Caterpillar debuts hammers, bits for blasthole drilling

The DTH hammer’s valved design provides reliable operation, low air consumption, easier maintenance and cost-effective rebuild. Photo courtesy of Caterpillar.

Caterpillar released down-the-hole (DTH) hammers and bits designed for severe blasthole drilling applications.

Cat’s DTH hammer is 6 in. in diameter and is the first to be introduced in the DTH line. According to the company, its valved design provides reliable operation, low air consumption, easier maintenance and cost-effective rebuild. Additionally, the piston design delivers long life and efficient energy transfer.

The hammer is rated to run with compressed air systems, driving working pressures up to 500 psi, Cat says. This additional back-head pressure, when combined with corresponding airflow demanded, generates more blows per minute to generate faster penetration rates.

Cat is also introducing bits for down-the-hole drilling. Several different configurations of bits (6.75 in.) are now available in both standard and heavy-duty versions to allow matching the bit to the rock characteristics and job requirements.

The bit selections include a variety of carbide shapes (spherical, ballistic) and face shapes (concave, flat, convex), and are optimized for high wear resistance and improved rock chipping. The aggressive, long-lasting cutting structure, in conjunction with the efficient Cat DTH hammer, delivers a superior rate of penetration.