A coating architecture is disclosed that includes a substrate having a surface finish R.sub.a of 0.3μ or finer, an intermediate layer overlying and in contact with the substrate; and a solid lubricant layer overlying and in contact with the intermediate layer. The test results of applying the coating architecture to a reciprocating hammer drill utilizing the coating is also disclosed.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to tools capable of amplifying or dampening axial forces produced by downhole equipment. More specifically, apparatus and methodologies provide a tool for imparting amplified axial loads (e.g., a hammer sub), or, in the alternative, for dampening/reducing downhole vibrations or “noise” (e.g., a suppressor sub).

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to tools capable of amplifying or dampening axial forces produced by downhole equipment. More specifically, apparatus and methodologies provide a tool for imparting amplified axial loads (e.g., a hammer sub), or, in the alternative, for dampening/reducing downhole vibrations or “noise” (e.g., a suppressor sub).

A backhead assembly system for a Down The Hole (DTH) hammer operated by a supply of compressed fluid, that comprises mainly a backhead, said backhead having a central hole capable of transporting the pressurized air to the hammer and an inner cylinder, coaxially disposed and coupled with releasable holding mediums to the backhead, were said backhead has an interior frontal cavity and said releasable holding mediums are in the mentioned frontal cavity. The hammer also comprises a wear sleeve, coaxially disposed to the backhead and inner cylinder, in which the backhead is coupled to the rear side of the wear sleeve. In both embodiments of the present invention, the inner sleeve has a rear section of less diameter and a front side of larger diameter; both sections joined through a portion of generally increasing diameter.

A backhead assembly system for a Down The Hole (DTH) hammer operated by a supply of compressed fluid, that comprises mainly a backhead, said backhead having a central hole capable of transporting the pressurized air to the hammer and an inner cylinder, coaxially disposed and coupled with releasable holding mediums to the backhead, were said backhead has an interior frontal cavity and said releasable holding mediums are in the mentioned frontal cavity. The hammer also comprises a wear sleeve, coaxially disposed to the backhead and inner cylinder, in which the backhead is coupled to the rear side of the wear sleeve. In both embodiments of the present invention, the inner sleeve has a rear section of less diameter and a front side of larger diameter; both sections joined through a portion of generally increasing diameter.

A hydraulic rock breaking machine and an apparatus and method for monitoring operation of the same is provided. The apparatus includes at least one pneumatic sensor arranged for monitoring an inner space of the machine and at least one control unit configured to receive and process the pneumatic sensing data.

A flow diversion sub for a down-the-hole drill comprising a housing assembly that includes a housing body, a cap extending from the housing body, and a drive shaft having an upper central blind hole and a lower central blind hole spaced from the upper central blind hole, wherein the drive shaft is received within the housing assembly. In operation, one of the housing assembly and drive shaft moves between a first position and a second position relative to the other of the housing assembly and drive shaft. In the first position the upper central blind hole is in fluid communication with the lower central blind hole, and in the second position the upper central blind hole is blocked from being in fluid communication with the lower central blind hole.

A flow diversion sub for a down-the-hole drill comprising a housing assembly that includes a housing body, a cap extending from the housing body, and a drive shaft having an upper central blind hole and a lower central blind hole spaced from the upper central blind hole, wherein the drive shaft is received within the housing assembly. In operation, one of the housing assembly and drive shaft moves between a first position and a second position relative to the other of the housing assembly and drive shaft. In the first position the upper central blind hole is in fluid communication with the lower central blind hole, and in the second position the upper central blind hole is blocked from being in fluid communication with the lower central blind hole.

A bottom hole assembly (BHA) and method for drilling a bore with a pneumatic percussion hammer includes an expandable packer surrounding the stem rod connected to the hammer. The packer has an inner surface confronting the outer surface of the stem rod in an axially slideable, sealed relationship. The packer is expanded and fixed in the bore to separate a region of high hydraulic pressure above the packer from a region of lower hydraulic pressure below the packer. The method includes operating the pneumatic hammer and bit, while (i) the stem rod advances with a sliding seal against an inside surface of the expanded packer; (ii) pneumatic pressurization and exhaust for the hammer are guided within the stem rod; and (iii) the exhaust from the hammer is discharged into the lower clearance region surrounding the bit at the bottom of the bore.

A bottom hole assembly (BHA) and method for drilling a bore with a pneumatic percussion hammer includes an expandable packer surrounding the stem rod connected to the hammer. The packer has an inner surface confronting the outer surface of the stem rod in an axially slideable, sealed relationship. The packer is expanded and fixed in the bore to separate a region of high hydraulic pressure above the packer from a region of lower hydraulic pressure below the packer. The method includes operating the pneumatic hammer and bit, while (i) the stem rod advances with a sliding seal against an inside surface of the expanded packer; (ii) pneumatic pressurization and exhaust for the hammer are guided within the stem rod; and (iii) the exhaust from the hammer is discharged into the lower clearance region surrounding the bit at the bottom of the bore.