Abstract: An elongated pilot member is forced into the ground and an auger with a hollow stem is positioned around the pilot member and rotated to move the auger into the ground. A second elongated member is coupled to the pilot member and an upward force is applied to the auger stem or to an extension thereof to enable a downward force to be applied to the second elongated member to force the second elongated member and the pilot member into the ground. The second elongated member and the auger stem then are attached together and to a foundation support member for providing support for a foundation.

Abstract: A drill including a shank portion and a cylindrical body portion contiguous to each other. The cylindrical body portion includes (a) primary cutting edges and secondary cutting edges formed in its axially distal end portion such that each of the secondary cutting edges is located on a radially inner side of the corresponding primary cutting edge; (b) primary rake surfaces of the primary cutting edges and secondary rake surfaces of the secondary cutting edges; and (c) inclined surfaces each of which extends from the corresponding secondary rake surface to a periphery of the cylindrical body portion, and is inclined such that an axial distance between each of the inclined surfaces and the shank portion is reduced as viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the corresponding secondary cutting edge, from the corresponding secondary rake surface toward the periphery of the cylindrical body portion.

Abstract: A post hole digger (10) has a frame (11) attached to a three-point linkage of a tractor (12). A boom (20) has its proximal end pivotally connected to the frame (11), and an auger (31) is pivotally mounted to the distal end of the boom (20). The boom (20) is formed by a pair of laterally spaced arms (21), each of which is an integrally formed angled arm. The boom arms (21) are bent from straight lengths of steel in a cold working process, to reduce manufacturing time and cost.

Abstract: A twist drill including a spiral-forming hollow shaft (3) having a spiral-shaped inner surface, and drilling head(5) and shank (6) connected with the shaft (3) at its opposite ends, respectively; and a method for forming such a twist drill.

Abstract: The shaped element has at least one stirring and entrainment zone in which the outside surface of the shaped element has recessed portions and projecting portions configured substantially in the form of helices about the axis of rotation of the drillrod, said portions being wound in a direction such as to encourage the flow of a drilling fluid in the upward direction in an annular space between the drillrod and the wall of a borehole under the effect of the drillrod rotating. The angle of inclination of the helices in which the recessed portions and the projecting portions of the shaped element are configured increases in the flow direction of the drilling fluid in the annular space.

Abstract: The drill bit is particularly suitable for drilling rock. An elongated shank carries at least one cutting insert at one end. Cutting edges are formed by adjoining flanks and rake faces which enclose a wedge angle &ggr;. The rake faces, between marginal segments at the circumference of the drill bit and segments at the center of the drill bit have one or more recesses which run right into the adjacent flanks. These recesses reduce the wedge angle &ggr;, at least in a longitudinal section extending directly up to the cutting edges, relative to the remaining cutting-edge segments. In this way, an improved drilling capacity with good resistance to chipping of the cutting edges is achieved.

Abstract: An umbrella with an integral anchoring structure is provided. The umbrella includes a post having a lower end for insertion into the ground, and an upper end for supporting an umbrella top. The umbrella includes an integral spiral shaped anchoring structure formed on the lower end of the post. The anchoring structure is formed with a width, W, greater than a diameter of the post and a length, L, which is adapted to stabilize a weight of the umbrella and secure the umbrella and the post in a variety of earthen conditions such as sand, lawn, and soil even in a prevailing breeze or stormier conditions. The umbrella further includes one or more retractable levers integrally attached along the post.

Abstract: A twist drill including a spiral-forming hollow shaft (3) having a spiral-shaped inner surface, and drilling head(5) and shank (6) connected with the shaft (3) at its opposite ends, respectively; and a method for forming such a twist drill.

Abstract: A machine for making bored piles. The machine includes a vertical guide mast; a rotary drive head that is movable relative to the mast; and an auger having a hollow core and at least one helical blade. An extender tube has a bottom end that is secured to the top end of the auger, the drive head co-operating with the extender tube to rotate both the extender tube and the auger. A dip tube is slidably mounted in the hollow core of the auger and the extender tube, the dip tube having a top end connected to a concrete feed pipe. An annular actuator has a first end secured to the top end of the extender tube and a second end secured to the top end of the dip tube.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling into earth formations comprising an elongated body having spiral contoured stabilizers for up to a 360-degree stabilization to protect the cutting cones, the elongated body has multiple adjustable openings or nozzles to direct the pressurized fluid medium first to the cutting cone area and bottom of the drill hole to convey the dust and cuttings up the bore hole, a second, adjustable opening or nozzle adds more pressurized fluid means spirally up the contoured annular area in the stabilizer area, and a third, adjustable opening or nozzle at the upper end of the contoured stabilizer to add more pressurized fluid means in the drill pipe annular area to convey the dust and cuttings to the surface of the bore hole, the elongated body has replaceable cutting cones, and bearings and shank assemblies for rebuilding to original specifications.

Abstract: A friction and/or torque reducing drillstring component has a one-piece mandrel body 5 with a mandrel body recess 13c considerably smaller than mandrel upper neck 13a and mandrel body lower neck 13b, dressed with an outer sleeve 18 which is interlocked with a two-piece inner bearing 20 through several integral dove-tailed splines 22b and grooves 22a. The combination of the outer sleeve 18 and inner bearing 20 is restricted in vertical movement over the said mandrel body 5 by an integral, optionally spirally, bladed first stop 15 and a removable second stop 16. The removable second stop 16 is locked onto the mandrel body upper neck 13a by means of threaded retaining bolts 24. Once the second stop 16 is removed, the one-piece outer sleeve 18 is retractable over the mandrel body upper neck 13a to allow the removal of the two-piece inner bearing 20. A second inner bearing 155 may also be provided.

Abstract: An ice auger system for drilling a bore within ice with significantly reduced ice shavings. The ice auger system includes an elongate tube having a lower end, an upper end, an outer wall, a lumen and a connector shaft attached to the upper end for connecting to a motor. A length of flighting is attached to the outer surface of the elongate tube in a coiled manner. At least one bit is attached to the lower end of the elongate tube for engaging and cutting the ice in a circular pattern to receive the elongate tube and flighting. As the elongate tube is manipulated through the ice, a core is created that is positioned within the lumen of the elongate tube. When the user has drilled completely through the ice, the user then removes the elongate tube from the ice leaving the core within the newly created bore within the ice. The user then either may remove the core from the bore, or may push the core downwardly through the bore underneath the ice.

Abstract: The invention proposes a drilling tool, in particular rock-drilling tool for rotary and/or percussive operation, in which, for the purpose of improving the drilling properties, the drilling-dust discharge groove is subdivided into at least two discharge-groove sections, each section having its own drilling-dust-carrying surface.

Abstract: A screw-type, in-ground anchor device for anchoring an above-ground upright. A generally cylindrical drive shaft includes an upper cylindrical housing portion constructed of ¼-inch rolled steel with an inside diameter sized to match the outside diameter of the upright. A conical portion connects the upper housing portion to a lower tip portion. The surface of the conical portion has a slope of less than 20 degrees, and preferably in the range of 5-10 degrees. A set of screw threads (flightings) are attached to the tip portion and have a diameter that is approximately equal to or less than the diameter of the upper housing portion. The flightings operate in soil to screw the anchor device into the ground when the device is rotated. The conical portion outwardly compresses the soil that is disrupted in the wake of the flightings. Since the flightings have a diameter approximately equal to or less than the diameter of the upper housing portion, soil surrounding the drive shaft is not disrupted.

Abstract: A tubing shoe (30) comprising: a body (32) for mounting on the end of a tubing string; and reaming members (36) extending longitudinally and helically around the body, the reaming members providing substantially complete circumferential coverage of the body whereby, in use, when the tubing shoe is advanced axially into a bore, the reaming members (36) provide reaming around the shoe circumference. A rotatable torque reducing sleeve or centraliser (38) may also be mounted on the body, rearwardly of the reaming members.

Abstract: A damper for downhole tools consisting of a plurality of damping inserts arrayed about the tool body so that their radial protrusion describes a circumference greater than desired gauge of the borehole. The damper inserts are configured with rounded working surfaces that radially protrude from the tool body and are coated with an abrasion resistant, superhard material. The damper inserts are progressively arrayed so that they are constantly forced against the walls of the borehole. In this manner, they may plastically fail the formation by an indenting, brinelling, or crushing action that produces a constant torsional load on the downhole tools, and controls the torsional unloading of the downhole tools and absorbs the vibrations of the drilling tool as the formation is being drilled.

Abstract: A rock drill (1) with a helical thread (2) and a hard material insert (3, 9) in the drilling head, form a radically outer guiding surface (6), with the guiding edge (6) forming an acute angle (&agr;) with the direction of the tool axis (A).

Abstract: An improved thin walled threaded spacer for use in preventing thread galling in adjacent sections of drill pipe in a drill string is formed by mechanically deforming a strip of copper/beryllium alloy containing 2% beryllium to form a preform having a hollow, truncated conical section and then mechanically deforming the conical section to impart helical grooves therein.

Abstract: A drill steel-chuck assembly which includes a drill steel which has a plurality of faces and opposite ends. The drill steel has one portion adjacent one of the opposite ends thereof and a mediate portion spaced apart from the one portion. The drill steel further has one transition portion between the one portion and the mediate portion so as to join the one portion and the mediate portion. The one portion of the drill steel presents a first orientation of the faces. The mediate portion of the drill steel presents a second orientation of the faces. The one transition portion of the drill steel presents a twisted orientation of the faces comprising a generally constant twist of the faces from the first orientation of the one portion to the second orientation of the mediate portion. There is a chuck for attachment to the drill steel through engagement with the transition portion of the drill steel.

Abstract: The profiled element or portion (3) exhibits a shape which is overall of revolution with straight or curved generatrices and an axis directed along the axis of rotation of drilling. It includes projecting parts or ribs (14, 15, 20) and recessed parts or grooves (13, 16, 19) arranged in helixes with, as their axis, the axis of the rotary drilling. Over at least part (10, 11) of the length of the profiled element (3) in the axial direction, at least one of the geometric and dimensional characteristics of the recessed parts (13, 16, 19) and of the projecting parts (14, 15, 20) varies in the axial direction of the profiled element (3). As a preference, the profiled element (3) includes, in at least one variable profiled part (11), passages in the shape of grooves (16) with a cumulative cross section which decreases in a direction of flow of the drilling fluid. This thus yields a hydrodynamic bearing effect, by forming a circumferential leakage flow (18) of the drilling fluid.

Abstract: A hydraulic auger system having a hydraulic motor capable of two speed operation, the motor including an output shaft which may rotate and a connected auger. A pressure sensitive kick down valve unit is connected to the hydraulic motor, whereby the unit determines the speed state of said hydraulic motor, based on resistance to rotation of auger, auger speed, or sensed hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling into earth formations comprising an elongated body having spiral contoured stabilizers for up to a 360-degree stabilization to protect the cutting cones, the elongated body has multiple adjustable openings or nozzles to direct the pressurized fluid medium first to the cutting cone area and bottom of the drill hole to convey the dust and cuttings up the bore hole, a second, adjustable opening or nozzle adds more pressurized fluid means spirally up the contoured annular area in the stabilizer area, and a third, adjustable opening or nozzle at the upper end of the contoured stabilizer to add more pressurized fluid means in the drill pipe annular area to convey the dust and cuttings to the surface of the bore hole, the elongated body has replaceable cutting cones, and bearings and shank assemblies for rebuilding to original specifications.

Abstract: An auger is produced from a material such as plastic. The auger includes a shaft with a first pointed end having a thread member thereon. A second end of the auger includes an opening. Handles extend perpendicularly from the shaft and near the opening. The threads are formed in a manner to facilitate removal of the auger from a mold in which the auger may be formed using a plastic-type material. On opposite ends of the shaft, the thickness of the thread is increased to provide a clearance for the thread so that the completed auger may be readily removed from the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for making bored piles. The machine comprises a vertical guide mast; a rotary drive head that is movable relative to the mast; an auger having a hollow core and at least one helical blade; an extender tube whose bottom end is secured to the top end of the auger, said drive head co-operating with said extender tube to rotate both the extender tube and the auger; a dip tube slidably mounted in the hollow core of the auger and the extender tube, the dip tube having a top end connected to a concrete feed pipe; and an annular actuator having a first end secured to the top end of said extender tube and a second end secured to the top end of said dip tube.

Abstract: A planting system with the special planter to dig uniform holes, puck type plant feeders to go in the holes and plastic dual planting trays. These can be used independently or in any combination. Features include a protective shroud, pulverizing the dirt by circulating it in an enclosed area, a tapered spiral ramp to help pile the dirt and pulverize it, a root cutter, ground clearing with spinning shroud, a friction plate to power ground clearing, pointed feet at the bottom of the shroud to stop the spinning when excavation starts, a rock sifter including a ramped face on the internal louvers, a rock catcher ring with flexible fingers, piling the dirt around the perimeter, hole depth measurement rings on the shaft, a slidable ring to select gap between the bottom of the shroud and the ground and an optional locking stop ring to guarantee uniform hole depth.

Abstract: A twist drill (1) has a plurality of of protuberances (9) arranged in the grooves (6) of the helix (4) which project radially outward partially into the groove cross section to prevent clumps.

Abstract: Soil-displacing screw auger which contains an auger tube (1); a double displacement body (2) equipped with a hollow shaft (8) fixed to the auger tube (1) and containing an upper part (6) which constitutes a closed screw the radius of which increases towards its lower extremity and a lower part (7) which constitutes a closed screw the radius of which decreases towards its lower extremity, preferably with the same pitch as the upper part (6); a lower tube the diameter of which is smaller than twice the largest radius (R2) of the displacement body and which is situated between the lower part (7) of the displacement body (2) and the lower extremity of the auger; a screw blade (4) welded onto the outer casing of the lower tube, which rotates in the same sense as the lower part (7) of the displacement body (2) and an auger tip (5) connected to the lower extremity of the lower tube, with the special characteristic that the lower tube of the auger is an intermediate tube (3) with an outer diameter (D3) which is small

Abstract: A rotary displacement piling equipment for boring a hole within the soil comprising:

Abstract: Three air hammers are housed and arranged in a hammer case, and have bits at their respective ends. Each of the air hammers can be activated independently. In a normal excavation, the earth is excavated by activating all the air hammers. When correcting an excavating direction, only an air hammer positioned in the correct direction is activated first so that the earth in the correct direction is excavated in a predetermined amount. Next, all the air hammers are activated to excavate the earth. Thereby, a leading hammer can direct the excavation toward the correct direction, and thus the excavating direction is corrected.

Abstract: An auger system for removing material from around an object without damaging the object. The inventive device includes a tubular auger attachable to a drive unit, and an insert member insertable within the upper opening of the valve casing. The tubular auger is comprised of a plurality of mill teeth attached to the lower portion of the tubular auger. The tubular auger includes an auger lumen that is positionable about the valve casing during cutting. The insert member is comprised of lower portion that is positionable within the casing lumen of the valve casing, and an outer portion that has an outer diameter approximately the same as the outer diameter of the valve casing for guiding the tubular auger and for preventing debris from entering the valve casing. The insert member preferably includes a handle for allowing insertion and removal from the valve casing.

Abstract: A cutting bed impeller comprises a body portion and a plurality of paddles projecting outwardly from the body portion, at least one of the paddles comprising a radially outer face extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge in a normal direction of rotation of the impeller about an axis of rotation of the cutting bed impeller, a leading face, and a trailing face. The radially outer face extends between the leading face and the trailing face. The leading face is inclined at a first angle &agr; to a first tangent T1 to the radially outer face at the leading edge. The trailing face is inclined at a second angle &bgr; to a second tangent T2 to the radially outer face at the trailing edge, the second angle &bgr; being less than the first angle. The radially outer face of one or more of the paddles may be provided with one or more replaceable wear elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for drilling lateral drainholes from a well casing comprises a flexible shaft having a bit at the lower end; the shaft extending through a shaft guide conduit anchored within the casing adjacent an oil-bearing formation. The “L” shaped guide conduit re-directs the shaft from an path parallel to the casing, through an elbow, to a path substantially perpendicular to the casing. The flexible shaft is formed of a helically wound outer coil spring and one or more helically wound and smaller inner coil springs residing concentrically therein. Each coil spring is closely fitted within the other. Each coil spring is wound opposite in direction to that of the next adjacent coil spring so as to interfere when under torsion. Bushings are located within the elbow for causing the shaft to flex and turn while permitting rotation and axial movement therethrough. A motor imparts torque into the top of the shaft, preferably through an intermediate driveshaft.

Abstract: A connecting device of a soil removing member for an excavator is used for connecting two soil removing members, wherein a helical ejecting blade is attached on an outer periphery of a rotational shaft. The rotational shaft in one soil removing member is connected to another rotational shaft of another soil removing member in accordance with excavation. The connecting member is basically formed of an inserting member disposed at one end of the rotational shaft, and a receiving member provided at the other end of the rotational shaft.

Abstract: An earth auger has a center shaft and a helical flighting extending along the axis of the shaft. The flighting and the center shaft have opposite ends that are identical in construction, so that the auger can be driven from either end by a power unit.

Abstract: A drilling and/or chiseling tool is formed basically by a shaping without cutting procedure and has a axially extending shaft (1) with at least three helical drilled material removal grooves (2). The shaft (1) has a shank (3) at its trailing end in the drilling direction, and at the opposite end, leading in the drilling direction is a drilling head (6). The drilling head (6) has a recess for holding a hard metal insert (8). Because of the number of removal grooves (2), the course of the grooves is approximately parallel to the shaft axis, whereby in the drilling head (6) region there is adequate material for laterally supporting the hard metal insert (8). Accordingly, an expensive correction of the shape of the removal grooves (2) in the region of the drilling head (6) can be avoided.

Abstract: An earth displacement drill is provided including a drill tube which can be driven for rotary movement and a boring tip connected thereto, wherein the boring tip has a cylindrical part which adjoins the drill tube and has at least two helical strips uniformly distributed around the circumference, which climb upwardly at a shallow angle, with the flat side of the strips preferably extending substantially parallel to the radius at the relevant position and in particular only over a fraction of the circumference of the cylindrical part. The boring tip also has a tapering part located beneath the cylindrical part and having at least two arched surfaces which are uniformly distributed around the tapering part. These arched surfaces expediently extend approximately parallel to the vertical and preferably more steeply than the helical strips.

Abstract: An orientation device, particularly for drilling tools, of the kind comprising a first sleeve (1) and a concentrically surrounding second sleeve (2), where in an annulus between the sleeve (1) and the sleeve (2) is disposed an axially displaceable carrier, e.g., in the form of a wedge/key (5) or a rail (8, 9), adapted to slide in an inclined, preferably helical groove (3, 4) disposed in the sleeve (1) or in the sleeve (2), the groove's direction crossing the direction of the carrier's (5; 8, 9) rectilinear movement which, thus, is converted into a relative rotational movement between the sleeve (1) and the sleeve (2). The carrier (5; 8, 9) is adapted to slide in two inclined, preferably helical grooves (3, 4) disposed in the sleeve (1) and the sleeve (2), respectively, and crossing the direction of the carrier's (5; 8, 9) rectilinear movement from opposite side.

Abstract: A casing shoe (30) for use in guiding a casing into a wellbore comprises a generally cylindrical body (2) having a box portion (34) at its rearward end for connection to a casing string and having a generally rounded nose portion (36) at its forward end. The forward end of the shoe includes cutting structures (42, 44) in the form of raised flutes extending along the sides of the cylindrical body and on the nose portion. The flutes may be provided with cutting elements such as polycrystalline diamond compact elements (48) at least at the forward ends of the flutes (42) extending along the cylindrical body. These flutes may also be configured to serve as stabilising pads, and additional stabilising pads (38) may also be provided. The nose portion may include fluid passages (50). The shoe may be adapted to be capable of being drilled through, such as by forming the nose portion from a drillable material.

Abstract: A rotating drill pipe string element (1) includes at least one portion (2a) of tubular shape whose external surface has at least one groove (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) arranged in a helix having as an axis the axis (O) of the tubular portion (2a). The groove (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) has a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the axis (O) of the portion having an undercut part (10) lying to the rear of a radius (OA) of the cross-section of the tubular portion, (2a), the radius passing through the external end (A) of the area of the groove (8c) lying to the rear, with respect to the forward direction of rotation of the pipe string of the groove (8c) with respect to the forward direction of rotation (.OMEGA.) of the pipe string.

Abstract: A downhole tool for providing a thrust force to an elongate body extending in a borehole formed in an earth formation is provided. The tool comprises at least one rotatable body provided with a plurality of rollers, each roller being expandable against the borehole wall at a selected contact force between the roller and the borehole wall. The rollers are oriented when expanded against the borehole wall so as to roll along a helical path on the borehole wall, and a motor is provided to rotate each rotatable body. The tool further comprises a device to measure the thrust force provided by the tool and a control system to control the thrust force provided by the tool by regulating the rotative torque of the rotatable body, in response to the measured thrust force.

Abstract: A cutting bed impeller (10) comprises a body portion and a plurality of paddles (24) projecting from the body portion, one or more of the paddles (24) having a recess (18) on its leading face in the direction of rotation of the impeller (10). The radially outer face (26) of one or more of the paddles (24) may be provided with one or more replaceable wear elements (30, 38). For example the elements may comprise nylon inserts (30) fitted into openings (28) in the radially outer faces (26) of the paddles (24).

Abstract: A ground anchor device for securing a building foundation and other structures to a ground surface using the subject anchor device. The anchor device is designed to be self advancing when rotated into the ground surface to depths of 10 to 30 feet and greater and to engage and penetrate an underground rock formation for providing greater anchor stability. The device includes a plurality of external hollow pipe sections and a plurality of internal pipe sections. The external pipe sections are joined together with helix couplings. Each helix coupling includes a helix around the exterior surface of the helix coupling. The helice are used for driving the external pipe sections into the ground. The internal pipe sections are coupled together and have a hollow cross section with a lower end of one of the internal pipe sections attached to a rock bit.

Abstract: An auger bit for boring ski post holes having an elongated shank with a drill head fixed at a first end of the shank. The preferred drill head has diametrically opposed first and second open chip mouths, each defined by an advancing face and a trailing face of the drill head. The advancing face of the drill head may be oriented at a vertical rake angle and at a radial advance angle for propelling debris proximally from the drill head into and through the first and second chip mouths into first and second chip throats. The bit may include first and second excavating helices wound around the shank for a given number of rotations each at a given helix angle whereby first and second chip throats are formed. The second excavating helix may wind around the shank for a lesser number of rotations than does the first whereby a unitary chip throat succeeds the first and second chip throats. Preferably, the bit has an overall length greater than about fifteen inches and a shank which is hollow.

Abstract: A drive device for injecting different types of fluids, chemicals and slurries into a subsurface for soil stabilization and removing fluids from the subsurface prior to treating a soil. The device is designed to be self advancing into the soil. When the driving of the device in the ground surface is completed, the device can be removed or it can be left in place for forming an anchor or load carrying pier. The device includes a plurality of external and internal hollow pipe sections. The pipe sections are joined together with couplings. Each coupling includes perforations therein and helices around the exterior surface of the coupling. The helices are used for driving the pipe sections into the ground. The perforations in each coupling are used for introducing fluids under pressure into the soil or for extracting fluids from the subsurface.

Abstract: Drill for making a pole in the ground, whereby this drill (9) is provided with a passage (15) and whereby this drill has at the bottom a screw-shaped displacement part (11) of which the outside increases in radius upwardly, up to a diameter larger than that of the drill tube (8), characterized in that the displacement part (11) passes with its upper extremity into a cylindrical part (12) which is provided on its mantle with at least a screw blade (13) which runs in the shape of a screw in the same direction as the displacement part (11), but of which the pitch (S2) is larger than the pitch (S1) of the displacement part (11).

Abstract: Apparatus for the installation of sensors (37) in channels (31), which apparatus comprises a first channel (31) containing at least one sensor location arrangement (35), the first channel (31) and the sensor location arrangement (35) being such that at least one sensor (37) is able to be pumped through the first channel (31) to the sensor location arrangement (35), the sensor location arrangement (35) being provided with at least one turn (3) such that the physical disposition of the sensor (37) after it has been pumped to the sensor location arrangement (35) is not linear, and the turn (3) being such that it comprises a loop of hydraulic conduit.

Abstract: Drilling augers comprise a tubular housing having an outer circumferential surface, with helical flighting mounted on the outer surface to effect drilling. Opposite ends of each auger terminate in a socket end connector and a plug end connector, the plug end connector of a succeeding auger received within the socket end connector to provide a connection between the augers. A circumferentially extending gasket seal is provided between the end of the plug end connector and a circumferentially extending rim on the socket end connector to prevent fluids from outside of the augers from leaking into the passage through the augers, and to prevent drilling fluids in the passage from leaking out. Pins carried by the socket end connector engage apertures in the plug end connector to provide a connection between the augers when the drilling string is withdrawn. Plug seals are snap fitted into the apertures and are held therein by a circumferentially extending rim engaging a surface surrounding the apertures.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus, such as a stabilizer, having rotary bearing members in the form of bearing balls (36) which are each mounted for omni-directional movement within a bearing assembly (20) mounted on the body (12) of the apparatus. Each bearing assembly (20) comprises a housing (22) containing a plurality of circulating balls (20) confined to the interior of the housing and forming a supporting bed for the bearing ball (36).

Abstract: For bracing the wagon of a mobile earth boring mechanism, which wagon has a boring rod guide and feed ramp inclined to the surface of the earth when in its working position, at least one anchor is provided having an elongated shaft which is driven into the earth so as to extend generally parallel to the inclined direction of the ramp and which is connectable to the ramp by an associated connecting device. For better resisting loads applied to the anchor, the anchor shaft may have attached to it a helical worm. The anchor or anchors effectively brace the ramp of the boring machine against both tension and compressive forces with substantially no lateral loads being applied to the anchor; and the drive of the boring mechanism which is normally used for rotating and axially moving the boring rod of the mechanism may be used to emplace the anchor or anchors.

Abstract: A downhole tool for providing rotary support of a downhole assembly in which the tool is incorporated, the tool also converting rotary contact with the wellbore to a longitudinal force tending to propel the assembly along the wellbore. The tool resembles a roller stabilizer in which the roller axes are skewed to be tangential to a notional helix, such that the natural (non-slipping) paths of roller contact with the wellbore have a longitudinal component in addition to the usual circumferential path. The tool can be used on drill strings and in downhole motor assemblies. The invention has particular advantage in highly deviated wells since it simultaneously compensates for increased bore friction and dynamically enhances weight-on-bit.