Abstract: A drill rod chuck in which the closing of the jaws is effected through the use of gas springs mounted in the slidable jaw actuating jaw bowl. Further the jaws are supported by bushings against cantilever loading during drilling and the jaws are positively advanced and retracted through slidable interengagement with the jaw bowl.

Abstract: The drilling apparatus includes a safety sub mountable to the drill string outer end to retain the combination of an overshot assembly and an overshot adaptor extending within the drill string outer end during a drilling operation and preventing the drilling tool moving out of the drill string until the sub is removed. The overshot assembly has a fluid seal between the overshot tube and the drill string and a fluid bypass channel with/a valve for blocking axial outward flow through the channel when the overshot adaptor is separated from the overshot assembly and when connected thereto, retaining the valve in an open condition. When the overshot adaptor is removed from the overshot assembly, the overshot assembly is fluidly propellable to the bit end. A disconnect tool facilitates the removal of the adaptor from the sub.

Abstract: The drilling apparatus includes a wire line core barrel head assembly that has a latch body seatable on a drill string landing shoulder and retained in a latch seated position by a latch assembly spring urged to a latch seated position, fluid seals on the latch body to facilitate fluidly propelling the head assembly in an upward direction, valve mechanism in a latch body bypass channel to restrict fluid flow therethrough to provide a signal of the latch body seating on the landing shoulder and then opening together with being retractable to an open position by a latch retractor prior to the latch body being retracted and second valve mechanism to block axial outward flow in the bypass channel. The fluid seals are mounted to a latch body adaptor that may be removed to convert from an up-hole to a down-hole assembly.

Abstract: The grouting apparatus includes a tubular body, an outer end closure removably mounted to the outer end of the tubular body and a nozzle mounted to the inner end of the tubular body to form a container for grouting material. The tubular body has a landing shoulder seatable on a drill string landing shoulder. The closure includes an overshot coupling member and a head having an inlet passage opening to the tubular body. A piston and a sleeve are axially movable in the tubular body to force the grouting material out of the container, the sleeve blocking flow through the piston as the piston moves inwardly, but after abutting against the nozzle, opening a bypass channel from outwardly of the piston, through the piston and to the nozzle tube. Upon the sleeve moving inwardly relative to the piston, the fluid outwardly of the container may be pumped through the container to mix with the grouting material that was dispensed into the container prior to the container being inserted into the drill string.

Abstract: The overshot apparatus includes a head subassembly coupleable to the overshot coupling device of an inner tube assembly, a jar subassembly having an outer swivel end portion for having a wire line attached thereto and a tubular member and a cable subassembly having an axially elongated cable, an axial outer cable mount mounted to the tubular member with the cable extended therethrough and into the tubular member and providing a jar head, and an axial inner cable mount providing a jar member mounting the cable to the head subassembly and having the jar head delivering hammering blows thereto. The cable is of a rigidity for being movable into the tubular member to permit the jar head moving delivering a hammering blow to the jar member and a spread apart position.

Abstract: The drilling apparatus includes a wire line core barrel inner tube assembly movable to a drill string bit end to have its landing ring seat on the drill string landing shoulder and its latches latchingly retain the assembly adjacent the bit end.

Abstract: The drilling apparatus includes a wire line core barrel having a head assembly and a drilling tool connected to the head assembly. The head assembly includes a latch body with a landing shoulder seatable on the drill string landing ring, latches seatable in a drill string latch seat and a fluid bypass channel for bypassing from one axial side of the landing shoulder to the other, a bushing in the bypass channel, a valve member movable in the channel from an axial outer bypass channel open position and an axial inner second position extending into the bushing for one of blocking axial inward fluid flow through the bushing and restricting inward flow through the bushing. A spring is provided in the bore inwardly of the bushing for abutting against the valve member in its second position to urge the valve member axially outwardly.

Abstract: The core barrel apparatus includes a wire line core barrel inner tube having a latch body main body portion and an inner portion threaded together to cooperatively provide a radial outer groove mounting a landing ring seatable on the drill string landing ring with the latches seatable in the drill string latch seat and a radial inner groove mounting a bushing surrounding the axial bore of the bypass channel for bypassing fluid between portions of the latch body on axial opposite sides of the latch body ring. The valving mechanism in the bore includes the bushing and may include a valve spring axially inwardly of bushing and a valve ball. The valve ball and bushing may be of a resiliency to permit the ball passing through the bushing under fluid pressure or prevent the ball passing through the bushing. Overcenter linkage connected to the latches is retractable by a retractor pin.

Abstract: Joints for coupling the box and pin ends of drill rods and casings, particularly for the mineral exploration industry, have single start, helical tapered threads extending axially intermediate cylinder sections. The threads have frustoconical crests and roots with the taper being about 0.75 to 1.6 degrees. The threads are of a pitch of about 2.5 to 4.5 threads/inch, have negative pressure flank angles of about 7.5 to 15 degrees relative to a perpendicular to drill string central axis and clearance flanks of an angle of at least 45 degrees to aid in maintaining the joint in a coupled condition, even under overload, and facilitate joint make up. Also, the box and pin have shoulders tapered at about 5 to 10 degrees. Additionally, the pin crests have an interference fit with the box roots while the box crests are radially spaced from the pin roots to provide a rigid joint while leaving a space for debris and pressurized lubricant.