Inco Limited

Placer Dome Technical Services Limited

Donald D Young

Gregory R Baiden

Fredric Christopher Delabbio

Eric Jackson

Simon Mark Jackson

Paul Devlugt

Donald A Desjardins

David Lloyd Hoover

Timothy B Dimock

Edward William Drew Anwyll

Lambertus H Van Berkel

Marilyn Patricia Ann Hames

Paul De Vlugt

Jean P Pascoli

The present invention is directed to a mining method for steeply dipping orebodies. In the method, an excavatoris tethered to a deployment systemby one or more cables/umbilicals. The excavatorexcavates slicesof the orebodyby moving generally up-dip, down-dip or a combination thereof. The excavator can be automated.

Mining method for steeply dipping ore bodies

The invention provides an In-The-Hole hydraulic drive unit for rotating a rock drill. A hydraulic motor having a fixed rear trailing end and a rotating front drilling end converts hydraulic power into a rotational drive force. The hydraulic motor receives high pressure hydraulic fluid through a receiving inlet and discharges lower pressure hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic outlet. A drive shaft connected to the rotating front drilling end is disposed within the hydraulic motor. A fluid transfer conduit within the drive shaft transfers hydraulic or pneumatic drill fluid to power the rock drill. The fluid transfer conduit bypasses the hydraulic motor for independent supply and operation of the rock drill. The fluid transfer conduit receives the drill fluid from the surface and transfers the drill fluid toward the rock drill. The drive shaft contains a drill rotator attached to the front drilling end adapted to receive and rotate the rock drill.

Hydraulic drive for rotation of a rock drill

There is provided a guided drilling system and an in-the-hole shock absorber adapted thereto. The guided drilling system includes a drill string configured to continuously and accurately bore a hole in the ground without the need to periodically break the connection of the drill string. In order to protect the components of the drilling system a hollow core shock absorber for percussive drill strings has been designed. A centrally disposed coil spring transmits the necessary thrust to a percussive hammer while providing a resilient cushion for vibration displacement. Pressurized fluid flows through the center of the shock absorber through a poppet valve.

Guided drilling system with shock absorber

The invention provides a tractor for locomoting a drilling apparatus. The tractor includes a retractable body for transporting and pressurizing a drill attached to a front drilling end of the retractable body. The retractable body is longitudinally extended and contracted for length adjustment. A drill stabilizer is attached to a rear trailing end of the retractable body. The drill stabilizer is extended to secure said retractable body during drilling and retracted for allowing movement of the rear trailing end of the retractable body. A position stabilizer is attached to the front drilling end of the retractable body. The position stabilizer is transversely extendable against the sidewalls of the drill hole for periodically stabilizing the retractable body. The position stabilizer retracts for operation of the drill when the drill is stabilized with the drill stabilizer. The tractor travels by extending and retracting the drill stabilizer, extending and retracting the position stabilizer and adjusting length of the retractable body.

Tractor for remote movement and pressurization of a rock drill

A hard surface roadbed profiler designed to perform a repetitive drill hole collaring cycle. By generating a series of interconnected collar holes, an extended flat surface is created. The profiler includes a movable percussive device mounted onto a chassis. A flat faced bit is attached to the percussive device to create the individual collars that are linked together to form a flat array.

Roadbed profiler and method of profiling

Growing community of inventors

Sudbury, Canada

Donald D Young