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US3881559A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for stress wave drilling

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-07-10
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-07-10
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for drilling a hole in rock. An openended, hardened, drilling head containing a means for creating high-intensity stress waves capable of spalling rock is utilized to drill the hole. A fluid is passed through the drilling head which removes the spalled rock from the drilling head.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jay R Allgood
  • 👤 Robert J Odello

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 06:40
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/18; E21B7/14; E21B7/15

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
A method of drilling a bore hole in a rock comprising the steps of: a. moving a bifurcated drill stem downwardly into the bore hole at a controlled rate of movement; b. generating adjacent the bottom of said bore hole stress waves, said stress waves being created by placing a set of three electrodes in said drill stem adjacent to said rock and energizing said electrodes with electrical energy; c. controlling the magnitude and duration of the generated stress waves such that said stess waves spall the rock at the bottom of said bore hole in the vicinity of said electrodes; and d. circulating a flow of drilling liquid downward through one section of said bifurcated drill stem and upwards through the the other section of said bifurcated drill stem.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 130 words
A method of drilling a bore hole in a rock comprising the steps of: a. moving a bifurcated drill stem downwardly into the bore hole at a controlled rate of movement; b. generating adjacent the bottom of said bore hole stress waves, said stress waves being created by placing a set of three electrodes in said drill stem adjacent to said rock and energizing said electrodes with electrical energy; c. controlling the magnitude and duration of the generated stress waves such that said stess waves spall the rock at the bottom of said bore hole in the vicinity of said electrodes; and d. circulating a flow of drilling liquid downward through one section of said bifurcated drill stem and upwards through the the other section of said bifurcated drill stem.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2548463A Cited
US2742555A Cited
US2866622A Cited
US2953353A Cited
US3045766A Cited
US3036645A Cited
US3500942A Cited
US3679007A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-05-05 1978-11-04 1979-05-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-05-05 1982-11-04 1983-05-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-05-05 1986-11-04 1987-05-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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