Abstract: A connection device for a core drilling assembly connectible between a head assembly of a core drilling assembly and an inner tube of the core drilling assembly. The connection device has a first connection portion and a second connection portion, and has a connection mechanism arranged to facilitate engagement of the first and second connection portions with each other and disengagement of the first and second connection portions from each other.

Abstract: A rod handling assembly 10 has a surface engagement mechanism 12 capable of engaging an exposed surface of a drill rod R and a holding mechanism 14 coupled to the surface engagement mechanism 12. The system 10 and more particularly the mechanisms 12 and 14 engage and hold the rod R from a location radially adjacent a circumferential surface of the rod R inboard of its opposite ends, rather than from an end of the rod R. The surface engagement mechanism 12 is a distributed mechanism having two parts 12a and 12b that act at axially spaced locations on the rod R. The holding mechanism 14 is located and operates on the rod R between these axially spaced locations. The surface engagement mechanism 12 initially operates to engage the surface of the rod R which may for example be lying on a rod tray, to enable the rod to be lifted from a tray. Thereafter the holding mechanism 14 is operable to support and hold the rod.

Abstract: A valve system for an inner tube assembly is described. The inner tube assembly is arranged to be used in a drilling system to retrieve a core sample, and is arranged to be insertable into a drill string of the drilling system at a first end of the drill string. The valve system is arranged to be configurable in a first closed configuration, an open configuration, and a second closed configuration. The valve system moves to the first closed configuration when fluid is pumped along an interior region of the drill string towards the inner tube assembly in a direction from the first end of the drill string to the inner tube assembly. The valve system is arranged such that, when in the first closed configuration, a pressure of the fluid increases to facilitate deploying the inner tube assembly towards a second end of the drill string.

Abstract: A rod handling assembly 10 has a surface engagement mechanism 12 capable of engaging an exposed surface of a drill rod R and a holding mechanism 14 coupled to the surface engagement mechanism 12. The system 10 and more particularly the mechanisms 12 and 14 engage and hold the rod R from a location radially adjacent a circumferential surface of the rod R inboard of its opposite ends, rather than from an end of the rod R. The surface engagement mechanism 12 is a distributed mechanism having two parts 12a and 12b that act at axially spaced locations on the rod R. The holding mechanism 14 is located and operates on the rod R between these axially spaced locations. The surface engagement mechanism 12 initially operates to engage the surface of the rod R which may for example be lying on a rod tray, to enable the rod to be lifted from a tray. Thereafter the holding mechanism 14 is operable to support and hold the rod.