Drifter (drill)
Encyclopedia
A Drifter is either a hydraulic or pneumatic powered rock or ground drill
placed on top of a feed. The feed is like a rail that the drill travels on, aka. drifts. This kind of drilling procedure is also called drifting. The feed is usually attached with a flexible boom (like an arm) to a stationery or mobile unit that contains the powerpack (engine and hyd. pump or compressor). Drifters are used in mining
, construction
, exploration
and natural science
.
A hydraulic rock drill or drifter is usually a machine, that consists of a percussive system and a rotative system. The percussive system strikes the drill steel, for example 2000-5000 strikes per minute as the rotation can be, for example, 100-400 rounds per minute. Combined together, these functions enable drilling holes into rock. The excess material (cuttings) is then pushed up from the bottom of the hole by means of pressurized air or water.
Hydraulic rock drills are also called hydraulic top hammers, which explains the position of the actual drilling device concerning the drill rod. Opposite to a top hammer drill or drifter is the down-the-hole hammers, which are usually pneumatic.
Drill
A drill or drill motor is a tool fitted with a cutting tool attachment or driving tool attachment, usually a drill bit or driver bit, used for drilling holes in various materials or fastening various materials together with the use of fasteners. The attachment is gripped by a chuck at one end of...
placed on top of a feed. The feed is like a rail that the drill travels on, aka. drifts. This kind of drilling procedure is also called drifting. The feed is usually attached with a flexible boom (like an arm) to a stationery or mobile unit that contains the powerpack (engine and hyd. pump or compressor). Drifters are used in mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
, exploration
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
and natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
.
A hydraulic rock drill or drifter is usually a machine, that consists of a percussive system and a rotative system. The percussive system strikes the drill steel, for example 2000-5000 strikes per minute as the rotation can be, for example, 100-400 rounds per minute. Combined together, these functions enable drilling holes into rock. The excess material (cuttings) is then pushed up from the bottom of the hole by means of pressurized air or water.
Hydraulic rock drills are also called hydraulic top hammers, which explains the position of the actual drilling device concerning the drill rod. Opposite to a top hammer drill or drifter is the down-the-hole hammers, which are usually pneumatic.