Abstract: The present invention relates to a drilling device. The device comprises at least one drill rod, the or each drill rod having a first cylindrical wall defining an elongate chamber for receiving a working fluid to form a fluid column, the length of the fluid column being equal to a total length of the elongate chambers of the or each drill rod. The device also comprises a displacement excitation device arranged at a proximal end of the fluid column and configured to excite the fluid column to cause the working fluid in the fluid column to oscillate, wherein the excitation device is configured to excite the fluid column at an excitation frequency at or within 10% of a natural frequency of the fluid column determined based on the fluid column having a fixed boundary condition at a proximal end thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flapper valve for a percussion drill tool. The valve comprises a first side engageable with a planar surface of an element of the percussion drill tool to alternately close first and second fluid flow paths of the percussion drill tool. The planar surface comprises first and second apertures in fluid communication with the first and second fluid flow paths, respectively. The first side of the flapper valve comprises a first planar portion and a second planar portion and a first curved tip portion intermediate the first and second planar portions. The flapper valve is pivotable about the first curved tip portion between a first position, in which the first planar portion of the flapper valve is in sealing contact with the planar surface to close the first aperture, and a second position, in which the second planar portion of the flapper valve is in sealing contact with the planar surface to close the second aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic down-the-hole hammer. The hammer comprises an elongate shaft and a piston having a central bore therethrough, the piston slidably mounted for reciprocal movement on the shaft and arranged to impact a percussion bit. Forward and rear drive chambers for the piston are disposed between the piston and the shaft and the forward chamber is separated from the rear chamber by an annular shoulder formed internally of the piston bore. The hammer also comprises a control valve to control reciprocation of the piston, wherein the control valve is arranged within the central bore of the piston. The hammer may be a disposable water hammer in which the piston is an outermost component of the hammer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid-operated percussion drill tool comprising an outer wear sleeve comprising a substantially cylindrical wall and having inner and outer surfaces. The tool also comprises a percussion bit having a head portion and a bit retaining portion and located at a forward end of the outer wear sleeve. The tool further comprises a sliding piston mounted for reciprocating movement within the outer wear sleeve to strike the percussion bit. The tool also includes a drive ring having a substantially cylindrical wall and comprising connection means adapted for connecting the drive ring to a drive means of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool. At least one flushing channel provides a fluid path to the cutting face of the bit for a flushing medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic down-the-hole hammer. The hammer comprises an elongate shaft and a piston having a central bore therethrough, the piston slidably mounted for reciprocal movement on the shaft and arranged to impact a percussion bit. Forward and rear drive chambers for the piston are disposed between the piston and the shaft and the forward chamber is separated from the rear chamber by an annular shoulder formed internally of the piston bore. The hammer also comprises a control valve to control reciprocation of the piston, wherein the control valve is arranged within the central bore of the piston. The hammer may be a disposable water hammer in which the piston is an outermost component of the hammer.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for installing a casing in a borehole are described. The arrangement includes a casing, a boring pipe, which is adapted within the casing, and the boring pipe includes flow channels for compressed air and a flushing medium. The flushing medium flow channel is arranged to lead the flushing medium to the bottom of the borehole. The arrangement also includes a percussion hammer, which includes a compressed air operated percussion piston adapted in a cylinder of the percussion hammer, as well as hole drilling means for drilling a hole for the casing. The flushing medium flow channel is adapted to bypass the percussion piston or which flushing medium flow channel is adapted to pass through the percussion piston, and in which arrangement the drilling means additionally includes splines transmitting a rotating motion and adapted to conduct the compressed air that used the percussion piston through the splines.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for installing a casing in a borehole are described. The arrangement includes a casing, a boring pipe, which is adapted within the casing, and the boring pipe includes flow channels for compressed air and a flushing medium. The flushing medium flow channel is arranged to lead the flushing medium to the bottom of the borehole. The arrangement also includes a percussion hammer , which includes a compressed air operated percussion piston adapted in a cylinder of the percussion hammer, as well as hole drilling means for drilling a hole for the casing. The flushing medium flow channel is adapted to bypass the percussion piston or which flushing medium flow channel is adapted to pass through the percussion piston, and in which arrangement the drilling means additionally includes splines transmitting a rotating motion and adapted to conduct the compressed air that used the percussion piston through the splines.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a release assembly (100) disposable axially between two components (A, B) of a percussion drill tool (10), wherein the components (A, B) are connectable together by means of a screw-threaded connection (20). The release assembly (100) comprises a release ring (102), the release ring (102) being tapered on at least a first side (103) in a first radial direction. The release assembly (100) also comprises a first counter element (105) arranged axially adjacent the first side (103) of the release ring (102), the first counter element (105) having a tapered side (106) for engagement with the first side (103) of the release ring (102).

Abstract: A method for lubricating a drill shank of a rock drilling machine, wherein at least part of the flow of the pressure fluid of a hydraulic circuit of a device of the rock drilling machine performing at least one function is directed to the rotation mechanism of the drill shank for the purpose of lubricating the rotation mechanism of the drill shank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a percussion device having a frame, a tool mounted movable in its longitudinal direction, the percussion device containing a work chamber having a movably mounted transmission piston to compress the tool so that a longitudinal stress pulse is generated to the tool, inlet and outlet channels for conducting the pressure fluid to the percussion device and away from it and a control valve that alternately directs the pressure fluid from the inlet channel to the work chamber to act on the transmission piston and, correspondingly, discharges the pressure fluid from the percussion device. The percussion device and trans-mission piston have channels that connect the pressure fluid that acted on the transmission piston to flow during the return movement of the transmission piston through the control valve and transmission piston to the pressure fluid outlet channel and cut off the flow when the transmission piston has returned to its initial position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement in a rotating control valve of a pressure fluid-operated percussion device, to which percussion device a tool is mountable movable in its longitudinal direction, the percussion device containing a work chamber and a transmission piston mounted movable to compress the tool suddenly to generate a stress pulse to the tool, inlet and outlet channels for conducting pressure fluid to the percussion device and away from it, and a control valve having a rotating switch member with channels to connect inlet and outlet channels through the channels of the switch member to alternately conduct the pressure fluid through the channels to the work chamber and, correspondingly, away from the work chamber, and in the inlet channel of the pressure fluid at the switch member side end thereof at least one sealing sleeve for the purpose of sealing the inlet channel to the switch member.

Abstract: A release assembly and a method of forming a drilling tool for rock or overburden drilling is provided. The release assembly is arranged axially between two drilling tool components. The release assembly includes a release mechanism allowing an initial axial length to shorten when a joint of the drilling tool components provided with connecting threads is turned in an opening direction. The release assembly has a decreased second axial length and friction forces in the joint decrease.

Abstract: A fuel tank for a fuel-operated down-the-hole drill including a drill bit, is provided. A largest rotation diameter of the fuel tank is provided at or in connection with drilling equipment and is sufficiently small in order to be able to insert the fuel tank into a drill hole.

Abstract: A pneumatic down-the-hole (DTH) drill having a frame, and a pneumatic percussion piston that moves in a reciprocating manner as pressurized air is fed into the DTH-drill and strikes a tool in the front end of the frame is mounted movably in the longitudinal direction of the frame. A feed channel for feeding compressed air to the DTH-drill shoulders in the frame and in the percussion piston for controlling compressed air to provide an impact movement. In the rear end of the frame the DTH drill has a combustion chamber and an acceleration piston that is arranged to push the percussion piston during the impact movement for a portion of the percussion piston travel, and means for feeding combustion air and fuel into the combustion chamber, whereby the percussion piston is arranged to push the acceleration piston after the impact into the combustion chamber and to compress the air in the combustion chamber prior to feeding the fuel into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A rock drill bit for percussive drilling includes a bit head attached at an end of a drill element of a drilling assembly. The bit head has a diameter larger than that of the drill element. The bit head has at a front end as seen in the intended drilling direction a plurality of buttons distributed thereon to engage material to be crushed. At least one of the buttons is allowed to rotate about its own symmetry axis.

Abstract: A button and a rock drill bit for percussive drilling including a bit head attached at an end of a drill element of a drilling assembly. The bit head has at a front end, as seen in the intended drilling direction, a plurality of buttons distributed over the bit head to engage material to be crushed. At least one of the buttons has a shank portion made of a substrate material of particles of a first material embedded in a binder phase. The first material is harder than the binder phase. The shank portion at least partially forms a bearing portion, the material of which is harder than the binder phase. At least one of the buttons is allowed to rotate about its own respective symmetry axis.

Abstract: A method for lubricating a drill shank (9) of a rock drilling machine (5), wherein at least part of the flow of the pressure fluid of a hydraulic circuit of a device (12, 13, 29, 36, 40) of the rock drilling machine (5) performing at least one function is directed to the rotation mechanism (20, 21, 25, 34) of the drill shank (9) for the purpose of lubricating the rotation mechanism (20, 21, 25, 34) of the drill shank (9).

Abstract: A pressure fluid operated impact device comprising a frame (2) whereto a tool (3) is mountable movably in its longitudinal direction, and control means (7) for controlling pressure fluid feed to the impact device (1), as well as a method of generating a stress pulse in a pressure fluid operated impact device. The impact device (1) comprises a working chamber (8) and a transmission piston (9) moving therein. Energy charging means for charging energy of pressure fluid and the control means are coupled to allow periodically alternately pressure fluid to flow to the working chamber (8) and, correspondingly, to discharge pressure fluid from the working chamber (8). In the method, pressure fluid is fed to the working chamber (8), which produces a force pushing the transmission piston (9) in the direction of the tool (3), thus generating a stress pulse in the tool (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a percussion device having a frame, a tool mounted movable in its longitudinal direction, the percussion device containing a work chamber having a movably mounted transmission piston to compress the tool so that a longitudinal stress pulse is generated to the tool, inlet and outlet channels for conducting the pressure fluid to the percussion device and away from it and a control valve that alternately directs the pressure fluid from the inlet channel to the work chamber to act on the transmission piston and, correspondingly, discharges the pressure fluid from the percussion device. The percussion device and trans-mission piston have channels that connect the pressure fluid that acted on the transmission piston to flow during the return movement of the transmission piston through the control valve and transmission piston to the pressure fluid outlet channel and cut off the flow when the transmission piston has returned to its initial position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement in a rotating control valve of a pressure fluid-operated percussion device, to which percussion device a tool is mountable movable in its longitudinal direction, the percussion device containing a work chamber and a transmission piston mounted movable to compress the tool suddenly to generate a stress pulse to the tool, inlet and outlet channels for conducting pressure fluid to the percussion device and away from it, and a control valve having a rotating switch member with channels to connect inlet and outlet channels through the channels of the switch member to alternately conduct the pressure fluid through the channels to the work chamber and, correspondingly, away from the work chamber, and in the inlet channel of the pressure fluid at the switch member side end thereof at least one sealing sleeve for the purpose of sealing the inlet channel to the switch member.