Advances in Deep Hole Drilling Technology

For scientists and engineers, deep holes serve many purposes. If a hole is more than 5 times its own diameter, it is considered a deep hole. Many advances in deep hole drilling technology have allowed humans to drill deeper and deeper into the earth's crust than ever before. There are many different ways to drill a deep hole including the BTA, ejector, and gundrilling methods using metric size drill bits. The BTA or STS (single tube system) is a newly developed process where chips and rocks are removed through the center of the drill. The coolant is located by the drill tube's pressure head and the head is detachable. The BTA system provides extremely high penetration. The ejector method of drilling is very similar to the BTA except that coolant is used through the spindle and the drill tube is composed an inner and outer tube. Gundrilling on the other hand is probably the oldest method of deep hole drilling. A coolant is released through the center of the drill tube and the chips are removed through a "V" groove in the drill head.

These are all incredible advances in technology. Wind mills used by railroads also take advantage of human ingenuity.

Wind Mills Used By Railroads

Another great invention was the wind mill. As wind blew past, the wind mill's wheel would spin, turning wheels, shafts, and gears which would then power machinery. The main purpose for many wind mills was to pump water. Wind mills used by railroads pumped enough water to power their steam locomotive engines. Each mill had a large holding tank and was intermittently placed at a distance from each other next to the railroad tracks so that locomotives could easily replenish the water in their boilers when needed.

Innovations such as deep hole drilling technology, wind mills, and vacuum switches are just a few examples of great technological advances.

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