Patent attributes
An exploratory shaft-making apparatus creates a vertical hole down into a geological formation while sending a payload into the vertical hole. The apparatus includes a metallic cylindrical casing; a hollow, conical head section; a payload body; and shaped charges of high explosive below the payload body. The shaped charges are adapted to sequentially detonate starting with the bottom-most shaped charge. The detonation of each shaped charge is configured to create a void space in the geological formation below the casing. The void space permits gravity to move the remaining shaped charges and the payload body atop them to slide downward so that the next shaped charge to detonate is positioned below the bottom end of the metallic cylindrical casing. A shock absorbing material may be included in the head section. The payload body optionally has a removable cap. A lift fitting may be attached to the payload body.
