Abstract: A system for drilling a horizontal bore through frangible material includes a barrel mechanism containing a automatically reciprocating piston mechanism for automatically delivering hammering blows to a bit for chipping away the frangible material, a fluid distributor for directing fluid to and exhausting pressurized fluid from the piston mechanism without exposing the wall of the bore being created to fluid pressure greater than ambient atmospheric pressure, a spline/flute arrangement for causing the bit to rotate with the barrel mechanism, a motor and swivel mounted on a driven platform mounted on a supporting frame for urging the bit against the frangible material and for supplying the pressurized fluid, a pushing mechanism for non-rotatingly and simultaneously installing casing joints as various components of the system is rotatingly drilling the bore, an augering arrangement for, in conjunction with the casing joints, removing the drilling debris, and drill/auger stem sections for extending the drilling

Abstract: A device for drilling a bore hole in the ground comprised of a rotary drive head and a hollow Connecting Rod Assembly on which the rotary drive head acts and which can be lowered into the hole in the ground through the rotary drive head. A tool head with several Drilling Hammers that work downwards and that are operated with a fluid driving medium are provided on the lower end of the Connecting Rod Assembly. In the case of an initial design form, a Rotary Connecting Head is located in the upper area of the Connecting Rod Assembly; a fluid driving medium under high pressure can be supplied to the upper end of the Connecting Rod Assembly through the rotary connecting head, and the rotary connecting head has a transition chamber in its Housing, sealed in the axial direction towards both sides and connected to an external Supply Line for the fluid operating medium.

Abstract: A down hole hammer assembly comprising a reverse circulation hammer (11) having a drill bit (12) mounted to one end of a housing which accommodates a percussive hammer, the other end of the housing being adapted to be mounted to a drill string, the assembly further comprising a support member (14) receivable on the lower end of a bore hole casing (13) which is receivable over the drill string, the support (14) comprising a first part (15) adapted to be fixed to the lower end of the casing and a second part (16) rotatably received on the first part (15) and capable of limited axial slidable movement thereon, the second part (16) being engagable with the drill bit (12) to be rotatable with the drill bit (12) on rotation of the drill bit (12) in one direction and to be movably axially with the drill bit (12) the drill bit (12) being disengagable with the second part (16) to be able to be movable axially relative to the second part (16), flow passageways being provided between the drill bit and the second part to

Abstract: A casing hammer assembly for a cable tool drilling apparatus and a cable tool drilling apparatus employing the casing hammer assembly. The casing hammer assembly includes a hammer housing which is positioned on a casing pipe and having a central aperture for through passage of a cable tool drilling string. An impact anvil is located in the housing, surrounding the central aperture, and a reciprocal hammer is mounted for striking the anvil. An eccentric arrangement is employed for raising the hammer for repeated striking of the anvil in order to sink the casing pipe. A hydraulic arm is utilized for laterally positioning the hammer housing in relation to the casing pipe.

Abstract: The boring machine is disclosed which includes a power and control unit having a power source which uses a large electrical motor, a large hydraulic pump and a torque convertor connected to a speed reducer which controls the speed and torque provided to the auger and cutting head. A second small electrical motor and small hydraulic pump are used to power two hydraulic cylinders for pushing the string of pipe casings into the bored hole using a master pusher. A structural protector frame provides safety protection for an operator seated within the power and control unit. A control console is used by the operator for operating and controlling the boring machine and the direction of the string of pipe casings in the bored hole. Steering and pipe control cables extend into the bored hole from a wire spool mounted on the front of the power and control unit. A generator power by a diesel engine located outside the pit area provides electrical power for the electrical motors.

Abstract: A method and liner assembly for drilling into unstable or depleted formations is provided that maintains control of the wellbore against caving such as where unconsolidated formations are penetrated and/or minimizes fluid losses such as to underpressured formations where differential pressures exist. The method and liner assembly herein includes the provision of a liner having a portion thereof that is drillable so that after setting of the liner, drilling can continue deeper into the unstable formations with minimal damage to the bit used to drill out the liner drillable portion. In one form, the liner has a shoe that includes cutter mounting blades, each having a set of cutters thereon. Relief slots are formed in the blades between cutters so that as the shoe and its blades are being drilled, the drill bit will cut through the slots, releasing the shoe cutters for transport up to the surface by the drilling fluid thereby minimizing damaging contact of the bit with the shoe cutters.

Abstract: Heavy duty mobile metal foundation installation apparatus and method are disclosed including a push-it carriage movably supported through controllable positioning to push a metal foundation into the ground by hydraulic cylinders pushing against a header frame held and secured in adjustable positions on a heavy duty mobile push-it tower. The heavy duty mobile push-it tower and metal foundation holder and push-it carriage mounted on the heavy duty tower are attached to a track roller frame tractor structure. The push-it tower is attached to the track roller frame tractor structure by a hydraulically activated tractor boom arm, a pivot point on the tower, and a hydraulic cylinder for rotating and positioning the tower about the pivot attachment point.

Abstract: An overburden drilling device includes a drill bit body, a percussion element for applying impacts to the body, and a casing attached to the body. The casing is connected to the drill bit body by a casing shoe. The casing shoe and the drill bit body are interconnected by radially overlapping walls so that the drill bit body pulls the casing along during a drilling operation while rotating relative thereto. A wedge-shaped member is provided around the casing close to a rear end of the casing shoe so as to facilitate removal of the drilling equipment from a bore.

Abstract: A tool for installing an underground pipeline below an existing structure such as a sidewalk or driveway. The tool consists of a steel casing, an auger within the casing, a soil drilling bit at the end of the auger, and an hydraulic motor for driving the auger. A selected length of plastic or steel pipe is slid onto the casing before drilling. After the drilling is completed, the casing, auger, and auger bit are withdrawn from the soil, leaving the pipe length embedded in the soil.

Abstract: A method of sinking a bore hole in underground formations which have at least one special stratiform formation which features vastly differing formation pressures in respect to a formation adjacent to it in the sinking direction and in which a drilling tool carried at the bottom end of a drill line and having a drill bit driven by a deep drilling motor drills out a first part of a bore hole which extends to a point close to the boundary area of the special formation, characterized in that upon subsequent sinking of a further part of the bore hole by the casing string which passes through at least one special formation, a tubular outer casing with a bottom end carrying a driven drill head is entrained, the bore hole being lined by this, at least in the region of the special formation.

Abstract: An earth boring system is disclosed for guiding and steering a string of pipe casings to form an underground cased bore. The string of pipe casings are guided by a boring end assembly including a front casing and a steering head connected at an interface gap by a plurality of hinge assemblies each having an actuator and a pair of connector parts. A protective enclosure protects the hinge assemblies from loosened earth from the earthen bore and from the earth being removed from within the pipe casings. The protective enclosure can be formed by an inner pipe and an outer pipe of both the front casing and the steering head, plus a closure ring and a retainer belt at the interface gap. Guidance sensors are provided to determine the location of the string of pipe casings and a computer control center computes steering head axial and angular displacements for guiding the string of pipe casings and controlling the extent of the interface gap.

Abstract: Mobile metal foundation installation apparatus and method are disclosed including a push-it carriage movably supported through controllable positioning to push a metal foundation into the ground by hydraulic cylinders pushing against a header frame held and secured in adjustable positions on a mobile tower. After the hydraulic cylinders extend to a maximum extension, the pushing reaction bar can be advanced to a lower position in the side frame of the tower. As the foundation is pushed into the ground, at least one vibrator on said push-it carriage is actuated for vibrating the cylindrical foundation body and longitudinal fins. An auger is aligned below the push-it carriage to drill in advance of pushing the metal foundation into the ground in one step. Outboard satellite anchors hold down the mobile tower when the foundation is pushed into the ground. A second auger mounted and detachable on a crane drills holes for the outboard satellite anchors.

Abstract: An augerless boring system uses a relatively slender drill steel pipe attached at a front end to a large tubular hammer. The hammer holds different drill bits. The drill steel and the hammer are located inside a casing and driven along with the casing by a power and advance unit. The hammer extends through a front stabilizer head attached to the front end of the casing. A stabilizer head improves drill bit control while supporting the boring assembly in the casing. The stabilizer head includes multiple stabilizer bars extending lengthwise along the inside of a stabilizer casing. A special thrust adapter is used for pushing the casing in a forward direction and attaches to a size adapter that provides forward pressure against substantially the entire rear end of the casing. The thrust adapter in combination with the size adapter provides even distributed pressure to the rear end of the casing for more effective thrust of the casing into a bore hole.

Abstract: An earth discharge control system for a small-diameter pipe propelling machine controls the excavated earth discharging operation of the small-diameter pipe propelling machine. The small-pipe propelling machine propels a small-diameter pipe (2) joined at its leading end to a leading pipe (1) into the ground by a propelling unit (3) installed in a starting shaft (4). Earth excavated by a cutting head (8) supported on the leading end of the leading pipe (1) is conveyed toward the starting shaft (4) by a screw conveyor (6) disposed within the small-diameter pipe (1). A pneumatically operated control valve (10) is disposed in combination with a portion of the screw conveyor (6) within the leading pipe (1).

Abstract: Mobile metal foundation installation apparatus and method are disclosed including a push-it carriage (2) movably supported through controllable positioning to push a metal foundation into the ground by hydraulic cylinders pushing against a header frame held and secured in adjustable position on a mobile tower (15). After the hydraulic cylinders extend to a maximum extension, the pushing reaction bar can be advanced to a lower position in the side frame of the tower. An auger (4) is aligned below the push-it carriage to drill in advance of pushing the metal foundation into the ground in one step. Outboard satellite anchors (57) hold down the mobile tower when the foundation is pushed into the ground. A second auger (80) mounted and detachable on a crane drills holes for the outboard satellite anchors. The second auger can swing laterally to dig a left or right side outboard or satellite anchor hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a caisson to a device for inserting and/or extracting the caisson. The apparatus comprises three beams. A first beam is relatively long and is normally connected to a vibratory device such that its longitudinal axis is orthogonal to the lengthwise axis of the vibratory device. The second and third beams are relatively short and are connected to the vibratory device such their longitudinal axes are parallel to the lengthwise axis of the vibratory device. Four clamps are mounted on the beams to fix the beams onto the caisson. A flange on the first beam is widened at least a middle portion thereof to stiffen the beam and allow the beam to be securely connected to the vibratory device. The first beam may also be used with its longitudinal axis parallel to the lengthwise axis of the vibratory device.

Abstract: A device for joining an element to a string of elements already mounted, including threaded rods and tubular casing elements covering the walls of a borehole, for use in drilling equipment including a rotary head driving said string with a combined movement of rotation about a substantially vertical axis and translation along said axis. The device includes a clamping device for clamping and guiding a single element, coupled to a friction screwing device (18). The clamping and guiding device is adapted for holding the single element in an axially aligned position relative to the elements already mounted. The clamping and guiding device is idly mounted to, and suspended from the rotary head. The friction screwing device has a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion. The rotating portion is provided with a lower friction device sliding along and rotating about an output rotary shaft of the rotary head.

Abstract: A securing and tensioning device for a towing cable that is secured to a percussion boring machine and connects a pipe that is to be pulled in to the boring machine, comprising a thrust member bearing on the free end of the pipe that is to be pulled in, a clamping unit that is adjacent to the thrust member and clamps when a force acts on the towing cable in the direction of the pipe that is to be pulled in, and a tensioning unit arranged coaxially with the clamping unit that clamps when a force acts in the direction of the pipe that is to be pulled in and is movable in the direction opposite to that of the pipe that is to be pulled in.

Abstract: Mobile metal foundation installation apparatus and method are disclosed including a push-it carriage movably supported through controllable positioning to push a metal foundation into the ground by hydraulic cylinders pushing against a header frame held and secured in adjustable positions on a mobile tower. After the hydraulic cylinders extend to a maximum extension, the pushing reaction bar can be advanced to a lower position in the side frame of the tower. An auger is aligned below the push-it carriage to drill in advance of pushing the metal foundation into the ground in one step. Outboard satellite anchors hold down the mobile tower when the foundation is pushed into the ground. A second auger mounted and detachable on a crane drills holes for the outboard satellite anchors. The second auger can swing laterally to dig a left or right side outboard or satellite anchor hole. An extensible satellite anchor augering guide and anchor structural support extends and retracts on both sides of the mobile tower.

Abstract: A drill string is advanced into the ground by inducing vibrations in the drill string at a resonant frequency. The drill string has an opening at a downhole end leading to a hollow interior. As drilling progresses, a core enters the hollow interior. A casing is driven around the drill string to seal the borehole. Sonic advancing of the drill string minimizes waste materials and can be operated without a circulating fluid.

Abstract: A machine for simultaneously augering and thrusting an anchor into the ground for later attachment of a utility pole or road sign. A vehicle is used to transport the thruster machine with a hydraulic control system such that a rail track is moved into thrusting position and locked in place. A winch, plus a system of hydraulic pistons will raise and lower an auger and thrusting device into the position desired. With an anchor affixed to the bottom of a platform, the auger is then used to drill out the dirt and other material so that the anchor may be more easily inserted into the ground. The thrusting process is facilitated by an indexing feature contained within the platform. A series of hydraulic pistons drive the anchor into the ground until fully stroked, whereupon the platform is re-indexed as needed to completely sink the anchor. Furthermore, a counter-thrust device may also be employed to stabilize the vehicle during the thrusting operation.

Abstract: A self-propelled percussion boring tool apparatus (10) and method for incrementally boring a generally vertical hole (12) to substantial depths. The boring tool (10) includes a torpedo-shaped elongated cylindrical casing (13) having a trailing pipe (22) coupled to and extending away from the back end (14) of the casing (13). In another instance, the boring tool (10) includes a trailing pipe (34) extending away from the back end (14) of the casing (13), and formed to be retained in the hole (12) after removal of the boring tool (10). In either arrangement, the present invention facilitates recovery of the boring tool (10) from bored vertical holes (12) of substantial depth.

Abstract: A wellbore is formed in the earth with an elongated, non-rotating tubular drillstem which may consist of a well casing or liner and including an expendable sub and reamer bit part connected to the lower distal end of the drillstem. A retrievable drilling fluid operated motor and drive member assembly are disposed in the drillstem. The motor and drive member include pressure fluid responsive mechanism for engagement with and disengagement from the reamer bit part to rotatably drive the reamer bit part and a central bit part connected to the drive member without rotating the casing type drillstem. The motor, drive member and central bit part may be retracted from the drillstem upon completion of drilling operations without retrieving the expendable reamer bit part.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for installing open-ended tubular members axially into the earth by simultaneously or sequentially driving, drilling, and jetting. A drilling string assembly is located inside the tubular member, but is supported independently from the tubular member. The position of the drill bit on the lower end of the drilling string assembly relative to the lower end of the tubular member may be adjusted so as to control the rate of penetration of the tubular member into the earth.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously lining and cleaning an existing sewer pipe, and for laying horizontal pipe without digging a trench, includes a planetary gear assembly mounted on a drilling rig. A liner pipe or outer pipe which is to be laid underground is placed over an inner auger, with the forward end of the liner pipe located behind the auger drill bit. The opposite end of the auger is attached to the sun gear of the planetary gear assembly; and the outer pipe is secured to the ring gear of the assembly. The auger is rotated in one direction, causing the outer pipe to rotate in the other direction; and the pipe and auger are pushed simultaneously through the pipe to be lined or through the soil. Once a section of auger and liner pipe have been pushed in place, the planetary gear assembly is disconnected from the auger and the liner pipe, new sections of auger and liner pipe are connected to the existing sections at one end, and to the planetary gear assembly at the other end.

Abstract: The invention provides a drilling method for drilling a bore-hole in ground or soil, with a percussion drilling device operated directly in the bore-hole and with a rotary percussion drilling device operated from the surface of the ground or soil, both devices being received in a common support member and adapted to be simultaneously operated, and a drilling assembly for preforming this method. In order to avoid a damage of the percussion drilling device, the drilling impact forces and vibrations directed to the rotary percussion drilling device are registered, elastically dampened and absorbed prior to having an effect on the percussion drilling device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for drilling a tunnel utilize hydraulic means comprising a cylinder and a piston to enable independent adjustment of the driving force acting on the protecting tubes and the driving force acting on the drilling tool/conveying tubes. The hydraulic means acts as a thrust bearing and moves freely in the longitudinal direction of the drilling apparatus in response to forces acting on the drilling tool which are detected as changes in pressure in the hydraulic means.

Abstract: When using cable tool water well drilling machinery, referred to as a spudder, during drilling operations, the simultaneous operation of this water well drilling accessory is undertaken periodically, to drive water well casing pipe sections down below ground level.

Abstract: A floor drive drilling system comprising a pipe drive bushing having a frame and a rotor which is raised and movable to and from a master bushing by wheels and lowered and coupled to the master bushing for rotary drilling and reaming. The rotor is driven by the master bushing and has a plurality of gripper assemblies which selectively engage the drill string to transfer torque thereto and are movable upward and downward a selected distance for drilling and reaming. Each gripper assembly comprises actuating rings and jaws for gripping and ungripping the drill string. Frictional inserts with large surface areas and grooves are positioned on the jaws to allow mud and contaminants to escape and means are provided for cushioning the engagement of the inserts with the drill pipe to reduce surface damage. Sensing means indicate the grip and ungripped position of the jaws and are used to indicate when a joint or other obstacle prevents the pipe being fully gripped.

Abstract: A method for drilling holes in soil or rock, especially for producing prestressed ground anchorage. A hole is drilled by a drill column formed of lengths of pipe with a drill bit driven by a rotary and/or percussive drive. The wall of the borehole is supported by a casing formed of lengths of pipe driven by a rotary and/or percussive drive of a drilling tool. The lengths of pipe of the drill column and the casing are taken from a magazine by machine and transferred back to the magazine after drilling the hole. Each length of pipe for the drill column is taken sequentially from the magazine by the drive of the drilling tool for the drill column and each length of pipe for the casing is taken sequentially from the magazine by the drive of the drilling tool for the casing. Each length of pipe for the drill column and each length of pipe for the casing is returned sequentially to the magazine.

Abstract: An adaptor assembly for an earth boring machine includes a thrust bearing housing removably attachable to the bulkhead plate of an earth boring machine surrounding the torque hub flange. A rear drive flange is attached to the torque hub and a front drive flange is mounted within the housing and carries a thrust bearing movable into and out of contact with the housing. The front drive flange has an extension which projects beyond the housing for attachment of an auger and boring head and is connected to the rear drive flange for rotational movement therewith and axial movement relatively thereof.

Abstract: Wellbores are formed in the earth with elongated, tubular drillstems which include retrievable bit and drive motor assemblies. The retrievable bit assembly includes a body having locking dogs engageable with cooperating recesses formed in a sub at the bottom of the drillstem. The bit assembly includes radially extendable and retractable arms with cutters thereon for forming the wellbore to a diameter greater than the drillstem, but whereby the arms may be retracted to withdraw the bit assembly through the drillstem with wireline retrieval apparatus or the like. The wellbore may be drilled with a tubular drillstem comprising wellbore casing with a retrievable bit and motor assembly connected to the lower end of the drillstem and retrievable through the drillstem by the wireline retrieval apparatus whereby the casing may be left in the wellbore upon completion of drilling operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to the drilling of a hole for the study of the underground. The roto-percussion head acts on the drilling tube of which the base carries a cutter. The cutter is integral with the sleeve inside which drilling water is injected. The water and the rock debris go up and out through the evacuation opening. Application to the reverse flow drilling allowing to extract at the evacuation opening cores or rock debris which go up inside the axial tube as soon as they are taken without any risk of being contaminated by the previously traversed layers of ground.

Abstract: In a process for laying underground service lines without excavation by means of a ram boring machine, old pipe lines already buried underground are replaced by new service lines without having to tear up the ground or destroy the old pipe line. To enable the new line to be laid accurately in position and to be accurately targeted the ram boring machine is provided with a guiding bore passing axially through the casing and is guided on the old line.

Abstract: Offshore wells are drilled with an improved drivepipe/casing assembly made up of plural sections of casing connected end to end, which are driven to a predetermined depth followed by drilling out a wellbore portion below the lower distal end of the casing assembly and then followed by redriving the drivepipe/casing assembly to refusal to eliminate the need for a conventional casing string and associated cementing operations. Certain ones of the casing sections are provided with earth impinging and displacing rings of slightly larger diameter than the outside diameter of the casing to reduce earth to casing friction during driving and to minimize the redriving effort required.

Abstract: An apparatus for forcing a member or device, such as a sample tube or seismic or geological instrument, through a material such as soil along a selected line of action. The apparatus includes a derrick with first and second plates mounted thereto, the second plate having a locking dog extending through a hole therein for engaging a collar set in material, and the first plate being provided with a hydraulic cylinder or other device for forcing the member through the material. The first plate is also provided with an extruder head for releasably mounting the sample-containing sample tube thereto, and the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a plunger releasably mounted to the ram thereof, for extruding the sample from the sample tube.The collar positively engages the material to provide an apparatus for transmitting the reactive forces resulting from forcing the member through the material to the material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-shaft kneading auger system having a plurality of kneading shafts or rotating shafts used to form a continuous wall in the ground. Grouting blades driven by chains, are positioned near the lower ends of the kneading shafts. A grouting edge of the blade forms a predetermined angle with the surface of the kneading shafts. Also, a scraping apparatus is formed in a part of the rotating shafts. The scraping apparatus comprises a supporting member laterally supported in the part of the rotating shafts, plain blades vertically movably supported on the supporting member and substantially located on common tangential lines of the rotational surfaces of the grouting blades, a coupling member including rollers and laterally coupling the plain blades, and cams provided in the part of the rotating shafts and adapted to engage with the rollers.

Abstract: A flushing device for drilling tools comprises a guide member (10) carrying a drill bit (20) and being rotatably centered by the mouth of a casing tube (11) which is adapted to follow the drilling tool downhole during drilling. The drill bit (20) has a bit portion (22) that projects laterally beyond and is spaced axially in front of the casing tube (11) so as to drill a hole larger than the casing tube (11). There are external flushing grooves (70,71) on the guide member (10) adapted to lead the outflow of flushing medium and debris from the hole during drilling into the casing tube (11). At least one of these grooves (70) extends from front to rear of the guide member (10). One or more further grooves (71) are open towards said rear while ending blindly into the periphery of the guide member (10) spaced from its front. By retraction of the guide member (10) its front enters the casing tube (11).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for forming a perimeter lined, generally horizontally directed drill hole in a variety of soil formations. More particularly, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus for horizontal drilling which allows for the preparation of reinforced drill holes of a small diameter and precise heading by the use of a directed drilling tool seated within a mantle tube and the simultaneous advancement into various soil formations of this combination.

Abstract: Drill tools with eccentric bits for drilling a hole having a large diameter generally include a bit for swinging out to an eccentric position for drilling, and for swinging into a non-eccentric position for removal from a tubular casing. Relatively complicated structures are required for effecting bit movement, and it is often difficult to remove the bit for replacement or repair.

Abstract: A stopper apparatus for neutralizing rotary reaction force set up by the rotation of a casing in an all-casing driver, comprises a long transmission frame for transmitting the reaction force, including a base frame connected to a casing drive unit and a joint frame one end of which is connected to the base frame, and a support frame horizontal- and vertical-rotatably connected to the other end of the joint frame. At least one side of the support frame comes in contact with a supporting mass by which the reaction force is supported. The stopper apparatus also comprises a pedestal for placing a working wagon thereon, detachably connected to the transmission frame, an inclination device for raising the pedestal to an inclined position, and an inter-frame distance increasing device for increasing the wedge of the pedestal.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the formation of casing assisted grout piles at low density overburden construction sites is provided which includes a collar assembly (44) adapted to be secured to the conventional upright support frame (12) forming a part of typical pile-forming equipment. Preferably, the assembly (44) includes a pair of hingedly interconnected arcuate collar sections (46,48) which cooperatively grip the upper protruding end (42) of an embedded metallic casing (40). The sections (46,48) are provided with circumferentially spaced elongated, gripping elements (70) thereon, as well as a piston and cylinder assembly (60) for selective opening and closing movement of the sections (46,48). Use of the casing-gripping assembly (44) prevents substantial movement or uprooting of the embedded casing (40), and permits pile formation at sites such as landfills containing municipal solid wastes.

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 shaft drilling rig comprises a rig head having means whereby it may be attached to a cable so as to be raised and lowered within a shaft being sunk. A central hollow column depends from the rig head and carries a base member at its lower end. There are rig supporting feet carried by the base member. The rig has a plurality of booms each being operatively carried at its upper end by the central column near the rig head to pivot relative to the column and itself carrying at its outer end a feed holder for a beam to carry a rock drill. A plurality of support members are respectively associated with the booms, each such support member being operatively carried at its lower end by the central column near the base member to pivot relative to the column and pivotally engaging its associated boom at a pivot location. Each boom has an extendable section arranged to extend the length thereof which extendable section is located between the upper end of the boom and its said pivot location.

Abstract: In well drilling, and in particular the horizontal drilling field, a simultaneous drilling and casing device is provided. A drill string driven in rotation by a revolving table has at its end a drilling tool 28 driven by a bottom motor 22 and, in its intermediate part, a drive connection 10 to which the rear end 1a of a casing section 1 is screwed, whose front end is provided with an abrasive material ring 3. The length of the part of the drill string separating the connection 10 from tool 28 is substantially equal to the length of section 1. The casing 1 driven by the drill string at the speed of rotation of the revolving table cuts its own way during the drilling.

Abstract: A well casing of an elastic metal material is placed in concentric relationship with a casing of an inert material such as a suitable plastic. A penetrating cap piece is placed on the bottom end of the metallic casing. The two concentric casings are then driven into the earth in an area to be monitored for contamination, such driving action being achieved by a sonic oscillator which is attached to the top end of the metallic casing. Preferably, the sonic energy is provided at a frequency such as to effect resonant standing wave vibration of the metallic casing. Further, water may be injected down the casing so as to lubricate the earthen structure immediately below the cap to accelerate the penetration of the casing. When the casings have been driven to the desired depth, the metallic casing is withdrawn by lifting up thereon while continuing to apply sonic energy, leaving the casing of inert material in place such that earth samples can be periodically withdrawn from the well thus formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a plurality of pipes arranged in series comprises basic thrusting means for generating a thrust to be applied to the pipes and intermediate thrusting means for receiving the thrust from the basic thrusting means and applying the received thrust to one of the pipes. The intermediate thrusting means includes a press head provided with a portion displaceable to a position where the portion is capable of abutting against the rear end face of one of the pipes when the intermediate thrusting means is advanced while displaceable to another position where the portion does not interfere with the advance of the following pipes when the intermediate thrusting means is removed and an intermediate body extending rearward from the press head such as to receive the thrust from the basic thrusting means and apply the received thrust to the press head.

Abstract: A drill ahead tool for drilling the initial portion of a subsea well allows an operator to drill ahead after running conductor pipe. The running tool locates in the wellhead housing secured to the upper end of the string of conductor pipe. The running tool has a mandrel that connects into the string of drill pipe. The mandrel locates in a sleeve. The sleeve locates in a body of the running tool. The body has dogs which engage a groove in the wellhead housing to secure the running tool to the wellhead housing while the conductor pipe is being run. The sleeve has a cam on its exterior for maintaining the dogs in the extended position. The drill pipe rotates the sleeve to advance the cam to allow the dogs to be retracted. The mandrel and sleeve have a J-slot and pin that allow the mandrel to be released from the sleeve to continue drilling ahead.

Abstract: Soil drilling tools are provided with at least two sidewardly movable plate members adapted to exert pressure on the wall of a bore hole to prevent a cave in.

Abstract: An internal wrench for an earth drilling machine of the type having a mast, a top head drive assembly mounted for movement along the mast and a quill rotated by the top head drive assembly includes a body having an upper end and a lower end sized to fit within a length of casing. The upper end of the body is mounted to the quill for rotation with the quill and several jaws are mounted to the lower end of the body to move between an extended position in which the jaws engage in interior surface of the casing to rotate the casing with the body, and a retracted position in which the jaws are out of engagement with the interior surface. The jaws are selectively moved between the extended and retracted positions in response to rotation of the body by a system which includes a drag ring which operates the jaws and a friction brake which engages the drag ring. A plug is mounted to an intermediate portion of the body to mate with threads at the upper end of the casing to seal off the casing.