Abstract: A down-the-hole percussive drill comprises a casing, a drill bit mounted at a lower end of the casing, a hollow feed tube fixed within the casing and extending along a center axis thereof, and a piston mounted for axial reciprocation within the casing for transmitting impacts to the drill bit. The upper portion forms a downwardly facing surface at the junction between the upper and lower portions. Passages for conducting lubricant-containing pressurized air are formed in the piston. At least one of those passages constitutes a vertical recess formed in the outer periphery of the piston. The piston includes a radially outwardly projecting rib disposed between upper and lower ends of the recess. Air is blocked from traveling past the rib until the rib becomes located opposite an annular groove formed in an inner surface of the casing.

Abstract: A down-the-hole percussive drill comprises a casing, a drill bit mounted at a lower end of the casing, a hollow feed tube fixed within the casing and extending along a center axis thereof, and a piston mounted for axial reciprocation within the casing for transmitting impacts to the drill bit. The piston has a stepped configuration in that a lower portion thereof is of smaller outer diameter than an upper portion thereof. The upper portion forms a downwardly facing surface at the junction between the upper and lower portions. Air-conducting passages are formed in the upper portion of the piston and are supplied with pressurized air from the hollow feed tube. One of those passages intersects the downwardly facing surface of the upper portion of the piston. The hollow feed tube is mounted to a top sub of the drill by pins which are mounted in the top sub and extend radially into a sidewall of the feed tube, the pins being situated outside of the central passage.

Abstract: A down-the-hole hammer drill having a reverse circulation system which conducts pressurized air downwardly to a lower cutting face of a drill bit. The air travels across the cutting face and upwardly through a central exhaust passage. The air is conducted to the cutting face through longitudinal and lateral passages in the bit which are kept isolated from the environment surrounding the bit so that no appreciable amount of pressurized air can escape, and so that the passages do not become clogged with dirt. The drill bit comprises upper and lower pieces. Upper sections of the longitudinal passages are formed in the upper piece, and lower sections of the longitudinal passages are formed in the lower piece.