Cobble/small boulder debris device in borehole excavating

Abstract

A cobble and small boulder debris removal device including a quiescently open 3 prong claw, and a series of springs and cables within or affixed to a shaft to close the prongs in gripping and holding such cobbles when encountered in the pre-clearance of a borehole, to be then removed by being lifted away and released via a relaxation of a lever connected with a main actuating cable.

1 . A cobble/small boulder debris removal device in borehole excavating comprising:
 a hollow shaft, a quiescently open 3-prong claw secured at a bottom end of the shaft, and a series of springs and cables within or affixed to the shaft to close the prongs to then grip and hold rocks or small boulders encountered in the drilling of a borehole to be then removed by their being lifted away and released via a manual relaxation of a lever connected to a main actuating cable traversing through the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . A cobble/small boulder debris removal device in borehole excavating comprising:
 a quiescently open 3-prong claw;   a shaft enclosing first, second and third cables, each individually connected at one end with one prong of said 3-prong claw;   first, second and third springs, each individually connecting one of said prongs to angularly spaced locations on an external surface of said shaft;   a one-to-three cable transition coupler within said shaft having an input connected to a first end of a fourth spring within said shaft and an output connected to respective second ends of said first, second and third cables;   an operating lever secured to an outside of said shaft; and   a fourth cable connecting said operating lever to a second end of said fourth spring;   whereby user rotation of said operating lever in a first direction pulls upon said fourth cable to close said claw and whereby user relaxation of said operating lever releases said fourth cable to return said claw to its quiescently open condition.   
     
     
         3 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 2  wherein said first, second and third springs individually connect one of said prongs to 120° spaced locations on an external surface of said shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 3 , also including grasping and holding means on each of said prongs in securing debris to be removed. 
     
     
         5 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 4  wherein said cables are fabricated of steel. 
     
     
         6 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 5  wherein said fourth cable is fabricated of steel of a 3/16″ diameter and wherein each of said first, second and third cables are fabricated of ⅛″ diameter steel. 
     
     
         7 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 6  wherein each of said prongs are fabricated of aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 7  wherein said shaft is of a length 5-10 feet. 
     
     
         9 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 8  wherein said shaft is of cylindrical construction of an outside diameter of 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 8  wherein said operating lever is of a length of 16 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The cobble/small boulder debris removal device of  claim 7 , also including a pulley around which said fourth cable is wound in connecting said operating lever to said second end of said fourth spring.