Abstract: A manually operated mechanical rod holder has a support arm pivotally mounted on a drill rig chassis. A fixed jaw is mounted on an outboard end of the support arm. A movable jaw is mounted on a plate secured to a sleeve carried by the support arm. The sleeve is connected to an outer end of a sliding block that is slidably mounted in the sleeve. An inboard end of the block is connected to an outer end of an arcuate spring section integral with an operating lever. The inner end of the spring section is connected pivotally to an end of a link, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the support arm. An inboard end of the operating lever has a handle. The throw of the movable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw remains constant. The distance between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw can be varied to accommodate different sizes of pipe or rod.

Abstract: In a hollow earth auger head assembly a plurality of bit-holding pockets are provided, spaced circumferentially from one another around an open mouth of an auger head, and bits taken selectively from a multiplicity of types of cutting teeth, have a shank portion that seats in any and all of the pockets. A retaining pin extends chordally, off set from a diameter, through holes in the pocket and into a retaining pin receiver in the bits. In those bits that are intended to rotate in the pocket, the retaining receiver takes the form of an annular channel. In those bits that are not supposed to rotate, the retaining pin extends through a linear passage in or along a flat on the bit shank. In certain embodiments of sockets a chordal plug or weldment defines a space with one flat side against which a tail of the shanks of certain bits designed not to rotate bear.

Abstract: In a rotary earth drill in which sockets are welded to and spaced around a head and drill bits are removably mounted in the sockets, the sockets having a surface exposed to abrasion when the drill is rotated in the earth, a shield in the form of a shroud or jacket is provided, removably mounted on the socket, and extending around the otherwise exposed surface of the socket to protect the socket surface from abrasion. When the shield itself becomes worn, it can easily be removed, in much the way in which the bits are removed, and replaced. In order to accommodate the weld by which the socket is secured to the drill head, the shield is provided with a slot, open at at least one end. The slot is wide enough to permit side edges defining the slot to straddle the weld.

Abstract: A track vehicle drive train, with a differential and outboard planetary gears driven by the differential has an outboard planetary housing containing the planetary gears. The planetary housing has a drive ring integral with it and extending circumferentially around it, upon which an externally undular sprocket is mounted directly. The housing is bell-shaped, and provides within it space to accommodate larger gears than housing known heretofore, which permits higher reduction in the outboard planetaries, which allows a lower reduction in the differential than has been possible heretofore with a standard sized sprocket.

Abstract: In a safety shut-off system for a rotary drill rig with an internal combustion engine operatively connected by a drive train to rotate a drill spindle, the drive train including a clutch, a brake is provided in the drive train, and solenoids are provided that are actuated to cause the brake to be applied, the fuel line to the engine to be closed or the ignition circuit of the engine to be broken, and the clutch to be put into a neutral condition, each of the solenoids being connected to an electric circuit from a source of current, the brake and engine stopping solenoids being continuously biased toward brake-applying, engine fuel line closing or ignition circuit breaking position, and moved against that bias by current from the power supply. At least one wobble type shut-off switch, is positioned adjacent the drill, the switch having an exposed, elongated, outwardly projecting operating lever, the displacement of which in any direction perpendicular to the long dimension of the lever opens the circuit.

Abstract: In an earth drill rig having a drive with a drive stud projecting from it, a Kelly bar, connected to drive a rotary table, and a coupling device associated with the Kelly bar and drive stud for selectively connecting the drive stud to a lower end of the Kelly bar, and a mast carrying the Kelly bar and adapted to be rotated about a pivot axis offset from the long axis of the Kelly bar from an erected position to a folded position, during which the Kelly bar is arcuately translated away from the drive stud, and to be rotated from the folded position to the erected position, during which the lower end of the Kelly bar is arcuately translated toward the drive stud, the Kelly bar is moved axially in a direction away from the drive stud and moved axially in a direction toward the drive stud to permit the coupling and uncoupling of the Kelly bar and the drive stud.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted drill rod holding device wherein a longitudinally extending clamp support having clamping means thereon is mounted at one end of a vehicle to be capable of extending in cantilever fashion from the vehicle at an angle to the line or direction of movement of the vehicle including means to allow rotation of the clamp support about its longitudinal axis and actuating linkage means to permit adjustable rotation to ensure flush positive engagement of the clamping means with the drill rod.

Abstract: In a rotary drill having a driven rotary table with an axially directed passage through its center of rotation defined by a hollow spindle, a kelly bar extending through the passage, and a chuck mounted on the spindle, plungers are mounted in cylinders in the chuck for radial movement into and out of engagement with shoulders on the kelly bar. A housing surrounds a portion of the chuck. The housing is held against rotation and has a fluid passage through it communicating with an annular manifold channel. Fluid passages in the chuck, associated with each cylinder, communicate at one end with the manifold channel and at another end with the cylinder radially inboard of a piston part of the plunger. Oil under pressure to move the plungers out is caused to leak into bearings positioned axially above and below the manifold, to lubricate, flush and cool them.

Abstract: A soft track or off-road vehicle, with two loops of belting spaced laterally and joining and joined by grouser bars mounted on the outer surface of the loops, extending parallel to one another laterally across the loops and spaced from one another in a direction lengthwise of the loops is provided with facing plates mounted on the outer surface between the grouser bars but spaced from the grouser bars and extending laterally across the loops. Preferably, the facing plates are relatively thin as compared with the grouser bars, are shallowly arcuate in transverse section, with their convex side facing the loop, and formed with a lip extending over and along one side edge of a loop.

Abstract: In an earth drill rig wherein an upwardly and downwardly moving drill-string-turning rotary table is rotated by a kelly bar connected at its lower end to a vertical drive shaft, the kelly bar being journaled for rotation in and the rotary table being mounted for axial movement on a drill frame assembly, the drill frame assembly being mounted on a vehicle for pivoting between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position for transportation, a frame assembly pivot is positioned below the lower end of the kelly bar and a universal coupling connects the lower end of the kelly bar and the vertical drive shaft.

Abstract: A side feed water swivel for a hollow drill string includes a spindle one end of which is adapted to fit a socket on a rotary table of a drill rig, and the other end, to connect to hollow drill rods, and, intermediate its ends, a receiving section having upper and lower smooth cylindrical bearing surfaces and between them water-receiving passages extending to an axial passage blind at its upper end, and a housing embracing the bearing surfaces and defining between them a water-receiving chamber. The housing has an inlet port extending through a wall to communicate with the chamber substantially midway axially of the housing. The housing has upper and lower bearing surfaces complementary to the spindle bearing surfaces. O-ring channels in the housing bearing surfaces are positioned axially asymmetrically with respect to the center line of the housing. The housing is so made that it can be mounted on the spindle in either of two orientations 180.degree.

Abstract: In an exploration type drill rig, an improved assembly arrangement for a soil sampling tube and head support therefor including nesting, aperture-aligned tubular wall sections of the sampling tube and head support with a pin extending through aligned apertures and held in position by a spaced stop and movable detent extending radially from the pin on opposite sides of the nesting tubular walls.

Abstract: A drill string joint of the type shown and described in Rassieur U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,938, in which the coupling surfaces are tapered.

Abstract: In a rotary table driven hollow auger type sampling device, a rod is mounted at an end above the rotary table to be substantially fixed against rotation, but for axial movement. The rod extends through a hollow spindle driven by the table, and is fixedly mounted below the table to the upper end of a thin wall sampling tube mounted within a hollow auger to project a short distance below the lower end of the auger. The rod, hence the sampling tube, is forced downwardly with the auger, but is positively restrained from rotation.

Abstract: An automatic drive hammer system, particularly adapted to use in the Standard Penetration Test, is mounted on a drill rig in such a way that it can be swung and translated to an on-hole working position. A hammer reciprocating mechanism is so mounted that its weight is not borne entirely by the drill rod, the hammer is dropped free through an accurately predetermined height onto an anvil isolated from the reciprocating mechanism so that all of the energy from the falling hammer is transmitted to the drill rod, and the hammer will not be lifted and released if the anvil is not in place.

Abstract: In a rotary drill having a driven rotary table with an axially directed passage through its center of rotation defined by a hollow spindle, a kelly bar, with annular shoulders, extending through the passage and a chuck mounted on the spindle, plungers are mounted for radial movement in the chuck, into and out of engagement with the annular shoulders on the kelly bar, and fingers are mounted to be moved hydraulically axially to engage the plungers and move them radially.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted drill rod holding and break-out device has a clamp jaw support reciprocatingly mounted in a housing. The housing is pivotally mounted on the vehicle to permit the free end of the housing, hence the clamp jaw support, to swing toward and away from the vehicle. A selectively extensible and retractable arm is pivotally mounted at one end on the outside of the housing. At its free end, the arm carries a pipe wrench, pivotally mounted on the arm in such a way that when the jaws of the pipe wrench engage a drill rod at the extended position of the arm and the arm is retracted, the drill rod is rotated to break a joint between the clamp and the wrench. The height of the housing is made adjustable to accommodate travel and working conditions.

Abstract: A drill rig hoist has a central shaft upon which a drum is mounted for free rotation. The shaft projects beyond the drum, and has at one end a caliper mounting plate secured to the shaft for rotation with the shaft. Clutch calipers mounted on the caliper mounting plate embrace a clutch rotor fixed to the drum. The drum also has a brake rotor mounted on it. Brake calipers, fixed to a base frame, embrace the brake rotor. The calipers are hydraulically operated, and an accumulator is provided in hydraulic lines to each of the brake and the clutch calipers.