Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle Check Valve

Outline of Major Parts

Valve

Distributor Guide Pressure Close porting

Drive Volume

Blow porting
Piston
Piston Return undercut

Exhaust
Tube Return Volume

Bit
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle Check Valve depresses to
Blowing & Flushing Mode allow air into DHD

In most QL drills the air is

metered through blow holes
in cylinder.

Tail of piston seals off feed

ports, which prevents drill
from running off bottom.

Front of Piston seals off

Return Volume from high
pressure air, which also
prevents drill from running
off bottom.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Cycle Starts

Valve is closed.

Blow ports are closed, which

allows drill to build pressure more
rapidly.
Cylinder feed porting is open and
air is allowed to travel down into
Return Chamber.

Return Volume porting is open

to allow air into Return
Chamber.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Drive Chamber Closes

Piston tail bore seals with

distributor guide to begin
compressing air in Drive
Chamber
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Front Porting Closes

Air in Drive Chamber continues

to compress

Return Volume porting closes

and air in Return Chamber
continues to expand pushing
piston upward.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Return Chamber Exhausts

Air in Drive Chamber continues

to compress.

Inertia of piston continues

upward movement and drive
volume compression.

Piston clears exhaust tube on

bit and remaining pressure in
Return Chamber is vented to
exhaust.

Rock cuttings flush due to

exhausted air from Return
Chamber.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Valve Opens
Supply Pressure in the
Supply Volume.

Pressure in Drive Chamber

reaches a level where valve
opens up. The Drive
Chamber pressure when the
valve opens is less than the
supply pressure, therefore
high pressure air rushes into
the Drive Chamber from
the supply volume. The
piston slows and begins to
turn around. This is the
maximum stroke of the
piston.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Piston Changes Direction

Piston begins moving toward

bit. Maximum stroke of piston
has occurred. Valve is still open
and high pressure air is still
filling the drive volume and
accelerating the piston toward
the bit.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Pressure Close to Assist
Valve Closure

Pressure close porting opens

and a signal is transmitted to
the top side of the valve which
assists the valve in closing at
the proper time during the
cycle.

Piston seals off with exhaust

tube and compression of the
Return Chamber begins.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Valve Shuts - Drive Chamber Air Expansion

Valve shuts and air in Drive

Chamber continues to expand,
driving piston toward impact
point.

Pressure in Return Chamber

continues to build from
compression.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Return Chamber Porting Opens

Drive Chamber continues to

expand, driving piston forward.

Return timing opens and high

pressure air begins to fill the
Return Chamber.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Drive Chamber Exhausts

Piston clears the distributor

guide and the Drive Chamber
pressure vents to exhaust.

Exhausted air from the Drive

Chamber flushes cuttings away
from bit face and up hole.
Quantum Leap DHD Air Cycle
Piston Impacts with Bit

Piston Impacts bit, rock

breaks, and cycle begins again.