High-speed chemical drill

Abstract

A high-speed chemical drill ( 20 ) for removing portions of a target material ( 30 ), comprises: an elongated tube ( 21 ) formed of a fuel material; a source ( 24 ) of oxidizer; a conduit ( 26 ) for establishing a controllable flow of oxidizer from said source through said tube; and a sleeve ( 28 ) formed of a material containing chlorine and/or fluorine mounted on said tube; whereby, when said drill is ignited and used to remove portions of a target material, the chlorine and/or fluorine in said sleeve material will react chemically with the target material to form gaseous reaction products.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A chemical drill for removing portions of a target material, comprising: 
 an elongated tube formed of a fuel material;    a source of oxidizer;    a conduit for establishing a controllable flow of oxidizer from said source through said tube; and    a sleeve formed of a material containing chlorine and/or fluorine mounted on said tube;    whereby, when said drill is ignited and used to remove portions of a target material, the chlorine and/or fluorine in said sleeve material will react chemically with the target material to form gaseous reaction products.    
     
     
         2 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve is mounted on the outer surface of said tube.  
     
     
         3 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  and further comprising a plurality of wires in said tube.  
     
     
         4 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  and further comprising a plurality of rods in said tube.  
     
     
         5 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve material contains polyvinyl chlorine.  
     
     
         6  A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve material contains polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         7 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve material contains chlorinated polyvinyl chlorine.  
     
     
         8 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein tube contains iron.  
     
     
         9 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said target material contains a ferrous alloy.  
     
     
         10 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said target material contains an alloy having an element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, magnesium, titanium, a transition metal, tungsten, nickel, cobalt and chromium.  
     
     
         11 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said target material is selected from the group consisting of concrete, reinforced concrete, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, calcium oxide, and brick.  
     
     
         12 . A chemical drill as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said target material includes a ceramic material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, zirconia, magnesia, silicon carbide and silicon nitride.