The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2024

Filed:

Feb. 22, 2023
Applicant:

Hypersciences, Inc., Spokane, WA (US);

Inventors:

Mark C. Russell, Spokane, WA (US);

Lance D. Underwood, Cypress, TX (US);

Tristen Cutshall, Spokane, WA (US);

Assignee:

HYPERSCIENCES, INC., Spokane, WA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 4/14 (2006.01); E21B 7/00 (2006.01); E21B 7/18 (2006.01); E21B 10/38 (2006.01); E21D 9/00 (2006.01); E21D 9/10 (2006.01); E21D 9/12 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 4/14 (2013.01); E21B 7/005 (2013.01); E21B 7/18 (2013.01); E21B 10/38 (2013.01); E21D 9/003 (2013.01); E21D 9/006 (2013.01); E21D 9/108 (2013.01); E21D 9/128 (2013.01);
Abstract

Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile through a first conduit into a region of geologic material, which generates debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device located in a second conduit using a conveying device, such as an auger. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. A third conduit may be used to provide and remove material from the bottom of the first conduit to control pressure at the end of the conduit to prevent ingress of material into the first conduit. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.


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