Comparative Analysis and Development Trend of Rock Drill

A large number of pneumatic rock drills are being extensively used in a majority of mines in China nowadays, with a high noise level up to 125 dB(A) and large vibration and oil-fog on working-site, which can seriously jeopardize manipulator’s body and mind. Aiming at improving drilling environment and labor safety condition, the production mechanism of noise of all sorts of rock drills including pneumatic hydraulic and water-powered rock drills and measures of reducing noise level of pneumatic rock drills in special were discussed and led to the conclusion of that the pneumatic rock drills should be eliminated step by step, the hydraulic rock drill should be developed at full speed and especially the water-powered rock drill should be studied and applied according to the situation of China. In addition, the reasons of why hydraulic rock drills have not yet been used extensively and spread wide areas in China were discussed. The main technical parameters of newly developed leg-supporting water-powered rock drill and the comparation of experimental data between pneumatic rock drill and hydraulic rock drill were listed. The experimental results show that water-powered rock drill possesses the same superior properties as hydraulic rock drill and its noise is less than 20 dB(A) than pneumatic rock drill and there is no oil-fog on the working-site and vibration is reduced largely; but its drilling speed is raised largely , its structure is simpler, and maintenance is convenient. Therefore, popularizing applying of water-powered rock drill will be an effective way of improving mine working environment according to the current situation of China.