IP Offerings Logo

Patent MarketPlace: Mining & Drilling Patents and Trademarks for Sale

Rock Bolt Drilling Assembly (Hardrock Mining Solutions): U.S. and PCT Patent Applications

Many of the products we use every day include raw materials that are mined from the ground. When these mines are carved out of hard rock, it is essential to the operation of the mine and the safety of the workers that the walls and roof of the mine are secure and stable. This is done using rock bolts (or “anchor bolts” or “friction bolts”) that are inserted into the rock in holes drilled into the rock to secure bearing plates or thrust plates that prevent the rock from moving. These rock bolts sometimes support a wire mesh over which cement is sprayed to harden the surface. The combination of these products is called “ground support,” and their installation is extremely time critical since ore cannot be mined until the walls and roof of the mine are secure.

This patent family covers self-drilling, point (end) anchoring rock bolts that eliminate the need to pre-drill holes. It makes the process of installing a ground support system significantly faster than the current method of drilling and inserting the rock bolts, then securing them mechanically or chemically. This patent family enables a rock bolt to be installed in a single pass using a drilling assembly that includes an elongated drill string with a downhole end, a drill bit that is detachably joined to the downhole end of the drill string, and a rock bolt sleeve that partially surrounds the drill string, so the rock bolt is securely drilled into rock without the need for pre-drilled holes.

PCT Patent Application 2021151150 and U.S. Patent Application 17/759,191 for a “Drilling assembly for inserting a rock bolt” creates a drilling assembly that inserts rock bolts faster and far more efficiently, and inserts rock bolts that are far more secure, saving both time and money for the mine operator. This product will transform the underground hard rock mining industry on a global scale, the same way the self-tapping screw did in the building and construction industry many years ago. This patent family would be a critical acquisition for any mining equipment manufacturer, and the PCT Application can be used to secure patent protection anywhere in the world.

Mineral Detection via Light Signature (Wilk): Three U.S. Patents

It is a common practice for miners to drill test holes before stripping away the overburden (the top layer of soil and rock) to determine if there are sufficient gold, silver, or other precious metal deposits that would make mining the area a profitable venture. Drilling dozens or even hundreds of test holes, pulling out the soil samples, marking each test sample with its location, and then testing all those samples, is expensive, time-consuming, and – ultimately – not totally accurate. There must be a better way to find the Mother Lode.

This portfolio covers three separate technologies for locating precious metal mineral deposits without the time, expense, and labor of drilling test holes. The first patent uses the plants and trees in the area. As the roots of the plants and trees bring nutrients from the ground and into the plant or tree, the root system also brings up trace elements of any precious metal deposits in the area. By burning branches of the plant or tree, the light signature (or “spectrum signature” as it also known) from the combustion will show the presence of gold, silver, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, uranium, iridium, and/or manganese and magnesium. The second patent covers technology for illuminating a target area with electromagnetic radiation to produce a light signature that can be analyzed to determine if there are mineral deposits. The third patent uses a laser directed at rocks and plants to create a light signature – possibly by vaporization. The light signature is analyzed with a spectroscope to detect the presence of specific metals.

Patent Portfolio

The technology covered by this portfolio will enable mining companies to more efficiently and rapidly develop valuable sources of rare earth and precious minerals. The portfolio is a critical acquisition that will empower a manufacturer of mineral testing devices or mining equipment to offer a second generation in of products for testing for precious metals to its customer base.

Patent Brokerage Prospectus: Contact [email protected] to receive an analysis of each portfolio that includes:

We offer patents in these technologies: