Abstract: An apparatus is for use by an operator in forming boreholes in a mine passage including a rib and a roof. The apparatus includes a boom having a proximal end mounted to a base, such as a vehicle. A drill supported by the boom near a distal end thereof is adapted for drilling into the rib of the mine passage. An operator's station carried by the boom adjacent the drill includes a platform for supporting the operator arranged at least partially between a generally vertical plane aligned with the second lateral side and the rib. Accordingly, the operator can access the rib when positioned on the operator's station without interference from the boom.

Abstract: A subterranean method of processing a hydrocarbon fluid-containing deposit includes, from a subterranean room, providing a borehole into a deposit containing formation fluid comprising fluid hydrocarbon. The borehole has a first end at a wall of the subterranean room, and a second end remote from the subterranean room and received within the deposit. The first end is elevationally lower than the second end. A string of pipe is provided within the borehole from the subterranean room. A cuttings removal fluid is injected from the string of pipe into the borehole and against a wall of the borehole in underbalanced pressure conditions. One of drilling, reaming, or jetting is conducted within the borehole during said injecting of the cuttings removal fluid. Formation fluid comprising fluid hydrocarbon is flowed from the deposit into the borehole during said injecting of the cuttings removal fluid.

Abstract: An earth boring apparatus for sinking shafts and removing shaft material from the shaft, the apparatus having at least two decks; hydraulic means for allowing movement of the decks relative to one another; releasable anchoring means associated with the decks for engaging walls of the shaft to secure the apparatus in a stationary position; whereby the releasable anchoring means of one of the decks engages the wall while the releasable anchoring means of the other deck is released from the wall to allow motion of the other deck along the shaft, in cooperation with the hydraulic means. The apparatus also includes guide means for forcing a bucket for hoisting shaft material from the shaft along a predetermined path, and an in-stage cut-boom drill.

Abstract: A rock drilling rig has a carrier (1) provided with a service platform (7) which is arranged on a boom (6). The carrier (1) is provided with a four link mechanism (8) which is swingable in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (2) of the carrier. The boom (6) is swingably arranged on one link (9) of the four link mechanism (8) and arranged at a distance from the carrier (1).

Abstract: A drilling rig (10) having a boom (12) supporting a leader (36). The leader (36) is pivotally attached to the boom and is moveable between a generally upright orientation and a generally horizontal orientation for the purposes of transportation by a vehicle (11). Hydraulic rams (33) cause linear movement of the leader relative to the boom while the hydraulic ram (33) causes tilting of the boom about a generally horizontally axis.

Abstract: A dual purpose bracket assembly for a horizontal directional drill that retains pipes within a cartridge when the cartridge is detached from the drill and locks the cartridge to the drill when it is attached. The bracket assembly includes side plates that are installed within longitudinal support members. A pivot pin is installed through the side plates and the longitudinal support members and allows the bracket assembly to rotate between a pipe retention position and a locked position. A dual purpose removable pin supports the weight of the pipes in the pipe retention position when the cartridge is detached and locks the cartridge to the drill when the cartridge is attached.

Abstract: A raise buggy has a storage and transport cabinet for storing and transporting equipment and material along an inclined raise, over an inclined raise floor extending between a base level and a raise face, wheels for rolling the cabinet over the raise floor in contact with the raise floor, the cabinet having a forward, inclined, generally planar primary work surface extending between an upper surface of the cabinet and a lower surface of the cabinet, inclined so as to be generally horizontal when the raise buggy has been elevated along the inclined raise floor by selective winching by cable means to a position adjacent and below the raise face.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an upwardly directed shaft in rock, which includes a platform that can be regulated in height. The platform carries a drilling unit having engageable elements enabling fixation of the drilling unit relative the wall of the shaft. The drilling unit and platform can be separated a given distance such as to form an air gap for preventing the transfer of vibrations from the drilling unit to the platform when a drilling machine pertaining to the drilling unit is in operation. The apparatus has bracket elements and a transverse member for limiting the separation distance between the drilling unit and platform. The platform carries a work station for a drilling machine operator.

Abstract: An assembly for raise mining or the like includes a drive support carrying a drive means (10) for driving the drive support along a guide (4). The guide is attached to the drift wall (2) and is successively lengthened concurrently with the drift driving. The drive support carries at least one drill boom rig (62) for mechanized drilling, and an operator's and service platform (40). The operator's and service platform (40) is carried shiftable with respect to the drive support in the direction of the guide (4) between a lower position, in which it does not obstruct the working movements of the drill boom rig (62), and upper positions, in which the drill boom assembly (62) in a collapsed non-operative position extends through an opening in the operator's and service platform (40).

Abstract: In shaft drilling apparatus for recovery of gas from subterranean formations includes a platform adapted for being suspended by a cable and rotated within a generally vertical shaft in the earth. Drilling and stabilizing apparatus are provided and disposed on the platform for drilling boreholes into the subterranean seams containing gas and rigidly supporting the platform within the generally vertical shaft during the drilling of the boreholes. A liquid-solids-gas separator is provided which is disposed on the platform and in an operative relationship with the drilling apparatus for separating solid cuttings and gas from the drilling efflux. Apparatus for enabling fresh air to be circulated to and from the platform is provided and includes a curtain wall disposed along the diameter of the generally vertical shaft. The platform is disposed on one side of the curtain wall during circulation of air to and from the platform.

Abstract: A working platform for a drilling apparatus for stoping shafts, said drilling apparatus comprising a base (3) displaceable in the direction of the shaft (1) and a supporting arm (5) pivotably supported on said base. On the supporting arm is mounted a drilling device (8). The working platform (10) is fastened to the supporting arm by means of an articulated means (11) which permits a pivoting of the working platform with respect to the supporting arm around two pivot axes (B, C) perpendicular to each other so that the working platform pivots synchronously along with the drilling device as the supporting arm is rotated for drilling holes in the shaft in the shape of a fan and is adjustable into a horizontal position irrespective of the rotary position of the supporting arm.

Abstract: A machine for boring a shaft in earth strata or the like. An annular support ring means having an outside diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the shaft which is selectively engageable or disengageable with the shaft wall by the use of clamping means is disclosed. A carriage means which is slidably mounted on the annular support ring means and orbital thereabout is also disclosed. A rotary cutting wheel means having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the shaft is mounted on the carriage means and is axially displaceable with respect thereto for movement in a direction which may be parallel or inclined with respect to the axis of the shaft. Various drive means for moving the carriage means circumferentially about the annular support ring means, and for moving the rotary cutting wheel means in an axial direction with respect to the carriage means, and for rotating the rotary cutting wheel means are described.

Abstract: The method consists in boring a shaft in the sea floor to form a drilling station of sufficient size to accommodate personnel and equipment, in lining the shaft walls with a casing which is cemented against the walls and surmounted by a water-tight self-contained subsea chamber, in extracting sea water from the shaft, in maintaining atmospheric pressure within the shaft and the subsea chamber, in lowering personnel and drilling equipment into the shaft and in carrying out drilling operations from the bottom of the shaft.

Abstract: A mining machine is provided which incorporates a detachable cab construction. The mining machine includes a clamping mechanism including a pair of a clamping hook assemblies for releasably clamping the cab body, and a lift cylinder for raising and lowering the cab body. In operation, the cab is detached from the mining machine in a safe area and the mining machine trammed into a mining position. The cab is equipped with remote controls so that operation of the mining machine can be controlled from the cab while the latter is located in a safe area. A safety interlock system prevents operation of local machine-mounted controls until the cab is re-mounted on the mining machine.

Abstract: A cutter wheel is mounted at the lower end of the machine for rotation about a horizontal tubular support. Cuttings are picked up by buckets on the cutter wheel and are directed into the tubular support to be received by an endless bucket conveyor which carries them upwardly to a discharge station. As the machine is advanced the cutter wheel is rotated to make a first cut in the shape of the leading portion of the cutter wheel. The cutter wheel is then retracted out from the cut and is rotated about the axis of the hole. This repositions the cutter wheel so that when it is advanced again it will make a second cut which crosses the first. This procedure is repeated until the desired cross-sectional configuration (e.g. circular) of the hole is obtained.