Abstract: The invention provides a drill bit for a down-the-hole drill hammer. The bit has a head at its forward end with a shank extending from the head. The shank is screw threaded along its length. A reciprocating chuck is provided as a sleeve with internal screw threads corresponding to those of the shank. The shank is releasably secured in the chuck with the rear end of the shank providing a striking face. An arrangement of external splines on the chuck, and a retaining shoulder at its rear end, provide for the required guided movement of the chuck within a drill hammer wear sleeve. The bit is simple to machine with screw threads replacing the usual splines and other structural features ordinarily required on this component. These features are instead provided on the chuck and in the wear sleeve.

Abstract: A pneumatic hammer comprises an elongate hollow casing with operatively upper and lower ends and has a piston slidingly received within the casing and operable to reciprocate within the casing between upper and lower pressure chambers defined within the casing. The hammer further has an axially displaceable bit assembly at the lower end of the casing and a backend assembly at the upper end of the casing. The piston has a striking face at an end thereof proximate the bit assembly, and the piston is operable to impact on a contact surface of the bit assembly in an impact region of the casing. The hammer is characterized in that the piston is shaped and dimensioned at its proximal end to have a snug sliding fit with an interior of the casing in the impact region of the casing.