The present invention is a rod jack apparatus with four vertical legs that form a framework and first and second lower brackets connected to the vertical legs. Two hydraulic cylinders extend upwardly from the lower brackets, pass through a first horizontal plate, and are connected to a second horizontal plate. A primary clamping mechanism is situated on top of each of the two horizontal plates, and a secondary clamping mechanism is attached to the underside of each horizontal plate. The apparatus is configured to receive a polished rod, and the primary and secondary clamping mechanisms are configured to grip the polished rod when activated. The sucker rod assembly is lifted out of the well when the first and second hydraulic cylinders are extended. The invention includes a method of using the apparatus described herein.

A gear feed system includes a carrier and a mast mounted on the carrier. The mast includes a pair of panels forming opposing sides of the mast along a central axis of the mast. Each of the pair of panels includes a fixed rack attached to an interior surface of the each of the panels. A gear carrier pair includes a gear, a movable rack assembly, and a cylinder. Each of the gear is coupled to one of the panels and each of the gear couples one of the fixed racks to one of the movable rack assemblies (hoist tubes). The cylinder and the movable rack assembly are coupled via the gear wherein an axial movement of the cylinders causes a corresponding axial displacement of the movable rack assemblies.

A gear feed system includes a carrier and a mast mounted on the carrier. The mast includes a pair of panels forming opposing sides of the mast along a central axis of the mast. Each of the pair of panels includes a fixed rack attached to an interior surface of the each of the panels. A gear carrier pair includes a gear, a movable rack assembly, and a cylinder. Each of the gear is coupled to one of the panels and each of the gear couples one of the fixed racks to one of the movable rack assemblies (hoist tubes). The cylinder and the movable rack assembly are coupled via the gear wherein an axial movement of the cylinders causes a corresponding axial displacement of the movable rack assemblies.

A control system for a raise boring machine drilling a pilot hole and related methods are disclosed. The control system includes a cuttings box for receiving and weighing cuttings ejected from the pilot hole during drilling. The cuttings box is configured to retain an amount of cuttings indicative of advancing the pilot hole substantially the length of a drill rod. A controller in communication with the cuttings box is configured to receive a signal reflective of a weight of cuttings in the cuttings box. The controller is further configured to compare the received signal to an expected weight criteria associated with the drill rod length, and to in response to the signal satisfying the expected cutting weight criteria, have cuttings ejected from the cuttings box.

A hydraulic tensioning system is associated with a wire rope feed system of a drilling rig for applying tension to the hoist and pulldown ropes during hoist and pulldown operations. The hydraulic tensioning system includes a hydraulic tensioning circuit with a hoist hydraulic circuit directing hydraulic fluid to a hoist actuator applying tension to the hoist wire rope and a pulldown hydraulic circuit directing hydraulic fluid to a pulldown hydraulic actuator applying tension to a pulldown wire rope. A hydraulic control valve can selectively direct flow to the hoist and pulldown hydraulic circuits.

A rotary drilling rig includes a vertical mast and a rotary head that can vertically move along the mast with respect to a work surface. To move the rotary head along the mast, a hydraulic feed actuator is connected with the rotary head via a wire rope feed system including a hoist rope and a pulldown rope. To maintain the hoist and pulldown ropes in tension and prevent them from dislodging from the respective pulleys of the wire rope system, the hoist and pulldown ropes can be connected to respective hoist and pulldown tensioning actuators. The hoist actuator can be associated with a hoist hydraulic circuit and the pulldown tensioning actuator can be associated with a separate pulldown hydraulic circuit.

A rotary drilling rig includes a vertical mast and a rotary head that can vertically move along the mast with respect to a work surface. To move the rotary head along the mast, a hydraulic feed actuator is connected with the rotary head via a wire rope feed system including a hoist rope and a pulldown rope. To maintain the hoist and pulldown ropes in tension and prevent them from dislodging from the respective pulleys of the wire rope system, the hoist and pulldown ropes can be connected to respective hoist and pulldown tensioning actuators. The hoist actuator can be associated with a hoist hydraulic circuit and the pulldown tensioning actuator can be associated with a separate pulldown hydraulic circuit.

An exemplary derrick assembly includes a frame, a hydraulic cylinder assembly, a drive assembly, and a hydraulic assembly. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is mounted to the frame, and includes a piston rod, a single-tube cylinder body, and a hydraulic chamber. The piston rod is secured to the frame, and the cylinder body is mounted to the piston rod for reciprocal movement between proximal and distal positions. The hydraulic chamber is defined in part by the piston rod and the cylinder body, and expands and contracts with movement of the cylinder body. The drive assembly is mounted to the cylinder body for movement with the cylinder body. The hydraulic assembly configured to charge hydraulic fluid into and out of the hydraulic chamber to cause the hydraulic chamber to expand and contract, thereby moving the cylinder body and the drive assembly between the proximal position and the distal position.

An exemplary derrick assembly includes a frame, a hydraulic cylinder assembly, a drive assembly, and a hydraulic assembly. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is mounted to the frame, and includes a piston rod, a single-tube cylinder body, and a hydraulic chamber. The piston rod is secured to the frame, and the cylinder body is mounted to the piston rod for reciprocal movement between proximal and distal positions. The hydraulic chamber is defined in part by the piston rod and the cylinder body, and expands and contracts with movement of the cylinder body. The drive assembly is mounted to the cylinder body for movement with the cylinder body. The hydraulic assembly configured to charge hydraulic fluid into and out of the hydraulic chamber to cause the hydraulic chamber to expand and contract, thereby moving the cylinder body and the drive assembly between the proximal position and the distal position.

The present invention provides a drill assembly that includes a drill for drilling rock, a support for supporting the drill, and a valve for releasably securing the support and drill together. The valve is adapted to receive a fluid from a pump means and controllably provide the drill and the support with the fluid for operation of the drill and the support.