Abstract: Systems for forming or extending a tunnel or shaft within geologic material may include a ram accelerator assembly for accelerating one or more projectiles into geologic material to weaken a region of the geologic material. The projectile(s) pre-condition the geologic material, such as by forming one or more holes in a central region of the material or to define a perimeter of the region to be displaced. A cutting tool or subsequent projectile impacts may then be used to remove the weakened material. The voids formed by the first projectile(s) cause compressive forces from subsequent impacts or cutting operations to be converted to tension forces that more efficiently break geologic material, which may fall into the voids created by the first projectile(s). The voids created by the projectile impacts may also control the material that is removed and the shape of a resulting section of the tunnel or shaft.

Abstract: A system for circulating a volatile composition throughout at least one room is provided. The system includes a central communication unit capable of receiving incoming signals and sending outgoing instructions. The central communication unit comprises a memory configured to store settings. The system includes a volatile composition dispenser capable of delivering the volatile composition into the air. The volatile composition dispenser is communicably connectable with the central communication unit through a wireless communication link. The system includes an air handling device communicably connectable with the central communication unit and configured to move air throughout the at least one room upon receipt of an outgoing instruction from the central communication unit.

Abstract: A cartridge for tunnel blasting is provided a cartridge for tunnel blasting, which easily breaks a rock, by inserting a cartridge containing water into a bore hole formed in a rock by using a boring device, and injecting liquid nitrogen into the inserted cartridge, so as to induce cracks of the rock by using the characteristic of the water that expands when it is frozen.

Abstract: A tool for use in initiating a hydraulic fracture in a bore hole comprises an elongate cylindrical bore hole packer structure (11) having an inner longitudinal passage (12), a mid-portion (13) provided with ports (14) extending outwardly from passage (12) to the exterior periphery of the packer structure (11) and expandable circumferential well portions (15A) surrounding the inner longitudinal passage (12) to each side of the mid-portion (13). In use of the tool the circumferential wall portions (15A) can be expanded by injection of hydraulic fracturing fluid into passage 12) and exit of the injected fluid through the ports (14) to produce a pressure difference between the inside of the packer structure and the outside of the packer structure as the fluid passes through the ports (14) such that the hydraulic fluid exiting the packer structure can initiate a fracture.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for plasma blasting comprises a solid object having a borehole, a blast probe comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground electrode separated by a dielectric separator, wherein the high voltage electrode and the dielectric separator constitute an adjustable probe tip, and an adjustment unit coupled to the adjustable probe tip, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to selectively extend or retract the adjustable probe tip relative to the ground electrode and a blasting media, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The blasting media comprises a thixotropic or electro-rheological fluid. The adjustable tip permits fine-tuning of the blast. The property of instantaneous high viscosity of thixotropic and electro-rheological fluids is advantageously used to seal the cavity containing the blasting probe thereby increasing the blasting pressure making the whole system more efficient.

Abstract: A gas generator device (3) is used for breaking or splitting natural and artificial objects when inserted in a drilled hole and ignited to start a burning reaction in a deflagration or non-detonation mode. The gas generator comprises a first part (11) having a first main cavity (12) and a second part (13) having a second main cavity (14). An oxidant and a combustible compound are contained in the first part. A liquid such as water is contained in the second main cavity for distributing the pressure obtained from gases generated in the burning reaction. The first and second main cavities are separated from each other by a bottom plate (21) of the first part that e.g. can be set at a level to adapt the volume of the first space and the amount of oxidant contained therein. The gas generator device is particularly well suited for use in horizontal drilled holes.

Abstract: A static crushing method capable of extremely safely and efficiently performing crushing operation by efficiently crushing the surface of an object to be crushed, an aid for static crushing used for the crushing method, and a filling tool. The static crushing method comprises the steps of forming a drilled hole (1) in the object to be crushed, filling an expandable crushing material in the drilled hole (1), and crushing the object to be crushed by the inflation of the crushing material, and is characterized in that the aid for static crushing having a bottom plate (3) disposed in the drilled hole, a top plate (20) larger in area than the bottom plate (3) and disposed on the outside of the drilled hole, and connection means (23) and (21) connecting these plates to each other is used to fill the crushing material, and the crushing material is disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate.

Abstract: A method for fracturing a solid material is disclosed. The method comprises boring at least one bore hole in the solid material, the bore hole having a bottom and an open top. Reactive materials capable of an exothermic reaction to produce a liquid and a gas are introduced into the bore hole. The bore hole is then sealed at the open top. The exothermic reaction is then initiated to produce the liquid and the gas. The pressures generated by the liquid and gas in the bore hole result in fracturing of the solid material.

Abstract: A method comprising a step to form a hole (2) for charging a breaking substance (4) into an object to be fractured (1), a step to insert a pair of electrodes (6) having a thin metal wire (5) connected between ends thereof into the hole (2), a step to dispose the breaking substance (4) and the thin metal wire (5) into a bag-like container (22) made of rubber at a stage to supply electric energy accumulated in a capacitor to the electrodes (6) for fusing and vaporizing the thin metal wire (5), thereby swelling a volume of the breaking substance (4) and breaking the object to be fractured (1), and a step to fit the bag-like container (22) into the hole (2). This method assures secure transmission of an expansion force to the object to be fractured even when the hole formed in the object to be fractured is deformed.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a hard compact material such as rock or concrete, having a hole pre-drilled in the material area to be fractured which includes inserting a outer slug of solid material into the hole to a bottom thereof, and impacting the outer slug with a force sufficiently large to cause at least a top portion of the slug to transfer the impact to the sides of said hole so as to fracture the surrounding material.

Abstract: In construction of a stonework crusher utilizing thermal deformation of shape memory alloy, heating means is coupled to one or more insert heads made of shape memory alloy without leaving any space there between so that thermal deformation of the insert heads should pose no substantial influence upon heat transmission from the heating means. In particular when several crushers are used in combination, uniform heat transmission at different crushers allows concerted generation of crush force by the combined crushers for effective and efficient crushing of stoneworks.

Abstract: Apparatus to split a body in which the apparatus is received. The apparatus has a first metal component of a first coefficient of expansion and a second metal component of a second coefficient of expansion, different from the first. The second body is attached to the first body. Whereby heating the apparatus causes a marked distortion in the apparatus to exert force on a body in which it is received, sufficient to split the body.

Abstract: A technique for fragmenting rock or other relatively hard and/or compact material without the use of explosives is disclosed herein. In accordance with this technique, an elongated, blind opening is provided in the rock or other material to be fragmented and a pulse of water having a relatively high peak pressure and a relatively rapid rise time is directed into the elongated opening without the use of explosives to produce the pulse, whereby to produce a shock wave in the rock or other material sufficient to fragment it. In an actual embodiment, this explosion free pulse of water has a peak pressure of about 80,000 psi and a rise time of about one millisecond.

Abstract: A preliminary fracturing method of a rock bed by spouting highly pressurized water into cracks existing in the rock bed to expand these cracks. The preliminary fracturing method of a rock bed comprises drilling a hole in the rock bed by means of a drilling rod having a cutter blade mounted thereto at the leading end thereof, sealing the leading end of the drilling rod by using rock mucks, injecting a high viscosity fluid from the leading end of the drilling rod into the sealed portion of the hole thereby clogging the cracks, and finally spouting a highly pressurized water or highly pressurized high viscosity fluid from the leading end of the drilling rod thereby expanding the cracks. There is also disclosed an apparatus which is adapted to perform the preliminary fracturing of a rock bed.

Abstract: A rock breaker comprising a tool insertable in a hole in a rock and fed through a supply line with an incompressible liquid to maintain a column of the liquid in the hole, and means to apply to the liquid a shock means sufficiently high to fracture the rock, the tool comprising a hollow stem having an expansible collet and a resilient sealing ring and mechanical means to expand the collet and ring.

Abstract: A method for extracting an underground mineral such as coal, which avoids the need for sending personnel underground and which enables the mining of steeply pitched seams of the mineral. The method includes the use of a narrow vehicle which moves underground along the mineral seam and which is connected by pipes or hoses to water pumps at the surface of the earth. The vehicle hydraulically drills pilot holes during its entrances into the seam, and then directs sideward jets at the seam during its withdrawal from each pilot hole to comminute the mineral surrounding the pilot hole and combine it with water into a slurry, so that the slurried mineral can flow down to a location where a pump raises the slurry to the surface.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for excavating a tunnel, hole, channel or the like in the rock mass or in the ground by using pressurized water spouted from nozzles.The method comprises the steps of digging a hole in the rock mass, inserting a rod of a fracturing apparatus in the hole, the rod having a communicating hole formed therein and nozzles formed at the leading end thereof, jetting pressurized water from the nozzles so as to produce grooves in the hole impinged by the water jet, sealing a space around the nozzles defined by the outer periphery of the rod and an inner peripheral wall of the hole, and again allowing pressurized water to spout from the nozzles into the space thereby forming cracks in the rock mass.

Abstract: This invention pertains to hydraulically actuated rock splitters which utilize a wedge and feather action. The forward movement of this wedge places a corresponding thrust load on the feathers and their retaining means. Conventionally, the feathers have enlarged portions which are engaged by and are retained by hardened steel thrust or wear plates carried by a shell or housing. As a means of keeping the weight within reasonable limits this housing is usually made of aluminum or an alloy of aluminum. The support for these hardened steel plates, as provided by the housing, is usually insufficient resulting in a cracking or breaking of the hardened steel plates. A lamination of these plates and providing a softer steel backing reduces or eliminates damage to the housing when cracking of the hardened steel plates occurs.

Abstract: A hard compact material, such as rock, is broken by forcing a longish mass body of relatively incompressible fluid, such as water, against the material to be broken. The mass body is directed into a hole in the material for impacting a surface therein. Prior to the impact delivering the mass body is accelerated to an impact velocity of sufficient magnitude for causing cracks to form in the material. Further, cracks in the hole are propagated toward a free surface in the material by the effect of the momentum or kinetic energy of the mass body.

Abstract: A rock splitter tool is hydraulically actuated by a piston which moves a tapered wedge between feathers mounted at one end in a retaining means. The feathers and wedge, as an assembly, are inserted into a predrilled hole and the wedge is driven forward by the hydraulic piston to move the feathers outwardly to split the rock. The present invention is directed toward providing a hydraulically moved wedge in which the feathers and wear plate portions are retained by a clam shell clamp and retainer which are readily separated and removed to enable an inspection and/or replacement of any damaged apparatus. This clam shell clamp enables existing apparatus to be converted. Auxiliary apparatus utilizing a jack hammer device is also shown as is a hydraulic pulsation developing rotary valve which is adapted to cycle the wedge as it is moved forwardly.

Abstract: A sectional scraper device which is foldable in zig-zag position by remote pulling means and which can be let down through a clad bore hole and can be deviated to follow layers of mineral to be mined by a to and fro movement of the scraper device combined with transport of loosened minerals by liquid circulation through the bore hole. The scraping action may be strengthened by the action of liquid jets emanating from the scraper device.