US 12,286,883 B1
Impact controller for primary rock breakage
Robert H. Dalrymple, Pine City, NY (US)
Filed by Robert H. Dalrymple, Pine City, NY (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/989,099.
Int. Cl. E21C 27/28 (2006.01); B25D 17/24 (2006.01); E01C 23/12 (2006.01); E02F 5/30 (2006.01)
CPC E21C 27/28 (2013.01) [B25D 17/24 (2013.01); E01C 23/124 (2013.01); E02F 5/305 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mining apparatus, comprising:
a drop hammer having a drop weight therein that is moveable between a first position where the drop weight is suspended within an upper end of the drop hammer and a second position where the drop weight extends from a lower end of the drop hammer;
a shock absorber assembly coupled to the lower end of the drop hammer and having a first passageway through which the drop weight may pass when the drop weight moves between the first position and the second position, wherein the shock absorber assembly comprises an upper plate coupled to the lower end of the drop hammer and a lower plate spaced apart from the upper plate by a series of shocks extending circumferentially about the first passageway; and
a rebound cage coupled to the shock absorber assembly and having a series of guides positioned therein and arranged about a second passageway that is in alignment with the first passageway to contain the drop weight when it moves into the second position.
 
8. A mining apparatus, comprising:
a drop hammer having a drop weight therein that is moveable between a first position where the drop weight is suspended within an upper end of the drop hammer and a second position where the drop weight extends from a lower end of the drop hammer;
a shock absorber assembly coupled to the lower end of the drop hammer and having a first passageway through which the drop weight may pass when the drop weight moves between the first position and the second position; and
a rebound cage coupled to the shock absorber assembly and having a series of guides positioned therein and arranged about a second passageway that is in alignment with the first passageway to contain the drop weight when it moves into the second position, wherein the rebound cage comprises a series of frame columns extending around the second passageway and coupled to an upper bracket by an upper plate.
 
16. A method of mining rock, comprising the steps of:
providing a mining apparatus including a drop hammer having a drop weight therein that is moveable between a first position where the drop weight is suspended within an upper end of the drop hammer and a second position where the drop weight extends from a lower end of the drop hammer, a shock absorber assembly coupled to the lower end of the drop hammer and having a first passageway through which the drop weight may pass when the drop weight moves between the first position and the second position, wherein the shock absorber assembly comprises an upper plate coupled to the lower end of the drop hammer and a lower plate spaced apart from the upper plate by a series of shocks extending circumferentially about the first passageway, and a rebound cage coupled to the shock absorber assembly and having a series of guides positioned therein and arranged about a second passageway that is in alignment with the first passageway to contain the drop weight when it moves into the second position; and
dropping the drop weight from the first position to the second position through the first passageway and the second passageway so that an end of the drop weight strikes a surface positioned under the rebound cage.