Masted drill rig with system for applying push and/or pull force to a tool

Abstract

A masted drill rig with a track longitudinally mounted on a mast with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots. A sled with a main-section and a sub-section is mounted on the track. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder connects the main-section to the sub-section and reciprocates a pawl member with a claw foot between slot engaged and disengaged position for applying a push and/or pull force through the main-section to a tool operated by the drill rig.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A masted drill rig for drilling a hole or inserting a product into the ground comprising
 a track longitudinally mounted on a mast, said track having a T-shaped flange with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots,   a sled having a main-section and a sub-section freely slidable along the track, said main-section configured for support of a power assembly connected to a tool for drilling a hole or inserting a product into the ground, said sub-section configured for pivotable support of a pawl with a claw foot,   a double acting linear actuator with a first end mounted on the main-section and a second end connected to the pawl member on the sub-section, said linear operator reciprocating the claw between slot engaged and slot disengaged position to provide alternate incremental movements of the sled along the track.   
     
     
         2 . The masted drill rig of  claim 1  wherein the main-section comprises a pair of slide rails on which is mounted a back plate from which is cantilevered a support platform for a power assembly attached to the tool, said T-shaped flange having side edges and said slide rails having grooves for gripping the side edges of the T-shaped flange to secure the main-section to the track. 
     
     
         3 . The masted drill rig of  claim 1  wherein the sub-section comprises a pair of slide rails on which is mounted a back plate with mounting blocks in which the pawl is journaled about a first pivot axis, said side rails having grooves for gripping the side edges of the T-shaped flange to secure the sub-section to the track. 
     
     
         4 . The masted drill rig of  claim 3  wherein pawl has a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, said linear operator having first and second ends, said first end attached to the second pivot axis on the pawl and said second end attached to the support platform or back plate of the main-section. 
     
     
         5 . A masted drill rig for drilling a hole or inserting a product into the ground comprising
 a track longitudinally mounted on a mast, said track having a T-shaped flange with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots,   a sled having a main-section and a sub-section freely slidable along the track, said main-section configured for support of a power assembly for driving a tool, said sub-section configured for pivotable support of a pawl with a claw foot,   a double acting hydraulic cylinder with a first end mounted on the main-section and a second end connected to the pawl member of the sub-section, said hydraulic cylinder reciprocating the claw foot between slot engaged and slot disengaged position to provide alternate incremental movements of the main-section or the sub-section along the track, said double acting hydraulic cylinder connected to a hydraulic circuit under manual or electronic control.   
     
     
         6 . The masted drill rig of  claim 5  wherein the main-section comprises a pair of slide rails on which is mounted a back plate from which a support platform for the power assembly attached to the tool, said support platform cantilevered by a pair of support brackets from the back plate, said T-shaped flange having side edges and said slide rails having grooves for gripping the side edges of the T-shaped flange to secure the main-section to the track and said sub-section comprising a pair of slide rails on which is mounted a back plate on which are positioned mounting blocks in which the pawl is journaled about a first pivot axis, said slide rails having grooves for gripping the side edges of the T-shaped flange to secure the sub-section to the track. 
     
     
         7 . The masted drill rig of  claim 6  wherein the pawl has a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, said hydraulic cylinder having first and second ends, said first end attached to the second pivot axis on the pawl and said second end rotatably attached to the support platform. 
     
     
         8 . The drill rig of  claim 6  wherein the mast is vertically oriented. 
     
     
         9 . The drill rig of  claim 6  wherein the mast is horizontally oriented.