Vehicle-mounted earth drilling apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle-mounted earth drilling apparatus of the type having an elongated mast mounted on said vehicle for pivotal movement from a horizontal storage position to a vertical operating position and means for circulating a liquid from a mud pit, into a hollow drill stem which is supported by the mast, into the hole being drilled, and back to the mud pit, the improvement comprising means for conforming the mud pit into a substantially flat-bottomed container having substantially vertical walls which comprise a closed polygon;
- substantially horizontal hinge means connecting the upper edge of one wall of the mud pit to a portion of the vehicle frame which is above the ground a distance approximately equal to the height of the connected wall of the mud pit; and
means for conveying the liquid from the hole being drilled to the mud pit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An "L" shaped mud pit longitudinally and horizontally hinges at an upper edge of a wall panel thereof to a portion of a vehicle frame, or an extension thereof, such that when lowered it is in ground-supported, horizontal position convenient with respect to the hole to be drilled and when raised it is in a storage-transport vertical position in which it is in line with the adjacent side of the vehicle, and its rearward portion is above the vehicle rear tire. A centrally located divider wall panel enables liquid to travel from the rear of the mud pit forward and then back again to the rear thereof where a removable extension to the mud pump intake pipe is located. Screens, adjustable leveling pads, and drain and cleanout plugs are also provided.
38 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle-mounted earth drilling apparatus of the type having an elongated mast mounted on said vehicle for pivotal movement from a horizontal storage position to a vertical operating position and means for circulating a liquid from a mud pit, into a hollow drill stem which is supported by the mast, into the hole being drilled, and back to the mud pit, the improvement comprising means for conforming the mud pit into a substantially flat-bottomed container having substantially vertical walls which comprise a closed polygon;
- substantially horizontal hinge means connecting the upper edge of one wall of the mud pit to a portion of the vehicle frame which is above the ground a distance approximately equal to the height of the connected wall of the mud pit; and
means for conveying the liquid from the hole being drilled to the mud pit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- substantially horizontal hinge means connecting the upper edge of one wall of the mud pit to a portion of the vehicle frame which is above the ground a distance approximately equal to the height of the connected wall of the mud pit; and
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17. A vehicle-mounted earth drilling apparatus, comprising:
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a hollow drill stem; a substantially flat-bottomed, uncovered liquid container having substantially vertical walls, said container having means for forming one or more sections thereof for receiving a liquid carrying solids, permitting the solids to settle therein, and permitting the liquid to flow into the remaining portion of said container; means for recirculating the liquid through a path comprising the remaining portion of said container, said hollow drill stem, the hole which is being bored thereby, and said receiving and settling section, as well as moving a portion of the solids carried from the hole by the liquid to said container; means for horizontally hinging the upper edge of one wall of said container to a portion of the vehicle frame which is above the ground a distance approximately equal to the height of that wall of the container which is hinged to the vehicle frame; and means for operably maintaining said container in a vertical, transport-storage position.
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Specification