Hydraulic actuator for controlling operations of drilling machines

A hydraulic actuator for controlling an operation of a drilling machine, the hydraulic actuator comprising:

• a rod assembly;
• and
• a tube assembly defining a bore to receive the rod assembly therethrough and being moveable with respect to the rod assembly upon an influx and an efflux of a pressurized fluid with respect to the bore to control a feed of a drill head assembly of the drilling machine, wherein the rod assembly is formed from a plurality of parts separable from one another to facilitate assembly or disassembly of the rod assembly with respect to the tube assembly,
• wherein the rod assembly includes:
• a piston arranged within the bore to define a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber with the bore;
• a first rod extending from a first end frame of a mast frame of the drilling machine and coupled to the piston;
• and
• a second rod extending from a second end frame of the mast frame and coupled to the piston,
• wherein the first end frame and the second end frame are offset from one another along a length of the mast frame,
• wherein the piston includes a through-bore configured to slidably receive the first rod therein to couple the first rod with the piston, the through-bore defining an inner engagement surface, and
• wherein the first rod defines an outer mating surface configured to be engaged with the inner engagement surface to lock the first rod with respect to the piston.

A drilling machine, comprising:

• a mast frame;
• a drill string assembly configured to perform an operation of the drilling machine, the drill string assembly including a drill head assembly and one or more pipe segments coupled to the drill head assembly;
• and
• a hydraulic actuator for controlling the operation, the hydraulic actuator including:
• a rod assembly;
• and
• a tube assembly including a tube having opposite ends and end structures at the opposite ends, the tube assembly defining a bore to receive the rod assembly therethrough and being moveable with respect to the rod assembly upon an influx and an efflux of a pressurized fluid with respect to the bore to control a feed of a drill head assembly of the drilling machine, wherein the rod assembly is formed from a plurality of parts separable from one another to facilitate assembly or disassembly of the rod assembly with respect to the tube assembly;
• wherein the tube assembly includes a releasable connection between at least one of the opposing ends of the tube and at least one of the end structures;
• wherein each of the end structures includes a through opening;
• wherein the rod assembly includes:
• a piston in the tube;
• a first rod coupled to the piston and extending in the through opening of one of the end structures;
• and
• a second rod coupled to the piston and extending in the through opening of the other end structure.