US3744577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Earth boring machine with a readily replaceable drill rod chuck
Assignee: Tamrock Canada Inc
•
Filing: 1971-10-01
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-10-01
Abstract
Abstract Rotary, compressive and tensile forces are transmitted through a replaceable chuck to a rotary drill string to bore a large diameter hole by initially drilling a small diameter hole and subsequently enlarging the small diameter hole into the desired large diameter hole with a reaming operation. The drill string is rotated with rotary drilling equipment mounted upon a movable carriage. The uppermost drill rod of the drill string is connected to the main drive spindle of the rotary drilling equipment by the replaceable chuck. A pair of cap screws and a clamp ring allow the replaceable chuck to be easily and quickly removed from the main drive spindle. Rotary force from the main drive spindle is transmitted to the replaceable chuck by a square recess on the main drive spindle that mates with a raised square on the replaceable chuck. The replaceable chuck is provided with an axial floating action for make up and break out of the threaded connection between the drill stem and the replaceable chuck. A register pilot on the replaceable chuck mates with a pilot recess on the main drive spindle to provide alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 R Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:40
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B3/00; E21B3/02; E21B17/00; E21B17/02; E21B17/04; E21B17/046; E21B17/0465; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/50; F16B2200/509; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S464/00; Y10S464/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for transmitting rotary, compressive and tensile forces to a drill string to drill a large diameter hole, comprising: rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle, a motor for rotating said main drive spindle and means for moving said main drive spindle axially; first angular means on said main drive spindle for transmitting rotary force, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle; a replaceable chuck including a connection for attaching the drill string; second angular means on said replaceable chuck that cooperate with said first angular means for transmitting rotary force, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and, clamp means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting compressive and tensile forces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for transmitting rotary, compressive and tensile forces to a drill string to drill a large diameter hole, comprising: rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle, a motor for rotating said main drive spindle and means for moving said main drive spindle axially; first angular means on said main drive spindle for transmitting rotary force, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle; a replaceable chuck including a connection for attaching the drill string; second angular means on said replaceable chuck that cooperate with said first angular means for transmitting rotary force, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and, clamp means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting compressive and tensile forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including alignment means for providing alignment between the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said alignment means includes a register pilot extending from the replaceable chuck and a pilot recess in the main drive spindle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said connection for attaching the drill string includes a set of threads on the rotary drill string and a matching set of threads on the replaceable chuck.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 4. wherein said set of threads on the rotary drill string is an external set of threads and the set of threads on the replaceable chuck is an internal set of threads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said clamp means is a clamp ring with a pair of flanges that engage the main drive spindle and the replaceable chuck respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6. wherein the clamp ring is divided into two semicircular ring elements that are connected by a pair of screws.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6. wherein said clamp ring consists of a pair of semicircular portions connected by a hinge and a lock means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6. including floating means for allowing said replaceable chuck to float linearly relative to said main drive spindle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
An earth boring maching for drilling by the transmission of rotary and linear forces to a rotary drill string, comprising: rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle with first angular means for transmitting rotary forces, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle; a replaceable chuck with means for connecting the rotary drill string, said replaceable chuck having second angular means for transmitting rotary force that cooperate with said first angular means to transmit rotary force from said rotary drilling equipment to the drill string, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and, clamp ring means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting linear force between the rotary drilling equipment and the drill string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
An earth boring maching for drilling by the transmission of rotary and linear forces to a rotary drill string, comprising: rotary drilling equipment including a main drive spindle with first angular means for transmitting rotary forces, said first angular means being a driving square recess in the main drive spindle; a replaceable chuck with means for connecting the rotary drill string, said replaceable chuck having second angular means for transmitting rotary force that cooperate with said first angular means to transmit rotary force from said rotary drilling equipment to the drill string, said second angular means being a driving square protruding from the replaceable chuck; and, clamp ring means connected to the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle for transmitting linear force between the rotary drilling equipment and the drill string.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The earth boring machine of claim 10 wherein said means for connecting the rotary drill string to the rotary drilling equipment includes a set of threads on the rotary drill string and a matching set of threads on the replaceable chuck.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The earth boring machine of claim 11 wherein said set of threads on the rotary drill string is an external set of threads and the set of threads on the chuck is an internal set of threads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The earth boring machine of claim 12 wherein said clamp ring means is a clamp ring with a pair of flanges that engage the main drive spindle and the replaceable chuck respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The earth boring machine of claim 13 wherein the clamp ring is divided into two semicircular ring elements that are connected by a pair of cap screws.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The earth boring machine of claim 13 wherein said clamp ring consists of a pair of semicircular portions connected by a hinge and a lock means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The earth boring machine of claim 13 including floating means for allowing said replaceable chuck to float linearly relative to said main drive spindle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The earth boring machine of claim 16 including alignment means for providing for alignment between the replaceable chuck and the main drive spindle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The earth boring machine of claim 17 wherein said alignment means includes a register pilot extending from the replaceable chuck and a pilot recess in the main drive spindle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |