Continuous feed head drill assembly

Claim 2

A head drill used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power and a length of drill stem forming a drill string; comprising in combination a support frame, centrally located supporting structure on said frame, an upper pair of piston and cylinder assemblies mounted on said supporting structure and a lower pair of piston and cylinder assemblies also mounted on said supporting structure in axial opposition to said upper pair, an upper drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies and a corresponding lower drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said lower piston and cylinder assemblies, a source of power for selectively rotating each of said chuck components independently and in either direction, and means for engaging and disengaging either of said chuck components from the associated drill stem and drill stem hold means on said supporting structure selectively engageable with the length of drill stem between said lower piston and cylinder assemblies to prevent same from dropping downwardly into the associated drill hole while raising or lowering said drill string.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 in which said hold means includes at least two opposing jaws engageable around said drill stem, a lever extending diagonally outwardly and downwardly between each of said jaws and said supporting structure, diagonally situated slots in said supporting structure situated approximately at right angles to said levers and a pin and spring component extending between said levers and said slot whereby when said pin and spring component is in the lowermost position, downward movement of said drill stem is prevented by said jaws and when in the uppermost position, downward movement of said drill stem is permitted.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 2 in which said upper and lower drill stem chuck components each inCludes at least one pair of stem engaging jaws, said jaws having inclined outer surfaces, a jaw actuator for each of said jaws having an inner inclined surface opposite to said outer inclined surface of said jaw and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said actuators, a source of hydraulic fluid to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said actuators with said jaws and jam same into locking engagement with said drill stem, and spring means reacting between the head of said cylinder and said actuator normally biassing said actuator out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said chuck component taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said chuck components. 4. The device according to claim 3 which includes a modulating valve in the hydraulic system operating said head drill, said valve reacting to hydraulic pressure built up from increased torque at the associated bit thereby modulating the feed pressure on said piston and cylinder assemblies, said valve including a hollow body, a main shuttle valve reciprocal on said body, an inlet in said body to one side of said shuttle valve, said inlet being operatively connected to said source of hydraulic pressure for said chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle against movement by the pressure of oil in said inlet, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spring normally biassing said piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said piston, a first connection to said body from the feed system of said source of power on one side of said piston, and a by-pass connected on the other side of said piston whereby excess pressure in said inlet generated by increased torque of the associated bit, moves said shuttle and hence said piston in one direction to form a connection between said first connection and said by-pass connection thereby reducing the oil pressure supply to said hydraulic motors.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 4 which includes jar means mounted on the upper end of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to the cylinders of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies, a spring surrounding the associated drill stem and engaging said head frame, a collar fixedly attachable to said associated drill stem spaced above said spring and a weight reciprocal on said drill stem between said spring and said collar, upward movement of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies throwing said weight upwardly on said drill stem against said collar for upward jarring action on said drill string, said spring absorbing kinetic energy from said weight when same moves downwardly by gravity.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 1 in which said upper and lower drill stem chuck components each includes at least one pair of stem engaging jaws, said jaws having inclined outer surfaces, a jaw actuator for each of said jaws having an inner inclined surface opposite to said outer inclined surface of said jaw and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said actuators, a source of hydraulic fluid to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said actuators with said jaws and jam same into locking engagement with said drill stem, and spring means reacting between the head of said cylinder and said actuator normally biassing said actuator out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said chuck component taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said chuck components.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 6 which includes a modulating valve in the hydraulic system operating said head drill, said valve reactinG to hydraulic pressure built up from increased torque at the associated bit thereby modulating the feed pressures on said piston and cylinder assemblies, said valve including a hollow body, a main shuttle valve reciprocal in said body, an inlet in said body to one side of said shuttle valve, said inlet being operatively connected to said source of hydraulic pressure for said chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle against movement by the pressure of oil in said inlet, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spring normally biassing said piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said piston, a first connection to said body from the feed system of said source of power on one side of said piston, and a by-pass connected on the other side of said piston whereby excess pressure in said inlet generated by increased torque of the associated bit, moves said shuttle and hence said piston in one direction to form a connection between said first connection and said by-pass connection thereby reducing the oil pressure supply to said hydraulic motors.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 7 which includes jar means mounted on the upper end of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to the cylinders of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies, a spring surrounding the associated drill stem and engaging said head frame, a collar fixedly attachable to said associated drill stem spaced above said spring and a weight reciprocal on said drill stem between said spring and said collar, upward movement of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies throwing said weight upwardly on said drill stem against said collar for upward jarring action on said drill string, said spring absorbing kinetic energy from said weight when same moves downwardly by gravity.

Claim 9

A head drill used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power and a length of drill stem forming a drill string; comprising in combination a support frame, centrally located supporting structure on said frame, an upper pair of piston and cylinder assemblies mounted on said supporting structure and a lower pair of piston and cylinder assemblies also mounted on said supporting structure in axial opposition to said upper pair, an upper drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies and a corresponding lower drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said lower piston and cylinder assemblies, a source of power for selectively rotating each of said chuck components independently and in either direction, and means for engaging and disengaging either of said chuck components from the associated drill stem, and an offset transverse hinge means on said supporting structure between said upper and lower piston and cylinder assemblies and a piston and cylinder assembly operatively extending between said supporting structure below said hinge means and said upper piston and cylinder assemblies whereby said supporting structure above said hinge means together with said upper pair of piston and cylinder assemblies and said upper chuck component may be moved from a position in axial alignment with said lower piston and cylinder assemblies to a position substantially at right angles thereto for ease of removal and installation of lengths of drill stem upon said associated drill string.

Claim 10

A head drill used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power and a length of drill stem forming a drill string; comprising in combination a support frame, centrally located supporting structure on said frame, an upper pair of piston and cylinder assemblies mounted on said supporting structure and a lower pair of piston and cylinder assemblies also mounted on said supporting structure in axial opposition to said upper pair, an upper drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies and a corresponding lower drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said lower piston and cylinder assemblies, a source of power for selectively rotating each of said chuck components independently and in either direction, and means for engaging and disengaging either of said chuck components from the associated drill stem, and an offset transverse hinge means on said supporting structure between said upper and lower piston and cylinder assemblies and a piston and cylinder assembly operatively extending between said supporting structure below said hinge means and said upper piston and cylinder assemblies whereby said supporting structure above said hinge means together with said upper pair of piston and cylinder assemblies and said upper chuck component may be moved from a position in axial alignment with said lower piston and cylinder assemblies to a position substantially at right angles thereto for ease of removal and installation of lengths of drill stem upon said associated drill string.

Claim 11

The device according to claim 9 in which said upper and lower drill stem chuck components each includes at least one pair of stem engaging jaws, said jaws having inclined outer surfaces, a jaw actuator for each of said jaws having an inner inclined surface opposite to said outer inclined surface of said jaw and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said actuators, a source of hydraulic Fluid to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said actuators with said jaws and jam same into locking engagement with said drill stem, and spring means reacting between the head of said cylinder and said actuator normally biassing said actuator out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said chuck component taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said chuck components.

Claim 12

The device according to claim 9 which includes drill stem hold means on said supporting structure selectively engageable with the length of drill stem between said lower piston and cylinder assemblies to prevent same from dropping downwardly into the associated drill hole while raising or lowering said drill string.

Claim 13

The device according to claim 11 in which said hold means includes at least two opposing jaws engageable around said drill stem, a lever extending diagonally outwardly and downwardly between each of said jaws and said supporting structure, diagonally situated slots in said supporting structure situated approximately at right angles to said levers and a pin and spring component extending between said levers and said slot whereby when said pin and spring component is in the lowermost position, downward movement of said drill stem is prevented by said jaws and when in the uppermost position, downward movement of said drill stem is permitted.

Claim 14

The device according to claim 11 in which said upper and lower drill stem chuck components each includes at least one pair of stem engaging jaws, said jaws having inclined outer surfaces, a jaw actuator for each of said jaws having an inner inclined surface opposite to said outer inclined surface of said jaw and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said actuators, a source of hydraulic fluid to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said actuators with said jaws and jam same into locking engagement with said drill stem, and spring means reacting between the head of said cylinder and said actuator normally biassing said actuator out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said chuck component taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said chuck components.

Claim 15

The device according to claim 12 in which said upper and lower drill stem chuck components each includes at least one pair of stem engaging jaws, said jaws having inclined outer surfaces, a jaw actuator for each of said jaws having an inner inclined surface opposite to said outer inclined surface of said jaw and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said actuators, a source of hydraulic fluid to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said actuators with said jaws and jam same into locking engagement with said drill stem, and spring means reacting between the head of said cylinder and said actuator normally biassing said actuator out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said chuck component taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said chuck components.

Claim 16

The device according to claim 13 which includes a modulating valve in the hydraulic system operating said head drill, said valve reacting to hydraulic pressure built up from increased torque at the associated bit thereby modulating the feed pressures on said piston and cylinder assemblies, said valve including a hollow body, a main shuttle valve reciprocal in said body, an inlet in said body to one side of said shuttle valve, said inlet being operatively connected to said source of hydraulic pressure for said chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle against movement by the pressure of oil in said inlet, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spRing normally biassing said piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said piston, a first connection to said body from the feed system of said source of power on one side of said piston, and a by-pass connected on the other side of said piston whereby excess pressure in said inlet generated by increased torque of the associated bit, moves said shuttle and hence said piston in one direction to form a connection between said first connection and said by-pass connection thereby reducing the oil pressure supply to said hydraulic motors.

Claim 17

The device according to claim 15 which includes jar means mounted on the upper end of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to the cylinders of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies, a spring surrounding the associated drill stem and engaging said head frame, a collar fixedly attachable to said associated drill stem spaced above said spring and a weight reciprocal on said drill stem between said collar, upward movement of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies throwing said weight upwardly on said drill stem against said collar for upward jarring action on said drill string, said spring absorbing kinetic energy from said weight when same moves downwardly by gravity.

Claim 18

A head drill used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power and a length of drill stem forming a drill string; comprising in combination a support frame, centrally located supporting structure on said frame, an upper pair of piston and cylinder assemblies mounted on said supporting structure and a lower pair of piston and cylinder assemblies also mounted on said supporting structure in axial opposition to said upper pair, an upper drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies and a corresponding lower drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said lower piston and cylinder assemblies, a source of power for selectively rotating each of said chuck components independently and in either direction, and means for engaging and disengaging either of said chuck components from the associated drill stem, said upper and lower drill stem chuck components each including at least one pair of stem engaging jaws, said jaws having inclined outer surfaces, a jaw actuator for each of said jaws having an inner inclined surface opposite to said outer inclined surface of said jaw and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said actuators, a source of hydraulic fluid to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said actuators with said jaws and jam same into locking engagement with said drill stem, and spring means reacting between the head of said cylinder and said actuator normally biassing said actuator out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said chuck component taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said chuck components.

Claim 19

A head drill used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power and a length of drill stem forming a drill string; comprising in combination a support frame, centrally located supporting structure on said frame, an upper pair of piston and cylinder assemblies mounted on said supporting structure and a lower pair of piston and cylinder assemblies also mounted on said supporting structure in axial opposition to said upper pair, an upper drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies and a corresponding lower drill stem chuck component mounted on the piston rods of said lower piston and cylinder assemblies, a source of power for selectively rotating each of said chuck components independently and in either direction, and means for engaging and disengaging either of said chuck components from the associated drill stem, said upper and lower drill stem chuck components each including at least one pair of stem engaging jaws, said jaws having inclined outer surfaces, a jaw actuator for each of said jaws having an inner inclined surface opposite to said outer inclined surface of said jaw and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said actuators, a source of hydraulic fluid to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said actuators with said jaws and jam same into locking engagement with said drill stem, and spring means reacting between the head of said cylinder and said actuator normally biassing said actuator out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said chuck component taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said chuck components.

Claim 20

The device according to claim 17 which includes a modulating valve in the hydraulic system operating said head drill, said valve reacting to hydraulic pressure built up from increased torque at the associated bit thereby modulating the feed pressures on said piston and cylinder assemblies, said valve including a hollow body, a main shuttle valve reciprocal in said body, an inlet in said body to one side of said shuttle valve, said inlet being operatively connected to said source of hydraulic pressure for said chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle against movement by the pressure of oil in said inlet, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spring normally biassing said piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said piston, a first connection to said body from the feed systEm of said source of power on one side of said piston, and a by-pass connected on the other side of said piston whereby excess pressure in said inlet generated by increased torque of the associated bit, moves said shuttle and hence said piston in one direction to form a connection between said first connection and said by-pass connection thereby reducing the oil pressure supply to said hydraulic motors.

Claim 21

The device according to claim 17 which includes jar means mounted on the upper end of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to the cylinders of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies, a spring surrounding the associated drill stem and engaging said head frame, a collar fixedly attachable to said associated drill stem spaced above said spring and a weight reciprocal on said stem between said spring and said collar, upward movement of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies throwing said weight upwardly on said drill stem against said collar for upward jarring action on said drill string, said spring absorbing kinetic energy from said weight when same moves downwardly by gravity.