Patent ID: 6234260
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
A mobile drilling forming boreholes into the earth, comprising:a) a mobile carrier having a chassis and a machine frame that supports a drive;b) an elongated housing having a longitudinal housing bore, the housing supported by the drive and machine frame for movement with respect to the frame into at least a generally vertical position;c) elongated drill pipe member carried within the housing bore and dimensioned to reach near the earth's surface or to a selected subterranean earth layer, the drill pipe member having upper and lower ends, a pipe bore, and an upper end with pipe openings;d) a detachable connection positioned at the lower end of the drill pipe member;e) the drive including a plurality of wheels carried by the frame for transporting the housing between upper and lower positions, including at least some wheels that frictionally grip the housing outer surface;f) a gear train for interconnecting and driving some of the wheels so that multiple of the wheels rotate at the same rotational speed;g) the drive further including a pusher that applies lateral pressure to at least one of the wheels; andh) a water supply conduit for transmitting water into the housing and pipe to the pipe openings, through the pipe bore and to a supported drill pipe section.