Continuous Universal Head Drill (Patent No: 958405)

Inventor: Adamson, James S.

Location: Calgary

Comments: see Calgary Herald, July 11, 1969; first through-the-ram drilling concept overcomes deflection problems, provides optimum versatility and controll; used by Medesto Exploration Ltd.; miner; prospector; equipment designer and manufacturer; built at the McCoy-Renn plant in Calgary

Description: WHAT I CLAIM AS MY INVENTION IS:

1. A head drill for use in drill holes and used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power including a source of hydraulic fluid, an hydraulic system, a length of drill stem forming a drill string, and a drill bit: 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, hydraulic motors on said head drill operable by said source of hydraulic power and operatively connected to said upper and lower drill stem chuck components respectively for selectively rotating said upper and lower drill stem chuck components independently and in either direction, and means on said head drill for engaging and disengaging either said upper and lower drill stem chuck components from the associated drill stem, and drill stem hold means on said supporting structure selectively engageable with the length of drill stem adjacent said lower piston and cylinder assemblies to prevent same from dropping downwardly into the drill hole while raising or lowering said drill string.

2. 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 outwardly and downwardly between each of said jaws and said supporting structure, slots in said supporting structure situated approximately at right angles to each of said levers and a pin and spring component extending between each of said levers and each of said slots and moveable to an upper and a lower position whereby when said pin and spring component is in the lower position, downward movement of said drill stem is prevented by said jaws and when in the upper position, downward movement of said drill stem is permitted.

3. 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 each of said jaws and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said jaw actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said jaw actuators, means to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said jaw 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 jaw actuators normally biassing said jaw actuators out of engagement with said jaws.

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 each of said jaws and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said jaw actuators being mounted forrelative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said jaw actuators, means to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said jaw 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 jaw actuators normally biassing said jaw actuators out of engagement with said jaws.

5. The device according to Claim 3 which includes a modulating valve in said hydraulic system operating said head drill, 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 fluid for said drill stem chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle valve against movement in One direction, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spring normally biassing said control valve piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said control valve piston, a first connection to said body from said hydraulic system on one side of said control valve piston, and an unloading port connected to said body upon the other side of said control valve piston, said body including a control valve piston seat, said control valve piston normally engaging said seat and closing off the connection between said first connection and said unloading port, but permitting connection between said first connection and said second unloading port when an increase in pressure of the hydraulic fluid occurs at said inlet and moves said control valve piston from said seat, thereby reducing the pressure of said hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic motors.

6. The device according to Claim 4 which includes a modulating valve in the said hydraulic system operating said head drill, 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 means to move said piston in said cylinder for said upper and lower drill stem chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle valve against movement in one direction, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spring normally biassing said control valve piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said control valve piston, a first connection to said body from the hydraulic system on one side of said control valve piston, and an unloading port connected to said body upon the other side of said control valve piston, said body including a control valve piston seat, said control valve piston normally engaging said seat and closing off the connection between said first connection and said unloading port, but permitting connection between said first connection and said second unloading port when an increase in pressure of the hydraulic fluid occurs at said inlet and moves said control valve piston from said seat, thereby reducing the hydraulic fluid supply to said source of power for said upper and lower drill stem chuck components.

7. The device according to Claim 5 Which includes jar means mounted on said piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to said last mentioned piston rods, a coil spring surrounding the drill stem and engaging said head frame by one end thereof, 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 pistons 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.

8. The device according to Claim 6 which includes jar means mounted on said piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to said last mentioned piston rods, 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 pistons 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.

9. A head drill for use in drill holes and used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power including hydraulic fluid, an hydraulic system, a length of drill stem forming a drill string, and a drill bit 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, hydraulic motors on said head drill operable by said source of hydraulic power and operatively connected to said upper and lower drill stem chuck components respectively for selectively rotating each of said upper and lower drill stem chuck components, independently and in either direction, and means on said head drill for engaging and disengaging either said upper and lower drill stem chuck components from the drill stem, offset transverse hinge means on said supporting structure between said upper and lower piston and cylinder assemblies and a piston and cylinder assembly 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 drill stem 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 the drill string.

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

11. The device according to Claim 10 in which said hold means includes at least two opposing jaws engageable around said drill stem, a lever extending outwardly and downwardly between each of said jaws and said supporting structure, slots in said supporting structure situated approximately at right angles to each of said levers and a pin and spring component extending between each of said levers and each of said slot and moveable to an upper and lower position whereby when said pins and spring component is in the lower position, downward movement of said drill stem is prevented by said jaws and when in the upper position, downward movement of said drill stem is permitted.

12. 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 each of said jaws and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said jaw actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said jaw actuators, means to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said jaw actuator 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 jaw actuators normally biassing said actuators out of engagement with said jaws.

13. The device according to Claim 10 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 each of said jaws and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said jaw actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said jaw actuators, means to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said jaw 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 jaw actuator normally biassing said jaw actuators out of engagement with said jaws.

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 each of said jaws and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said jaw actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said jaw actuators, means to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said jaw 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 jaw actuators normally biassing said jaw actuators out of engagement with said jaws.

15. The device according to Claim 13 which includes a modulating valve in said hydraulic system operating said head drill, 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 fluid for said chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle valve against movement in one direction, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spring normally biassing said control valve piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said control valve piston, a first connection to said body from said hydraulic system on one side of said control valve piston, and an unloading port connected to said body upon the other side of said control valve piston, said body including a control valve piston seat, said control valve piston normally engaging said seat and closing off the connection between said first connection and said unloading port, but permitting connection between said first connection and said second unloading port when an increase in pressure of the hydraulic fluid occurs at said inlet and moves said control valve piston from said seat, thereby reducing the hydraulic fluid supply to said hydraulic motors.

16. The device according to Claim 15 which includes jar means mounted on said piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to said last mentioned piston rods, a coil spring surrounding the drill stem and engaging said head frame by one end thereof, a collar fixedly attachable to said drill stem spaced above said spring and a weight reciprocal on said drill stem between said collar, upward movement of said pistons 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.

17. A head drill for use in drill holes and used in conjunction with a source of hydraulic power including a source of hydraulic fluid an hydraulic system, 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 on said head drill operatively connected to said upper and lower drill stem chuck components and selectively rotating said upper and lower drill stem chuck components independently and in either direction, and means on said head drill for engaging and disengaging either said upper and lower drill stem 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 apposite to said outer inclined surface of each of said jaws and engageable therewith, a cylinder, said jaws and said jaw actuators being mounted for relative movement in said cylinder, a piston also in said cylinder and connected to said jaw actuators, means to move said piston in said cylinder thereby to engage said jaw 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 jaw actuators normally biassing said jaw actuators out of engagement with said jaws, said source of power for said upper and lower drill stem chuck components taking the form of an hydraulic motor operatively connected to each of said upper and lower drill stem chuck components.

18. The device according to Claim 17 which includes a modulating valve in said hydraulic system operating said head drill, 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 fluid for said drill stem chuck components, a first adjustable spring normally biassing said shuttle valve against movement in one direction, a control valve piston also reciprocal in said body, a second adjustable spring normally biassing said control valve piston towards said shuttle valve, a third spring between said shuttle valve and said control valve piston, a first connection to said body from said hydraulic system on one side of said control valve piston, and an unloading port connected to said body upon the other side of said control valve piston, said body including a control valve piston seat, said control valve piston normally engaging said seat and closing off the connection between said first connection and said unloading port, but permitting connection between said first connection and said second unloading port when an increase in pressure of the hydraulic fluid occurs at said inlet and moves said control valve piston from said seat, thereby reducing the pressure of said hydraulic fluid to said source of power for said drill stem chuck assemblies.

19. The device according to Claim 17 which includes jar means mounted on said piston rods of said upper piston and cylinder assemblies for breaking loose jammed drill strings, said jar means including a head frame secured to said last mentioned piston rods, a coil spring surrounding the drill stem and engaging said head frame by the lower end thereof, 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 pistons 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.