APPARATUS FOR USE IN DRILLING

摘要

A drill and a separator apparatus and a method of prolonging bearing life are described, the separator apparatus being suitable for separating an air/water mixture into discrete air and water streams during drilling of a blast hole. The separator apparatus includes a separator body which is adapted to be installed at a distal or lower region of a drill string and when installed at the distal or lower region forms one or more separation chambers or reservoirs, each separation chamber or reservoir comprising an inlet adapted to receive the air/water mixture, a first outlet in fluid communication with a drill bit for releasing air thereto and a second outlet in fluid communication with a wall of the blast hole and disposed in the distal or lower region of the drill string to release water separated from the air/water mixture in a region adjacent the drill bit. The one or more first outlets for releasing air from the or each separation chamber is disposed at an upper region of the or each separation chamber and the one or more second outlets is disposed at a lower region of the or each separation chamber for releasing water from the or each separation chamber so that when in use water is inhibited from egress from the or each separation chamber through the or each first outlet.