HIGH POWER LASER TUNNELING MINING AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

There are provided high power laser and laser mechanical earth removing equipment, and operations using laser cutting tools having stand off distances. These equipment provide high power laser beams, greater than 1 kW to cut and volumetrically remove targeted materials and to remove laser affected material with gravity assistance, mechanical cutters, fluid jets, scrapers and wheels. There is also provided a method of using this equipment in mining, road resurfacing and other earth removing or working activities.

主权项

1. A method of volumetric removal of material from a target using high power directed energy and mechanical energy, the method comprising:
a. applying high power directed energy having a power sufficient to penetrate the material in a predetermined three dimensional pattern, corresponding to a predetermined volumetric shape; b. removing the material along the three dimensional pattern; c. weakening material adjacent to the pattern, thereby creating directed energy affected areas of the material; d. the directed energy affected areas substantially occupying the predetermined volumetric shape; and, e. removing the material from the predetermined volumetric shape with a means to provide a force.