An agitator for vibrating a drill string includes an agitator housing, a rotor and an agitation mass. The drill string has a central axis. The rotor is coupled to the agitator housing and being rotatable about an agitator axis. The agitation mass is coupled to the rotor and is rotatable about the agitator axis. During rotation, a center of mass of the agitation mass is spaced apart from the agitator axis to cause deflection of the agitator axis relative to the central axis to produce vibration in the drill string.

An anchoring device for a horizontal directional rig is provided. The anchoring device uses vibrations from a motor to drive an anchor into the ground in a more efficient manner than traditional stake down systems. The vibrating motor is mounted to a stake down carriage. The oscillations from the motor allow the steel anchor to penetrate the ground with a small axial load and therein allows greater surface and holding force.

An anchoring device for a horizontal directional rig is provided. The anchoring device uses vibrations from a motor to drive an anchor into the ground in a more efficient manner than traditional stake down systems. The vibrating motor is mounted to a stake down carriage. The oscillations from the motor allow the steel anchor to penetrate the ground with a small axial load and therein allows greater surface and holding force.

A lunar excavation and projectile transport system includes a projectile launcher having a base and a throwing arm and a projectile catcher. The throwing arm is rotatably coupled to the base and arranged at a mounting angle relative to a central axis defined by the base. The mounting angle defines a lunch angle for a processed core sample that is launched from within the throwing arm during rotation of the throwing arm by an electric motor. The projectile catcher includes a storage body, a plurality of telescoping arms coupled to the storage body, and a fabric wrapped around each of the plurality of telescoping arms to define a catching volume within which the processed core sample launched by the projectile launcher is caught.

A lunar excavation and projectile transport system includes a projectile launcher having a base and a throwing arm and a projectile catcher. The throwing arm is rotatably coupled to the base and arranged at a mounting angle relative to a central axis defined by the base. The mounting angle defines a lunch angle for a processed core sample that is launched from within the throwing arm during rotation of the throwing arm by an electric motor. The projectile catcher includes a storage body, a plurality of telescoping arms coupled to the storage body, and a fabric wrapped around each of the plurality of telescoping arms to define a catching volume within which the processed core sample launched by the projectile launcher is caught.

A vibration generator (9) for a drilling installation comprises a housing (16), at least one rotation body (17), a suspension (24) by means of which the rotation body is suspended rotatably within the housing, the mass centre of the rotation body (17) being eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the suspension, and a drive (18) for rotating the rotation body. The housing (16) holds a fluid (15) which is in contact with the rotation body (17) whereby relative rotation between the rotation body and the fluid generates a flow resistance and in that the rotation body comprises flow resistance reduction means (25).

A vibration generator (9) for a drilling installation comprises a housing (16), at least one rotation body (17), a suspension (24) by means of which the rotation body is suspended rotatably within the housing, the mass centre of the rotation body (17) being eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the suspension, and a drive (18) for rotating the rotation body. The housing (16) holds a fluid (15) which is in contact with the rotation body (17) whereby relative rotation between the rotation body and the fluid generates a flow resistance and in that the rotation body comprises flow resistance reduction means (25).

A pulsation valve system and method can include a valve mandrel, an oscillating valve and a stationary valve. The valve mandrel can be operably coupled to and downstream of a rotor of a drilling motor. The oscillating valve can be attached to and rotatable with the valve mandrel. The stationary valve can be positioned adjacent and stationary with respect to the oscillating valve head. The stationary valve can include a stationary valve bore defined therethrough. The oscillating valve can include an oscillating valve bore defined therethrough that is alignable with the stationary valve bore at a predetermined rotational position. A valve mandrel cavity allows fluid to travel from the oscillating valve bore and down toward a tool. Rotation of the oscillating valve creates a cyclic obstruction with the stationary valve bore, that results in an agitation force on the drilling motor or bottom hole assembly.

A pulsation valve system and method can include a valve mandrel, an oscillating valve and a stationary valve. The valve mandrel can be operably coupled to and downstream of a rotor of a drilling motor. The oscillating valve can be attached to and rotatable with the valve mandrel. The stationary valve can be positioned adjacent and stationary with respect to the oscillating valve head. The stationary valve can include a stationary valve bore defined therethrough. The oscillating valve can include an oscillating valve bore defined therethrough that is alignable with the stationary valve bore at a predetermined rotational position. A valve mandrel cavity allows fluid to travel from the oscillating valve bore and down toward a tool. Rotation of the oscillating valve creates a cyclic obstruction with the stationary valve bore, that results in an agitation force on the drilling motor or bottom hole assembly.

A fluid pulse generator can include a fluid motor and a bypass flow path in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet, and a flow control device configured to permit flow through the bypass flow path in response to a predetermined pressure differential applied across the flow control device. A method of generating fluid pulses can include flowing a fluid through a fluid pulse generator, thereby generating fluid pulses, and then applying a predetermined pressure differential from an inlet to an outlet of the fluid pulse generator, thereby permitting flow of the fluid through the fluid pulse generator without generating the fluid pulses. A fluid pulse generation system can include a fluid pulse generator with a fluid motor, a variable flow restrictor, and a bypass flow path. A predetermined pressure differential applied across the fluid motor permits the flow of the fluid through the bypass flow path.