Abstract: A hole opener configured for use with a power unit to open a hole. The hole opener comprises a gearbox including a hydraulic inlet fluidly coupled to the power unit and an exciter fluidly coupled to the hydraulic inlet, the exciter being coupled to a gear train including an imbalanced mass which is configured to generate vibrations upon receipt of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic inlet. The hole opener further comprises a connector coupled to the gearbox for receiving the vibrations, the connector defining a void, and a hammer slidably coupled to the connector within the void, the hammer configured to receive the vibrations from the connector and to transmit the vibrations to the hole.

Abstract: A hole opener configured for use with a directional drilling rig and the hole opener includes a shaft and slots that extends along the shaft. Blades extend radially outward from the shaft and are each received within one of the slots to couple the blades to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the blades apart around the shaft. The hole opener further includes saddles. Each of the saddles includes a slot that receives one of the blades to couple the saddle to the blade and the shaft for rotation with the blade and the shaft. The saddles each include a recess. The hole opener further includes cutters and each of the cutters is received within one of the recesses of the saddles to couple the cutters to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the cutters around the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A hole opener comprising a shaft, a key, a first blade, and a second blade. The shaft includes a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis that extends through the front end and the rear end, the shaft configured for rotation about the longitudinal axis by the horizontal directional drilling rig. The key is coupled to the shaft for rotation with the shaft. The first blade is removably coupled to the key, and is spaced a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis and spaced a first longitudinal distance from the front end. The second blade is removably coupled to the key and is spaced a second radial distance from the longitudinal axis that is greater than the first radial distance. The second blade is spaced a second longitudinal distance from the front end that is greater than the first longitudinal distance.

Abstract: A hole opener configured for use with a directional drilling rig, the hole opener includes a shaft and a plurality of flutes that extend outwardly from the shaft. Each of the flutes includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a top side that extends from the first side to the second side. Each of the plurality of flutes includes a plurality of recesses in the top side that are spaced apart along the top side of the flute in a direction from the first end of the shaft toward the second end of the shaft. The hole opener further includes a plurality of cutter blocks, each of the plurality of cutter blocks includes a base and a cutter attached to the base. The base is received in one of the plurality of recesses to removably coupled the cutter block to the flute.

Abstract: A hole opener configured for use with a directional drilling rig and the hole opener includes a shaft and slots that extends along the shaft. Blades extend radially outward from the shaft and are each received within one of the slots to couple the blades to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the blades apart around the shaft. The hole opener further includes saddles. Each of the saddles includes a slot that receives one of the blades to couple the saddle to the blade and the shaft for rotation with the blade and the shaft. The saddles each include a recess. The hole opener further includes cutters and each of the cutters is received within one of the recesses of the saddles to couple the cutters to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the cutters around the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A hole opener configured for use with a directional drilling rig, the hole opener includes a shaft and a plurality of flutes that extend outwardly from the shaft. Each of the flutes includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a top side that extends from the first side to the second side. Each of the plurality of flutes includes a plurality of recesses in the top side that are spaced apart along the top side of the flute in a direction from the first end of the shaft toward the second end of the shaft. The hole opener further includes a plurality of cutter blocks, each of the plurality of cutter blocks includes a base and a cutter attached to the base. The base is received in one of the plurality of recesses to removably coupled the cutter block to the flute.

Abstract: A hole opener comprising a shaft, a key, a first blade, and a second blade. The shaft includes a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis that extends through the front end and the rear end, the shaft configured for rotation about the longitudinal axis by the horizontal directional drilling rig. The key is coupled to the shaft for rotation with the shaft. The first blade is removably coupled to the key, and is spaced a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis and spaced a first longitudinal distance from the front end. The second blade is removably coupled to the key and is spaced a second radial distance from the longitudinal axis that is greater than the first radial distance. The second blade is spaced a second longitudinal distance from the front end that is greater than the first longitudinal distance.

Abstract: A hole opener for use with a drilling rig, the hole opener having a shaft configured for rotation by the horizontal directional drilling rig, a body coupled to the shaft for rotation with the shaft, a cutter coupled to the body for rotation relative to the body, and a lubrication system at least partially located within the body, the lubrication system operable to supply lubricant to the cutter. The lubrication system includes a duct in the body and a pressure regulator that increases and decreases a volume of the duct in response to the change in pressure of the lubricant to regulate a pressure of lubricant in the duct.