Patent ID: 6206114
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A tool for transporting bit segments to and from a drive sub of a ground drill and for moving a bit locking sleeve held within the drive sub to an installation position in which the bit locking sleeve locks the bit segments against an inner surface of the drive sub, said tool further adapted to cooperate with stopping means disposed within said drive sub for stopping the travel of said tool in a first direction, the tool comprising:a first portion;a second portion retractably coupled to a lower end of said first portion; and,means carried by said first portion, for engaging said bit locking sleeve;wherein, when said tool travels in said first direction, said engaging means initially engages said bit locking sleeve to move said bit locking sleeve toward said installation position and, on further travel in said first direction, a leading end of said tool engages said stopping means to halt travel of said leading end, causing one of the first and second portions to begin retracting into an other of the first and second portions, enabling further movement of the first portion in the first direction so that said engaging means moves said bit locking sleeve fully into said installation position.