Abstract: The invention provides for a drill unit for drilling and charge laying operations and is suitable for operation on land or underwater. The drill unit comprises a rock drill mounted on a frame structure on a gantry and drill steels and casing members located in a drill magazine where they can be moved into register with the drilling machine for drilling a hole below the gantry, the casing member being put down the hole to line it and a charge magazine containing explosive cartridges also mounted on the gantry provided with means for bringing a cartridge into register with a casing member put down a hole to charge the casing member. The operation being remotely controlled.

Abstract: A drill pipe handling mechanism for a drilling rig includes spaced apart upper and lower arms mounted on a shaft which is mounted for pivotal and limited axial movement with respect to an axis which is spaced from and parallel to the drilling axis. The lower arm includes a receptacle for the lower end of a drill pipe section. The upper arm includes a drill pipe holder having a power actuated movable gate section. A drill pipe retainer is pivotally mounted on the shaft above the pipe holder and is operated by a separate power actuator. Opposed power actuated pipe gripping and holding wrenches are disposed on the lower part of the rig mast for gripping and holding a drill pipe section while threaded joints are broken loose by a rotary head connected to the upper end of the drill string. A power actuated wrench is mounted for pivotal movement into pipe gripping position for breaking loose threaded joints which cannot be loosened by the rotary head.

Abstract: A vertical thrust boring machine adapted to be positioned in the horizontal drift of a mine and to cut a tunnel extending upwardly from the drift so as to remove ore or other cuttings therefrom. The machine includes a rotary table for lifting a drill string which in turn supports the cutter head, and is characterized by drill stem sections having a spline connection on their lower ends, and a drive coupling ring associated with the rotary platform having a mating spline connection, so that when changing the length of the drill string the lowermost drill stem section can slide or float vertically relative to the rotary platform at the same time that it is being drivingly rotated.

Abstract: A device for changing bore crowns on a drill rod including a bore crown magazine member and means for automatically stopping and locking the magazine member in a desired rotated position.

Abstract: A shaft is formed from ground level downwardly to a subterranean seam of coal or other solids following preliminary survey procedures to locate the seam and establish its dimensions. A passage is cut radially into the coal seam and away from the shaft near the bottom thereof while coal cuttings are removed and delivered to ground level. The seam is then cut on an arcuate path centered on said shaft along the entire length of the radial passage while coal cuttings continue to be removed and delivered through the shaft to ground level. The mining apparatus is modular and comprises plural mining modules to be placed in the coal seam by a placement and advancing unit which is lowered in the shaft. A rotational driving unit is subsequently lowered in the shaft to drive coupled mining modules in unison through the coal seam on said arcuate path.

Abstract: A wheeled or crawler-type vehicle carries a support structure for a drilling apparatus such as used in rock drilling. The support structure includes a tower enclosing a rotary rack for drill rods which may be screwed together by cone threads to form a drill string. The tower is attached to a subtower that can be swivelled relative to the support structure for drilling in any desired angular position. Various devices greatly facilitate the storing and handling of each topmost drill rod. There are transverse drives as well as centering, gripping and retaining means, preferably operated by fluid cylinders, for moving the rotary rack and for transferring the respective drill rod from or to nesting seats in the rotary rack that can be revolved stepwise into accurate juxtaposition with a transfer aperture at the drilling center in line with the drilling head. The latter may be provided with an auxiliary motor to increase the effective torque for heavy duty, e.g.

Abstract: Equipment for drilling and obtaining samples from, and/or testing at, locations where the soil being investigated is unstable, or where access to the equipment is difficult during drilling, for example underwater. Samples can be obtained, or tests carried out, at several depths in one bore hole by the employment of equipment, including a drill, a plurality of sample receivers and a testing means mounted to enter a bore with the drill and including a first means for operating the sample receiver, a second means to operate the testing means, and a third means arranged to be actuated in dependence upon the sample receiver.

Abstract: An arrangement for the handling of drill string elements, such as tubes or rods, in drill rigs, comprising means for transferring the drill string elements between a magazine and the drill string axis, a drill string centralizer at the front end of an elongated support for guiding the drill string, a spinning device on said transferring means for gripping and rotating a drill string element, said means being adapted to axially displace the drill string element during rotation thereof, and a sleeve brake mounted on the drilling machine for non-rotatably holding a coupling sleeve when the adapter of the drilling machine is disconnected from the drill string.

Abstract: A carousel-type drill rod rack handles a plurality of drill rods having normal diameter holding portions, flats below the holding portions, and reduced necks below the flats. The upper support plate has collars that receive the holding portions and have openings sized to allow removal only when the rods are raised to bring the necks in line with the plate. Cutouts in the upper support plate define two pairs of parallel straight surfaces that engage the flats to limit rotation in either direction but allow limited rotation to provide a breakout impact, and lugs that supportingly engage the shoulders above the flats. A travel lock means includes a rotatable ring with lobes movable into and out of alignment with the shoulders at the bottoms of the necks to prevent forward axial movement when the rack is horizontal and means to lock the ring in normal and lock positions.

Abstract: At a rock drill, preferably most forwardly on its frame, a magazine with drill bits is arranged. When a drill bit has been worn such that it must be exchanged, the drill rod is retracted so much that the worn drill bit arrives at the magazine. By special means at the magazine the worn bit is unscrewed from the rod and replaced by a new bit from the magazine.

Abstract: A magazine, adapted for use in a rock drilling rig, comprises means for spacing two adjacent drill rods. The spacing means includes turnstiles which are journalled rotatably in the magazine. The turnstiles are arranged to be rotated by the drill rods when the latter are moved into or out of the magazine.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus and more particularly a drilling apparatus having improved drill pipe storage and handling means therefor.

Abstract: A drill string is mounted on a mast which is angularly adjustable relative to a frame. A support is connected to the frame so as to be angularly adjustable and has an open aperture for the drill string. The support is to be mounted on and secured upon a stationary member, such as a pipe, disposed at the operating location of the drilling apparatus.

Abstract: A two-ram hydraulic drilling rig is provided with a lateral support frame. The rams have rods connected through a tension structure with a power swivel. The power swivel has a removable swivel stem assembly for allowing through-swivel positioning of drill pipe, particularly for tripping.

Abstract: .[.A carriage movable by a power unit along a track carrying a drive shaft connected sequentially to a plurality of drill rods. The drill rods are supplied by spaced apart transversely movable rack assemblies having upwardly opening spaced recesses therein. Transverse, spaced apart support arms are mounted for pivotal movement in vertical planes about a common axis selectively to an upper position in alignment with the drive shaft and to a lower position beneath the drill rods carried by the rack assembly. The rack assemblies are moved to position drill rods sequentially in alignment with the path of movement of the support arms..]..Iadd.A drilling apparatus and more particularly a drilling apparatus adapted for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth and including thereon improved drill rod carrying and transfer means.

Abstract: A two-ram hydraulic drilling rig is provided with a lateral support frame. The rams have rods connected through a tension structure with a power swivel. The power swivel has a removable swivel stem assembly for allowing through-swivel positioning of drill pipe, particularly for tripping.

Abstract: An arrangement for the handling of drill string elements, such as tubes or rods, in drill rigs, comprising means for transferring the drill string elements between a magazine and the drill string axis, a drill string centralizer at the front end of an elongated support for guiding the drill string, a spinning device on said transferring means for gripping and rotating a drill string element, said means being adapted to axially displace the drill string element during rotation thereof, and a sleeve brake mounted on the drilling machine for nonrotatably holding a coupling sleeve when the adapter of the drilling machine is disconnected from the drill string.