Abstract: An improved earth boring apparatus for soft, hard, and heterogenous formations utilizes a pneumatic hammer combined with an earth boring auger. The pneumatic hammer is supported inside a hollow case of the auger and has a small pilot bit and a large rigid bit plate having the same diameter as the auger flighting. All torque to the apparatus is supplied to the auger case which drives the flighting and the pneumatic bit plate without applying any torque to the pneumatic hammer case. This arrangement utilizes the pneumatic hammer to break up hard material and the auger to remove the cuttings or to cut through soft material. The drive arrangement allows for disassembly of the pilot bit and bit plate without removing the pneumatic hammer.

Abstract: An impact drilling apparatus has an anvil inside a casing for receiving impact blows from a hammer. The lower end of the anvil is threadably connected to a drill bit having an external load bearing shoulder. On the lower end of the casing is attached a driver guide sub which extends downwardly around the threaded connection between the drill bit and anvil to bear on the external load bearing shoulder for transmitting down weight to the bit and simultaneously counteracting lateral forces acting on the bit and anvil. A spline connection is provided between the driven guide sub and the anvil. In the off bottom position, a shoulder of the anvil comes to rest against the top of the driver guide sub which stops the reciprocating action of the hammer while drilling fluid continues to flow.

Abstract: An earth boring auger having a shaft and helical flights thereon and a plurality of disc cutters mounted below the flights and behind the leading edge thereof to engage the formation before it is engaged by the flights.

Abstract: An earth boring auger having a shaft and helical flights thereon and a plurality of disc cutters mounted below the flights to engage the formation before it is engaged by the flights.

Abstract: A roller cutter drill bit with a body having a journal, a roller cutter, bearing means for rotatively mounting the roller cutter on the journal and a part of said bearing means including a maraging steel sleeve with a lubricant between the sleeve and the journal and between the sleeve and the roller cutter to prevent galling.

Abstract: A drill bit having a roller cutter supported by ball bearings and a ball retainer retained in position both axially and rotationally within the ball loading hole by a plug which is mechanically wedged into secured and sealed position within the outer end of the ball loading hole.

Abstract: A drill bit having a body with a shaft thereon, a roller cutter, an annular thrust bearing, means for connecting said roller cutter to the thrust bearing, means for retaining said thrust bearing on the shaft, and a lubrication system containing the thrust bearing and the retaining means with the lubrication system seal positioned between the outer edge of the roller cutter and the base of the shaft.

Abstract: A collapsible ball check valve for use in high pressure pneumatic devices to prevent a backflow upon loss of the high pressure while, simultaneously, not requiring a pressure loss to operate the check valve. The pressure of the fluid causes the hollow ball to collapse inwardly, thereby allowing fluid to continue to flow through the flow passage around the collapsed ball valve and through the valve seat which is provided with a plurality of inwardly sloped passages to allow fluid flow therethrough upon collapse of the hollow ball. Upon losing pressure in the flow passage, the ball valve resumes its normal shape to press against a flanged opening in the flow passage thereby preventing a reverse flow of fluid.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated impact drilling tool for rotary drilling, includes a reciprocating hammer, an anvil positioned under the hammer and a feeder means extending through the hammer. The drilling tool is connected in a string of drilling pipe and high pressure pneumatic fluid flowing through the drilling pipe operates the impact tool. The feeder directs and times the flow of fluid through ports in the hammer to create a first pressure zone to raise the hammer off the anvil, and a second pressure zone above the hammer to drive the hammer down against the anvil to create an impact on the drill bit. Exhaust ports in the hammer exhaust the fluid from the second pressure zone.