Methods of using a laser to spall and drill holes in rocks

Details Methods of using a laser to spall and drill holes in rocks Methods of using a laser to spall and drill holes in rocks

2006-04-14

2008-08-26

Bomar, Shane (Department: 3676)

Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material

Processes

Directly applying heat or vibration

C299S001050, C299S095000, C175S057000, C175S019000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07416258

ABSTRACT:
Apparatus and methods of using lasers are provided for spalling and drilling holes into rocks. A rock removal process is provided that utilizes a combination of laser-induced thermal stress and laser induced superheated steam explosions just below the surface of the laser/rock interaction to spall the rock into small fragments that can then be easily removed by a purging flow. Single laser beams of given irradiance spall rock and create holes having diameter and depth approximately equal to the beam spot size. A group of the single laser beams are steered in a controllable manner by an electro-optic laser beam switch to locations on the surface of the rock, creating multiple overlapping spalled holes thereby removing a layer of rock of a desired diameter. Drilling of a deep hole is achieved by spalling consecutive layers with an intermittent feed motion of the laser head perpendicular to the rock surface.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3871485 (1975-03-01), Keenan, Jr.
patent: 4090572 (1978-05-01), Welch
patent: 6755262 (2004-06-01), Parker
patent: 6857706 (2005-02-01), Hames et al.

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