METHOD OF ELECTRIC PULSE BREAKAGE OF ROCKS AND ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: breakage of rocks by electric discharges in driving of mine workings, hole drilling and also breakage of concrete articles and other artificial materials. SUBSTANCE: electric break-down is effected on drooping part of high-voltage pulses with time before breakdown not less than 0,25•10^-6 S and number of electrodes is selected so that total resistance of electrode system in liquid is not less than eight-fold wave impedance of pulse source. Electrodes fixed with one another are installed on reinforced concrete article at equal distances from reinforcement members. Reinforcement is removed only after full breakage of article. Moved over concrete article at constant speed is one high-voltage electrode with application of high-voltage pulses to it at preset frequency. Prior to object breakage, holes are made in it and filled with water, and adjacent different-pole electrodes are sunk into holes to depth of, at least, 1/3 distance between hole centers. In addition, distance between different-pole electrodes is determined on the basis of preset depth of breakage of article surface layer. EFFECT: considerable increase of breakage efficiency. 8 cl, 3 tbl