Directional drill stem rod loader and method

Abstract

A directional drill stem loader and associated methods are shown. In one example, the drill stem loader operates in a linear motion. In one example, a drill stem gripper is configured to move the completely to one side of a drill stem during a retraction operation.

1 . A directional drill vice, comprising:
 a first pair of gripping jaws located in a vice frame;   at least one actuating device coupled to the first pair of gripping jaws;   a vice frame rotation joint that is coaxial with a drill string axis; and   a common jaw pivot coupled to both jaws in the first pair of gripping jaws, the common pivot coupled to the vice frame; wherein both jaws in the first pair of gripping jaws are constrained to only rotational motion about the common jaw pivot.   
     
     
         2 . The directional drill vice of  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of gripping jaws includes replaceable jaws held in jaw carriers. 
     
     
         3 . The directional drill vice of  claim 1 , wherein each jaw in the first pair of gripping jaws is actuated by a separate actuating device. 
     
     
         4 . The directional drill vice of  claim 3 , wherein each jaw carrier includes the common pivot on a first end of the jaw carrier and an actuating device coupled to a second end of the jaw carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The directional drill vice of  claim 1 , further including a second pair of gripping jaws. 
     
     
         6 . The directional drill vice of  claim 5 , further including a rotation actuator to drive relative rotation about the vice frame rotation joint between the first pair of gripping jaws and the second pair of gripping jaws. 
     
     
         7 . A directional drill vice, comprising:
 a first gripper, including:
 a first pair of gripping jaws located in a first vice frame; 
 at least one actuating device coupled to the first pair of gripping jaws; 
 a vice frame rotation joint that is coaxial with a drill string axis; 
 a first common jaw pivot coupled to both jaws in the first pair of gripping jaws; 
   a second gripper, including:
 a second pair of gripping jaws located in a second vice frame; 
 at least one actuating device coupled to the second pair of gripping jaws; 
 a second common jaw pivot coupled to both jaws in the second pair of gripping jaws; and 
   a rotation actuator to drive relative rotation about the vice frame rotation joint between the first gripper and the second gripper.   
     
     
         8 . The directional drill vice of  claim 7 , wherein the actuating devices are hydraulic actuating devices. 
     
     
         9 . The directional drill vice of  claim 7 , wherein the rotation actuator is a hydraulic rotation actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The directional drill vice of  claim 7 , further including a slot in the second gripper to permit sideways loading and unloading of drill rods into the second pair of gripping jaws. 
     
     
         11 . The directional drill vice of  claim 7 , wherein the first pair of gripping jaws includes replaceable jaws held in jaw carriers. 
     
     
         12 . The directional drill vice of  claim 11 , wherein the second pair of gripping jaws includes replaceable jaws held in jaw carriers. 
     
     
         13 . The directional drill vice of  claim 7 , wherein each jaw in the first pair of gripping jaws is actuated by a separate actuating device. 
     
     
         14 . The directional drill vice of  claim 13 , wherein each jaw in the second pair of gripping jaws is actuated by a separate actuating device.