Longer-than-seam-height drill development program. Report of investigations, 1978
The U.S. Bureau of Mines under its flexible drill program for low coal developed five different types of drilling systems under contract. The systems were designed for underground coal mines with seams as low as 30 inches, and roof bolts longer than the height of the seam opening. Four of the developed systems were true flexible drills. The fifth was a remote-controlled, automatic rod changer concept. Only two of the five firms successfully completed testing requirements under the original contracts: Bendix Corp., with a true-flex drill; and Ingersoll-Rand Research, Inc., with the rod changer concept. The Bendix drill was rated best with the Ingersoll-Rand drill placing a close second. Because of the closeness of the ratings and the vast difference in the two development concepts, both systems had sufficient potential to justify further development funding for design updating and testing. Also, both systems warranted consideration for inclusion into other ongoing development projects in the Bureau's low-coal program.
- Research Organization:
- Bureau of Mines, Spokane, WA (USA). Spokane Mining Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 6615833
- Report Number(s):
- PB-280077; BM-RI-8273
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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