Abstract: Drilling apparatus includes an inclined mast, a drive carriage slidably mounted on the mast for rotating a tubular drilling member, and at least two positioning units secured to the mast at spaced positions therealong for positioning tubular drilling members. Each positioning unit has a frame which can be raised a preset distance above the mast and lowered from the preset distance. Grippers adjacent opposite sides of the frame can be raised a preset distance above the frame and lowered from the preset distance. The grippers can be moved towards one another to grip a tubular drilling member therebetween and moved away from one another to release the tubular drilling member. Locators adjacent opposite sides of the frame can be raised to cause the locators to engage and position lower parts of the tubular member, with the tubular member being movable away from the mast out of contact with the locators without moving the locators. The drive carriage is movable along the mast past at least one positioning unit.

Abstract: A pipe pick-up and laydown machine for lifting a joint of pipe from a generally horizontal position on a pipe rack to an inclined and elevated position relative to an elevated rig floor for connection to rig elevators by the drilling crew. The apparatus includes a horizontal base position adjacent the pipe racks with a pipe carrying trough slidably mounted in a trough trestle which can telescope in and out of one end of the trestle. An inclined track extends from one end of the base to a position near the edge of the rig floor and structure is provided for lifting the front end of the trough trestle along the inclined track. The rear end of the trough trestle is mounted on a sliding articulating arm which first moves forward as the front end of the trough trestle is elevated on the inclined track and then stops and pivots to raise the rear end of the trestle to incline the pipe carrying trough at a desired elevation when extended over one edge of the rig floor. The operation is reversed when laying down pipe.

Abstract: A drill rig having a drill rig mast and a transfer arm is described. The clamps of the transfer arm are resiliently mounted to the transfer arm so as to provide limited axial movement of the clamps and thereby of a clamped down hole tubular. This resilient support for the down hole tubular serves to reduce damage to the threaded ends of the tubular during tubular handling operations. In addition, the clamps of the transfer arm are provided with resilient clamping surfaces which serve to engage the clamped tubular frictionally, without gouging or deeply scratching the surface thereof. A pair of automatic, self-centering, hydraulic tongs is provided for making up and breaking out threaded connections of tubulars having various diameters without manual adjustment of the tongs.

Abstract: A link engaging pipe elevator is shown having link engaging arms and an automatic locking mechanism. Spring tension in the locking mechanism is overcome when the elevator body is rested on a substantially flat surface allowing unrestrained movement of the link engaging arms. As the elevator is lifted off the flat surface, the locking mechanism is activated and the link engaging arms are locked into place. A cam and cam roller assist in moving the link engaging arms between the full open and closed positions.

Abstract: In combination with a telescoping well mast structure having a fixed lower structure and a traveling upper structure, a device to time and actuate the extension and retraction of a racking platform pivotally attached to the upper structure. The device comprises at least one pulley secured within the upper derrick structure adjacent the crown and at least one lower pulley secured within the upper structure adjacent the lower end thereof. At least one cable extends from the platform around the upper pulley, the lower pulley and to a wheeled trolley adapted to travel along a portion of the lower structure. When the upper structure is extended the wheeled trolley is propelled along the lower structure by a pushing member on the upper structure until received into a catch housing on the upper portion of the lower structure. Once the wheeled trolley is restrained by the housing continued extension of the upper structure allows for the racking platform to extend by means of gravity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile drilling rig providing a rotation head which is small enough to fit between the mast members of the rig. Arrangements are made to pivot back the rotation head to give access to the drill line of the rig. The mast members can be pivotted on a frame to place them into the drilling and travelling position respectively.

Abstract: A drill rig for drilling a hole in the ground including a mast, having a longitudinal slide means at one face thereof, adapted to be set upright with the slide means facing, and being at a selected spacing from and parallel to the axis of a drill hole to be drilled with the rig; a slide frame mounted upon the mast slide means and lifter-pulldown means in the mast to move the slide frame along the longitudinal slide means; a lateral shifting means on the slide frame shiftable towards and away from the slide frame in the direction of the drill hole; a drill carrier attached to the shifting means to be shifted to a first position against the slide frame and to a second position outwardly therefrom; and a drill mechanism means including a drill pipe means mounted upon the drill carrier to effect drilling by a drill pipe means, with the drill pipe means being aligned with the drill hole axis when the drill carrier is at one of said positions.

Abstract: A pile driver assembly comprising a lead, a hammer supported for longitudinal movement along the lead, a helmet at the lower end of the lead configured to receive the end of a noncircular pile, a pile guide supported for longitudinal movement along the lead and having a cross-section configured to receive the pile, and a pile rotator supported near the lower end of the lead and configured to receive the pile, the pile rotator centering and rotating the noncircular pile.

Abstract: A drill rig for drilling wells having a derrick adapted to hold and lower a conductor string and drill pipe string. A support frame is fixed to the derrick to extend over the well to be drilled, and a rotary table, for holding and rotating drill pipe strings, is movably mounted thereon. The table is displaceable between an active position in alignment with the axis of the well and an inactive position laterally spaced therefrom. A drill pipe holder is movably mounted on the frame below the rotary table for displacement between a first position laterally of the axis of the well and a second position in alignment with the axis of the well. The rotary table and said drill pipe holder are displaced in opposition to each other, so that the rotary table may be removed from alignment with the axis of the well and said drill pipe string simultaneously held without removal from said well.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus for use on, for example, an ocean mining surface vessel, for transporting lengths of pipe from a horizontal storage rack to a main dredge line hoist, which vertically supports connected lengths of pipe from the ocean surface to the ocean floor. The apparatus includes a track between the storage rack and the dredge line support system, the track being supported at one end adjacent the storage rack and at the second end adjacent the main dredge line hoist. The main dredge line hoist being preferably supported on a platform which is pivotally connected to the vessel about at least two transverse axes. The track also preferably is segmented, the segment closest to the main dredge line hoist support being pivotable about two transverse axes relative to the pipe rack on the vessel. Preferably, the two segments of track can be connected through a vertical pivot and/or a horizontal pivot or about two horizontal pivots.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving stands of pipe in a derrick having a powered turret mounted in a selected position relative to the derrick and a vertical leg supported and rotated by the turret. A powered dolly is mounted on the vertical leg and moves one end of a power arm to selected positions along the vertical leg. A pipe gripping head is mounted to the opposite end of the power arm. A scissor arm is rotatably connected at one end in mid-region of the power arm and at the other end to the vertical leg. As a consequence, the pipe gripping head moves reciprocally in a straight line to engage, move, and disengage stands of pipe.

Abstract: A working board is attached to an oil derrick for a workman to stand upon while racking pipe. The board has arcuate slots with inner floor members and pivoting door covers for use when pipe is not in the slots thereby substantially eliminating the possibility of a workman falling. Pusher arms move the pipe to ready access for making the string.

Abstract: A portable stabbing board adapted to be attached to a rig for supporting a worker while stabbing joints of tubular members together during running operations including a frame member mountable with the rig, attachment members with the frame member for removably securing the frame member with the rig, a platform adapted for vertical movement along the frame member for supporting a worker during running operations, power means mounted with the platform for providing motive force for moving the platform vertically with respect to the frame member, and safety members with the platform and frame member for preventing unwanted vertical movement of the platform during such running operations.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus embodying an elongated frame supports a transmission unit for longitudinal movement therein. The transmission unit carries a drive head slidably driven by a polygonal, parallel drive shaft and is threadedly connected to one end of a drill rod section in axial alignment therewith. The other end of the drill rod section is connected selectively to another drill rod section and a drill bit. A drill rod rack is mounted for rotation about an axis within the elongated frame and carries a plurality of angularly spaced drill rod sections which are moved sequentially into axial alignment with the driven head whereby it is positioned to drill a hole while extending through the rack. The drill rod sections extend through angularly spaced passageways in a support member which is carried by a shaft at the axis of rotation of the drill rod rack.

Abstract: A casing clamp and guide arrangement to permit ease of centering and securing of the next section of pipe casing to a downhole string comprising an elongated stable member having clamp means at either end with one clamp adapted to engage the top of the uppermost downhole pipe casing and the other clamp adapted to clamp and stabilize the next pipe casing section into coaxial alignment for threadable connection therewith.

Abstract: A portable workover rig for handling a pipe string in a well casing includes a base platform and a collapsible mast which is movable from a reclining transport position to an erect elevated position of use. The mast is supported for free-standing operation by a carriage assembly including a cantilever support base mounted on the base platform for pivotal movement from the transport position to the position of use. The carriage assembly includes lift arms coupled in parallel relation intermediate the cantilever support base and the rig support platform for maintaining the cantilever support base in parallel alignment with the base platform. Hoisting and snubbing operations are performed by drawworks including a linear hydraulic actuator carried on the base platform, a traveling block supported for vertical movement along the mast by hoist and snub cables, and traveling sheaves carried by the actuator through a stroke pathway which is oriented transversely with respect to the mast.

Abstract: A method for assembling successive ducts end to end with a pipe-line constituted by the assembled ducts comprising: providing inner equipments for said ducts each comprising means for vacuum-tight connection with the inside of a duct and means protruding from the duct for vacuum tight connection with the pipe-line; placing said inner equipments in each successive duct in an equipping station, connecting said equipment to the inside of the duct at both ends to close an inner vacuum tight space inside the duct; connecting said space to pumping means and evacuating said inner space by said pumping means while transferring said duct and inner equipment from said equipping station to a welding station; positioning said duct in alignment and abutment end to end with the pipe-line in said welding station; locking the duct in fixed position with respect to the pipe-line, sealingly connecting said equipment with the pipe-line inside the pipe-line; and sealingly connecting a vacuum tight welding chamber of a rotary wel

Abstract: Apparatus for the handling of drill collar and pipe stands and comprised of a hydraulically mechanized "Derrickman" and "Derrick Floor Hand" and associated fingerboard lock bars and all of which are adapted to remote control in the placement of the stands in a derrick, both in alignment with the rotary table and fully placed within the racking fingers, the stand handling mechanism being characterized by articulated arms extensible by actuator apparatus housed entirely within the confines thereof for compactness.

Abstract: Disclosed are coiled tubing apparatus for operating on wells. A tubing injector head is supported on a mast and is moveable to selected elevations along the mast. The mast includes a lower section maintained in upright orientation, and an upper section which is pivotally joined to the lower section. The injector head may be lowered below the pivot point and the mast folded for transportation purposes. A chain drive maneuvers the injector head in one horizontal direction, and a fluid pressure cylinder maneuvers the injector head in a second horizontal direction generally orthogonal to the first. The chain drive is fitted with a worm gear coupling to positively lock the injector head in position. A height-adjustable level wind tubing guide directs the tubing onto or off of a reel. The base of the apparatus is fitted with a track along which a blowout preventer may be moved for subsequent positioning over a well.

Abstract: An auger machine, such as a mining machine, embodying features that reduce the cost of mining.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for drilling or boring a hole in the earth, as for forming blast holes. The apparatus disclosed is of the self-propelled mobile type having at one end a driver cab and at the other end drilling apparatus including a drill storage and handling rack adapted to store drill rods and as required to bring them into alignment with the drilling axis to form a drill string and to remove the drill rods from the drill string. The apparatus also supplies air to and through the drill string to blow out debris from the drilled hole. The apparatus includes a unique and efficient type of mechanism for rotating the drill rack to bring drill rods to or remove them from the drill string. Also disclosed is a unique type of drill rod particularly adaptable for use in the apparatus.

Abstract: Well tubing handling apparatus useful for running and pulling tubing in a well bore and drilling a well bore including a main frame assembly, a pulling and snubbing assembly, a ladder assembly, and a work platform assembly. The apparatus is quickly assembled and torn down. The main frame assembly includes a base, telescoping non-load bearing guide tubes, a load-bearing mast, fixed slips, and winches and sheave and cable assemblies for manipulating pipe joints between handling positions in the apparatus and a pipe rack. The pulling and snubbing assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder connectible at the free end of the piston on the frame base, sheave mounted drive cables secured on the cylinder, traveling slips mounted on the drive cables, and an anchor between the drive cables and the main frame so that as the cylinder is raised and lowered the cables are driven around pulleys raising and lowering the traveling slips.

Abstract: A pipe-conveying catwalk has a ramp affixed to the floor of a drilling rig and a main frame ground supported adjacent to a pipe rack so that pipe can be conveyed between the rack and the derrick floor. Pipe is rolled from the rack into a trough which forms part of a stinger. The stinger is nested within a boom and can be telescoped to extend longitudinally away from the boom. The boom is retracted into nested position within the main framework. One end of the boom is attached to the main frame by an extensible swing arm apparatus which elevates the outer end of the boom while the other end of the main frame is attached to the rig floor by a ramp which moves the other end of the boom from the nested position vertically upwards and towards the rig floor. A pipe is rolled from the pipe rack into the trough, the boom is elevated into an inclined position such that the stinger telescopes from the boom to position the box end of the pipe in overlying relationship respective to the derrick floor.

Abstract: A system for testing and installing a blow out preventer on a floating vessel and offshore drilling rigs, although the system may be used on other rotary drilling rigs, is disclosed. Retractable rotary table supporting beams are disposed over the moon pool and the rotary table is releasably connected to them. Retractable sub-structure beams are provided below the rotary table so that means provided to move the assembled blow out preventer can move it through an opening in the derrick and over the moon pool when the rotary beams are retracted. Retractable moon pool skid beams are provided which support the blow out preventer when skidded through the moon pool opening in the sub-structure.In one aspect of the invention, the means connecting the rotary table to its support beams are self-aligning to that once the rotary table is aligned it can be removed and replaced without any further alignment.

Abstract: An auxiliary offshore rig adapted to be used for relieving the primary offshore rig on an offshore platform of well activities relating to tubular member or cable operations. The auxiliary offshore rig includes in one embodiment a truss member mounted for movement along the platform, a racking tower for receiving tubular members therein mounted on the truss member, and a working cage mounted within the racking tower and supported by the truss member adapted to be positioned in alignment with the well for providing a secondary working area beneath the rig floor which is mounted atop the racking tower.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a tongs arrangement which includes a tongs lift and lift speed arrangement, a backup tong and a power driven tong, is characterized by means for generating electrical signals to lift the backup tong and power tong at a predetermined speed to a predetermined elevation, means for generating an electrical signal to close and lock the backup tong when lifted, and means for generating an electrical signal to drive the power driven tong when the backup tong is closed and locked.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus including improved means for drill string manipulation for effecting an improved method of drill steel breakout and disassembly.This is a continuation, division, of application Ser. No. 712,622, filed Aug. 9, 1976.

Abstract: An oil drilling rig includes a racker, a power tongs, a drawworks having a motor and a brake, and a general purpose programmable digital computer associated with each to sequentially initiate the operation thereof. Closed-loop control systems for the drawworks motor and drawworks brake are included to provide control signals to a motor drive and to a brake actuator.

Abstract: Mounted on the floor of an oil well derrick substructure is a support that is rockable on an axis perpendicular to the centerline of a well being drilled beneath the substructure. One end of an arm is pivotally mounted on the support on an axis transverse to the first mentioned axis, while the opposite end of the arm carries a pair of shoes having laterally opening pipe-receiving seats facing away from the arm. The free end of the arm can be swung toward and away from the well centerline and the arm support can be rocked to swing the arm laterally.

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: Suspension members flexibly connected to a carriage and to an overhead support above the racking platform of an oil well mast or derrick support the carriage, which is provided with a floor to support a derrick man therein. The lower end of the suspension means can be swung back and forth parallel to the side of the mast or derrick and also at right angles to it to thereby move the carriage in the same directions, the carriage being provided with a lateral seat for receiving the upper end portion of a pipe and moving it with the carriage into another position.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to apparatus for drilling wells for oil, gas, water, etc., wherein the device for drilling is placed in a rigid cylindrical collar which is expanded and pressed in the walls of the well. The collar absorbs a reactive torque from drilling. In the upper part of the walls of the collar control devices are installed which send up the signals about outside collar pressure, temperature, etc., and thus indicate any complications in the process of drilling. The collar is coaxially joined at its upper end to a thin-walled, continuous tube which is formed from a coiled sheet by drawing the sheet through a rolling-up system of rollers. The tube is axially extended and retracted by a mechanism which has two or more systems of tube moving elements which are symmetrically disposed relatively to a longitudinal axis of the tube and engage the external surface of the pipe column with forces which are sufficient to create the necessary friction forces for moving the tube.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for enabling an instrument and a connected flexible line contained in a drill string to be left in the string while a pipe section is being added to or removed from the string, to thereby avoid the inconvenience and loss of time normally involved in removing the instrument and flexible line from the string on each such occasion. This result is preferably accomplished by initially threading the flexible line at the surface of the earth through a series of extra pipe sections positioned at a storage location adjacent the well, so that each of these sections can then be successively moved from that location to a position of connection into the upper end of the drill string with the flexible line already installed in the added section.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transporting pipe between spaced locations comprising a cable disposed in proximity of the two locations which supports a pipe receiving trough so that the trough can be moved by the cable to enable a pipe supported therein to be transported between the two locations. The tension in the cable is adjusted to enable the trough to be moved in a vertical plane. In one of the embodiments, the trough is directly attached to and moved with the cable. Longitudinal motion imparted into the cable causes the trough to move from one location to the other carrying the pipe therewith. The cable is slackened to vertically move the trough so as to enable the pipe to be placed within or removed from the trough. In another of the embodiments, the trough is attached to spaced carriages which are slidably supported from the cable. A pilot cable attached to the trough enables the trough to be moved longitudinally of the cable to enable transportation of the pipe between the spaced locations.

Abstract: An inclined drill rig is disclosed with attached rotatable power tongs for use in practicing a process for the installation of underground casing. The underground casing is usually installed coaxially to a pilot string disposed about an invert arcuate underground path underneath an obstacle, such as a river. The underground casing is installed in discrete segments from a slanted drill rig unit including a car traveling on an inclined ramp. The traveling car on the inclined drill rig ramp crowds and rotates each pipe segment sequentially into the ground from a rotating table. When the last pipe segment attached is fully advanced into the ground, it is clamped at power tongs located at the front of the ramp. These power tongs apply torque to rotate all the casing in the ground without crowding the casing.

Abstract: Various pipe handling systems including bridge crane and swing crane embodiments for storing and moving small diameter drill pipe, larger diameter casing pipe and still larger diameter riser pipe to and from a common axial transport means between a drilling rig platform and storage racks. Unique components of the systems include a piggyback riser and casing skate, spin rolls for uncoupling the pipe located between the racks and the axial transport means, and a modular stabber which can accommodate all three basic sizes of pipe.

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: Handling and racking of riser pipes in a drilling derrick on a platform by means of manipulators. The pipes are racked vertically on a set back platform and are displaced to and from a position above the rotary table by manipulators.

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: Method and apparatus for subterranean slurry drilling and mining of granular ore, such as phosphates, with a combined drilling and mining apparatus. The apparatus includes a tool string having a drilling head and mining head that are selectively interchangeable on its upper end for drilling into one or more ore strata to be mined and thereafter to remove ore from the strata as a slurry. The drill string includes a plurality of inner and outer pipe sections connected to a drill bit at its lower end. A drilling/mining liquid is directed through the tool string during both the drilling and mining modes of operation. During drilling, liquid is directed through a foot valve into the rotating bit to wash cuttings to the surface externally of the tool.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus adapted to have a drill string releasably secured thereto and including improved means for selectively locking such a drill string against axial rotation.

Abstract: Pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe between a derrick floor and a pipe rack by a cable-way. A portion of the cable overhangs the derrick floor and the pipe rack. Spaced apart pipe receiving carriages are supported by the cable and are provided with means for being moved from a location adjacent to the derrick floor to a location which overhangs the pipe rack. The tension of the cable is controlled in a manner which enables the pipe receiving carriages to be vertically positioned with respect to the pipe rack.

Abstract: An offshore platform including a deck with an aperture formed through it and a number of clamping means carried by the deck. The clamping means, which may comprise opposed doors, are mounted so as to be selectively movable between a retracted position, to leave the aperture freely open, and an extended position in which the clamping means extend into the aperture. The arrangement is to facilitate lowering and recovering heavy equipment such as a BOP stack.

Abstract: In order to install a heavy cutterhead upon a box hole boring machine, within the confined working space available in underground mining operations, the cutterhead is placed upon a wheeled dolly having a central opening through which the attachment stem of the cutterhead depends downwardly, a temporary bridge including a pair of rails is rested upon the top of the machine frame, and the dolly with cutterhead supported thereon is moved along the bridge to a position where the cutterhead can be attached to the machine. The vertical drive of the machine is then utilized to lift the cutterhead, and the dolly and temporary bridge are removed.

Abstract: As a preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, a winch is stationed to one side of an oil field derrick and a cable spooled on the winch extended over a pipe rack and secured at a convenient location above the derrick floor. A pair of spaced pulleys or carriages are independently pulled along the extended portion of the taut cable by a pair of selectively-controlled winches respectively carrying a cable or wire coupled to the carriages. Pipe carriers are dependently coupled to the carriages and operatively arranged for carrying a pipe laid between the carriers in a nearly-horizontal position as the selectively-controlled winches move the carriages along the extended cable between the derrick floor and the pipe rack. The pipe section is selectively raised or lowered over the pipe rack by operating the first winch to either tighten or slack off on the extended cable.

Abstract: A machine for laying down or picking up pipe sections, casing sections and the like during a well drilling operation and includes a draw works associated with a catwalk alongside of a pipe rack and oriented in normal relationship to a drill rig with cable arrangements extending from the draw works to a sheave supporting post assembly anchored in the rathole pipe in the drill rig floor. Carriages are mounted on the cable assembly for picking up a pipe section or laying down a pipe section in relation to the catwalk and conveying the pipe section to and from a position adjacent the sheave supporting post assembly in the rathole pipe thereby enabling the pipe section to be picked up by the structure in the drill rig in order to assemble the pipe section with sections already in the drill rig and to facilitate removal of the pipe sections when breaking down or disassembling a pipe string.

Abstract: Derrick mounted apparatus for the manipulation of lengths of pipe in or out of one or more finger boards in proximity thereto comprising a pipe manipulating arm adapted to move along a single predetermined line and a pipe gripping hand rotatably attached to one end of the pipe manipulating arm, the pipe gripping hand being capable of accepting and discharging pipe in an angular direction with respect to the line of movement of the arm.

Abstract: A drilling machine and relatively small mast are mounted on a pivotal support which permits the drilling machine, mast and drill pipe employed in the assembly to be inclined as required to drill a non-vertical bore hole. The drilling machine is preferably a fluid pressure-operated snubber device which includes a stationary lower gripping head and a vertically reciprocable, upper gripping head operable for rotating drill pipe and for running the drill pipe into and out of the well bore. An internal drill string anchor carried by a traveling block suspended in the mast engages and supports the upper end of the drill string extending from the snubber and also provides drilling fluids to the string. A rotatable seal and support assembly in the anchor maintains a fluid seal and permits the drill pipe to rotate relative to the non-rotating traveling block.

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.