HLX5-T38-500 Shank Adapter:
Male shank adapters are generally better suited for drifting, tunneling and extension applications where high bending stresses are present. While female shank adapters are used when the drilling space is limited and the total feed length is important, for example underground roof bolting.
The task of the shank adapter is to transmit rotation torque, feed force, impact energy and flushing medium to the drill string (extension drill rods, drifting drill steels).
shank adapters are there fore designed to with stand the high impact power of modern rock drills and made from specially selected material which also is hardened through cauterizing. Around 300 different shank adapters suitable for different rock drills are currently available from Atlas Copco series drifters, Sandvik, Tam rock series drifters, Garden Diver series drifters etc.
Two flushing options of shank adapters: internal or external
— Internal flushing uses a water tube that fits through the center of the drill and into an o-ring seal in the end of the shank, to transfer flushing into the drill string
— External flushing, holes or a slot are required in the side of the shank adapter.These line up between seals inside the front head or water box of the rock drill, when the shank is installed. Flushing medium is supplied directly to this device and is introduced into the drill string through the shank
— External flushing is considered superior to internal flushing, as greater volumes of flushing agent can be delivered with less risk of leakage and hammer damage from water
The shanks for hydraulic drills and some pneumatic drills have external or front head flushing. Hydraulic shanks generally have at least 5 to 14-spline configuration, Pneumatic shanks tend to have internal or through flushing and can generally be identified by their lugs or 4-spline configuration.