Top-hammer impact drilling is a way to use impact force to crush rock or soil. In the past few decades, with the continuous development of engineering construction, the demand for rock and soil crushing has increased, and the requirements for crushing efficiency and quality are also higher and higher. Top hammer impact drilling is widely used as an efficient crushing method. It is significant to understand the top hammer impact drilling for the correct selection and use of rock drilling equipment to improve the efficiency and economic benefits of the project.
What is top hammer impact drilling?
Top hammer impact drilling is that the rock drilling machine is located at the top of rock drilling tools, the rock drill piston directly hits the tail end of rock drilling tools, and the impact energy generated passes through the rod to the drill bit in the form of stress waves to do work on the rock. This type of rock drilling machine uses compressed gas or hydraulic oil as the power source, and the impact power can be designed according to the requirements of the equipment, so it has a higher rock drilling rate.
Characteristics of top hammer impact drilling
High efficiency
Top hammer impact drilling breaks rocks or soil through impact force, and its crushing efficiency is much higher than traditional blasting methods and manual rock drilling.
Environmental friendly
Compared with traditional blasting methods, top hammer impact drilling produces less noise, vibration, and flying rocks and has less impact on the surrounding environment and ecology.
Precise control
Top hammer impact drilling allows precise control of rock or soil fragmentation by adjusting the impact energy, frequency, and location of the impact point.
Wide range of applications
Top hammer rock drilling tools are suitable for various types of rock operations and have a wide range of applications.
Easy to operate
Top-hammer impact drilling equipment is simple and easy to operate and does not require the high skills of the operator.
Application of top hammer impact drilling
Mining
Top hammer impact drilling can be used in quarrying, mining, and other operations to improve working efficiency.
Road construction
During road construction, top hammer impact drilling is used to dig trenches, break rocks, loosen soil, etc. Unlike traditional manual excavation, it can improve efficiency and reduce costs and labor intensity.
Water conservancy project
In the construction of water conservancy projects, top hammer impact drilling can be used for rock bank protection, dam foundation excavation, and other operations to improve project quality and construction efficiency.
Other areas
The technique of top hammer impact drilling is utilized in various domains such as municipal engineering, tunnel construction, and other fields. During the excavation of tunnels, for instance, top hammer impact drilling can be employed to reduce and break up surrounding rocks.
Tools used in top hammer impact drilling
The primary tools utilized in top hammer impact drilling are top hammer drilling tools.
The drilling depth of top hammer drilling tools is usually ≤35m and the drilling diameter is ≤152 mm. It includes light weight rock drilling tools, drifting and tunneling tools, benching drilling tools, and open-cutting drilling tools.
Light weight rock drilling tools
It mainly include H19 mm, H22 mm, and H25 mm hexagonal integral drill rods and tapered drill rods, 38-42 mm diameter chisel bits, cross bits, and four-tooth and five-tooth button bits.
Drifting and tunneling tools
It mainly include R/T38-H35-R32 structure with lengths of 3090 mm, 3700 mm, 4310 mm, 5525 mm drill rods and diameters of φ45 mm, φ48 mm, φ51mm, φ54 mm seven teeth and nine-tooth button bits: R32-H28-R28 structure with lengths of 2700 mm, 3050 mm drill rod for drifting and tunneling jumbo and diameters of φ41 mm, φ43 mm seven-tooth button bits.
Benching drilling tools
It mainly include R32-D32-R32 structure with lengths of 1100 mm, 1200 mm extension rod, and diameters of 55 mm, 60 mm button bits.
Open-cutting drilling tools
It mainly include T38-D38-T38 structure with lengths of 3050 mm, 3600 mm, T45-D45-T45 structure with lengths of 3600 mm, T51-D51-T51 structure with lengths of 3600 mm extension rod and MF rod, diameters of φ76 mm, φ89 mm button bits.
To sum up, there are various top hammer drilling tools, and it is necessary to select the appropriate tools for operation according to different operating environments and rock types.
As an efficient and easy-to-operate rock-crushing technology, top hammer impact drilling has broad application prospects in the engineering construction field. In the actual application, we should consider all the factors to ensure that it can maximize the economic benefits. With the continuous development of science and technology and the demand for construction, top hammer impact drilling technology still has broad space for growth, and its continuing progress and improvement will make a greater contribution to engineering construction.
