Enhanced computer control of in-situ drilling system

A method of substantially continuously drilling a drill hole by driving and feeding a drill stem and bit into the earth and flushing of the cuttings and dust from the hole using a bailing fluid flow, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring through a transducer a pressure of the bailing fluid flow;
• and
• substantially constantly regulating both the rate of driving and feeding based on the monitoring of the pressure during both a normal and an approaching overload condition;
• whereby said cuttings and dust are flushed in a controlled manner to substantially eliminate airborne contamination and provide a substantially continuous and optimum drilling operation.

A method for automatically controlling at least the feeding of a drill stem and bit being driven into the earth for forming a drill hole, comprising:

• feeding the drill stem and bit into the earth at a feed rate;
• flushing the cuttings and dust from the drill hole by bailing fluid flow;
• continuously monitoring a first parameter relating to a thrust acting on the drill bit during feeding and a second parameter relating to the bailing fluid flow;
• automatically regulating at least the feed rate during the forming of the drill hole based on at least one of the first and second parameters;
• whereby said cuttings and dust are flushed in a controlled manner to substantially eliminate airborne contamination and substantially continuous and optimum drilling operation is provided to reduce wear on and extend the service life of the bit.

An apparatus for substantially automatically and continuously driving a drill stem having a bit into the earth to form a drill hole, comprising:

• a feed device for feeding the drill stem and bit at a feed rate to form the drill hole;
• a sensor monitoring a first parameter corresponding to the thrust acting on the drill bit and generating a first signal;
• a flushing mechanism for flushing cuttings and dust from the hole by bailing fluid flow;
• a transducer for monitoring a second parameter corresponding to the bailing fluid flow and the loading of the flushing mechanism and generating a second signal;
• a controller responsive to levels of the first and second signals for substantially automatically and continuously regulating the fluid flow to the feed device to adjust at least the feed rate;
• whereby regulating the feed rate corresponding to the flushing mechanism and the thrust acting on the drill stem and bit enhances the drilling operation.

A method for automatically controlling at least the feeding of a drill stem and bit being driven into the earth for forming a drill hole, comprising:

• feeding the drill stem and bit into the earth at a feed rate;
• driving the drill bit into the earth at a drive rate;
• flushing cuttings and dust from the drill hole by bailing fluid flow;
• continuously monitoring a first parameter relating to a thrust acting on the drill bit during feeding and a second parameter relating to the bailing fluid flow;
• automatically regulating the feed rate during the forming of the drill hole based on at least one of the first and second parameters;
• and
• automatically regulating the drive rate based on the feed rate;
• whereby the cuttings and dust are flushed in a controlled manner to substantially eliminate airborne contamination and substantially continuous and optimum drilling operation is provided to reduce wear on and extend the service life of the bit.

An apparatus for substantially automatically and continuously driving a drill stem having a bit into the earth to form a drill hole, comprising:

• a feed device for feeding the drill bit at a feed rate to form the drill hole;
• a driving device for driving the drill bit at a drive rate;
• a sensor monitoring a first parameter relating to the thrust acting on the drill bit and generating a first signal;
• a flushing mechanism for flushing cuttings and dust from the hole by bailing fluid flow;
• a transducer for monitoring a second parameter corresponding to the bailing fluid flow and the loading of the flushing mechanism and generating a second signal;
• a controller responsive to levels the first and second signals for substantially automatically and continuously regulating the feed rate and regulating the drive rate based on the feed rate;
• whereby regulating the feed rate and drive rate corresponding to the flushing mechanism and the thrust acting on the drill bit enhances the drilling operation.

A method for controlling a drilling operation including a drill bit being driven into the earth to form a drill hole, comprising:

• driving the drill bit at a drive rate;
• feeding the drill bit at a feed rate;
• monitoring a thrust force acting on the drill bit;
• automatically modifying the feed rate to maintain the thrust force within a first predetermined acceptable range of forces for the drill bit;
• and
• automatically modifying the drive rate within a second predetermined acceptable range of rotational speeds based on the feed rate;
• whereby modifying the feed rate according to the thrust force acting on the bit and modifying the drive rate according to the feed rate improves the efficiency of the drilling operation.