Abstract: A valve assembly for use in an inner tube member of a core barrel head assembly positionable within a drill string of a drilling apparatus. The piston member of the valve assembly is located between a fluid pressure communication port and a fluid flow port to hold the retracting case in an up position and the latches retracted. After an increased fluid pressure has pushed the piston member past the annular element or bushing, the piston member substantially restricts fluid flow through the bushing and allows the retracting case to move to a down position and extend the latches. If the latches are not extended due to an obstruction or misalignment, the retracting case will prevent the piston member from completely passing through the bushing, thus maintaining high fluid pressure due to the flow ports remaining closed, and indicating to the driller that the latches have not properly latched.

Abstract: A core barrel head assembly positionable within a drill string of a drilling apparatus. The core barrel head assembly includes an upper latch body having a latch assembly for engageably latching the drill string and a reduced diametric portion below the latch assembly for receiving a seal member. The reduced diametric portion has a lower coupling portion on a bottom portion thereof. The head assembly also includes a lower latch body including an upper coupling portion on a top portion thereof, and a coupler for removably coupling the upper latch body to the lower latch body. The seal member is installable on and removable from the reduced diametric portion upon uncoupling the upper latch body from the lower latch body. The head assembly is quickly reconfigurable between surface and pump in/underground configurations. Core barrel outer tube components also do not require reconfiguring between these two configurations.

Abstract: A drilling system including a drill bit. A deck bushing includes an outer housing and an inner sleeve rotatably arranged in the outer housing, the inner sleeve having an inner diameter wider than a width of the drill bit. A drop-in sleeve is configured to be inserted into the inner sleeve of the deck bushing. At least a portion of the drop-in sleeve engages the inner sleeve of the deck bushing such that a friction between the drop-in sleeve and inner sleeve of the deck bushing causes the drop-in sleeve and inner sleeve of the deck bushing to rotate together. A lifting sub configured to be inserted into the drop-in sleeve.

Abstract: A device with an overshot including a first part with an elongated body adapted to be connected to a hoisting line in one end and with a tubular opening arranged/designed to receive a spearhead in the other end. The overshot further includes a second part with a scissor like mechanism including two lifting dogs arranged to pivot around a common pivot pin. The lifting dogs are connected via a biasing unit and the elongated body includes a central, axially extending slot. The scissor like mechanism is arranged with the common pivot pin sliding in the slot between a first end position where the biasing unit is arranged to close the lifting dogs such that a spearhead received in the tubular opening is locked and a second end position where an opener including an opening pin is arranged to force the lifting dogs open against the force of the biasing unit, such that a spearhead received in the tubular opening is released.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in an inner tube member of a core barrel head assembly positionable within a drill string of a drilling apparatus. The valve assembly works using two separate surfaces and a biasing element with a force. When hydrostatic pressure is present forces are created on these surfaces, these forces have a direct relationship with pressure, as an increase in pressure will increase the force and vice versa. The surface areas are designed such that the valve will maintain closed while under a predetermined fluid pressure, indicating to the driller that the inner tube has landed. When the driller relieves the fluid pressure and the pressure decreases, the force difference between the respective forces decreases until the valve opens for drilling through the force from the biasing element.

Abstract: A drill string including tool assembly. The tool assembly includes a tool joint adapter and a tool joint coupled to the tool joint adapter through a faceted pin. The faceted pin includes a faceted fitting having a fitting face. The drill string includes a locking pin that extends through the tool joint adapter and tool joint. The locking pin extends through a locking pin groove of the fitting face. The locking pin locks the tool joint adapter and tool joint together.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in an inner tube member of a core barrel head assembly positionable within a drill string of a drilling apparatus. The piston member of the valve assembly is located between a fluid pressure communication port and a fluid flow port to hold the retracting case in an up position and the latches retracted. After an increased fluid pressure has pushed the piston member past the annular element or bushing, the piston member substantially restricts fluid flow through the bushing and allows the retracting case to move to a down position and extend the latches. If the latches are not extended due to an obstruction or misalignment, the retracting case will prevent the piston member from completely passing through the bushing, thus maintaining high fluid pressure due to the flow ports remaining closed, and indicating to the driller that the latches have not properly latched.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in an inner tube member of a core barrel head assembly positionable within a drill string of a drilling apparatus. The valve assembly works using two separate surfaces A and B and a biasing element with a force FS. When hydrostatic pressure is present forces are created on these surfaces: FA and FB. These forces have a direct relationship with pressure, as an increase in pressure will increase the force and vice versa. The surface areas are designed such that: FA>FB+FS, which will maintain the valve closed while under a predetermined fluid pressure, indicating to the driller that the inner tube has landed. When the driller relieves the fluid pressure and the pressure decreases, the force difference between FA, FB and FS decreases until FA<FB+FS, thus opening the valve for drilling.

Abstract: A fail safe locking overshot device. The overshot device is connected to a hoisting line for retrieval of a spearhead. The device provides automatic engagement of a mechanical locking system through locking dogs for locking the lifting dogs after capture of a spearhead. Manual disengagement is required to unlock the lifting dogs and release the spearhead.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a diamond drill feed cylinder which includes a linear position sensor coupled to the feed cylinder for generating a position signal, a positioning module for generating a feed control signal in dependence upon the position signal, a proportional flow control valve having two hydraulic ports for connecting to the feed cylinder and responsive to the feed control signal for controlling flow rate of the two hydraulic ports, a plurality of operation sensors coupled to the diamond drill for generating operation status signals, a plurality of input modules for receiving the operation status signals and converting them to digital operation status signals and a programmable logic controller connected to the plurality of input modules for modifying the feed control signal in dependence upon the digital operation status signals. The rate of penetration of the diamond drill is controlled by controlling the flow rate applied to the feed cylinder.