A method and apparatus for drilling and positioning a collar support sleeve into a blast hole

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method for preventing surrounding loose rock fragments from falling or collapsing into a bore hole during drilling and immediately after removal of a drill string from the bore hole. The apparatus includes bore hole sleeve for a bore hole drill, the sleeve including a tube member adapted to be coupled to a mast of a mobile bore hole drill and to be positioned within the collar region of a bore hole, the tube member including a longitudinal internal passage for receiving a drill string therethrough and an external surface for facing outwardly against a wall of the bore hole.

1 . A bore hole sleeve apparatus for a bore hole drill, the sleeve apparatus including:
 a tube member adapted to be coupled to a mast of a mobile bore hole drill and to be positioned within the collar region of a bore hole, the tube member including a longitudinal internal passage for receiving a drill string therethrough and an external surface for facing outwardly against a wall of the bore hole.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tube member and the mast include a coupling for releasably securing the tube member to the mast. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling is adapted for permitting movement of the tube member relative to the mast between a position in which the tube member is aligned with an axis of the drill string and another position in which the tube member is offset from the axis of the drill string while the tube member and the mast remain coupled together. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling includes an adapter member secured to the mast that includes a slot for receiving a flange at an end of the tube member. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the flange is adapted to move within the slot between a position in which the tube member is aligned with an axis of the drill string and another position in which the tube member is offset from the axis of the drill string. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tube member is self-supporting within the collar of the bore hole and is adapted for receiving a collar support apparatus within the longitudinal internal passage. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A drilling apparatus, including
 a mobile platform;   a mast disposed on the platform including a support for a drill string;   a drill string rotation and driving mechanism for driving the drill string to bore a hole into rock;   a bore hole sleeve apparatus including a tube member coupled to the mast for positioning within the collar region of a bore hole, the tube member including a longitudinal internal passage for receiving the drill string therethrough and an external surface for facing outwardly against a wall of the bore hole.   
     
     
         15 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the tube member is movable while remaining coupled to the mast between a position in which the tube member is aligned with an axis of the drill string and another position in which the tube member is offset from the axis of the drill string. 
     
     
         16 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the tube member is movable axially while remaining coupled to the mast for lowering the tube member into the bore hole and for raising the tube member out of the bore hole. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 14 , including a sheet deployment apparatus for deploying a flexible sheet into the open end of the tube member located in the bore hole. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a shroud adapted to be substantially sealed with the longitudinal internal passage of the tube member for directing cuttings and/or bailings that emerge from the bore hole during drilling. 
     
     
         22 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the shroud includes an axial passageway for receiving the drilling string therethrough and an outlet opening that is oriented transversely to the axial passageway. 
     
     
         23 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the outlet opening is adapted to be coupled to a flexible conduit of a vacuum apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the shroud is mounted to the mast and an actuator is adapted to translate the shroud upwards and downwards in a linear range of motion. 
     
     
         25 . The drilling apparatus of  claim 21 , further including an outlet located next to or underneath the mobile platform for directing cuttings and/or bailings that emerge from the bore hole during drilling to a pile adjacent to or beneath the mobile platform. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method of drilling a bore hole including:
 coupling a tube member to a mast of a mobile drilling rig, the tube member including a longitudinal internal passage for receiving a drill string therethrough;   boring a hole into a bench surface and lowering the tube member within the collar region of the bore hole, the tube member including an external surface for facing outwardly against a wall of the bore hole.   
     
     
         28 . A method of providing a collar support apparatus into a bore hole, the method including:
 coupling a tube member to a mast of a mobile drilling rig, the tube member including a longitudinal internal passage for receiving a drill string therethrough;   boring a hole into a bench surface and lowering the tube member within the collar region of the bore hole, the tube member including an external surface for facing outwardly against a wall of the bore hole;   providing a support in the bore hole for stabilising the collar region of the bore hole; and   removing the tube member from the bore hole.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein providing a support in the bore hole includes inserting a collar support apparatus comprised of a flexible sheet of material into the longitudinal internal passage of the tube member and wherein removing the tube member from the bore hole leaves behind the collar support apparatus within the bore hole. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , including moving the mast relative to the tube member for accessing the longitudinal internal passage of the tube member, wherein moving the mast relative to the tube member includes moving the mast between a position in which the tube member is aligned with an axis of the drill string and another position in which the tube member is offset from the axis of the drill string while the tube member and the mast remain coupled together. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein removing the tube member from the bore hole includes maneuvering the mast to raise the tube member out of the bore hole. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled)