Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for drilling or boring a hole in the earth, as for forming blast holes. The apparatus disclosed is of the self-propelled mobile type having at one end a driver cab and at the other end drilling apparatus including a drill storage and handling rack adapted to store drill rods and as required to bring them into alignment with the drilling axis to form a drill string and to remove the drill rods from the drill string. The apparatus also supplies air to and through the drill string to blow out debris from the drilled hole. The apparatus includes a unique and efficient type of mechanism for rotating the drill rack to bring drill rods to or remove them from the drill string. Also disclosed is a unique type of drill rod particularly adaptable for use in the apparatus.

Abstract: Rock drilling apparatus wherein a motor and chuck assembly is mounted for slidable movement on a mast and elevated and lowered by a pair of endless chains, the endless chains passing through openings in stabilizer units slidably mounted on the mast for vertical movement and which rotatably and slidably brace the drill stem. The chains carry detents which are arranged so that when the endless chains are operated to elevate the motor and chuck, the stabilizers are also elevated in spaced relationship so as to stabilize the drill stem.

Abstract: A suspended drill system for drilling vertical holes in the ground at a distance from a supporting crane. A pivotable plate, attached to a crane boom point, has a first tube having a non-round cross-section attached thereto. A second tube (or plural telescoping tubes) vertically slidable in said first tube has a frame attached at the lower end. The frame is movable vertically by the crane hoisting cable. A drill stem extends downwardly of the frame and is rotated for drilling by an engine within the frame. This system allows drilling in unstable ground at a considerable distance above, below, or to the side of stable ground supporting the crane.

Abstract: This invention is used in conjunction with a small drilling rig having a traveling head. The apparatus enables the rig to accommodate much longer joints of casing than is otherwise possible, and avoids damage to the threads at the box and pin end of the joint. An upper and lower elevator is provided, along with an adaptor apparatus by which one of the elevators can be attached to the traveling head of the rig. In going into the hole, one elevator is attached to the upper end of a joint, the adaptor apparatus is attached to and lifted by the traveling head, and lowered until the elevator engages the rig floor. Thereafter the head is removed from the elevator so that the elevator supports the box end of the joint at the rig floor. The other elevator is of similar construction and is attached to the upper end of another joint. The head lifts the joint into the derrick so that the pin end thereof can be mated to the box end of the first joint, thereby providing a string located within the borehole.

Abstract: A feed beam for a rock drill comprises a box girder (13), a saddle (10) slidable along the box girder, and two power units (20,20a) inserted into the ends of the box girder.Each power unit comprises a pair of fixed pulleys (22,24) located outside the end of the box girder, an hydraulic jack (26) carrying a pair of movable pulleys (28,30) within the box girder, and a cable coupled between the power unit and the saddle and passing over the four pulleys.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for melting block sulphur employ a heating element pivotally mounted on a carriage on a trailer. The heating element is pivoted from a collapsed, transport position to an upright position, and a counterweight force is applied to the carriage to advance the heating element in a direction at least approximately parallel to the ground towards the sulphur.

Abstract: A building machine wherein a leader is supported vertically during an operation, an endless chain is engaged around upper and lower sprockets of said leader, and a base body is mounted on said chain and is forced to move vertically along said leader. A pile which is a member to be driven in, is mounted on a pile holding portion of said base body.

Abstract: Sample gathering apparatus for drivably moving a core sampling assembly into and out of subterranean zones for gathering core samples therewithin, with the apparatus including an elongated frame means which is adapted for adjustable pivotal mounting upon a supporting vehicle. Drive means are provided for delivering power to the core sampling assembly, and coupling means are further provided for releasably securing the drive means to the core sampling assembly. The core sampling assembly is arranged to be driven vertically into the subterranean zones to be sampled, and the coupling means which releasably secures the drive means to the core sampling assembly permits pivotal motion of the core sampling assembly about a generally horizontal axis so as to permit pivotal lifting of the core sampling assembly from the ground surface for easy removal of the sample retained therewithin.

Abstract: A drill drive mechanism is especially adapted to provide both rotational drive and axial feed for a drill of substantial diameter such as may be used for drilling holes for roof bolts in mine shafts. The drill shaft is made with a helical pattern of scroll-like projections on its surface for removal of cuttings. The drill drive mechanism includes a plurality of sprockets carrying two chains of drive links which are arranged to interlock around the drill shaft with each drive link having depressions which mate with the scroll-like projections. As the chain links move upwardly or downwardly the surfaces of the depressions in the links mate with the scroll projections to move the shaft axially. Tangs on the drive links mate with notch surfaces between scroll projections to provide a means for rotating the shaft. Projections on the drive links mate together at the center to hold the drive links tightly around the drill shaft.

Abstract: A rock drill is mounted on a cradle that is axially displaceably mounted on a feed beam. The drill has a front aperture for receiving the rear end of a drill string. The drill string is freely insertable into and retractable out of a rotation transmitting wear bushing in the aperture, and a drill string retainer is mounted on the cradle. The wear bushing is also freely retractable out of the drill, and it is also held in position by the drill string retainer. The rear end of the drill is mounted to the cradle by means of a hinge connection so that the front end of the drill can be swung up when the wear bushing is to be replaced.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine has a rotatable cutter head which is slidably mounted on a feed bar which in turn is slidably mounted on a support bar carried by a movable carrier. A cable extends over a sheave which is mounted on one end of the feed bar where one end of the cable is connected to the cutter head and the other end fixed with respect to the support bar. Means are provided for sliding the feed bar longitudinally with respect to the support bar whereby the cutter head will slide along the feed bar at twice the velocity that the feed bar slides with respect to the support bar.

Abstract: A rock bolting apparatus is shown in which a rock drill and a rock bolt setting device are interchangeable on the same elongated guide of a feed beam. When the rock drill is in operative position on the feed beam, the bolt setting device hangs on the side of the feed beam and vice versa.

Abstract: A device for applying an additional downward force to the rotating cutting tool of an earth boring machine. The machine has a mast and a rotating drive member suspended by the mast for vertical movement and for rotating the cutting tool. A rotatable drum is carried by hydraulic cylinders adjacent and below the top of the drive member. The drum has a brake and is connected by a downcrowding cable to the top of the drive member. Downward movement of the hydraulic cylinders while the drum brake is locked creates tension in the cable, applying downward force to the drive member. A take-up cable is wrapped around the drum in the opposite direction. It is reeved over the mast and connected to the top of the drive member by a spring. The spring takes up slack in the cable when the hydraulic cylinder returns for a new stroke and allows the kelly to move downward as the drum is pulled down by the cylinder.

Abstract: A vertical drill rig is provided with a hydraulic crowd mechanism for crowding down a drive kelly having a rotating drilling tool supported from the lower end thereof.The crowd mechanism includes a drum having first and second cables wound in opposite senses thereon. The drum is rotated by a hydraulic motor driven by pressure regulated fluid supplied by an accumulator charged with fluid received from a hydraulic pump. The cables couple the drive kelly to the rig such that, when the hydraulic motor rotates the drum in a given direction, the first cable is paid out to lower the drive kelly while the second cable is simultaneously taken up to crowd down the drive kelly relative to the rig. Such a construction and arrangement provides a substantially constant crowd down force on the rotating drilling tool irrespective of its vertical rate of penetration into the earth.

Abstract: An inclined drill rig is disclosed with attached rotatable power tongs for use in practicing a process for the installation of underground casing. The underground casing is usually installed coaxially to a pilot string disposed about an invert arcuate underground path underneath an obstacle, such as a river. The underground casing is installed in discrete segments from a slanted drill rig unit including a car traveling on an inclined ramp. The traveling car on the inclined drill rig ramp crowds and rotates each pipe segment sequentially into the ground from a rotating table. When the last pipe segment attached is fully advanced into the ground, it is clamped at power tongs located at the front of the ramp. These power tongs apply torque to rotate all the casing in the ground without crowding the casing.

Abstract: A hoist rig for lifting and lowering a pipestring is disclosed. The rig includes first and second vertical mast structures, a traveling block for engaging and transporting the pipestring, and a compound power transmission system for raising and lowering the traveling block and pipestring. The compound power transmission system includes traveling sheaves mounted on the extensible portion of the linear actuators, crown sheaves mounted on the upper ends of the mast structures, and first and second cable systems having end portions secured to the traveling block and having intermediate portions disposed in cooperative reeved engagement with the traveling sheaves and crown sheaves of each mast structure for displacing the traveling block in response to extension or retraction of the linear actuators.

Abstract: An improved portable hydraulically powered driving machine, for driving posts, ground anchors, concrete breakers, core drills, and the like work pieces into the ground, pavements or wall structure, has a tower in the form of a stanchion carried by an extensible pedestal mounted boom rig on a mobile base such as a conventional truck and in its working position is adapted to rest on the ground, pavement or wall structure at a controlled attitude relative thereto to guide a hydraulically powered hammer and hold an anvil against the work piece and, in its transporting position is adapted to be secured horizontally at a low level in a truck-mounted frame. The stanchion down-crowds the hammer guide to load a compression spring which maintains the anvil continuously against the work piece even after the impact force of the hammer blow is expended and the work piece advances a considerable distance.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use in a cable cylinder to form an effective seal about a generally cylindrical cable section. The seal assembly includes primary and secondary seal members disposed on opposite sides of an alignment sleeve and a retainer sleeve, all of which are disposed within the central bore of a gland member. The central bore includes a plurality of cylindrical bore portions and means cooperating with the retainer sleeve for retaining the seal members and alignment sleeve within the gland for easy insertion and removal thereof.

Abstract: A bolt-setting and rock-drilling apparatus has a rail which can be swung about and axis and axially displaced therealong to position a drilling carriage and a bolt-setting carriage alternately with respect to a rock wall in which the bolt is to be lodged. The carriages are slidable on opposite sides of the rail and, in the upper end thereof, in alignment with the drill holder, is an opening drill through which the main drill passes. The opening drill, which is of a configuration enabling it to form a conical mouth to the hole bored, by the main drill, is displaceable parallel to the main drill when its holder engages a clutch member carrying the opening drill. The conical mouth facilitates subsequent insertion of the bolt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drilling equipment. The portable drilling machine comprises a derrick having longitudinal racks guiding a vertical traverse mechanism carrying a traverse having a means designed for rotation of a drill pipe during the drilling operation, sand pipe being positioned longitudinally in the derrick in alignment with the drilling axis; a pulldown unit connected through a closed flexible transmission with the vertical traverse mechanism and the traverse to feed, during the working run thereof, the drill pipe to the bottom of the hole and, during the reverse run thereof, raise the drill pipe, and a clamp designed for gripping the drill pipe on completion of the working run of the vertical traverse mechanism and the traverse and being mounted at the base of the derrick.

Abstract: A flexible shaft with an inner sleeve defining a hollow core for chip removal. A cylindrical rod is wound right handed into a helical configuration about the sleeve, the convolutions of the rod being in close adjacency with one another. A flat band is wound left handed into a helical configuration about the rod, adjacent convolutions of the band being in nesting relationship with one another.

Abstract: A portable hydraulic actuated machine for driving posts, ground anchors, concrete breakers, core drills and the like work pieces into the ground, pavements, or wall structures, maintains a continuing thrust on the work piece amplified by sequential hammer blows of controlled magnitude to advance the work piece at a rapid rate without damage to the impact receiving end of the work piece. The machine includes an automotive vehicle which is easily transported to the work site and which carries a turntable supporting an upstanding tower on which rides a carriage slidably mounting a spring loaded heavy hammer, a work piece engaging spring loaded anvil struck by the hammer and hydraulical hammer lifting mechanism. The tower is easily raised and lowered, adjusted toward and away from the vehicle and tiltable laterally to present the hammer and anvil to the work piece at the exact desired location in the plane of the work piece.

Abstract: A drive system for a hoist-pulldown linkage of a blast hole drill employs a variable speed electric motor and a variable ratio coupling between the motor and the hoist-pulldown linkage. A first regulator actuates the electric motor for high torque operation when the ratio of the coupling is low. A second regulator means activates the electric motor for low torque operation when the ratio of the coupling is high. Transfer in coupling ratio is coordinated with change between regulators. The first regulator means is a voltage regulator with a current spillover limit. The second regulator is a voltage regulator with an adjustable pulldown force limit with means to select the rotational speed reference of the motor.

Abstract: Telescopic columns for making foundations including in reciprocal coordination and cooperation a motor group comprising at least two guide pulleys having a proportion to each other of one to two; inner and outer movable columns; axially immovable canoe guide means surrounding said columns; a chain secured to the two ends of the outer movable column and driven by the smaller of said pulleys; a chain secured to the lower part of the inner movable column and to the upper part of the axially immovable guide canoe means and driven by the larger pulley; a cable connecting the upper part of the inner movable column to the lower part of the axially immovable guide canoe means and a transmission sheave solidly fixed to the lower part of the outer movable column through which passes said cable.

Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating equipment by selectively holding it in a gripping device mounted on a movable closed-loop belt. In the particular embodiment shown, a swivel and elevator combination is mounted on a brace which runs along a track in the derrick of a well workover rig. A belt chain is joined to the brace to form a closed loop, and is motor-driven to raise or lower the swivel and elevator arrangement to move drill pipe or casing into or out of a well.

Abstract: Earth drilling apparatus comprising an extensible mast constituted by a fixed lower ramp and an upper slide mounted with capability of longitudinal sliding on the fixed ramp. A rotation head for driving a drill string is movable on and guided over the length of the slide and the movements of extension and retraction of the slide are synchronized with ascending and descending displacements respectively of the rotation head. For this purpose two double-acting jacks connect the lower portion of the fixed ramp to the upper portion of the movable slide and each of a first pair of chains is wound on one pulley mounted on the upper extremity of each of the posts of the movable slide and is fixed at one of its extremities to the rotation head and at the other of its extremities to a cross-brace rigidly connecting the upper extremity of the posts of the fixed ramp.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated drilling apparatus having a main mast on which an extension is mounted having a rope winch or the like for operating a rotary drilling head or power capstan. The drilling head is guided on a pair of diametrically opposed rails fixed on the outer circumference of the mast along its entire length and is pulled by a cable of a block and tackle system activated by a hydraulic power drive located within the mast. The cable of the block and tackle system which in part runs on the exterior of the mast passes into the mast and is caused to run over a movable pulley sheave secured at each end of the mast. The sheaves at the end of the mast are mounted on bearings which also anchor the cable, which bearings are securely and integrally formed with end caps or covers, sealing the end of the mast.

Abstract: A rotary drill rig includes an elongated mast, a pulldown head disposed for linear traversal along the mast and connected to mechanism for effecting pulldown and hoisting movements on a drill string, and a rotary drive unit adapted to be connected to the pulldown head for unitary movement therewith to form a rotary top drive drilling head. The rotary drive unit may be detached from the pulldown head and disposed at the lower end of the mast for performing joint breakout operations on the sectional drill string members and for performing drilling operations as a rotary table drive. A pair of parallel tracks are disposed on the mast for guiding the pulldown head and the rotary drive unit. The tracks are turned inward into the mast near the top end thereof to provide for parking the pulldown head out of the way of a block and tackle which may be used to raise relatively long drill strings from the drill hole.

Abstract: A device for driving a hose or cable reel along a feed beam of a drilling machine at half the speed of the drilling machine. The device comprises a slide guided by the feed beam in which a sprocket wheel is journalled in the slide and is rotated by engagement with the drive chain or similar drive means for the drilling machine to move back and forth in engagement with a stationary member on the feed beam at half the speed of the drilling machine.

Abstract: A workover rig for lifting or lowering oil well pipe into a well casing is disclosed. The rig has a mast structure adapted to communicate hydraulic fluid to a drive cylinder which actuates a pulley system operably connected to a pipe hoist or traveling block with remotely operable pipe engaging grips. The dynamic loading on the mast is minimized by the drive cylinder which is affixed to a cross head at the mast crown and the fluid pressure force in the mast which automatically compensates for shock and weight loads on the mast. A hydraulic control system is operative in a regenerative high speed mode to permit multiple speed operation of the hoist. The structure is adapted to be supported at the well casing to transfer the load from the oil well platform to the casing. The method includes operating the mast in conjunction with an adjustable tension winch to efficiently transfer pipe between the mast and pipe storage area.