ELECTRIC DRILL MELTS WAY THROUGH ROCK

A DRILL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AT LOS ALAMOS SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY THAT USES HEAT TO MELT ITS WAY THROUGH ROCK. THE DEVICE HOLDS THE PROMISE OF DRILLING HOLES TO DEPTHS UNATTAINABLE WITH ROTARY DRILLS. IT COMPRISES A STEAL TUBE TIPPED BY A FLAT SHOE THAT CONTAINS THE HEATING ELEMENT. USING A TWO INCH DIAMETER BIT HEATED ELECTRICALLY TO 2192 F BY A 5 KW GENERATOR, THE DRILL WENT THROUGH BASALT AT THE RATE OF 50 FT/DAY. SOME OF ITS ADVANTAGES ARE /1/ OPERATIONALLY UNAFFECTED BY DEPTH, /2/ PERFORMS AS WELL IN HARD ROCK AS IN SOFT, /3/ NO MOVING PARTS TO WEAR OUT, AND /4/ USAGE IN SPECIAL APPLICATIONS SUCH AS HORIZONTAL OR UPWARD DRILLING. THE HEAT MELTS THE ROCK. DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE DRILL FORCES THE MOLTEN ROCK THROUGH A TUBE IN THE CENTER OF THE BIT.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08919526
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 174,no 11,PP 158-161, 1 PHOT
• Publication Date: 1965-3-18

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Engineering News-Record
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0891-9526

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drilling; Drilling machines; Drills; Electric arcs; Electricity; Rock drilling; Rocks
• Old TRIS Terms: Electric arc melting; Rock drills
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219268
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 9 1994 12:00AM