US 2026/0275819 A1Published application

Drill bushing retention

AssigneeCaterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC

InventorsRoberto Garcia, Rex A. Glover, Yagneshwar Natarajan

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Abstract

A drill machine may include a drill deck having an opening for performing drilling operations. The drill machine may also include an outer bushing with a first flange and an inner bushing configured for being sleevably arranged within the outer bushing. The inner bushing may include an outer peripheral surface and a second flange arranged on a top end thereof and extending radially outward beyond the outer peripheral surface. The drill machine may also include a bit basket configured to retain the outer bushing and a deck wrench configured to retain the inner bushing. A method of drilling operations where the position of the inner bushing or sleeve is retained by the deck wrench is also provided.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A drill machine, comprising:

a ground engaging system configured for supporting the drill machine relative to a supporting surface and for moving the drill machine across the supporting surface;
a frame supported by the ground engaging system;
a drill deck arranged on the frame and having an opening for performing drilling operations with a drill string extending in a longitudinal direction through the opening;
an outer bushing arranged in the drill deck at the opening, the outer bushing having an outer portion with a first flange and an inner portion configured to rotate relative to the outer portion;
an inner bushing configured for being sleevably arranged within the outer bushing and comprising:
a lower portion having a through bore sized to sleevably receive a drill pipe and having a first outer peripheral surface defining a first outer diameter and configured for insertion into the outer bushing;
an offsetting portion arranged on a top end of the lower portion and having a second outer peripheral surface defining a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter;
and
a second flange arranged on a top end of the offsetting portion and extending radially outward beyond the second outer peripheral surface;
a bit basket configured to articulate laterally relative to the opening between a retracted position and an intermediate position where a portion of the bit basket is positioned directly above and in close proximity with a portion of the first flange;
and
a deck wrench configured to articulate laterally relative to the opening between a retracted position and an intermediate position where a portion of the deck wrench is positioned directly above and in close proximity with a portion of the second flange.

9 more elements

A method of drilling, comprising:

advancing a drill bit and hammer through an outer bushing in a drill deck of a drill machine;
advancing a drill string including the drill bit, the hammer, and a drill pipe through the outer bushing such that an inner bushing or sleeve arranged on the drill pipe engages the outer bushing, the inner bushing or sleeve comprising:
a lower portion having a through bore sized to sleevably receive the drill pipe and having a first outer peripheral surface defining a first outer diameter and configured for insertion into the outer bushing;
an offsetting portion arranged on a top end of the lower portion and having a second outer peripheral surface defining a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter;
and
a flange arranged on a top end of the offsetting portion and extending radially outward beyond the second outer peripheral surface;
arresting longitudinal motion of the inner bushing or sleeve through engagement of the inner bushing or sleeve with the outer bushing;
actuating a deck wrench to move the deck wrench laterally relative to the drill string and into position above the flange of the inner bushing or sleeve;
performing drilling operations;
and
maintaining a longitudinal position of the inner bushing or sleeve using the deck wrench engaged with the flange of the inner bushing or sleeve.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/078,921Filed 13 Mar 2025
Published: 17 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

E21B 19/24
Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables: guiding or…
E21B 3/022
Surface drives for rotary drilling: top drives
E21B 7/20
Special methods or apparatus for drilling: driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing…
E21B 15/00
Supports for the drilling machine

Family

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