Abstract: A drill head and a method having a body connected to a rotary drive of a drilling device, for loosening the ground at a face of the borehole, having a discharge device for discharging the loosened ground to a suction unit for suctioning a conveying medium, wherein the discharge device has at least one opening in the region of the drilling tools The at least one opening is connected to a suction box which has, at an end opposite the opening a connector opening for connecting to a conveying line, that acceleration exerted on the loosened ground in the region of the suction box moves loosened ground through the opening into the suction box wherein the loosened ground acquired by the conveying medium in the opening and/or in the suction box and is discharged.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for soil disturbance at the back of a shield tunnel, wherein: the apparatus is formed by a fitting I and a fitting II connected by means of three bolts that form equal angles; the fitting I is a short circular pipe; an end surface of a fitting end of the fitting I is provided with a water passage; a pipe wall of the pipe is provided with 2-8 water spouts; the fitting II is a long circular pipe whose inner and outer diameters are consistent with those of the fitting I; a fitting end of the fitting II is provided with two O-shaped water stop rings; a pipe wall of the fitting II is provided with three water inlets that form equal angles and are in communication with the water passage of the fitting I.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining shear bond strength of a cement to be set within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation consists of a housing, a vertical rod which extends from the uppermost portion of the housing through the lowermost portion of the housing, a base plate for positioning onto the bottom of the housing and for supporting the lowermost portion of the vertical rod, and a test plate for positioning onto the top of the housing through which the uppermost portion of the vertical rod extends. The apparatus may further contain a push rod. Shear bond strength is determined by introducing into the housing a sample core of the formation prior to introduction of a slurry containing the cement. The force required to break the bond between the vertical rod and the set cement may be used to determine the shear strength between the casing within the wellbore and the set cement when the cement is hardened within the wellbore.

Abstract: A flute-wiping auger cleaner has a laterally-shearing shackle, an axial track spaced parallel to the auger; and a traveling carriage on the track for supporting the shackle. The shackle includes a series of angularly-staged wiper blades to project into the flute of the auger and centrally stabilize the blades on the turning axis of the auger. The shackle is biased not only to pressure the wipers inwards towards the auger's cylindrical sidewall but also allow the shackle to open slightly against the force of the bias in event a blade cannot dislodge a difficult clump of fouling material in the flute. In that event, the blade is pushed out and then pressured back in as it rides over the difficult-to-dislodge clump. Spinning the auger causes the blades to travel the length of the helical flute while the shackle travels axially on the track.

Abstract: A bore hole sleeve reaming apparatus which is characterized by one or more subterranean bore clearing devices or sleeves for use with one or more clearing or bursting heads attached to a pull rod or cable and a pulling apparatus. One or more tapered sleeves are attached in spaced-apart relationship to a string of tandem-mounted plastic pipe when the clearing or bursting head or heads are attached to the pipe string to be pulled through the bore hole. The tapered sleeves are designed to straighten bore irregularities and clean, smooth and free the bore hole from collapsing earth, roots and/or rock and broken pipe and facilitate pulling the pipe string through the bore hole with minimum friction on the pipe string.

Abstract: A gage scraper cleans mud from the gage surface of a rotary cone of a drill bit. The bit has a body having at least one leg depending therefrom, a bearing pin secured to each leg, and a rotary cutting cone mounted to the bearing pin. The cone has a conical gage surface. The gage scraper mounts on the inside of each leg and protrudes from the leg toward the cone into close proximity with the gage surface.

Abstract: An adjustable hole cleaning device is provided for cleaning a hole in a subterranean formation. A drillstring containing the device is rotated to drill a hole through the subterranean formation. While rotating the drillstring, drilling fluid is circulated through the drillstring and the device into the hole. In response to an increase in a hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the drillstring, cleaning elements are extended from the device to clean accumulated cuttings from the drilled hole. The cleaning elements may clean the accumulated cuttings by agitating the circulating fluid in the hole. In response to a decrease in a hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the drillstring, the cleaning elements may be retracted back into the device. The device may also include a set of ports which hydraulically open in response to the increase of hydrostatic pressure in the drillstring to disperse drilling fluid into the hole for cleaning accumulated cuttings.

Abstract: A roller-cone drill bit in which a large groove is machined into the backface of each cone, near the crack where the cone meets the arm assembly. By making the outer lip of this crack more exposed to the open volume of turbulent flow, turbulence near the crack is increased, deposit of sediments near the crack is reduced, and infiltration of sediments through the crack is also reduced.

Abstract: Underbalanced production and drilling may be achieved by a system which uses a rotating head coupled to surface blowout preventer stack for fluid flow control. A casing connects these surface components to a subsea shutoff assembly with a pair of ram shear devices to cut off the string to the wellhead. Both the casing and an alternate line may be latched so that they may be released if necessary. The alternate line may provide fluid from the surface to the subsea shutoff assembly for purposes of varying the density of the returning mud. The rotating head may include a rubber packer to prevent upward flow of drilling fluid and production hydrocarbons and, at the same time, provide rotation to the drill string.

Abstract: There is provided a jetting tool assembly for use in cleaning tubular components used in drilling for gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons in producing formations, said assembly being connectable to a hollow drillstring and having a first mode of operation which allows through-flow of fluid and lengthwise of the drillstring, and a second mode of operation which routes the fluid transversely outwardly of the drillstring.

Abstract: An earth remediation auger (22) is adapted for boring into tight ground (28) at a contaminated site. The earth remediation auger (22) includes a soil mixer (36) with mixing holes (40), scraping blades (34), and fin cutters (32). The fin cutters (32) score the ground (28) before the scraping blades (34) break the scored ground (28) into chunks and pass the chunks onto the soil mixer (36). The earth remediation auger (22) has relief cutouts (50) for self-cleaning of clay based soils.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cleaning dirt and debris from the stem and flighting of an earth boring auger. The auger cleaner apparatus has an opposed pair of blade assemblies which are brought into mechanical engagement with the stem and flighting of the auger. Once the auger cleaner is engaged about the auger, the user of the apparatus then need only rotate the auger cleaner about the auger to strip off dirt and debris. The auger cleaner has handles which provide mechanical advantage to the user for causing the device to rotate about the auger. The device may be provided with selectively exchangeable blade assemblies for adapting the auger cleaner for use on augers of different sizes and of different manufacturers.

Abstract: Apparatus (30) is disclosed for preventing accumulation of debris such as clay, dirt or stones in the flighting (28) of an elongated earth auger (12) so that when the auger is removed from a bore hole while continuing to rotate, accumulated debris is not left in the flights which could fall on adjacent workmen or equipment. The apparatus includes a fan-shaped flight cleaning device (76) having a rotatable hub (80) which carries a series of radially extending, co-planar petal elements (82) adapted to successively extend into the auger flighting to dislodge debris tending to accumulate in the flights. As the auger rotates, the flighting engages the edges of the petal elements to cause the cleaning device to rotate and successively bring the petal elements into the area between adjacent flight sections for dislodgement of debris tending to accumulate in such areas.

Abstract: A hammer driven soil coring device for use on golf course greens having a cylindrical cutting tube that has a lower cutting edge and longitudinally extending guide slots which serve as a guide for an ejector plate. Affixed to the cylindrical cutting tube is a cutter cap to which is affixed a support tube. The support tube has one vertically oriented slot. The slot serves as a guide for a stop which serves as a device to control the depth that a tamping plate achieves when the cylindrical cutting tube is driven into the surface of the green. A hand knob extends through the slot into a cylindrical rod for extending the tamping plate beyond the cylindrical cutting tube and to lock the tamping plate into a fixed position. A bubble level is located within the support tube. An impact head is located at the end of the tube with an aperture that allows the operator to view a bubble level.

Abstract: A soil coring device with a core ejector mechanism that has a cylindrical cutting tube with two (2) 180 degree opposed tee slots that serve as a guide for an ejection plate, affixed to a cylindrical cutting tube is a tube with a vertically oriented slot attached perpendicularly thereto is a handle to which is affixed a bubble level. Located on the tube is a threaded locking knob that extends through the slot and communicates with a short presetting locking cylinder. Also located on the tube is a threaded locking hand knob that extends through the slot and communicates with a cylindrical rod to which a tamping plate is permenently attached. In operation, the soil coring device handle is rotated causing the cylindrical cutting tube to enter the soil to the predetermined depth, that has been preset by tightening the threaded locking knob into the short presetting locking cylinder, until ejection plate makes contact with the surface.

Abstract: A putting cup hole digging machine is disclosed which comprises a main frame which has a fore and aft extent; a first mounting means for securing the main frame on a vehicle to permit the main frame to be vertically raised and lowered relative to the vehicle; and a first raise-lower means secured to the main frame for raising and lowering it relative to the vehicle. The machine also includes a subframe secured on the main frame by a second mounting means permitting pivotal movement of the subframe about a second horizontal axis and fore and aft movement of the subframe relative to the main frame; a cutter for cutting the cylindrical turf plug which is mounted on the subframe; and a third mounting means for securing the cutter on the subframe for vertical movement to raised and lowered positions relative to the subframe and for rotary movement relative to the subframe about a third axis. A second raise and lower means is provided to move the cutter between its raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: A mobile machine for making holes in putting greens including a frame connected to a vehicle such as a mower, a cutter assembly mounted on a carriage slidably mounted on the frame for moving the cutter assembly in a vertical plane relative to the ground. The cutter assembly is freely pivoted to the carriage about orthogonal axes and a releasable lock mechanism is provided to hold the cutter assembly in a vertical orientation. A motor is mounted on the carriage for rotating the cutter, and the cutter assembly is detachably connected to the motor drive shaft so that the plug cut from the hole can be manually ejected into a previously formed hole where the cup has been removed. A depth gauge is provided between the frame and carriage indicating the depth of the cutter in the ground, and the carriage, lock mechanism and motor are hydraulically driven through a hydraulic circuit connected to the mower.

Abstract: An earth boring rock bit having a sealed bearing with air or gas as the circulating medium. An annular groove is formed in the vicinity of the seal and connected to the interior of the bit for cooling the seal and cleaning debris from the area of the seal. An air groove scraper is mounted on the shaft in the exit port of the annular groove to prevent the annular groove from becoming plugged by debris mixing with moisture in the hole.

Abstract: A jet rotary drill bit confirming a first strainer element allowing the passage of mud carrying small-sized particles, but preventing relatively coarse particles from passing to the jet nozzles. The first strainer element is self-cleaning and the relatively coarse particles are passed on to a second strainer on which they remain trapped.

Abstract: A drilling bit for drilling earthen material such as an oil well rotary cone drilling bit, which includes means for preventing foreign particles such as sand, rock cuttings, etc., from reaching the rotational bearings of the bit cones. This end result is principally achieved by means of a centrifugal slinger disc or wall which is positioned in external concentricity with the drill bit cone bearing, and operates to drive granular particles away from the bearings, thereby preventing such particles from reaching these bearing surfaces. The granular particles are driven by the slinger action through a series of apertures forming a channel running out to a peripheral region of the bit cones. A channel continuation is also provided for lubricating fluid, which may comprise ambient water or oil placed in chambers surrounding the bearings, this channel providing access for such lubricating fluid inwardly to the bit cone bearings.

Abstract: An improved sweep pickup for large diameter bits is disclosed in which the flow rate of drilling fluid through the pickup tube is constant, thereby enhancing its lifting capacity. The sweep pickup comprises an elongated tube extending radially across the bottom face of the drill bit. The pickup tube is truncated longitudinally on the bottom side thereof by a horizontal plate having the pickup inlet opening formed therein. The plate truncates the tubular portion of the pickup at an angle to provide an increasing vertical cross-section in the direction of the pickup outlet which is toward the center of the drill bit body. In the preferred configuration, the vertical cross-sectional area with the pickup tube at any point is equal to the area of the inlet opening from that point radially outward to the outer extremity thereof. As a result, the flow rate of drilling fluid through the sweep pickup is constant and equal to the flow rate through the interior of the drill string.

Abstract: A device for cleaning compacted clay, fine gravels, sand, and other blocking agents from the inside of drill stems or drill bits. The device cleans away the unwanted matter by use of concentrated streams of high pressure liquid traveling at very high velocity aimed at the unwanted matter so as to erode it away. The device has one compressed gas cylinder attached to a liquid reservoir through a pressure regulating valve so as to keep the liquid in the reservoir under a constant pressure. The liquid is emitted through a nozzle containing many small holes through a pressure actuated valve. This assembly is disposed within a casing which forms a part of the drill string with the drill bit at one end of the casing. The nozzle extends to within a short distance of the drill bit.

Abstract: A drilling bit for drilling earthen material such as an oil well rotary cone drilling bit, which includes means for preventing foreign particles such as sand, rock cuttings, etc., from reaching the rotational bearings of the bit cones. This end result is principally achieved by means of a centrifugal slinger disc or wall which is positioned in external concentricity with the drill bit cone bearing, and operates to drive granular particles away from the bearings, thereby preventing such particles from reaching these bearing surfaces. The granular particles are driven by the slinger action through a series of apertures forming a channel running out to a peripheral region of the bit cones. A channel continuation is also provided for lubricating fluid, which many comprise ambient water or oil placed in chambers surrounding the bearings, this channel providing access for such lubricating fluid inwardly to the bit cone bearings.

Abstract: In abstract, a preferred embodiment of this invention is a soil sampler having a specially designed tip for easy penetration, a movable slot cleaner for cutting away surface soil that clings as the sample is taken, and depth markings for allowing accurate gauging of the samples. This invention also includes handles that are off-set 90.degree. from an open soil slot to allow the sampler to be placed horizontally on the ground with the slot upright without danger of tipping.

Abstract: A sampling tube cleaning device adapted for removable mounting on a soil sample core extraction tool, the tube cleaning device including a handle portion and a cleaning head connected to the handle portion, the cleaning head further comprising a first cleaning member arranged for being pulled along the length of the trough of a sampling tube, and a second cleaning member arranged for removing the end core from a sampling tube and in a preferred emobodiment the cleaning head also has a U-shaped part provided with absorbent material for applying a thin film of lubricant to the trough of the sampling tube as well as the outside of the sampling tube to provide both a lubricant and cleaning function to the sampling tube to facilitate ease of operation in subsequent uses.

Abstract: A drill bit is disclosed for drilling large diameter shafts. The drill bit comprises a main bit body having a plurality of rolling cutters rotatively mounted thereon. The cutters function to contact and disintegrate the earth formations at the bottom of the shaft thereby creating rock chips or cuttings. Water or drilling mud is pumped down the shaft and across the face of the main bit body for cooling the drill bit and for flushing the chips away from the shaft bottom. An auxiliary flow enhancer is attached beneath the main bit body for increasing the radial flow velocity of the drilling mud across the face of the bit body in order to remove the chips more efficaciously. The flow enhancer comprises a shaft mounted impeller such as a screw conveyor, a spiral brush, or a paddle-blade configuration. The shaft of each device is attached radially on the main bit body with each shaft having a drive wheel mounted thereon adjacent the bit body periphery.

Abstract: A soil sample core extraction tool having a handle member on which is movably mounted a soil probe member and a clutch arranged for selectively preventing movement of the soil probe with respect to the handle member. By sequential actuation and release of the clutch, the depth of the probe member into the soil being sampled becomes independent of the position of the handle member relative to an operator, thus permitting the operator to manipulate the handle member from a convenient position during the entire sampling operation. A cleaner is removably attached to the handle member for facilitating removal of a core sample from a sampling tube of the probe member and permitting subsequent lubrication of the sampling tube in order to eliminate resistance of the tube to insertion into a soil being sampled.

Abstract: An auger for use in a continuous mining operation having an elongate tubular member in communication with a fluid pressure source and a scroll mounted on the tubular member with spray mechanisms for spraying fluid into the air adjacent the peripheral edge of the scroll for preventing suspension of mined undesired contaminate particulate matter within the air adjacent to the continuous mining operation.

Abstract: An adjustable gage cutter scraper system is provided to clear a path through fallen rock and muck in a tunnel invert. The scraper system protects the gage cutters from recutting or regrinding the rock and muck and thus prevents or retards excessive wear of the gage cutters. Scraper blades are positioned proximate the periphery of the rotary head immediately preceding the gage cutters. Retaining members on the rotary head restrain movement of the scraper blades in all directions other than radially from the central axis of the rotary head. Driver members on the rotary head are selectively used to move the scraper blades radially. The driver members adjust the position of the scraper blades relative to the tunnel wall, thereby compensating for blade wear and maintaining effective protection for the gage cutters.