Abstract:
Withdrawing a hollow stem auger string from a well includes a retractor having C-shaped inter-coil insertions and a hoist having tong-arms, one which terminates in an inwardly disposed pin. The retractor connects to a drilling rig&#39;s hydraulic cylinder vertical drive system, the hoist to a winch system thereof. The retractor engages the string by the C-shaped inter-coil insertion disposed between one coil of the helical flight of the topmost section of the string. The hoist engaged the top collar of the topmost section by the at least one pin inserting into a pin hole thereof. The string is lifted about the height of one section by the retractor, which is promptly disengaged. The topmost section is detached, and carried by the hoist to elsewhere to be dropped. The method repeats by re-engaging the retractor and hoist and then returning to the activity of lifting.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/399,716, filed Apr. 5, 2006 now abandoned, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/668,473, filed Apr. 5, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/732,971, filed Nov. 3, 2005, portions of which were originally presented as U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/645,639, filed Jan. 21, 2005. All the foregoing patent applications are fully incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to hoisting devices and, more particularly, to accessories and methods for hollow stem auger retraction from downhole in (eg., from down in the hole of) a well bore. The conventional occasion nowadays for wanting to withdraw a string of hollow stem auger sections from a well bore is during construction of an environmental monitoring well. 
   Briefly, groundwater monitoring/remediation wells are bored into the earth. A bore hole is formed by down-feeding a string of hollow stem auger sections. What is loosely referred to as an “auger” is actually more technically accurately referred to as a string—or end to end assembly—of numerous individual sections of hollow stem auger sections.  FIGS. 7 and 8  (among others) shows the top end of one such section  21  (ie., a hollow stem auger section  21 ). 
   Briefly,  FIGS. 7 and 8  show that the hollow stem auger section  21  has a hollow stem (naturally enough) that at the top end thereof is necked down to form a top collar  22 . The remainder of the hollow stem auger section  21 &#39;s hollow stems outer surface support a helical flight  23 , which helical flight  23  typically has a pitch about equal to the outside diameter thereof. The top collar  22  is provided with features and adaptation to couple with a drill cap  24 . That is, the top collar is formed with four angularly-spaced, vertical, external flutes  25  and two diametrically opposite pin holes  26 . Correspondingly, the drill cap  24  has four angularly-spaced, vertical, external splines  27  and two diametrically opposite pins  28  (or bolts). 
   Now let&#39;s turn to the matter of boring a bore hole to its deepest depth. An auger string is progressively elongated by the addition of additional sections  21  in an end to end assembly thereof (this is not shown, and the bottom end of each section is formed with a bottom collar which has counterpart formations as the drill cap  24 ). This activity of progressively elongating the auger string takes place in alternating fashion with boring out the bore hole about the length of one such section  21 . When the deepest depth is reached, the auger string is typically not just stopped at the deepest depth but retracted a foot or so ( − 30 cm). Then, the drill cap  24  is displaced off the topmost section  21  (eg., as shown in  FIG. 7 ). A sand and/or grout footing is poured into the hollow center (lumen) of the hollow stem auger string. Then an undersized casing is inserted into the lumen of the hollow stem auger string all the way to where it bottoms out onto the recently poured in footing. 
   Typically the casing comprises an assembly of PVC pipe sections which are twisted together with counterpart internal and external threaded ends to form a sealed string of casing sections as a whole. However, the first section of the casing string comprises a screen section. The screen section is typically a ventilated stainless steel assembly to allow groundwater to seep in at the lowest ten feet ( − 3 m) or so of the monitoring/remediation well. 
   Again, the casing—typically a string or end-to-end assembly of PVC pipe sections twisted together by the counterpart internal and external threaded ends thereof—is undersized:—relative to, that is, the lumen of the hollow stem auger string in which it is inserted. Thereafter, the hollow stem auger string is withdrawn from the bore, leaving the PVC-pipe casing string in place. Thus such an undersized casing string presents an annular gap between the bored earth and PVC pipe sections. This annular gap is then backfilled. About the lowest ten feet ( − 3 m) or so surrounding the screen section is backfilled with sand, to allow seepage of groundwater. The remaining depth (dozens or hundreds of feet or meters) is backfilled with cement or the like, bentonite being a common substitute, to disallow the seepage of groundwater. 
   Well casings are specified among three or so standard sizes and according to pipe diameter. For example and without limitation, a remediation well might be specified to be cased with any of two-inch pipe, four-inch pipe, or six-inch pipe and so on (eg., about five, ten and fifteen cm O.D. respectively). If two-inch pipe is specified, then the lumen of the hollow stem auger string typically measures about 4¼ inches ( − 11 cm) inside diameter. The PVC pipe typically measures about 2⅓ inches ( − 6 cm) O.D. During withdrawal of the hollow stem auger string, an extension of the PVC pipe is left poking up out the top of lumen of the hollow stem auger string so that none of the footing back fill is errantly poured into the casing string&#39;s hollow core (and into the inside of the screen). 
   To turn to another matter of the prior art, there is another piece of the background to note, which involves the field equipment used by the workers in this industry:—eg., their drilling rigs. Namely, such drilling rigs have two kinds of devices for retracting the hollow stem auger string:—ie., one being hydraulically-winched cables or lines, in contrast to, the other being hydraulic cylinders. 
   It might be noted that hydraulically-winched cables and lines, when used to pull free a stuck object, typically include the danger of recoil. Conversely, hydraulic cylinders are essentially recoilless in the same situation. Also, the hydraulic-cylinder systems of such drilling rigs are powerful, and typically outmuscle the power of the hydraulic winches by several times. 
   A typical drilling rig utilized in the industry might comprise, for example and without limitation, a CME 750 All-terrain (rubber tire) vehicle drilling rig of the Central Mine Equipment Company in St. Louis, Mo. This is the carrier/drilling rig combination which is approximately illustrated in several patents of the CME Company, and for more particular disclosure of such carrier/drilling rig features, reference may be had to any of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,527,309; 3,561,545 and/or 4,638,871—all of which are by C. L. Rassieur. The foregoing patent disclosures are incorporated fully herein by this reference thereto. 
   Such a carrier/drilling rig has a two-piece tower comprising, in the lower portion thereof, an undergirding upright, upon which is affixed a removable mast. The crown of the mast might be outfitted with as many as five sheaves. In a five sheave configuration, typically one sheave serves a wireline cable and winch, another serves softlines perhaps pulled by a cathead, and the remaining three would typically serve three cable-and-winch systems for winching up (eg.) sections of drill rod. The wireline cable and softline-cathead system are not pertinent to the present invention. Typically the wireline cable system reels up a wire relatively fast but with a weak hoist (eg., able to exert 900 pounds or  − 400 kg of force or so) and is utilized in rock-coring, for example. The cathead is like a capstan on a ship, except oriented on a horizontal turning axis, and can winch in by means of one or two loops of not only softlines but also cables and/or chains as well. It typically is a weak system too. 
   Stronger still are the (three or so) cable-and-winch systems. It is typical to equip the drilling rig with winches rated between about 1,800 or to 3,200 pounds ( − 700 to  − 1,400 kg). It is also known to include at least one cable-and-winch system as a main one for fishing stuck objects and the like, and provide it with a retraction-force rating as high 10,000 pounds ( − 4,500 kg). Again, these three cable-and-winch systems are designed for, among other end uses, lifting up sections of drill rod. The height of the tower to the crown of the mast is typically something greater than twenty feet ( − 6 m) since that is a standard length of sections of drill rod. The above-ground height of the sheaves for the CME 750 ATV is about twenty-seven and a-half feet ( − 8⅓ m), which means that workers can hoist the twenty-foot rods with clearance to spare. When the CME 750 ATV is equipped with three such hoists (ie., cable-and-winch systems), workers can pull sixty feet of rods without having to lay any down on the ground or on the deck. 
   The upright (again, which undergirds the detachable mast) comprises legs and a standing rotary drive shaft (eg., a kelly bar, sometimes a square bar). The standing rotary drive bar typically has a lower end anchored in a main rotary drive and an upper end held in a bearing. The legs carry between (or among) themselves a traveling rotary table. Drive input to the rotary drive table is received from the standing rotary drive shaft as the traveling rotary table transits up and down the standing rotary drive shaft. The drill drive is typically a pair of serially-suspended links interconnected by a U-joint. 
   The hydraulic vertical drive system for cycling the traveling rotary drive table between feed (eg., pulldown) and retraction strokes typically comprises hydraulic cylinders which serve double-duty as the legs for the upright. The main rotary drive and the hydraulic vertical drive system are typically the strongest systems on the carrier/drilling rig. That is, the main rotary drive might deliver 10,000 ft-lbs ( − 13,5000 Nm) of rotary torque. The hydraulic vertical drive system can typically deliver a feed (pulldown) force in excess of the weight of the vehicle, or something on the order of 20,000 pounds ( − 9,000 kg). 
   The outstanding feature of the hydraulic vertical drive system is the retraction force it can develop:—30,000 pounds ( − 13,600 kg) for the CME 750 ATV, and then 40,000 pounds ( − 18,000 kg) being no problem for other models. As an aside, another aspect of the hydraulic vertical drive system is that its drive stroke is only about five and a-half feet ( − 1⅓ m), but which works out to be sufficient for clearance of sections of hollow stem augers, since they conventionally are a standard five feet ( − 1½ m) in length. 
   More importantly, the hydraulic vertical drive system has no cables which can stretch (nor chains which need lubrication). Better yet, the hydraulic vertical drive system is substantially recoilless. When feeding down or retracting up against a stuck hollow stem auger string, as soon as the sticking force is overcome the hydraulic vertical drive system does not recoil. In contrast, cables stretch or the stuck hollow stem auger string (if being retracted up) can let fly after being unstuck (or after being torn apart), chains can whip and so on. Moreover, cables can snap, so can chains. Accordingly, the hydraulic vertical drive system gives precise control over the force applied to downhole tools or objects. 
   Arguably most significant of all is that, its brute power aside and in spite of being the most powerful system on the carrier/drill rig, the hydraulic vertical drive system is probably the safest. 
   Now let&#39;s return the discussion back to the present problem. Hollow stem auger sections  21  interconnect with each other by their top and bottom collars (only a top collar  22  is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The topmost hollow stem auger section  21  is down fed into the bore hole by the drill cap  24  attached to the drill drive (not shown, or extension thereof, also not shown) of the drill rig (not shown).  FIGS. 7 and 8  shows a drill cap  24  and the top collar  22  of the hollow stem auger section  21 . As previously described, the top collar  22  has four angularly-spaced, vertical, external flutes  25  and two diametrically opposite pin holes  26 . Correspondingly, the drill cap  24  has four angularly-spaced, vertical, external splines  27  and two diametrically opposite pins  28  (or bolts). By such formations and/or adaptations, the drill cap  24  and top collar  22  couple as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   During the withdrawal of the hollow stem auger string, an extension of the PVC pipe is typically poking up out the lumen of the hollow stem auger string. Hence the drill cap  24  cannot be coupled to the top collar  22  of topmost hollow stem auger section  21  of the hollow stem auger string. The reasons include either because sand, mud or grout has caked and fouled the top collar  22 &#39;s flutes  25 , or else because the poking up PVC pipe is in the way. 
   Again, when constructing a well, workers usually have made a mess (understandably so, since it is a messy process in an environment of messy materials) on the top collar  22  of the topmost section  21  of the hollow stem auger string. Hence they cannot reliably get the drill cap  24  to couple. Sometimes, the PVC casing pipe floats up a little bit which adds to the height of the poking up part. So to date workers in this industry have been predominantly relying on a single hook device of the prior art. 
   To be more particular, since this is important to understanding the shortcomings of the prior art, such prior art hollow stem auger hoists typically comprise a single hook construction. That is, prior art hollow stem auger hoists have just one hook to insert in one or the other of the two diametrically opposed pin holes  26  in the top collar  22  of the topmost section  21  of the hollow stem auger string. Shortcomings with the prior art single hook include (1) it pulls the hollow stem auger string from an axis that is offset from the central axis of the string, (2) and this in consequence tends to bind the single hook in the hole  26 , either sometimes deforming the hole  26  in consequence, and/or during other times, making it difficult for a worker to manually pull the hook out of the hole  26 , and (3) when winching the bare hook up on a cable around the work site and equipment thereof, the bare hook frequently catches an unintended piece of equipment, such as and without limitation any part of the two-piece tower, either the undergirding upright or the affixed a removable mast. Hence the hook can catch and damage a piece of equipment or such structure/superstructure thereof. 
   Nevertheless, drillers have been accustomed to the single hook method of withdrawing the hollow stem auger string, and then continuing to use the hook to support the topmost hollow stem auger section  21  as it is disengaged from the string and set aside (eg., as on the ground, or on storage racks). 
   What is needed is a solution to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art. 
   A number of additional features and objects will be apparent in connection with the following discussion of the preferred embodiments and examples with reference to the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     There are shown in the drawings certain exemplary embodiments of the invention as presently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed as examples, and is capable of variation within the scope of the skills of a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. In the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a retractor in accordance with the invention for hollow stem auger strings; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 1  except of a comparable version of the invention that is spun a quarter turn clockwise; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of an alternate version of the  FIGS. 1 and 2  embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, and in contrast to the versions of the embodiment shown by  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view thereof; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a prior art drill cap for coupling to the top collar of a hollow stem auger section as well as showing a top collar of such a hollow stem auger section; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 7  showing the coupling therebetween; 
       FIG. 9  is perspective view of a hoist in accordance with the invention for a hollow stem auger section; 
       FIG. 10  is a reduced scale perspective view of the hoist in  FIG. 9 , except shown herein coupled to the top collar of a hollow stem auger section; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing both the hoist coupled to a hollow stem auger section as in  FIG. 10  along with a retractor in accordance with the invention and in accordance with the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6  coupling to the helical flight of such hollow stem auger section; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 11  except showing the hoist being manually uncoupled; 
       FIG. 13  is a reduced scale perspective view comparable to  FIG. 12  except also showing the retractor of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged scale perspective view comparable to  FIG. 13  except showing the retractor aligned for a pull on the helical flight of the hollow stem auger section; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 14  except the retractor is spun 180′; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 12  except showing an alternate embodiment of a hoist in accordance with the invention; and 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 16  except showing the hoist thereof coupled to the top collar of a hollow stem auger section. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a retractor  31  in accordance with the invention for retracting a string or end-to-end assembly of hollow stem auger sections  21  from the bore for a well hole. The retractor  31  comprises a C-shaped base plate  41 , an upright connection link  42  welded to the base plate  41 , and flanking sets of gussets  44 ,  46  and  48 . The C-shaped base plate  41  is formed to insert in the gap between coils of the helical flight  23  and straddle the stem of a hollow stem auger section  21  (see, eg.,  FIG. 11 ). 
   Clockwise from the upright link  42  there are not one but two gussets  44  and  46 . The inboard gusset  44  has a down-sloping top or support edge  45  sloped at an oblique angle in order to not only strengthen the connection between the base plate  41  and upright link  42  but also to undergird a section of the flight  23  of the hollow stem auger section  21 . That is, the down-slope angle is chosen to match the angle of the pitch of the helical flight  23  of the hollow stem auger sections  21 . The outboard, outlying gusset  46  is spaced far radially-out enough such that it would not be admitted in the gap between coils of the helical flight  23  before the upright link  42  is stopped against the peripheral edge of the helical flight  23 . The outboard, outlying gusset  46 &#39;s function is solely to strengthen the connection between the base plate  41  and upright link  42 . 
   Preferably the C-shaped base plate  41 , upright link  42 , and all gussets therefor (eg., and without limitation,  44 ,  46  and  48 ) are all fabricated out of steel stock that allows joining by welding or the like. 
   The lone gusset  48  to left counterclockwise from the upright link  42  has a relatively level (eg., horizontal) top edge  49 . This gusset  48  is spaced inboard enough such that it is admitted in the gap between coils of the helical flight  23 . However, since the top edge  49  thereof does not slope up at an angle corresponding to that pitch of the helical flight  23  of the hollow stem auger section  21 , this gusset  48  provides no support (contact) during lifting operations. 
     FIG. 2  shows an alternate embodiment of a retractor  32  which is comparable to the  FIG. 1  retractor  31  except as follows. There is only one gusset  51  clockwise from the upright link  42 , which has a down-sloping top or support edge  52 . This down-sloping gusset  51  is positioned and adapted to insert in the gap between coils of the helical flight  23  of a hollow stem auger section  21 . Also, the lone gusset  53  counterclockwise from the upright link  42  has an upsloping top edge  54 . That way, ideally, both the down-sloping and upsloping gussets  51  and  53  could ideally provide support under a section of the helical flight  23  for about half a coil, in contrast to the  FIG. 1  retractor  21  which supports about a quarter or less of a coil. However, experience teaches that the flaring terminal end of the upsloping gusset  53  makes the upsloping gusset  53  unwieldy to insert between coils of the helical flight  23 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show an alternate version of a retractor  33  in accordance with the invention. The terminations of the C-shaped base  41  are provided with chain hooks  55 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show a more preferred embodiment of a retractor  34  in accordance with the invention. This retractor  34  comprises a tilted C-shaped base  56 , the upright link  42 , flanking strengthening gussets  57 , and the chain hooks  55 , as well as a companion chain  58  to provide an optional safety belt. The C-shaped base  56  is contained in a plain that is oblique to an axial plane containing the upright link  42 . The dihedral angle therebetween is about forty-five degrees or so, but whatever, the dihedral angle is chosen to match the angle of the pitch of the helical flight  23 . 
   Here in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the gussets  57  are spaced sufficiently outboard (eg., outlying) such that they are not admitted between the coils of the helical flight  23  before the upright link  42  is stopped against the peripheral edge of the helical flight  23 . As  FIGS. 14 and 15  show better, only the C-shaped base  56  is admitted between a single coil of the helical flight  23 . Thus, C-shaped base  56  desirably supports about three-quarters of a coil of the helical flight  23 . The terminal chain-hooks  55  and chain  58  belt are safety features. However, not all embodiments of the inventive retractor  31  and  32  include such. The safety belt of chain  58  is more desirable for times when the retractor  33  or  34  is slack than when lifting. When lifting, the frictional grip between the retractor  31 - 34  and helical flight  23  is sufficient to keep things steady. But when the retraction pull is slackened, the retractor  31 - 34  might disengage due to imperfect alignment of the vertical hydraulics drive of the drill rig more than anything else. The chain  58  belt for retractors  33  and  34  prevents this. 
   Before describing the matters of  FIGS. 9-13 , a brief review of the prior art is helpful. As described above, prior art hollow stem auger hoists (not shown) typically have just one hook to insert in one or the other of the two diametrically opposed pin holes  26  in the cylindrical top-collar  22  of a section  21  of hollow stem auger. Shortcomings with the prior art include that the single hook (1) pulls the string of hollow stem auger sections  21  from an axis that is offset from the central axis of the string, (2) and in consequence tends to bind the single hook in the top collar  22 &#39;s pin hole  26 , both tending to deform the pin hole  26  as well as making work difficult for a worker to manually pull the hook out of pin hole  26 , and then (3) when workers winch the bare hook up around the work site, it frequently catches a piece of equipment or the superstructure of the drill tower. Hence the hook can catch and damage a piece of equipment or such structure/superstructure thereof. 
     FIG. 9  shows a hoist  61  in accordance with the invention for grappling the pin holes  26  of the top collar  22  of a section  21  at the topmost position in the hollow stem auger string. The hoist  61  comprises a pair of depending and relatively symmetric arms  72  having rounded shoulders  74  to slide through equipment without catching on ledges or things when being elevated up. The arms  72  are pivoted together by a shackle  75  and pivot bolt  76 . The arms  72  terminate at the lower ends thereof in opposed pins  77 . The arms  72  are furthermore provided with a worker convenience comprising handle-bars  78 . 
   The inventive hoist  61  is safer and kinder to equipment and workers. That is, the inventive hoist  61  overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by (1) pulling the hollow stem auger string directly along an axis coincident with the central axis of the string, (2) its opposing pins  77  do not tend to bind in the opposite pin holes  26  of the engaged section  21 &#39;s top collar  22 , and hence the pins  77  are readily disengaged by workers in the field (which anyway is an operation greatly assisted by the convenient handle-bars  78 ). Additionally, (3) when winching the bare inventive hoist  61  up on the cable around the work site, the inventive hoist  61  is streamlined by virtue of the arms  72 &#39;s rounded shoulders  74 , and so the inventive hoist  61  does not find ways to inconveniently catch onto equipment or structure but instead tends to slide itself laterally out of the way and around. 
   Hence the inventive hoist  61  avoids catching and damaging equipment or the structure/superstructure thereof. 
     FIGS. 16 and 17  shows an alternate version of a hoist  62  in accordance with the invention for grappling the pin holes  26  of the top collar  22  of a section  21  at the topmost position in the hollow stem auger string. The hoist  61  comprises a pair of depending and asymmetric arms  82  and  83 , the arm  82  being relatively shorter than the relatively longer arm  83 . Like the  FIG. 9  version of the hoist  61 , this hoist  62 &#39;s arms  82  and  83  have rounded shoulders  74  for the same inventive advantages. The arms  82  and  83  are also likewise pivoted together by a shackle  75  and pivot bolt  76 . Like the  FIG. 9  version of the hoist  61 , this hoist  62 &#39;s short arm  82  terminates at the lower end thereof in an inwardly disposed pins  77 . However, unlike the  FIG. 9  version of the hoist  61 , this hoist  62 &#39;s long arm  83  terminates at the lower end thereof in a side pad or saddle  87  for resting against the stem of the hollow stem auger section  21  at an elevation below the top collar  22 . Comparable to the  FIG. 9  version of the hoist  61 , this hoist  62  is comparably provided with comparable handle-bars  78  for worker convenience. 
     FIG. 16  shows better that the side pad or saddle  87  is not attached symmetrically to the long arm  83  but asymmetrically. Presumptively, a symmetric arrangement of the side pad or saddle  87  on the long arm (this is not shown) would provide more evenly distributed support against the stem of the auger section  21  in opposition to the support and lifting of the pin  77  of the short arm. However, the advantage of the asymmetric arrangement of the side pad or saddle  87  on the long arm—as shown—includes convenience for workers to more easily engage and disengage the hoist  62  without having to spread the arms  82  and  83  as far apart than otherwise. 
   The advantages of these pair of accessories in accordance with the invention, comprising any retractor  31 - 34  of any of  FIGS. 1-6  or the hoists  61  or  62  of  FIG. 9  or  16 , include the following. That is, these accessories  31 - 34  and  61 - 62  afford the practice of a method in accordance with the invention for hoisting the hollow stem auger string. This needs to be appreciated in context of constructing a well. The PVC pipe is down-fed to extend up and down the entire length of the lumen of the hollow stem auger string. According to the example previously given (and without limitation), the lumen of the hollow stem auger string might measure about 4-&#39;/inches ( − 11 cm) inside diameter. The PVC pipe typically measures about 2⅓ inches ( − 6 cm). During this time, an extension of the PVC pipe is left poking up out the lumen. 
   Hence the drill cap  24  (eg.,  FIG. 7  or  8 ) cannot be coupled to the top collar  22  of the hollow stem auger section  21  at the topmost position of the hollow stem auger string. Either because sand, mud or grout has caked and fouled the top collar  22  or else because the poking up PVC pipe is in the way. Hence drillers have been accustomed to the prior art single hook method of withdrawing the hollow stem auger string, and then continuing to use the hook to support the topmost hollow stem auger section as it is disengaged from the string and set aside (eg., as on the ground, or on storage racks). 
   Again, when constructing a well, workers usually have made a mess (understandably so, since it is a messy process in a messy environment) on the top collar  22  of the topmost section of the hollow stem auger string. Hence they cannot reliably get the drill cap  24  to couple. Sometimes, the PVC casing pipe floats up a little bit which adds to the height of the poking up part. So to date workers in this industry have been predominantly relying on the single hook device of the prior art. 
   In accordance with the invention, two accessories replace the job of the lone prior art hook, but nevertheless there is overall a net gain in efficiencies and/or advantages. The various embodiments of the retractor  31 - 34  in accordance with the invention allows workers to lift the hollow stem auger string with the strong hydraulics of the drill rig if the winches are insufficiently powerful enough to do so by the inventive embodiments of the hoist  61  or  62 . Otherwise, the inventive embodiments of the hoist  61  or  62  can do the job alone. 
   So, the job can be accomplished by the following steps. A basic step comprises lifting the auger string with the powerful hydraulics of the drill rig by any of the inventive embodiments of the retractor  31 - 34  (now, as an aside, sections  21  are only taken apart after a prior art catcher has been inserted between a coil of the helical flighting  23  of the section  21  which succeeds to the topmost position for the auger string to prevent the auger string from sinking back into the hole). Then, the chosen retractor  31 - 34  is disengaged if used, so that the section  21  in the topmost position of the auger string section can be disassembled from the remaining string, and carried away with the winch and tower of the drill rig by the chosen embodiment of inventive hoist  61  or  62 . 
   The invention having been disclosed in connection with the foregoing variations and examples, additional variations will now be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is not intended to be limited to the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of preferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.