EXCAVATION MACHINES

RAISE BLINDHOLE SHAFT

BORERS
Raise Borers:
These machines are used to produce a circular excavation either between two
existing levels in an underground mine or between the surface and an
existing level in mine.

First, the boring machine is set up on the upper level, and a small-diameter
(of the order of 9 in. or 230 mm) pilot hole is drilled, usually with a tricone
bit, down to the lower level.

When this hole is completed, the drillbit is removed and replaced by a

reamer head having a diameter with the same dimension as the desired
excavation.

These machines are very effective in driving raises, and they have become
very popular, particularly in hard-rock underground mines. Frequently the
direct costs of driving a raise, in terms of dollars per foot (dollars per meter),
are reduced by using these machines.
Blindhole Borers:

A blindhole machine The machine is set up The purpose of this

will produce a circular on a level in an hole often is to make
excavation without underground mine, connection with a
the need for a pilot and a steeply inclined stope above the level.
hole. hole, generally several South Africa, in
feet (meters) in particular, makes
diameter, is excavated extensive use of these
upward from this machines in their gold
level. mines.
Shaft Borers:
This technique for large-hole drilling has been practiced for decades at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and,
in recent years, attention to mechanized shaft sinking for mining operations has increased. The
uniaxial compressive strength of this tuff ranges from 4000 to 25,000 psi (28 to 170 MPa). The hole
sizes drilled typically are 5.2 to 7.9 ft (1.6 to 2.4 m) in diameter and 1600 ft (490 m) deep.

Cuttings removal from the hole is

achieved using either reverse
circulation or dual-string
circulation (Fig. 9.1.60). In both
cases, air jets are injected into the
upstream flow to help lift the
cuttings. It is apparent that the
problem with cuttings removal is
the large quantity of the rock
debris, because of the large hole
size.
 The drilling machines used
for these large holes are
scaled up versions of
standard oil field drilling
systems. The right-hand
diagram in Fig. 9.1.61
shows the down hole
assembly, and the left-hand
diagram shows the
assembly, at the hole collar.

Drilling accuracy for these large holes is achieved either using

the "plumb bob" effect or using a stinger in a predrilled pilot Shaft boring also was employed at a uranium mine in
New Mexico. Here three large holes, one 10 ft (3 m)
hole. The former approach uses gravity acting on the mass of
and the other two 6ft (1.8 m) in diameter, were drilled
the cutting head assembly to maintain the shaft vertical. The
to depths of 2243, 2188, and 2188 ft (684, 667, and
latter approach employs a pilot hole, some 12 in. (300 mm) in
667 m), respectively.
diameter, drilled before the boring head is installed.
 Roadheaders:
A roadheader is a boom-type tunneling machine that uses
drag bit cutting tools (Fig. 9.1.62).

These machines are restricted to excavating relatively weak

rock types, and their main use is for roadway drivage in coal
mines.

During the past three decades efforts have been devoted to increasing the
cutting capability by increasing the installed power of these machines.

This has resulted in increased machine size and mass (Fig.

9.1.63).

Roadheaders are track-mounted machines.

In recent years the cutting capability of these machines has

been enhanced by the addition of a water-jet-assisted cutting
system.