Rotary driven drilling hammer
AssigneeThe Charles Machines Works, Inc.
InventorsMatthew L. Dock, Richard Felix Sharp, Floyd R. Gunsaulis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A percussive tool adapted to receive rotational energy from the inner member of a dual-member drill string. In a preferred embodiment the percussive tool has a hydraulic pump, driven by a drive member, to operate the hammer assembly. In another preferred embodiment the percussive tool has a rotary-driven cam assembly adapted to mechanically operate the hammer assembly. This invention provides increased control and efficiency for the use of percussive force in horizontal directional drilling operations.
Claims24
A percussive tool for use with a dual-member drill string comprising an outer member and an inner member, wherein the inner member is rotatable independently of the outer member, the percussive tool comprising:
- a housing connectable with the outer member of the drill string;
- a drive member rotatably supported within the housing and connectable with the inner member of the drill string, wherein rotation of the inner member drives rotation of the drive member;
- a hammer assembly supported in the housing and operable in response to rotation of the drive member to generate a percussive force;
- and
- a unitary drill bit supported by the housing to receive the percussive force from the hammer assembly.
A percussive tool for use in a borehole, the tool comprising:
- a housing;
- a drive member rotatably supported within the housing;
- and
- a hammer assembly supported by the housing, comprising a hydraulic pump assembly and a hammer unit;
- wherein the pump assembly operates in response to rotation of the drive member and is adapted to power operation of the hammer unit.
A horizontal directional drilling machine comprising:
- a rotary drive system;
- a drill string having a first end and a second end;
- wherein the first end of the drill string is operatively connected to the rotary drive system;
- wherein the drill string comprises a dual-member drill string having an outer member and an inner member, wherein the inner member is independently rotatable of the outer member;
- and
- a percussive tool comprising:
- a housing connectable with the outer member of the drill string;
- a hammer assembly operatively supported in the housing and operatively connected to the inner member of the drill string so that rotation of the inner member will generate a percussive force;
- and
- a unitary drill bit supported by the housing to receive the percussive force from the hammer assembly.
A method for underground horizontal directional drilling using a horizontal directional drilling machine including a rotary drive system, a dual-member drill string having a first end and a second end, wherein the rotary drive system is attached to the first end of the drill string, the drill string comprising an outer member and an inner member, wherein the inner member is rotatable independently of the outer member, and wherein the machine further comprises a percussive tool comprising a housing connectable with the outer member of the drill string, a hammer assembly supported in the housing to generate a percussive force, and a unitary bit supported by the housing to receive percussive force generated by the hammer assembly, the method comprising:
- operating the hammer assembly by rotating the inner members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.