A system for removing debris from a drill hole, the system comprising a drill rod, a first lumen extending through the drill rod, and a second lumen extending parallel to the first lumen; a drill bit for mounting to the drill rod, the drill bit being configured to form the drill hole; at least one air channel extending between the proximal end of the drill bit and the distal end of the drill bit, the at least one air channel being configured to be fluidically connected to the first lumen of the drill rod; at least one vacuum channel extending between the proximal end of the drill bit and the distal end of the drill bit, the at least one vacuum channel being configured to be fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod; and a container fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod.

Apparatus for splitting rock, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a drill assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the drill assembly comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a drive element for selectively rotating the shaft and a drill bit mounted to the distal end of the shaft for drilling a hole into rock; a splitter assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the splitter assembly comprising a tether and a wedge, the tether and the wedge being configured to be moved independently relative to one another; wherein the wedge comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the wedge being wider than the distal end of the wedge; wherein the tether comprises a radially-reduced profile when the wedge is disposed proximal to the tether, and wherein the tether comprises a radially-expanded profile after the wedge is moved distally relative to the tether.

A system for removing debris from a drill hole, the system comprising: a drill system comprising: a drill rod comprising a proximal end, a distal end a first lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a second lumen extending parallel to the first lumen, the first lumen being fluidically-isolated from the second lumen; a drill bit, the drill bit comprising: a proximal end for mounting to the distal end of the drill rod; a distal end configured to drill into a material so as to form the drill hole; at least one air channel extending between the proximal end of the drill bit and the distal end of the drill bit, the at least one air channel being configured to be fluidically connected to the first lumen of the drill rod when the dual channel drill bit is mounted to the drill rod; at least one vacuum channel extending between the proximal end of the drill bit and the distal end of the drill bit, the at least one vacuum channel being configured to be fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod when the drill bit is mounted to the drill rod; a container fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod; a compressor, the compressor being fluidically connected to the first lumen of the drill rod and fluidically connected to the container; wherein the compressor (i) pumps pressurized air through the first lumen of the drill rod such that the pressurized air passes through the at least one air channel of the drill bit and exits the distal end of the drill bit into the drill hole, and (ii) pumps air out of the container so as to generate a vacuum within the container, which vacuum is fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod and hence to the at least one vacuum channel of the drill bit, such that pressurized air exiting the at least one air channel into the hole and debris in the hole enters the at least one vacuum channel, passes through the second lumen of the drill rod and into the container, such that the debris is collected in the container.

A system for removing debris from a drill hole, the system comprising: a drill system comprising: a drill rod comprising a proximal end, a distal end a first lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a second lumen extending parallel to the first lumen, the first lumen being fluidically-isolated from the second lumen; a drill bit, the drill bit comprising: a proximal end for mounting to the distal end of the drill rod; a distal end configured to drill into a material so as to form the drill hole; at least one air channel extending between the proximal end of the drill bit and the distal end of the drill bit, the at least one air channel being configured to be fluidically connected to the first lumen of the drill rod when the dual channel drill bit is mounted to the drill rod; at least one vacuum channel extending between the proximal end of the drill bit and the distal end of the drill bit, the at least one vacuum channel being configured to be fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod when the drill bit is mounted to the drill rod; a container fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod; a compressor, the compressor being fluidically connected to the first lumen of the drill rod and fluidically connected to the container; wherein the compressor (i) pumps pressurized air through the first lumen of the drill rod such that the pressurized air passes through the at least one air channel of the drill bit and exits the distal end of the drill bit into the drill hole, and (ii) pumps air out of the container so as to generate a vacuum within the container, which vacuum is fluidically connected to the second lumen of the drill rod and hence to the at least one vacuum channel of the drill bit, such that pressurized air exiting the at least one air channel into the hole and debris in the hole enters the at least one vacuum channel, passes through the second lumen of the drill rod and into the container, such that the debris is collected in the container.

Apparatus for splitting rock, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a drill assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the drill assembly comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a drive element for selectively rotating the shaft and a drill bit mounted to the distal end of the shaft for drilling a hole into rock; a splitter assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the splitter assembly comprising a tether and a wedge, the tether and the wedge being configured to be moved independently relative to one another; wherein the wedge comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the wedge being wider than the distal end of the wedge; wherein the tether comprises a radially-reduced profile when the wedge is disposed proximal to the tether, and wherein the tether comprises a radially-expanded profile after the wedge is moved distally relative to the tether.

Apparatus for splitting rock, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a drill assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the drill assembly comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a drive element for selectively rotating the shaft and a drill bit mounted to the distal end of the shaft for drilling a hole into rock; a splitter assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the splitter assembly comprising a tether and a wedge, the tether and the wedge being configured to be moved independently relative to one another; wherein the wedge comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the wedge being wider than the distal end of the wedge; wherein the tether comprises a radially-reduced profile when the wedge is disposed proximal to the tether, and wherein the tether comprises a radially-expanded profile after the wedge is moved distally relative to the tether.

One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impact a working face. In some implementations a purge gas may be used to form a ullage between the endcap and the working face.

One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impact a working face. In some implementations a purge gas may be used to form a ullage between the endcap and the working face.

The present invention is a hydraulically operated splitting device with a piston cylinder unit comprising an extending chamber and a retracting chamber in which a piston is supported, displaceable in an extending direction and a retracting direction, allowing the extending chamber and the retracting chamber to be impinged with pressurized hydraulic medium for moving the piston at a displacement speed, a cylinder housing at which a plurality of pressure pads is supported, displaceable perpendicular to the extending direction and the retracting direction, a wedged lance connected to a piston rod of the piston and mobile with said piston, which engages wedge-shaped pressure areas of the pressure pads complementary to the wedged lance, and moves the pressure pads perpendicular to the extending direction and the retracting direction, a lubrication unit by which lubricant can be inserted from a lubricant reservoir to an area between the wedged lance and the pressure pads, with the splitting device comprising a protective unit by which the displacement speed can be reduced depending on the fill level of the lubricant in the lubricant reservoir.

The present invention is a hydraulically operated splitting device with a piston cylinder unit comprising an extending chamber and a retracting chamber in which a piston is supported, displaceable in an extending direction and a retracting direction, allowing the extending chamber and the retracting chamber to be impinged with pressurized hydraulic medium for moving the piston at a displacement speed, a cylinder housing at which a plurality of pressure pads is supported, displaceable perpendicular to the extending direction and the retracting direction, a wedged lance connected to a piston rod of the piston and mobile with said piston, which engages wedge-shaped pressure areas of the pressure pads complementary to the wedged lance, and moves the pressure pads perpendicular to the extending direction and the retracting direction, a lubrication unit by which lubricant can be inserted from a lubricant reservoir to an area between the wedged lance and the pressure pads, with the splitting device comprising a protective unit by which the displacement speed can be reduced depending on the fill level of the lubricant in the lubricant reservoir.