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Lunar drill footplate and casingTo prevent hole collapse during lunar drilling operations, a casing has been devised of a graphite reinforced polyimide composite which will be able to withstand the lunar environment. Additionally, this casing will be inserted into the ground in segments two meters long which will penetrate the regolith simultaneously with the auger. The vertical action of the mobile platform will provide a downward force to the casing string through a special adaptor, giving the casing the needed impetus to sink the anticipated depth of ten meters. Casing segments will be connected with a simple snap arrangement. Excess casing will be cut off by a cylindrical cutting tool which will also transport the excess casing away from the hole. A footplate will be incorporated to grasp the auger rod string during rod segment additions or removals. The footplate grasping mechanism will consist of a set of vice-like arms, one end of each bearing threaded to a common power screw. The power screw will be threaded such that one end's thread pitch opposes that of the other end. The weight of the auger and rod string will be transmitted through the arms to the power screw and absorbed by a set of three ball bearing assemblies. The power screw will be driven by a one-half horsepower brushless motor actuated by radio control. The footplate will rest on four short legs and be anchored with pins that are an integral part of each leg.
Document ID
19900014422
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Maassen, Erik C. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Hendrix, Thomas H. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Morrison, Eddie W. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Phillips, Rodrick B. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Le, Vu Quang (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Works, Bruce A. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1989
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:183153
NASA-CR-183153
ME-4182
Accession Number
90N23738
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-21-002-800
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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