Resonant demolition tool

Abstract

An impact tool is provided for applying impact energy to a material, the impact tool comprising a fork portion having a first tine, a second tine, and a base portion; an exciter component at one end of the first tine, configured to excite the first tine to resonate at a given frequency, the second tine configured to resonate sympathetically with the first tine; and a striking surface on one or both tines, the striking surface configured to contact the material so as to apply impact energy to the material. A method for applying impact energy to a material is provided, the method comprising raising the tines away from the material; actuating the exciter component to cause the tines to resonate at a given frequency; and positioning one of tines to strike the material so as to apply impact energy to the material.

1 . An impact tool for applying impact energy to a material, the impact tool comprising: 
 a fork portion having a first tine, a second tine, and a base portion, the first tine having a first end and a second end, the second tine having a third end and a fourth end, the first end of the first tine configured adjacent the base portion, and the third end of the second tine configured adjacent the base portion;    an exciter component disposed adjacent at least one of the second end of the first tine and the fourth end of the second tine, wherein the exciter component is configured to excite the first tine and the second tine to resonate sympathetically with one another at a given frequency; and    a striking surface disposed adjacent at least one of the second end of the first tine and the fourth end of the second tine, wherein the striking surface is configured to contact the material with the first tine and the second tine resonating sympathetically with one another so as to apply impact energy to the material.    
     
     
         2 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the second end of the first tine and the fourth end of the second tine are disposed at a given width from one another, a maximum width between the first tine and the second tine prior to the second end and the fourth end, and the given width between the second end and the fourth end is the selected from the group consisting of (1) a first width equal to the maximum width between the first tine and the second tine prior to the second end and the fourth end, and (2) a second distance less than the maximum width between the first tine and the second tine prior to the second end and the fourth end.  
     
     
         3 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the first end of the first tine and the second end of the second tine are integral with the base portion, respectively.  
     
     
         4 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the fork portion comprises a tuning fork.  
     
     
         5 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the given frequency comprises a range of about 10 Hz to about 500 Hz.  
     
     
         6 . An impact tool according to  claim 5  wherein the given frequency comprises a range of about 30 Hz to about 60 Hz.  
     
     
         7 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the exciter component comprises an eccentric weight.  
     
     
         8 . An impact tool according to  claim 7  wherein the eccentric weight is driven by one chosen from the group consisting of a rotary hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, an electric motor, a linear actuator, a magnetic coil, a piezoelectric motor, and an internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         9 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the exciter component comprises one chosen from the group consisting of a linear actuator, a magnetic coil, a translating weight, a piston.  
     
     
         10 . An impact tool according to  claim 9  wherein the magnetic coil of the exciter component provides an alternating electromagnetic field.  
     
     
         11 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the fork portion comprises at least one chosen from the group consisting of steel, carbon fiber, aluminum, and monel.  
     
     
         12 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the fourth end of the second tine further comprises one selected from the group consisting of a pick, a chisel, a plate packer, a rotating drill, a sheet pile driving clamp, a replaceable impact hammer, a blender, and a mixer.  
     
     
         13 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the first tine and the second tine each comprise a variable length tine so as to allow frequency matching to a selected material.  
     
     
         14 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the base portion comprises a connector component.  
     
     
         15 . An impact tool according to  claim 14  wherein the connector component of the base portion comprises a rotatable coupler so as to allow three-dimensional positioning of the first tine and the second tine.  
     
     
         16 . An impact tool according to  claim 14  wherein the connector component of the base portion comprises a quick coupler for attachment to a carrier vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . An impact tool according to  claim 14  wherein the connector component of the base portion comprises a pin connector configured for attachment to an excavator.  
     
     
         18 . An impact tool according to  claim 1  wherein the base portion comprises a handle configured for hand-held operation by a person.  
     
     
         19 . An impact tool for applying impact energy to a material, the impact tool comprising: 
 a resonating bar member having a single tine and a base portion, the single tine having a first end and a second end, the first end of the single tine configured on one side of the base portion, and the second end of the single tine configured on the other side of the base portion;    an exciter component disposed at one chosen from the group consisting of the first end of the single tine, the second end of the single tine, and an anti-node disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the exciter component is configured to excite the single tine to resonate at a given frequency;    a striking surface disposed adjacent at least one of the first end of the single tine and the second end of the single tine, wherein the striking surface is configured to contact the material with the first end of the single tine and the second end of the single tine resonating sympathetically with one another so as to apply impact energy to the material; and    a frame member in connection with the resonating bar member, and the frame member selectively connectable with various carrier vehicles.    
     
     
         20 . An impact tool according to  claim 19  wherein the frame member is configured to allow selective positioning of the resonating bar member to strike a non-horizontal surface.  
     
     
         21 . A method for applying impact energy to a material, the method comprising: 
 providing an impact tool for applying impact energy to a material, the impact tool comprising: 
 a fork portion having a first tine, a second tine, and a base portion, the first tine having a first end and a second end, the second tine having a third end and a fourth end, the first end of the first tine configured adjacent the base portion, and the third end of the second tine configured adjacent the base portion;  
 an exciter component disposed adjacent at least one of the second end of the first tine and the fourth end of the second tine, wherein the exciter component is configured to excite the first tine and the second tine to resonate sympathetically with one another at a given frequency; and  
 a striking surface disposed adjacent at least one of the second end of the first tine and the fourth end of the second tine, wherein the striking surface is configured to contact the material with the first tine and the second tine resonating sympathetically with one another so as to apply impact energy to the material;  
   raising the second tine away from the material;    actuating the exciter component so as to cause the first tine and the second tine to resonate at a given frequency with increasing amplitude until a desired level of excitation is achieved and maintained; and    positioning first tine and second tine to cause the second tine to strike the material while the exciter component maintains the given frequency of resonation of the second tine so as to apply impact energy to the material.