A bit breaker for coupling a drill bit to a drilling string includes a base defining a central opening and a wrench portion extending upward from the base. The wrench portion has two opposing lateral sides and an end wall that define an open interior that receives a shank of a drill bit. The open interior and the central opening are in alignment. A handle is coupled with the base and is movable between a storage position in which a top of the handle is positioned below a top surface of the wrench portion and a toting position in which the handle extends upward with the top of the handle positioned above the top surface. A gate is movably positioned between a retaining position in which the gate encloses the open interior of the wrench portion and an access position that provides lateral access to the open interior.

A bit breaker for coupling a drill bit to a drilling string includes a base defining a central opening and a wrench portion extending upward from the base. The wrench portion has two opposing lateral sides and an end wall that define an open interior that receives a shank of a drill bit. The open interior and the central opening are in alignment. A handle is coupled with the base and is movable between a storage position in which a top of the handle is positioned below a top surface of the wrench portion and a toting position in which the handle extends upward with the top of the handle positioned above the top surface. A gate is movably positioned between a retaining position in which the gate encloses the open interior of the wrench portion and an access position that provides lateral access to the open interior.

The invention provides a bit breaker comprising a plate that bounds a pipe slot. The bit breaker has two jaws that are at least generally parallel and that respectively define two working surfaces located on opposite sides of the pipe slot. The jaws are each mounted removably to the plate. In some embodiments, the invention is an assembly that further includes a pipe, tool section, tool or pipe joint received in the pipe slot. The pipe, tool section, tool or pipe joint has formed therein two crosswise grooves located on opposite sides of the pipe, tool section, tool or pipe joint. In some embodiments, the plate defines two fixed arms and a fixed base leg, with the two jaws mounted respectively against the two fixed arms. The bit breaker can have an adjustable arm such that the pipe slot can be surrounded about 360 degrees by the bit breaker.

The invention provides a bit breaker comprising a plate that bounds a pipe slot. The bit breaker has two jaws that are at least generally parallel and that respectively define two working surfaces located on opposite sides of the pipe slot. The jaws are each mounted removably to the plate. In some embodiments, the invention is an assembly that further includes a pipe, tool section, tool or pipe joint received in the pipe slot. The pipe, tool section, tool or pipe joint has formed therein two crosswise grooves located on opposite sides of the pipe, tool section, tool or pipe joint. In some embodiments, the plate defines two fixed arms and a fixed base leg, with the two jaws mounted respectively against the two fixed arms. The bit breaker can have an adjustable arm such that the pipe slot can be surrounded about 360 degrees by the bit breaker.

A drilling rig includes an interchangeable plurality of drill pipes, wherein drill bits are arranged at an end section of an end drill pipe. The drill bit being attached to the end section by means of a threaded connection and torque being provided to the drill bit by means of a splines coupling. The drilling rig comprises a lower support device and a breaker device. The system includes a drill bit storage device arranged to hold a plurality of drill bits, a gripping arm for selective gripping of a drill bit. The gripping arm may further comprise a movement sensor, arranged to monitor movement of the gripping arm, and the system may further comprise a control unit. The control unit being arranged to receive input from the sensors and the drilling rig, and to control movement of the gripping arm, the gripping means, the drill bit storage device, and the breaker device of the drilling rig.

A drilling rig includes an interchangeable plurality of drill pipes, wherein drill bits are arranged at an end section of an end drill pipe. The drill bit being attached to the end section by means of a threaded connection and torque being provided to the drill bit by means of a splines coupling. The drilling rig comprises a lower support device and a breaker device. The system includes a drill bit storage device arranged to hold a plurality of drill bits, a gripping arm for selective gripping of a drill bit. The gripping arm may further comprise a movement sensor, arranged to monitor movement of the gripping arm, and the system may further comprise a control unit. The control unit being arranged to receive input from the sensors and the drilling rig, and to control movement of the gripping arm, the gripping means, the drill bit storage device, and the breaker device of the drilling rig.

The present invention relates to a drill bit replacement apparatus for replacing a drill bit on a drilling tool, the apparatus comprising: a drill bit holder comprising one or more drill bit receptacles, each drill bit receptacle adapted to receive at least one drill bit; and a positioning means adapted to move the drill bit holder between at least one storage position and one or more replacement positions, wherein each replacement position aligns at least one drill bit receptacle with the drilling tool.

The present invention relates to a drill bit replacement apparatus for replacing a drill bit on a drilling tool, the apparatus comprising: a drill bit holder comprising one or more drill bit receptacles, each drill bit receptacle adapted to receive at least one drill bit; and a positioning means adapted to move the drill bit holder between at least one storage position and one or more replacement positions, wherein each replacement position aligns at least one drill bit receptacle with the drilling tool.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclose, an interlock system for a mobile drilling machine. The interlock system has a sensor assembly used to determine a drill string status, an operator interface for receiving a deck wrench disengagement input, and a control module. The control module may be used to receive the deck wrench disengagement input from the operator interface, receive the drill string status from the sensor assembly, determine from the drill string status that a drill string component engaged by the deck wrench is connected to a drill string or a drill head, and disengage the deck wrench from the drill string component engaged by the deck wrench.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclose, an interlock system for a mobile drilling machine. The interlock system has a sensor assembly used to determine a drill string status, an operator interface for receiving a deck wrench disengagement input, and a control module. The control module may be used to receive the deck wrench disengagement input from the operator interface, receive the drill string status from the sensor assembly, determine from the drill string status that a drill string component engaged by the deck wrench is connected to a drill string or a drill head, and disengage the deck wrench from the drill string component engaged by the deck wrench.