Publications Details

Sandia and Ditch Witch Technology Commercialization Fund Integral Motor and Percussive Hammer

Gunsaulis, Floyd; Sharp, Richard; Su, Jiann-Cherng

This report captures the results of development and testing of a integral downhole motor and percussive hammer used for drilling in near-surface hard rock formations. The work was funded through the DOE Office of Technology Transitions Technology Commercialization Fund. It was a collaboration between Sandia National Labs and The Charles Machine Works (aka Ditch Witch). In the collaboration, Sandia developed a pneumatic motor derived from an indexing tool used in other drilling applications, and Ditch Witch developed the bearing pack tied to the output shaft of the motor as well as the angled beacon housing used for directional control.