Abstract: Drill rod alignment devices, systems, and methods for aligning a drill rod with a drill string in a hand-free manner. A drill rod alignment device can have an arm assembly, rod engagement assembly, and a receiving channel secured to the rod engagement assembly. The arm assembly is moveable from a parked position to a deployed position, and the rod engagement assembly is moveable from an open position to a closed position. With the arm assembly in the deployed position, the drill rod alignment device contacts a drill rod and receives a portion of the drill rod within the receiving channel. The arm assembly is moveable to a closed position in which the drill rod is secured within the receiving channel.

Abstract: A cable release system for permitting detachment of a drilling cable from a drill string. The cable release system has a swivel body, a bearing assembly, one or more locking elements, and a release sleeve assembly. The swivel body is coupled to a drilling cable. The bearing assembly has a receptacle body that receives a portion of the swivel body and defines openings that receive a portion of corresponding locking elements. The bearing assembly has an outer sleeve that circumferentially surrounds the receptacle body and has a variable inner diameter such that axial movement of outer sleeve controls the radial position of the locking elements relative to the swivel body. The release sleeve assembly can be moved in a distal direction to engage the outer sleeve of the bearing assembly to move the outer sleeve to an axial position in which the swivel body and drilling cable are detachable from the remainder of the drill string.

Abstract: A drill rod clamping system for securing a drill rod in a selected position. The drill rod clamping system has a hollow spindle with an upper portion that defines axial slots and a base portion that defines at least one radial opening. A plurality of jaws are moveable radially inwardly to a drill rod gripping position and radially outwardly to a drill rod releasing position. Each jaw is received within a respective axial slot of the hollow spindle. An actuator moves the plurality of jaws between the drill rod gripping position and the drill rod releasing position. A compressed gas spring assembly exerts force on the actuator to close the jaws. A hydraulic operator exerts force on the actuator to overcome the force of the compressed gas spring assembly to open the jaws. The radial openings of the base portion of the spindle permit flushing of material flowing within the spindle.

Abstract: A drill head assembly for receiving a drill rod in an operative position. The drill head assembly has a chuck and cradle configured for movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the longitudinal axis of the chuck is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a drill mast. In the second position, the longitudinal axis of the chuck is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill mast. From the first position, the cradle is configured for sequential axial and then pivotal movement relative to the transverse axis to reach the second position, with pivotal movement being restricted until axial movement is completed. Drill rod handling systems having such drill head assemblies, and methods of using such drill head assemblies, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Threaded drill string component having a hollow elongate body with a box end portion, an opposing pin end portion and a cylindrical mid-body portion that extends longitudinally between the respective box and pin end portions and has a variable wall diameter. The mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion has at least one projecting portion or upset that is spaced from both the box and pin end portions and extends inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the hollow body and a plurality of troughs defined in the mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion.

Abstract: A threaded drill string component having a hollow elongate body with a box end portion, an opposing pin end portion and a cylindrical mid-body portion that extends longitudinally between the respective box and pin end portions and has a variable wall diameter. The mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion has at least one projecting portion or upset that is spaced from both the box and pin end portions and extends inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the hollow body and a plurality of troughs defined in the mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion.

Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.

Abstract: Drill string components having a thread extending around a body that have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. A leading end of the thread includes a planar surface normal to the body that provides an abrupt transition to full thread depth to help reduce or eliminate cross-threading. When complementary male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition.

Abstract: A drill head assembly for receiving a drill rod in an operative position. The drill head assembly has a chuck and cradle configured for movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the longitudinal axis of the chuck is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a drill mast. In the second position, the longitudinal axis of the chuck is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill mast. From the first position, the cradle is configured for sequential axial and then pivotal movement relative to the transverse axis to reach the second position, with pivotal movement being restricted until axial movement is completed. Drill rod handling systems having such drill head assemblies, and methods of using such drill head assemblies, are also disclosed.