Abstract: An auger assembly for drilling holes in the ground includes an auger blade mounted for vertical movement and a dirt retaining shell that surrounds the auger blade also mounted for vertical movement in relation to the auger blade. When the hole has been drilled to the length of the auger blade, the retaining shell is lowered down into the hole to surround the auger blade and the auger blade and the retaining shell are removed from the hole simultaneously. The retaining shell retains the dirt on the auger blade to prevent the dirt from falling back into the hole. The drilling and removal of dirt is repeated until the hole reaches the appropriate depth. A pair of lateral extensions provide a cutting edge on the perimeter of the auger blade in order to provide a hole which is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the auger blade to permit the retaining shell to be lowered around the auger blade.

Abstract: An auger assembly for drilling holes or similar openings in the ground includes an auger blade mounted for vertical movement and a dirt retaining shell that surrounds the auger blade also mounted for vertical movement independently of the auger blade. When the hole has been drilled to the appropriate depth, the retaining shell is lowered down into the hole to surround the auger blade and the auger blade and the retaining shell are removed from the hole simultaneously. The retaining shell retains the dirt on the auger blade to prevent the dirt from falling back into the hole. A pair of lateral extensions provide a cutting a cutting edge on the perimeter of the auger blade in order to provide a hole which is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the auger blade to permit the retaining shell to be lowered around the auger blade.

Abstract: A system for securing a drill bit against rotation in a drilling rig of the type having a rotary table with an opening which is smaller than the drill bit. A breaker plate is supported in a frame below the rotary table. The breaker plate includes an irregularly shaped opening for engaging the drill bit when the drill string is raised. A sub is connected between the bit and the drill string. The sub can be rotated by the rotary table when the bit is held by the breaker plate to attach or detach the bit.

Abstract: Manhole cutter for cutting a circular groove of a fixed depth about a manhole, such as in a street, and removing the manhole from the street. The manhole cutter is suspended from a front-end loader or truck-mounted boom and rotated hydraulically from a power take-off unit on the vehicle. A cutter ring assembly with staggered cutters, and inside and outside clean-out slots rotate about a central shaft of the cutter. A manhole plate centers the manhole cutter within the manhole from the cutting operations. When the cut is of sufficient depth to extricate the manhole, a keyway disk is rotated to allow a plurality of lever grip assemblies to grip the manhole. Then, the manhole cutter and the manhole is extricated from the street, leaving a larger sized hole about the area of the manhole which is minimum in size with respect to the manhole.

Abstract: A drill bit has a formation engaging face through which a plurality of counterbores are formed. A stud assembly having a polycrystalline diamond face thereon is forced into the counterbore in a close tolerance relationship therewith thereby providing frictional forces which prevent movement of the stud assembly respective to the drill bit. A passageway leads from the bottom of the counterbore back to a wall surface of the bit and emerges in spaced relationship respective to the entrance of the counterbore. Hydraulic pressure is effected within the passageway, thereby moving the stud assembly with a piston-like action. The stud assembly is next rotated to bring a new cutting face into cutting position. A tool, made in accordance with the present invention, forces the stud assembly back into the counterbore.

Abstract: For drilling holes in remote locations there is provided drilling apparatus consisting of hand-transportable modules which include a base assembly (12), a derrick (13) removably mounted on the base assembly and including an elongated tubular member (51) and a carriage (52) moved along the tubular member by a block and tackle (81), and a hydraulic cylinder (97). The carriage has a detachable support portion (55) that supports a drill assembly (14) on one side of the derrick for drilling and an anchor assembly (15) on the other side of the derrick for anchoring the base assembly to the earth's surface. A hydrostatic drive system (17) selectively actuates the carriage, drill and anchor.

Abstract: A wall contacting device, such as a roller reamer used in earth boring, includes a block, e.g. supporting one end of a roller shaft, making an interference fit with a socket in the body of the device, there being tool passage means between the body and block; a disassembly tool is removably received in the passage and includes a pressure portion engaged with the block and a head portion to receive impact; and cooperating guide means on the body and tool includes coaxial cylindric surfaces on the body and tool for supporting the tool for rotation about a fixed axis, the pressure portion of the tool being a portion of an Archimedian spiral coaxial with the cylindric surfaces.

Abstract: A bit breaker adapted to be fitted in the Kelly drive of a drill rig for detachably securing a rotary drill bit to the Kelly drive to enable the latter to rotate the bit relative to a drill string having an internally threaded lower end portion in one direction to effect a threaded connection between the threaded pin of the bit and the string, and in the other direction to disconnect the bit from the string. The bit breaker comprises a bottom engageable by the bottom of a drill bit for supporting the bit, a top having an opening therein through which the bit may be lowered into engagement with the bottom of the bit breaker and may be raised to remove the drill bit from the bit breaker, and a stop member for selectively securing the bit in fixed annular position in the said opening in the bit breaker.

Abstract: A ground supported mobile machine appropriate for subterranean installation of piping and the like has a tractor vehicle carrying a trencher driven from the tractor power source, a power operated backfill blade operated from such source to facilitate transporting a tool and drill rod holder, and a vertical drilling attachment powered from the tractor power source; this drilling attachment including a vertical mast providing guide rails for the carriage of a rotary drill head that is reciprocated by a hydraulic actuator along such rails to (1) raise the vehicle to enable positioning stabilizing feet for a vertical drilling operation, (2) manipulate the drill rod and drill bit thereon in performing such a drilling operation, and (3) push piping into the drilled hole upon completion of such drilling operation.

Abstract: A drilling tool has a drilling shaft member, a crown drilling member with an annular wall provided with a plurality of cutting edges and detachably mounted on the shaft member, a center drilling member detachably mounted on the shaft member inside the crown drilling member and having a further cutting edge, and elements for limiting a drilling depth of the tool when the center drilling member is mounted on the shaft member. Thereby, the operator of the drilling tool, after drilling a guiding groove in a rock, is forced to remove the center drilling member from the drilling tool and drill further without the center drilling member, which increases the drilling efficiency.

Abstract: A drill steel and a drill bit having a tip with a cutting element and a hollow open ended shank forming a polygonal socket which is fitted onto a complementary engagement portion at one end of the drill steel so that rotation of the drill steel rotates the bit. The engagement portion of the drill steel has an axial slot to hold a spring retainer clip with a protrusion. A slot is formed in the shank of the drill bit to receive the protrusion on the spring retainer clip to hold the bit in the axial position on the drill steel. An opening in the shank of the drill bit and a pin extending through the opening and through the axial slot in the engagement portion of the drill steel when a spring retainer clip is not located in the slot.

Abstract: A bit breaker and handle for use in conjunction with a drill bit. The bit breaker is in the form of a plate member which is provided with an outside edge having a configuration to be drivingly received within the kelly drive of a drilling rig turntable. The plate is apertured to telescopingly receive a marginal length of the main body of the bit therethrough. A plurality of lugs are circumferentially placed about the aperture. The lugs are slidably received within an enlarged marginal length of the external bit passageways, and abuttingly engage a shoulder formed at the outlet end of the passageway. The drill tubing is held while the turntable is rotated in the appropriate direction to "make up" or "break out" the tubing threads respective to the threads of the bit. The external passageways are further provided with radially extending counterbores which receive the marginal end of a handle therewithin so that the bit can be easily lifted respective to the plate member.

Abstract: A wedge arrangement for affixing a tool mounting means onto a base member in such manner that substantially no wear occurs between the mounting means and base member. The mounting means has a tapered portion which is wedgingly received within a correspondingly tapered cavity provided in the base member, and that part of the base member which defines the tapered cavity completely surrounds that part of the tapered portion which is seated therein. The mounting means is also provided with a perforation or socket to receive the shank or body portion of a cutting element which has a relatively sharp cutting point or edge provided thereon.

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 roof drill bit and roof drill driving assembly which is characterized as a "hands off" type in which the drill, driver, and drill extension are designed and assembled to have a stability which enables the operator to avoid guiding the drill with his hands. An improved drill bit prevents plugging of the assembly when used with suction systems and provides a heavier wall construction. Special adaptors are provided for driving drills and drill extensions.

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: A method of drilling shot firing holes in the face of a roadway or tunnel by means of a bucket loader on which is displaceably mounted a drilling mast which carries a slidable drill head, with power unit to displace the drill head with respect to the mast connected between the drill head and mast, comprises the steps of:Advancing the mast from a non-active, rearward position towards an active, forward position, by fixing the drill head with respect to the loader and activating the power unit;Fixing the position of the mast with respect to the loader and releasing the drill head and again activating the power unit to advance the drill head with respect to the mast, after drilling as required; andRetracting th drill head by activating the power unit, either as a preparatory step for subsequent advance to drill further holes or alternatively for purposes of retracting the mast, after fixing the drill head in its retracted position with respect to the loader and releasing the mast and again activating the power u

Abstract: Such a ground excavating apparatus that conducts excavation of a soft stratum by means of a bucket and employs an impact crusher for the excavation of such a hard stratum as a rock bed or the like is disclosed.Introduced in the present application is a ground excavator of such a category that comprises a housing, a bucket boom properly set in place in the said housing in a manner of being capable of traveling forward and rearward, a bucket properly fitted in place on the front end section of the said bucket boom in a manner of being capable of inclining, and an impact crushing mechanism well capable of traveling forward and rearward by virtue of a hydraulic jack housed in the said bucket boom, and employs the said bucket and the said impact crushing mechanism in an alternate manner to best suit the nature of the ground to be excavated.

Abstract: A wire line oil tool adapted for multiple connectors on the bottom. It can be used as an overshot, a fishing neck grapple or an inside grapple. It incorporates an outer body which is annular about a central member. A catch mechanism locks the outer body up or down relative to the inner body. The catch mechanism enables the tool to operate on jarring. On jarring, the two parts move relatively to an up or down position. In the down position, the appendages at the bottom of the tool open to engage a fishing neck or the like. In the up position, it is latched or held. If retrieval of the tool is impeded, subsequent jarring will reverse the catch mechanism and release the fishing neck. The device is particularly adapted to be used on wire line retrieval and running operations. In the event an item is grasped which cannot be retrieved, subsequent jarring will achieve release and retrieval of the tool.

Abstract: A combined drill bit and roof bolt and a method for forming a bore hole in a mine roof and for reinforcing same. The drill bit and roof bolt form the same structural element which preferably comprises an elongate hollow tube. On one end of the tube is formed a multi-bladed bit. The diameter of the hole cut by the blades is somewhat larger than the diameter of the elongate tube. Formed intermediate the blades on the bit head are a plurality of apertures. The apertures perform the dual function of providing an exit passageway for rock chips as the drilling proceeds, as well as providing a means through which a quick-setting adhesive resin is extruded from inside the hollow bolt to the newly drilled annular hole extending thereabout. The extrusion is accomplished by means of a pig element forced up the tube.