A rock drilling shank adaptor includes an elongate body having an internal flushing bore and an entry hole through the sidewall of the adaptor in fluid communication with the internal bore. The adaptor wall at the region of the entry hole is reinforced such that an internal diameter of the flushing bore at the reinforced region is less than an internal diameter of the bore at a position axially beyond the reinforced region.

A rock drilling shank adaptor includes an elongate body having an internal flushing bore and an entry hole through the sidewall of the adaptor in fluid communication with the internal bore. The adaptor wall at the region of the entry hole is reinforced such that an internal diameter of the flushing bore at the reinforced region is less than an internal diameter of the bore at a position axially beyond the reinforced region.

An internally threaded bit for percussion drilling is provided, which has thread roots wider than the thread crests. The bit exhibits a reduced rate of ringing off, and can accept drill rods having a range of crest widths.

A drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools. The assembly comprises a percussion bit comprising a bit head detachably connected to an axially extending shank and engagement means formed on an external wall of the shank engageable with complementary engagement means formed internally of a drive chuck whereby rotational drive from the chuck may be transmitted to the shank. At least one flushing channel extends between the external wall of the bit shank and a cutting face of the bit head, to provide a fluid path for a flushing medium between the external wall of the bit shank and the cutting face of the bit head.

A drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools. The assembly comprises a percussion bit comprising a bit head detachably connected to an axially extending shank and engagement means formed on an external wall of the shank engageable with complementary engagement means formed internally of a drive chuck whereby rotational drive from the chuck may be transmitted to the shank. At least one flushing channel extends between the external wall of the bit shank and a cutting face of the bit head, to provide a fluid path for a flushing medium between the external wall of the bit shank and the cutting face of the bit head.

A down-the-hole hammer drill bit retaining assembly is arranged to releasably retain a drill bit at a hammer arrangement of a percussion drilling apparatus. The retaining assembly includes a drive sub and a retainer ring. The drive sub has at least one indent to provide a fluid communication pathway for a flushing fluid extending over a radially outward facing surface of the retainer ring and into an internal region of the drive sub in contact with inwardly projecting splines.

A down-the-hole hammer drill bit retaining assembly is arranged to releasably retain a drill bit at a hammer arrangement of a percussion drilling apparatus. The retaining assembly includes a drive sub and a retainer ring. The drive sub has at least one indent to provide a fluid communication pathway for a flushing fluid extending over a radially outward facing surface of the retainer ring and into an internal region of the drive sub in contact with inwardly projecting splines.

A drill bit for chiseling stone includes an impact face at an insertion end of the drill bit, a hollow shank, where a delivery passage is defined within the hollow shank, and a drill head, where the drill head has, at a front end of the drill head, a cutting edge, an intake opening, and an intake passage. The intake passage connects the intake opening to the delivery passage. A cross section of the intake passage increases from the intake opening to the delivery passage.

A drill bit for chiseling stone includes an impact face at an insertion end of the drill bit, a hollow shank, where a delivery passage is defined within the hollow shank, and a drill head, where the drill head has, at a front end of the drill head, a cutting edge, an intake opening, and an intake passage. The intake passage connects the intake opening to the delivery passage. A cross section of the intake passage increases from the intake opening to the delivery passage.

A drill bit for coupling in use downhole drilling apparatus, the drill bit comprising: an annular coring drill bit that is rotatable to cut a formation bore face to create a core plug, a concentric drill bit that can be repeatedly axially moved (such as by oscillation (such as a vibration) and/or impact) to break the core plug.