Abstract: The current application provides an Axially Separating Drill Bucket for drilling large holes in the earth by which a drilling operator can perform the drilling operation with the Axially Separating Drill Bucket and remove the excavated material in one operation. The unit can be raised to the surface where the bucket portion is separated from the drill head to empty the excavated material.

Abstract: A racking board for retaining tubulars is disclosed having a first finger, a second forger positioned generally parallel to the first finger and with a gap between the fingers serving as a storage area for tubulars. A first inflatable member is supported adjacent to the first finger and a second inflatable member is supported adjacent to the second finger, the inflatable members adapted to expand radially into the gap upon inflation so as to capture and retain the tubular. In some embodiments, a single inflatable member in employed to expand into the gap and retain the tubular. A method of racking tubulars is disclosed using elongate, inflatable restraints.

Abstract: An articulated pre-skimmer mount for a pre-skimmer associated with a drill bit feed unit comprises a feed mounting arm mounted to the drill bit feed unit. A first end is configured for attachment to the drill feed unit and a second end includes a cylindrical mounting shaft and an axial positioning plate. An intermediate arm has a first end comprising a cylindrical sleeve mounted thereto. The cylindrical sleeve has an inner cylindrical opening configured for sliding engagement with the cylindrical mounting shaft and a mating plate configured for locking, face-to-face engagement with the axial positioning plate. A second end comprises a pre-skimmer mounting assembly configured for attachment to the pre-skimmer, wherein an axial positioning plate and a mating plate are operable to disengage, for rotation of the intermediate arm about an axis of the feed mounting arm for alignment of the pre-skimmer.

Abstract: A swing-out apparatus for a drill rig, typically for drilling water wells. It includes a sled which is formed to be driven vertically on a drill mast of a vehicle carrying the sled, a casing hammer, and a hinge securing the casing hammer on the sled. To provide for displacement of the casing hammer relative to the sled, a drive is provided for swinging the casing hammer on the hinge from a deployed position to an inactive position. The drive comprises a motor connected for driving one relative to another.

Abstract: Locking elements 3d and 3j are provided at an inner member 3 connected to a kelly bar 1, and a locking element bearing plate 6f is provided at an outer member 6. The outer member 6 includes a cylindrical bucket 7 and a grab bucket 8 housed inside the cylindrical bucket 7. When an excavating tool 2 is in its most contracted state, the inner member 3 is rotated forward to lock the locking elements 3d and 3j at the locking element bearing plate 6f, thereby disallowing relative vertical movement of the inner member 3 and the outer member 6. As the excavating tool is rotated by applying a force to the kelly bar 1 along the lifting direction in this state, an excavating operation can be executed while applying a load smaller than the load of the excavating tool 2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the movement of drilling equipment between topographically adjacent drilling locations comprises positioning a transportable planar surface over the adjacent drilling locations between which it is desired to move the equipment. Ports or other access areas extending through the planar surface to the drilling locations below are provided. The equipment to be moved is placed on top of the planar surface and is provided on its bottom with a low-drag surface which can slide across the planar surface. The equipment can be moved from one desired drilling location to another by sliding it between locations on top of the planar surface. When all of the drilling is completed, the equipment can be struck for transport and the planar surface disassembled and moved to a new drilling area. Various methods to move the equipment could be used.

Abstract: A drill for drilling wide diameter and high depth holes in the soil including a base machine (1) having a rotary (2) that is equipped with a clamp (9) and, by means of translation cylinders (8), rotates and axially moves a series of drill stem (7) having a tool (6) at the free end thereof, includes: an hydraulic joint (3) linked to the rotary (2); at least a winch (4) linked to the hydraulic joint (3) and provided with at least a wire rope (18); a carrier canister (5) slidely connected with the stem (7) between the rotary (2) and the tool (6) by means of at least the wire rope (18); at least a winch (4), a wire rope (18), a carrier canister (5) are rotated together with the stem (7) of the rotary (2) in correspondence of an operating condition of the drill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing the unexpected loss of heavy mining equipment by detecting the separation of heavy metal parts at an early stage in the separation process, and providing a warning signal in response to which the particular machine that is having the difficulty may then be shut down in a timely manner. A spring-loaded switch is sandwiched between the heavy metal parts, which upon partial separation of the parts then expands and turns on an electrical switch to activate a radio transmitter, sending an alarm signal to a receiver at a remote location.

Abstract: A conventional land drilling rig is interconnected to the substructure for an oilfield pad location. The interconnected drilling rig is placed on top of matting. The matting has embedded rollers to facilitate movement of the drilling rig as a “convoy” across the mat from one wellhead to another wellhead. The buildings in the mud tank system may also be interconnected and move in a separate convoy but in tandem with the first convoy.

Abstract: The soil sampler of this invention is mounted on a wheeled vehicle and includes a frame having a pivotal mast which is movable between an upright position and a horizontally disposed position. An elongated, hollow soil probe is longitudinally movably mounted on the mast so that the probe may be inserted into the ground to collect a soil sample. When the sample has been collected in the soil probe, the probe is raised from the ground and the mast is moved from its upright position to its horizontally disposed position. The soil sample in the probe is automatically dumped from the probe when the mast has been moved to its horizontally disposed position. The soil sample is collected in a receptacle position below the probe with the receptacle being divided into at least two compartments. The soil sampling probe also includes means for indicating the true position of the soil surface.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for golf course or other turf maintenance. The apparatus includes a vehicle with powered drive, steering mechanism, and maintenance equipment support structures. The vehicle may be a forward unit and a trailer unit with an articulated joint between the units; the forward or trailer units may have one or more wheels. The wheels are wide tires with smooth tread and low pressure. The maintenance equipment may be an apparatus for injecting a coagulant material into the subsurface of a turf area, an apparatus for cutting and placing a putting cup, an apparatus for grooming a hazard, rollers for rolling a turf surface, and other forms of turf maintenance equipment. The cup cutting and placement apparatus is designed to cut a plumb vertical hole in a putting green at the same depth with each operation, to remove a core from the subsurface, and to place a core in a previously cut hole.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cleaning dirt and debris from the stem and flighting of an earth boring auger. The auger cleaner apparatus has an opposed pair of blade assemblies which are brought into mechanical engagement with the stem and flighting of the auger. Once the auger cleaner is engaged about the auger, the user of the apparatus then need only rotate the auger cleaner about the auger to strip off dirt and debris. The auger cleaner has handles which provide mechanical advantage to the user for causing the device to rotate about the auger. The device may be provided with selectively exchangeable blade assemblies for adapting the auger cleaner for use on augers of different sizes and of different manufacturers.

Abstract: A cuttings collector will collect cuttings generated while drilling through conductor pipe for the first string of casing. The cuttings collector has a riser that secures to the exterior of an outer wellhead housing. A cage surrounds the riser. Ports at the upper end of the riser allow cuttings to flow out the riser and back down into the cage. A funnel guide locates at the upper end of the riser to guide the drill bit and the lower end of the first string of the casing. The running tool for the first string of casing lands an inner wellhead housing in the outer wellhead housing and simultaneously engages the cuttings collector to retrieve it. Cuttings from the collector will be dumped from the cuttings collector near the surface. The cuttings collector telescopes from an extended to a collapsed position for storage.

Abstract: An automatic evacuation drilling bucket comprises a follower formed with a working space for receiving a blade member which is capable of coming in contact with an osculating arm, the working space having upper, lower, transition and receiving compartments. If the blade member is located in the upper and lower compartments, the blade member is engaged with the follower when a drive shaft member is rotated in the normal and reverse directions. If the blade member is urged to move into the receiving compartment through the transition compartment, the blade member comes in contact with the osculating arm when the drive shaft member is rotated in the reverse direction.

Abstract: An auger assembly for drilling holes in the ground includes an auger blade mounted for vertical movement and a dirt retaining shell that surrounds the auger blade also mounted for vertical movement in relation to the auger blade. When the hole has been drilled to the length of the auger blade, the retaining shell is lowered down into the hole to surround the auger blade and the auger blade and the retaining shell are removed from the hole simultaneously. The retaining shell retains the dirt on the auger blade to prevent the dirt from falling back into the hole. The drilling and removal of dirt is repeated until the hole reaches the appropriate depth. A pair of lateral extensions provide a cutting edge on the perimeter of the auger blade in order to provide a hole which is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the auger blade to permit the retaining shell to be lowered around the auger blade.

Abstract: An auger assembly for drilling holes or similar openings in the ground includes an auger blade mounted for vertical movement and a dirt retaining shell that surrounds the auger blade also mounted for vertical movement independently of the auger blade. When the hole has been drilled to the appropriate depth, the retaining shell is lowered down into the hole to surround the auger blade and the auger blade and the retaining shell are removed from the hole simultaneously. The retaining shell retains the dirt on the auger blade to prevent the dirt from falling back into the hole. A pair of lateral extensions provide a cutting a cutting edge on the perimeter of the auger blade in order to provide a hole which is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the auger blade to permit the retaining shell to be lowered around the auger blade.

Abstract: A drilling bucket apparatus for expanding a bore-hole bottom for a cast-in-place pile. Drill bits are pivotally suspended from the upper portion of a drill pipe, which is a main frame of the apparatus, and are expanded and retracted radially by means of hydraulic cylinders. A bucket is attached to the lower end of the drill pipe and scrapers are installed on the side of the bucket. The scrapers are arranged to open and close sideward, following the movement of the drill bits. During drilling work, the apparatus is suspended from a kelly bar of a drilling machine. When the apparatus is rotated and the drill bits are expanded, the whole expanded shape of a bore-hole bottom is drilled simultaneously and cuttings are scraped into the bucket by means of the drill bits and the scrapers. Further, a bottom lid of the bucket can be released by operating a hydraulically-actuated opening laver, whereby, cuttings are discharged automatically.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling machine comprising a kelly (5) suspended from a boom (3) mounted for pivoting on a chassis (1), a rotary table (7) through which the kelly is movable axially, drive members provided in the rotary table for rotating the kelly and a rotary drilling tool (8), more particularly a ground auger fixed to the bottom end of the kelly.This machine is essentially characterized in that the rotary table (7) comprises at least two lateral protuberances (24) extending symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the kelly (5), in that the chassis (1) comprises two guide channels (26) disposed one opposite the other so as to receive the protuberances (24) and in that locking teeth (27) are provided for locking the protuberances (24) at any predetermined height in the guide channels (26).The machien of the invention further comprises members for boring by reciprocating for reaching depths of about 80 to 100 meters.

Abstract: A putting cup hole digging machine is disclosed which comprises a main frame which has a fore and aft extent; a first mounting means for securing the main frame on a vehicle to permit the main frame to be vertically raised and lowered relative to the vehicle; and a first raise-lower means secured to the main frame for raising and lowering it relative to the vehicle. The machine also includes a subframe secured on the main frame by a second mounting means permitting pivotal movement of the subframe about a second horizontal axis and fore and aft movement of the subframe relative to the main frame; a cutter for cutting the cylindrical turf plug which is mounted on the subframe; and a third mounting means for securing the cutter on the subframe for vertical movement to raised and lowered positions relative to the subframe and for rotary movement relative to the subframe about a third axis. A second raise and lower means is provided to move the cutter between its raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: A mobile machine for making holes in putting greens including a frame connected to a vehicle such as a mower, a cutter assembly mounted on a carriage slidably mounted on the frame for moving the cutter assembly in a vertical plane relative to the ground. The cutter assembly is freely pivoted to the carriage about orthogonal axes and a releasable lock mechanism is provided to hold the cutter assembly in a vertical orientation. A motor is mounted on the carriage for rotating the cutter, and the cutter assembly is detachably connected to the motor drive shaft so that the plug cut from the hole can be manually ejected into a previously formed hole where the cup has been removed. A depth gauge is provided between the frame and carriage indicating the depth of the cutter in the ground, and the carriage, lock mechanism and motor are hydraulically driven through a hydraulic circuit connected to the mower.

Abstract: Means are provided in combination with the depending cylindrical skirt of a drill rig for conveying drill cuttings from around the drill stem during a drilling operation so they will not deposit in the usual annular pile around the open mouth of the drill hole. The means comprise a hopper attached to the lower end of the skirt and having a side discharge opening into which one end of an endless conveyor protrudes in confronting relationship with the drill stem that passes through an accommodating opening in the otherwise closed bottom of the hopper. The conveyor is advantageously of scraper type, having an endless chain with scraper blades at intervals along its length that scrape along the bottom of a conveyor trough, and advantageously having an elongate discharge opening extending lengthwise of the bottom of the trough adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing bottom material from beneath the surface of a body of water includes a floatable base upon which a tower is mounted for extending vertically upwardly therefrom. A rigid, elongate member having a bucket is connected to the tower and shiftable relative thereto by means of a power-driven motor mounted adjacent the tower. The motor is operable for selectively shifting the elongate member in a substantially vertical direction to effect raising and lowering of the bucket. A carriage is connected by cables to the motor and is operable for substantially vertical shifting along guides provided on the tower. The elongate member is connected to the carriage and suspended therefrom and is also pivotally connected to the carriage to permit pivotal movement of the elongate member about a horizontal axis extending generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

Abstract: The disclosed method of cutting a tunnel in plastic soil uses a pipe and a cutting head mounted on one end of the pipe. The inner diameter of the cutting head is less than the inner diameter of the pipe, and the outer diameter of the cutting head is greater than the outer diameter of the pipe. The method comprises the steps of (1) driving the pipe into plastic soil, cutting head first; (2) providing a lubricating flow of water on both the outside and the inside of the pipe adjacent to the cutting head; (3) withdrawing the pipe from the plastic soil in the opposite direction to the direction in which it was inserted; (4) raising the pipe and swinging to dumping area; and (5) suspending the pipe in the air with the cutting head uppermost in order to allow the soil within the pipe to slide out.

Abstract: An auger drilling apparatus includes a spoil disposal box guided on the lower end of the auger leads. The auger extends vertically through the box and deposits spoil from the hole being drilled into the box. During drilling, the box rests on the ground at the top of the hole being drilled. When the box is filled, it can be raised on the leads to an elevated position and eject the spoil directly into a dump truck.

Abstract: A derrick-type augur drill machine mounted on a carrier, including a rotary platform having both a memory device and an automatic latching means associated with the memory device, the memory means being operable for storing information indicating a selected rotary position of the platform and the latching means being responsive to the stored information when the selected platform position is regained for locking the platform in place. An apparatus and method for automatically repositioning a rotary platform are also disclosed in detail.