Abstract: A drill steel guide or clamp for use with mine roof drilling and bolting machines which guides and clamps the drill steel relative to a standard but which can be kicked out of the way by the advancing drill pod after which time the guide is no longer required for the particular bolt hole being drilled. The clamped guide comprises a clevis body pivotally secured to the standard having two retaining arms individually pivotally mounted to the clevis for rotation into clamping and guiding relation with the drill steel. A unique palm lock comprises extensions for embracing the retaining arms to prevent rotation of the arms out of guiding relationship with the drill steel. The palm lock is arranged to be unlatched when struck by the drill pod or kick plate attached thereto as the drill pod pushes the guide out of the way as it advances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining alignment of the drill steel or drill rod of a drilling machine in which a midpoint centralizer or indicator ring having an aperture therethrough substantially greater than the diameter of the drill rod or drill steel is used like a rifle sight to indicate the nature and degree of misalignment so that adjustments can be made in the operating mechanisms of the drilling machine or the support and positioning mechanisms for the drilling machine to remove the cause of the misalignment and to return the drill steel to its centered, aligned position in the indicator ring. In normal operation the drill steel does not contact the indicator ring so that noise transmission and frictional losses normally associated with midpoint centralizers is avoided. Mechanical contact between the drill steel and indicator ring occurs only to limit the maximum deflection and maximum stress which will occur in the drill steel due to bending.

Abstract: A stabilizer structure for an underground pipe installer device comprised of a pair of adjustable, oppositely, outwardly extending stabilizing abutments, fixed to the rear end portion of an underground pipe installer device. A compound scissors linkage is pivotally mounted relative to an upstanding post fixed to the rear end portion of the installer device, with upper and lower pairs of links thereof being mounted between fixed pivots respectively carried by the post and abutments, and an intermediate pair of links connecting between fixed pivots at outer ends, carried by the respective abutments, and pivots at their respective inner ends carried by a traveling nut, threaded on an elongated screw rod, anchored in a vertical attitude between the three pairs of links, for rotational operation to selectively move the pair of abutments inwardly or outwardly relative to each other.

Abstract: An earth drilling method and apparatus utilizes a unique drill string rotary drive and support arrangement which provides for the utilization of longer drill strings than could heretofore be accommodated on prior art drill masts of equal height.

Abstract: A guide bushing mountable in a supporting sleeve in the deck of a blast hole drill for guiding a drill string extending through the sleeve, the bushing having a tubular core providing a cylindrical axial bore adapted to receive and guide the drill string, the core having a flange by which it is supported in the supporting sleeve, and in which a resilient, elastomeric cushion mounted on the exterior of the core serves to cushion transverse movements of the bushing within the supporting sleeve. Preferably, the bushing is formed of two halves fastened together by hinges, so that it can be opened and laterally installed around the drill string.

Abstract: A feed beam for a rock drill has a drill steel centralizer at its front end. The centralizer comprises a thick, cylindrical rubber sleeve which has a clearance to the drill steel. An annular piston is arranged to axially compress the rubber sleeve axially so that it is radially deformed into contact with the drill steel to centralize the drill steel. The centralizer is built together with a dust collecting hood.

Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a drilling tool having a shank and a drill bit at the leading end of the shank and having cutting edges. The assembly further includes a collar adjustably and arrestably mounted on the shank, and an abutment member having a central passage into which the tool element is received at least during terminal phase of the drilling operation. The collar has a convex contact surface, and the abutment member is formed with a depression bounded by a concave contact surface, the two contact surfaces sliding on one another when the tool element is pivoted to form an undercut hole in a support structure. The abutment member abuts against a surface of the support structure around the open end of the hole, and is prevented from rotating with the tool element either by pins which penetrate into the support structure, or by a layer of friction-retarding material, such as rubber, interposed between the abutment member and the surface of the support structure.

Abstract: An anchoring arrangement kit includes a drilling tool adapted to drill a generally cylindrical anchoring hole in a support structure. The kit further includes a support arrangement which supports the drill for rocking or orbiting motion to thereby enlarge the bottom region of the cylindrical hole, the arrangement including an abutment member which is stationary, and a cover member which rotates with the drilling tool during the undercutting operation, these members having complementary concave and convex contact surfaces for the rocking or orbiting motion of the drilling tool. The kit further includes a plurality of anchoring elements each having an anchoring member and a cap member surrounding the trailing end portion of the anchoring member so as to support the anchoring element at an open end of the hole with a clearance between the anchoring member and the surface bounding the hole.

Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a drilling tool having a shank and a drill bit at the leading end of the shank and having cutting edges. The assembly further includes a collar adjustably and arrestably mounted on the shank, and an abutment member having a central passage into which the tool element is received at least during terminal phase of the drilling operation. The collar has a convex contact surface, and the abutment member is formed with a depression bounded by a concave contact surface, the two contact surfaces sliding on one another when the tool element is pivoted to form an undercut hole in a support structure. The abutment member abuts against a surface of the support structure around the open end of the hole, and is prevented from rotating with the tool element either by pins which penetrate into the support structure, or by a layer of friction-retarding material, such as rubber, interposed between the abutment member and the surface of the support structure.

Abstract: A drill boom is connected at its rear end portion to a mobile body and supports at its front end portion a drill pot for rotating a drill steel. The drill boom raises the drill pot along a predetermined straight-line path to advance the rotating drill steel into the mine roof to form a bore hole for insertion of a roof bolt assembly. An operator's compartment is slidably mounted on the front end of the mobile body laterally of the drill boom. A hydraulic cylinder positioned on the mobile body raises the operator's compartment along a plane aligned with the plane of movement of the drill pot. A protective canopy overlies and is movable with the operator's compartment. A drill steel guide is secured to the canopy and includes movable guide portions that extend into surrounding relation with the drill steel. The drill steel guide is elevated with the canopy to a position adjacent the mine roof.

Abstract: A drill string holder for a rock drilling machine has two jaws opposite each other for gripping a drill string, e.g. the drill string in core drilling with a diamond drill bit. The jaws are forced into their gripping positions by means of a heavy spring. A first selectively actuatable hydraulic piston is arranged to overcome the spring and permit the jaws to release their grip. A selectively actuatable second piston is located inside the first piston. By means of the second piston, the operator can apply a selectively variable force to the jaws when the jaws are released from the spring. This permits the operator to let the drill string gently down into the bore hole by applying a controlled braking force on it.

Abstract: A pile handling tool is supported at the upper end of a tubular guide, and includes a jacking mechanism for advancing a pile longitudinally relative to the guide, and a mast projecting upwardly above the jacking mechanism and carrying an aligning structure for laterally engaging a pile and holding it in properly aligned position with respect to the guide. The mast is desirably mounted for retracting movement from an upwardly projecting active position to a laterally retracted inactive position. The jacking mechanism may be constructed to rotate one of two successive pile sections relative to the other to complete a connection therebetween.

Abstract: A drill steel holder is mounted on the drill box of a mine roof drilling and bolting machine. An opposed pair of levers are supported intermediate outboard and inboard ends thereof by vertical pivots. A hydraulic ram connected between the outboard ends of the lever swings their inboard ends thereof towards and away from one another. Rollers on chassis pivoted onto the inboard ends embrace a drill steel mounted in a chuck in the drill box, and stops are provided for limiting the pivotal movement of one of the levers.

Abstract: A drill steel idler guide having an internal sleeve rotatably supported in a base by means of ball bearings fitting in opposed annular grooves in the sleeve and base, said sleeve having a bore through which a drill steel can slidably fit. Means is provided for directing pressure air through the base and into an annular space between the base and the sleeve.

Abstract: The guide bushing of a blast hole drill is resiliently mounted to dampen lateral vibrations of the drill string. The mounting arrangement comprises four pads symmetrically placed about the bushing and restrained against all but radial movement. Each pad includes a radially inner bearing section that bears against the exterior of the bushing, an outer backing section that is radially movable with respect to the bearing section, and a resilient cushion between the two sections. A four-lobed cam ring surrounds and faces the backing sections and is rotated to simultaneously load all the cushions to a selected degree. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting components are in an enclosed housing that defines guide channels for the pad and that can easily be fitted into the deck of a machine.