Vibrational drill head

Abstract

A drill head system including a drill head having a spindle configured to be operatively coupled to a vibration source to cause the spindle to vibrate in an axial direction, the spindle having a passageway. The system further includes a sleeve receiving said spindle therein with a gap therebetween. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to a fluid source to thereby introduce a fluid into the gap and into the passageway of the spindle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drill head system comprising a drill head having:
 a spindle configured to be operatively coupled to a vibration source to cause said spindle to vibrate in an axial direction, said spindle having a passageway; and   a sleeve receiving said spindle therein with a gap therebetween, wherein said sleeve is configured to be coupled to a fluid source to thereby introduce a fluid into said gap and into said passageway of said spindle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said gap extends about an entire outer perimeter of said spindle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said sleeve includes a passageway that extends from a radially outer surface of said sleeve to said gap to thereby enable said fluid to be introduced into said gap and into said passageway of said sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said passageway of said sleeve extends generally radially. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said passageway of said spindle extends from a radially outer surface of said spindle to an axial center thereof and includes an exit opening at a distal axial end of said spindle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said spindle sealingly engages said sleeve at portions of said spindle spaced axially away from a radially outermost position of said passageway of said spindle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a first seal system positioned between said spindle and said sleeve at a first axial side of a radially outermost position of said passageway of said spindle, and a second seal system positioned between said spindle and said sleeve at a second, opposite axial side of said radially outermost position of said passageway of said spindle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a first seal retainer coupled to said sleeve and engaging and retaining said first seal system, and a second seal retainer coupled to said sleeve and engaging and retaining said second seal system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising said vibration source operatively coupled to said spindle to cause said spindle to vibrate in an axial direction, and further comprising said fluid positioned in said gap and extending about an entire perimeter of about said spindle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said vibration source is configured to vibrate at a frequency between about 15 Hz and about 350 Hz. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a stringer pipe operatively coupled to the spindle, an axial advancement mechanism configured to axially advance the stringer pipe and a rotational mechanism configured to rotate the stringer pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid circulation system configured to capture at least part of said fluid which exits said spindle and to reintroduce said captured fluid to said drill head. 
     
     
         13 . A drill head system comprising a drill head having:
 a spindle configured to be operatively coupled to a vibration source to cause said spindle to vibrate in an axial direction; and   a sleeve receiving said spindle therein with a gap therebetween, wherein said sleeve includes a passageway that extends from a radially outer surface of the sleeve to the gap to thereby enable fluid to be introduced into said gap.   
     
     
         14 . The drill head system of  claim 13  wherein said spindle has a passageway in fluid communication with said gap. 
     
     
         15 . The drill head system of  claim 14  wherein said passageway of said spindle has a portion that extends from a radially outer surface of said spindle and a portion that is in fluid communication with an axial end surface of said spindle. 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating a drill head system comprising:
 accessing a drill head having a spindle with a passageway, and a sleeve receiving said spindle therein with a gap therebetween;   operatively coupling said spindle to a vibration source configured to cause said spindle to vibrate in an axial direction; and   coupling said sleeve to a fluid source to thereby introduce a fluid into said gap and into said passageway of said spindle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said sleeve includes a passageway that extends from a radially outer surface of said sleeve to said gap, and wherein said fluid source is coupled to said passageway of said sleeve to thereby introduce said fluid into said gap. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said fluid introduced into said passageway of said spindle exits said spindle at a distal axial end thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising coupling a drill bit coupled to said spindle such that vibrations of said spindle are transmitted to said drill bit, and wherein the method further includes rotating and axially advancing the drill bit. 
     
     
         20 . A drill head system comprising:
 a vibration source;   a drill head having a spindle operatively coupled to the vibration source to cause said spindle to vibrate in an axial direction;   an advancement mechanism configured to cause the drill head to be advanced axially and rotated; and   a fluid system configured to introduce fluid into said spindle at a position below said vibration source.