resisters 152 and diodes 156 are used to control voltage levels.
• Continuouswall casing means may be utilized with the drilling means under appropriate conditions.
• the wall casing means comprise a plurality of radially and axially moveable segments (notshown) capable of retaining the injection material of rapidly curing chemical and shotcrete wall reinforcement composition. This permits casing to be applied concurrently with drilling and is particularly valuable when the hole is long or changes direction or varies in size.
• Other concepts in the present invention when applied as set forth herein also substantially reduce cycle time and down time in drilling resulting in greater net drilling time available.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)

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• 1983
  • 1983-09-19 EP EP83903272A patent/EP0119268A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1983-09-19 WO PCT/US1983/001450 patent/WO1984001188A1/en unknown

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