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Title: Flexible shaft and roof drilling system

Abstract

A system for drilling holes in the roof of a mine has a flexible shaft with a pair of oppositely wound, coaxial flat bands. One of the flat bands defines an inner spring that is wound right handed into a helical configuration, adjacent convolutions being in nesting relationship to one another. The other flat band defines an outer spring that is wound left handed into a helical configuration about the inner band, adjacent convolutions being nesting relationship with one another. A transition member that is configured to hold a rock bit is mounted to one end of the flexible shaft. When torque and thrust are applied to the flexible shaft by a driver, the inner spring expands outwardly and the outer spring contracts inwardly to form a relatively rigid shaft.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Carlisle, MA
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
863990
Patent Number(s):
4290494
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21D - SHAFTS
DOE Contract Number:  
ET-74-C-01-9087
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
flexible; shaft; roof; drilling; holes; mine; pair; oppositely; wound; coaxial; flat; bands; defines; inner; spring; handed; helical; configuration; adjacent; convolutions; nesting; relationship; band; outer; left; transition; configured; hold; rock; bit; mounted; torque; thrust; applied; driver; expands; outwardly; contracts; inwardly; form; relatively; rigid; oppositely wound; flexible shaft; helical configuration; drilling holes; flat bands; /173/464/

Citation Formats

Blanz, John H. Flexible shaft and roof drilling system. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
Blanz, John H. Flexible shaft and roof drilling system. United States.
Blanz, John H. Thu . "Flexible shaft and roof drilling system". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863990.
@article{osti_863990,
title = {Flexible shaft and roof drilling system},
author = {Blanz, John H},
abstractNote = {A system for drilling holes in the roof of a mine has a flexible shaft with a pair of oppositely wound, coaxial flat bands. One of the flat bands defines an inner spring that is wound right handed into a helical configuration, adjacent convolutions being in nesting relationship to one another. The other flat band defines an outer spring that is wound left handed into a helical configuration about the inner band, adjacent convolutions being nesting relationship with one another. A transition member that is configured to hold a rock bit is mounted to one end of the flexible shaft. When torque and thrust are applied to the flexible shaft by a driver, the inner spring expands outwardly and the outer spring contracts inwardly to form a relatively rigid shaft.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1981},
month = {1}
}