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WATER JETS |
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Water jet excavatorDevelopment responsibility: UWAOrigin of concept High pressure water jets are now routinely used for mining and cleaning operations. Relatively small quantities of water can dislodge a greater mass of earth. A water jet prodder could be useful in reducing the chances of accidental detonation and speeding up prodding work.
Status (July 1997) A commercial water jet cleaner was hired for a simulated field demonstration in July 1997. The results in very hard ground were impressive. A 1000 psi unit cleared enough hard packed earth to expose a typical mine in about 15 seconds, consuming about 2 to 3 litres of water. Now collecting information on the (surprisingly large number) manufacturers in Australia and Western Australia. The cost of a typical unit will be about Au$5,000. We would welcome collaborators to work on related devices. We will supply you with reports and working drawings,
papers etc., provided you agree to joint publications arising from this.
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