Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PROJECTILE DRILLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
PRIORITY
[0001] This Application claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Application
No.
16/059,026, filed August 8, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No.
62/542,721, filed
August 8, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] The following applications are incorporated by reference for all
that they contain:
"Ram Accelerator System" filed on March 15, 2013, Application Number
13/841,236, attorney
docket number 834-7001.
"Ram Accelerator System with Endcap" filed on May 13, 2014, App. No.
61/992,830.
"Ram Accelerator System with Rail Tube" filed on October 23, 2014, App. No.
62/067,923.
"Ram Accelerator System with Baffles" filed on April 21, 2015, App. No.
62/150,836.
"Pressurized Ram Accelerator System" filed on November 10, 2015, App. No.
62/253,228.
"Augmented Drilling System Using Ram Accelerator Assembly" filed on September
12, 2016,
App. No. 62/393,631.
"Augmented Drilling System Using Ram Accelerator Assembly" filed on September
7, 2017,
App. No. 15/698,549.
"Systems for Thermal Generation of Energy" filed on January 17, 2017, App. No.
62/447,350.
"Systems for Thermal Generation of Energy" filed on January 25, 2017, App. No.
62/450,529.
"Projectile Tunneling System" filed on May 8, 2017, App. No. 62/502,863.
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BACKGROUND
[0003] Traditional drilling and excavation methods utilize drills to form
holes in one or
more layers of material to be penetrated. Excavation, quarrying, and tunnel
boring may also
use explosives placed in the holes and detonated in order to break apart at
least a portion of the
material. The use of explosives results in additional safety and regulatory
burdens which
increase operational cost. Typically, these methods cycle from drill, blast,
removal of material,
ground support and are relative slow (many minutes to hours to days per linear
foot is typical
depending on the cross-sectional area being moved) methods for removing
material to form a
desired excavation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The Detailed Description is set forth with reference to the
accompanying figures.
In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the
figure in which the
reference number first appears. The same reference numbers in different
figures indicate
similar or identical items.
[0005] Fig. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a projectile launching
system.
[0006] Figs. 2-3 show illustrative methods and techniques of operation of
projectile
launching systems.
[0007] Figs. 4-6 shows illustrative techniques for operating systems to
detect and react to
objects in proximity to power systems.
[0008] Figs. 7-8 show illustrative embodiments of a computing devices and
architectures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009]
Conventional drilling and excavation techniques used for penetrating materials
typically rely on mechanical bits used to cut or grind at a working face.
These materials may
include metals, ceramics, geologic materials, and so forth. Tool wear and
breakage on the
mechanical bits slows these operations, increasing costs. Furthermore, the
rate of progress of
cutting through material such as hard rock may be prohibitive. Drilling may be
used in the
establishment of water wells, oil wells, gas wells, underground pipelines, and
so forth.
Additionally, the environmental impact of conventional techniques may be
significant. For
example, conventional drilling may require a significant supply of water which
may not be
readily available in arid regions. As a result, resource extraction may be
prohibitively
expensive, time consuming, or both.
[0010]
Described in this disclosure are systems and techniques for using a ram
accelerator,
detonation gun, or other mechanism to eject one or more projectiles toward the
working face
of the geologic material.
[0011] The
projectiles may be generally spherical in shape. Endcaps may be used to seal
an end of the tube that is proximate to a working face, such as downhole. Gas
generators may
be used to produce combustible gasses that are used to propel the projectiles.
[0012] A down-
hole sorter may be passive or actively actuated. For example, projectiles,
endcaps, gas generators, and so forth may be separated from one another via a
variety of
different techniques including, but not limited to, gravity, centrifugal
force, size, vibration,
conic and spinning separation, and so forth.
[0013] A
projectile may jam or become lodged in the device prior to ejection. A
crushing
and removal mechanism may be used to clear the jammed projectile(s). For
example, a
hydraulic ram may be used to crush a jammed projectile.
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[0014] The
projectile may have several layers. An inner core may comprise concrete. A
middle shell may comprise one or more of polytetrafluoroethylene,
perfluoroalkoxy alkane,
fluorinated ethylene propylene, or other material. An outer shell may comprise
an elastomeric
material. For example, the outer shell may comprise rubber that operates as a
seal in the tube
to hold propellant gasses prior to ignition. In some implementations, either
the middle shell or
the outer shell may be omitted.
[0015] The
system may include multiple sections. Each of the sections is configured to
hold one or more combustible gases. In one implementation, a projectile is
boosted to a ram
velocity down the launch tube and through the multiple sections. At the ram
velocity, a ram
compression effect provided at least in part by a shape of the projectile
initiates combustion of
the one or more combustible gasses in a ram combustion effect, accelerating
the projectile. In
some implementations, the projectile may accelerate to a hypervelocity. In
some
implementations, hypervelocity includes velocities greater than or equal to
two kilometers per
second upon ejection or exit from the system launch tube.
[0016] In other
implementations, the projectile may accelerate to a non-hypervelocity. For
example, the system may comprise a detonation gun, ventless gun, and so forth.
In some
implementations, non-hypervelocity includes velocities below two kilometers
per second.
[0017] The
projectiles ejected from the system strike a working face of the geologic
material. Projectiles interact with the geologic material at the working face
by producing one
or more of fractures, a hole, and so forth. By firing a series of projectiles,
the material ahead
of the system may be fractured, pulverized, vaporized, and so forth.
[0018] Fig. 1
shows an illustrative embodiment of a projectile system 100. For example,
projectile system 100 may comprise a ram accelerator system 102 comprising a
combustion
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chamber 104 and a launch tube 106 coupled to a drift tube 108. Additionally or
alternatively,
portions of the ram accelerator system 102 may be disposed within a drill bit
110.
[0019]
Additionally or alternatively, various embodiments contemplate that a section
separator mechanism is configured provide one or more barriers between the
different sections
in the system which contain the one or more combustible gasses. For example,
launch tube 106
may be sealed off from drift tube 108, by for example an endcap 112. Each
section may be
configured to contain one or more combustible gasses in various conditions
such as particular
pressures, and so forth. The section separator mechanism may employ a
diaphragm, valve, and
so forth which is configured to seal one or more sections. During firing, the
projectile passes
through the diaphragm, breaking the seal, or the valve is opened prior to
launch. A reel
mechanism may be used to move an unused section of the diaphragm into place,
restoring the
seal. Other separator mechanisms such as ball valves, plates, endcaps, gravity
gradient, and so
forth may also be used. The separator mechanisms may be configured to operate
as blow out
preventers, anti-kick devices, and so forth. For example, the separator
mechanisms may
comprise ball valves configured to close when pressure from down the hole
exceeds a threshold
pressure. Additionally or alternatively, various embodiments contemplate that
endcaps 112
may comprise a substantially spherical shape and may be loaded into place
through endcap
feeder tube and sequencer 114.
[0020] The hole
formed by the impact of the projectiles may be further guided or processed.
A guide tube (also known as a "drift tube" 110) may be inserted into the hole
to prevent
subsidence, direct a drilling path, deploy instrumentation, and so forth. In
one implementation,
a reamer or slip-spacer may be coupled to the guide tube and inserted
downhole. The reamer
may comprise one or more cutting or grinding surfaces configured to shape the
hole into a
substantially uniform cross section. For example, the reamer may be configured
to smooth the
sides of the hole.
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[0021] The
reamer may also be configured to apply lateral force between the guide tube
and the walls of the hole, canting or otherwise directing the drill in a
particular direction. This
directionality enables the system to form a curved drilling path.
[0022] The
guide tube is configured to accept the projectiles ejected from the system and
direct them towards the working face. A series of projectiles may be fired
from the system
down the guide tube, allowing for continuous drilling operations. Other
operations may also
be provided, such as inserting a continuous concrete liner into the hole.
[0023] A
cutting head may comprise one or more drill bits that operate against the
working
face.
[0024] Ejecta
comprising materials resulting from the impact of the one or more projectiles
with the geologic material may be removed from the hole. In some
implementations, a back
pressure resulting from the impact may force the ejecta from the hole. In some
implementations
a working fluid such as compressed air, water, and so forth may be injected
into the hole to aid
in removal of at least a portion of the ejecta. The injection may be done
continuously, prior to,
during, or after, each launch of the projectile.
[0025] One or
more systems may also be deployed to drill several holes for tunnel boring,
excavation, and so forth. A plurality of accelerators may be fired
sequentially or
simultaneously to strike one or more target points on a working face. After
several holes are
formed from projectile impacts, various techniques may be used to remove
pieces of geologic
material defined by two or more holes which are proximate to one another.
Mechanical force
may be applied by breaker arms to snap, break, or otherwise free pieces of the
geologic material
from a main body of the geologic material at the working face. In other
implementations,
conventional explosives may be placed into the system drilled holes and
detonated to shatter
the geologic material.
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[0026] In some
implementations, conventional drilling techniques and equipment may be
used in conjunction with system drilling. For example, the system may be used
to reach a
particular target depth. Once at the target depth, a conventional coring drill
may be used to
retrieve core samples from strata at the target depth.
[0027] The
systems and techniques described may be used to reduce the time, costs, and
environmental necessary for resource extraction, resource exploration,
construction, and so
forth. Furthermore, the capabilities of system drilling enable deeper
exploration and recovery
of natural resources. Additionally, the energy released during impact may be
used for
geotechnical investigation such as reflection seismology, strata
characterization, and so forth.
[0028] Fig. 2
depicts a method 200 for placing an endcap 202 and projectile 204 within the
launch tube 106 of a ram accelerator system 102. As described with regard to
Fig. 1, a ram
accelerator system 102 may be positioned within a drilling string proximate to
the drill bit 110.
[0029] The ram
accelerator system 102 may include a launch tube 106 having an upstream
end that terminates at a combustion chamber 104, and a downstream end
terminating at an
orifice 206 in the face of the drill bit 110. In use, pressure generated using
a propellant within
the combustion chamber 104 may accelerate a projectile 204 positioned within
the launch tube
106 in a downstream direction toward the drill bit 110, where the projectile
204 may exit the
orifice 206 to impact the geological formation in front of the drill bit 110.
Subsequent operation
of the drill bit 110 may cause the drill bit 110 to penetrate through the
portion of the formation
that is weakened by the interaction with the projectile 204.
[0030] At block
208, a plunger 210 extends into the system to clear the combustion
chamber 104 and launch tube 106 as well as orifice 206 of any debris.
[0031] At block
212, the plunger 210 may be retracted from the orifice 206 and launch tube
106 while endcap 202 may be loaded. Additionally or alternatively, various
embodiments
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contemplate that the endcap may be seated by suction created by a previous
launch, an active
loading mechanism, suction from the plunger retracting, or combinations
thereof.
[0032] At block 214, the plunger 210 is fully retracted and projectile 204
is loaded.
[0033] Fig. 3 shows additional steps 300 in loading a projectile. For
example, at block 302
plunger 210 extends and seats projectile 204 into a converging section of the
ram acceleration
system 102.
[0034] At block 304, the plunger 210 retracts. The system may begin adding
fuel and
combustion gasses into the respective sections and chambers.
[0035] At block 306, upon loading of fuel and oxidizers, the system is
ready to accelerate
the projectile through the ram accelerator system 102.
[0036] Additionally or alternatively, various embodiments contemplate that
projectile 204
may comprise a rubber coating (that may act as a seal for a detonation gun,
and may act as an
0-ring equivalent). Additionally alternatively, the projectile may comprise a
concrete sphere
with Teflon coating to reduce fiction. Additionally or alternatively, various
embodiments
contemplate that endcap 202 may comprise a Plastic End Cap Ball and may
comprise
Polyethylene and/or Poly Vinyl Chloride.
[0037] Additionally or alternatively, various embodiments contemplate
orientating the
projectile using a mass/pendulum system. For example, various embodiments
contemplate
using a sorter to orientate the projectile based at least in part on
orientation of one or more of a
mechanical dimple, a sealing edge, an optical sorting and orientation system,
a
magnetic/metallic attraction system, or combinations thereof among others.
[0038] Additionally or alternatively, various embodiments contemplate that
the launch
tube barrel may cycle axially in some implementations. For example, a long
barrel movement
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or a sliding over insert may be used, allowing near contact with the geologic
material at the bit,
but pulling back away from the working face to facilitate feeding by the
endcap feed tube.
[0039] The feed tube and launch tube barrel may rotate together and may be
off axis from
the cutting bit to facilitate end cap feeding.
[0040] The endcap may be fed through the bit. For instance, the feed tube
may be locked
into center of the rotating drill bit and the spherical projectiles are loaded
through endcap feed
tube into the bit and through bit rotation the launch tube barrel pulls back
and grabs or seats
the dispensed endcap.
[0041] The end of the barrel or gun launch tube may be flared for ease of
seating and
sealing.
[0042] In some implementations, the eyeball hemispherical seal may be more
structural
efficient. A lip or surface feature may be provided with a sealant.
[0043] In some implementations the endcap may be placed after a shot. For
example, the
pressure differential after firing the projectile may draw the endcap into the
tube.
[0044] The dynamic sealing endcap deposited from exit side of gun may swage
or
dynamically hydroform itself into place.
[0045] The endcap may be welded into place using an electric current. The
weld would be
configured to break during or after firing a projectile.
[0046] In some implementations, electric welding may be used for the
projectile as well.
[0047] The additional material described in the attached Appendix A is also
included in
this disclosure.
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ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIVE APPLICATIONS
[0048] The
system may also be used in industrial applications as well, such as in
material
production, fabrication, and so forth. In these applications a target may
comprise materials
such as metal, plastic, wood, ceramic, and so forth. For example, during
shipbuilding large
plates of high strength steel may need to have holes created for piping,
propeller shafts, hatches,
and so forth. The system may be configured to fire one or more of the
projectiles through one
or more pieces of metal, to form the holes. Large openings may be formed by a
plurality of
smaller holes around a periphery of the desired opening. Conventional cutting
methods such
as plasma torches, saws, and so forth may then be used to remove remaining
material and
finalize the opening for use. In addition to openings, the impact of the
projectiles may also be
used to form other features such as recesses within the target. The use of the
system in these
industrial applications may thus enable fabrication with materials which are
difficult to cut,
grind, or otherwise machine.
[0049] Those
having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that certain steps or
operations illustrated in the figures above can be eliminated, combined,
subdivided, executed
in parallel, or taken in an alternate order. Moreover, the methods described
above may be
implemented as one or more software programs for a computer system and are
encoded in a
computer-readable storage medium as instructions executable on one or more
processors.
Separate instances of these programs can be executed on or distributed across
separate
computer systems.
[0050] Although
certain steps have been described as being performed by certain devices,
processes, or entities, this need not be the case and a variety of alternative
implementations will
be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.
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[0051]
Additionally, those having ordinary skill in the art readily recognize that
the
techniques described above can be utilized in a variety of devices,
environments, and situations.
Although the present disclosure is written with respect to specific
embodiments and
implementations, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one
skilled in the art
and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and
modifications that
fall within the scope of the appended claims.
CONCLUSION
[0052] Although
embodiments have been described in language specific to structural
features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the
disclosure is not necessarily
limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific
features and acts are
disclosed herein as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Any
portion of one
embodiment may be used in combination with any portion of a second embodiment.
