Dry drilling and core acquisition system

Abstract

A rotary dry drilling system comprises a surface mounted drill having a drill bit and a drill bit driver rotationally connected by a hollow drill string. There is included core sample capture means adapted to travel from the head of the drill string to the tail of the drill string. The system also comprises an auger for removing cuttings from a comminution zone and cuttings fluidization means to facilitate transport of cuttings from the comminution zone to the auger. Once the cuttings are removed by the auger they are collected and transported to the surface for disposal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to the field of core boring and more particularly to a dry drilling and core capture device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Traditional sample recovery systems rely heavily upon the use of water to flush the cuttings away from the rock / bit interface or comminution zone. Water pressure is also used to deliver the core capture device to the bottom of the hole and allows the dogging mechanism to latch properly. This technology only works on consolidated material. Unconsolidated materials would normally be flushed away from the hole thus preventing the capture of a sample.[0003]Lunar drilling will be a dry drill scenario. Fluids will not likely be available to flush away the cuttings from the comminution zone. Additionally, there is a desire to capture unconsolidated material rather than flush it away. Thus conventional drilling cannot be used.[0004]There is a need for an apparatus that permits dry drilling and core ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The apparatus of this invention is designed for dry drilling and core capture and so solves the need stated above. The apparatus is a rotary dry drilling system comprising a surface mounted drill having a drill bit and drill bit driving means rotationally connected through a hollow drill string to the drill bit for drilling a bore through rock to obtain a core sample of the rock. The drill string has a head and a tail. The core sampler is adapted to travel from the head of the drill string to the tail of the drill string to capture the core sample of rock. There is also included auger means connected to the drill bit for removing cuttings from the drill comminution zone and transporting the cuttings up-hole. To ensure that the cuttings move smoothly u

Problems solved by technology

This technology only works on consolidated material.

Fluids will not likely be available to flush away the cuttings from the comminution zone.

Thus conventional drilling cannot be used.

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