Patent Description:
This application relates to injection systems for creating concrete columns and, more particularly, to high pressure injection flushing heads for such systems.

High Pressure Injection (HPI) systems can be used to prepare concrete columns in the ground for stabilization and ground sealing. Referring to <FIG>, conventionally, a high pressure injection system <NUM> includes a drilling rig <NUM> that has a mast <NUM>. An HPI flushing head <NUM> mounts atop the mast, and one or more HPI drill rods <NUM> connect the flushing head <NUM> to a nozzle fastener <NUM>, which, in turn, connects to a drill bit <NUM>.

Drilling rig <NUM> can drill a pilot hole <NUM> into a ground <NUM> to a desired depth of a column. During a conventional drilling step (shown to the far left of <FIG>), drill rods equipped with a jet nozzle holder and a drill bit are used to drill a jet grouting hole down to the required depth. A flushing medium (e.g., water at up to <NUM> bar) can be pumped through the drill rods <NUM>, past a pressure-sensitive valve <NUM> in the nozzle fastener <NUM>, to the drill bit <NUM>. Once the desired depth is reached, high pressure grout flushing hoses can be affixed to the flushing head <NUM>. The HPI system <NUM> can then pump grout and optionally air and water down into the hole, through the nozzle fastener <NUM>, to mix with the soil. (See the second process depicted in <FIG>). As high pressure grout is delivered down to the nozzle fastener <NUM>, the valve <NUM> closes under the high pressure (e.g., up to <NUM> bar), preventing grout from being delivered to the drill bit <NUM> and instead routing the grout flow to nozzles <NUM>. The nozzles <NUM> can be selected from various sizes, depending on the soil properties and ground conditions. The grout spray from the nozzles can cut through the ground to create a mixture of soil and grout. The drilling rig <NUM> can lift and optionally pivot the nozzle fastener <NUM> to create a column of the soil and grout mixture that forms a hard column <NUM>. (See the third process depicted in <FIG>). A chuck <NUM> couples to a circumferential surface of a drill rod <NUM> and controls the feed (e.g., longitudinal motion parallel to the drill mast's axis) and rotation of the drill string, which includes the drill rods <NUM>, flushing head <NUM>, and drill bit <NUM>. Because the flushing head <NUM> constantly prepares the concrete, the flushing head is mounted on the top of the drill string and is guided on the lightweight extension mast <NUM> of the drill rig <NUM>. In another configuration for use in height-limited applications, the flushing head is mounted underneath a top drive head without a chuck. Optionally, multiple columns of soil/grout can be formed and/or connected together as shown in the fourth process depicted at the far right in <FIG>.

HPI systems can be configured as single phase, dual phase, or triple phase systems. Single phase systems can deliver only high pressure concrete to the nozzle fastener. Dual phase systems can include a high pressure concrete channel and an air or water low pressure channel. Triple phase systems can include a high pressure concrete or water channel, a medium pressure concrete or water channel, and a low pressure air channel.

Conventionally, various HPI rod sizes can be used, each size requiring a correspondingly sized HPI flushing head, so the flushing head has to be changed to match the selected HPI rod. Accordingly, providing a flushing head that can operably couple to plurality of rod sizes can be beneficial.

Conventionally, HPI flushing heads are large and heavy. Because they mount to the top of the mast, their weight can limit the height at which the HPI flushing head can be mounted. This correspondingly limits the size of the drill rods used. Accordingly, lowering the size and weight of the HPI flushing head can allow for a more versatile high pressure injection system.

Conventionally, HPI flushing heads have lubrication systems that require frequent maintenance. Because the HPI flushing head is atop a drilling mast, this can be a difficult task. Accordingly, reducing the maintenance frequency can be desirable.

The patent publications <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> and <CIT> represent examples of background art.

Disclosed herein, in one aspect, is a high pressure injection flushing head.

The high pressure injection flushing head can comprise a flushing body comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion. The upper body portion and the lower body portion can cooperate to define a bore. The lower body portion can comprise a fluid connection. A shaft can be rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore. A plurality of rotary elements can be configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft relative to the flushing body. The flushing body can comprise a lubrication system having at least one lubricant nipple and a network of pathways in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary elements.

The shaft can define a flange that is configured to couple to a corresponding flange of a rod adapter.

Each lubricant nipple of the at least one lubricant nipple can be in fluid communication, via the network of pathways, with a maximum of two rotary elements of the plurality of rotary elements.

The lubrication system can further comprise at least one grease pressure indicator in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple.

The upper body portion and the lower body portion of the flushing body can be coupled together by at least one screw.

The high pressure injection flushing head can further comprise a wear bushing rotatably disposed within the bore.

The wear bushing can comprise at least one of a tungsten carbide nickel coating, a chromized coating, or a QPQ prepared surface.

The high pressure injection flushing head can further comprise a high pressure hose coupling.

The high pressure hose coupling can be threadedly coupled to the flushing body so that rotation of the high pressure hose coupling with respect to the flushing body is configured to move the high pressure hose coupling axially with respect to the wear bushing to define a select axial spacing between the high pressure hose coupling and the wear bushing.

The select axial spacing between the high pressure hose coupling and the wear bushing can be less than <NUM> millimeters.

The select axial spacing between the high pressure hose coupling and the wear bushing can be less than <NUM> millimeter.

The high pressure injection flushing head can further comprise an axially compressible seal disposed between the wear bushing and the high pressure hose coupling.

The high pressure hose coupling can have a diameter of <NUM> millimetres (<NUM> inches) more.

The high pressure hose coupling can have a diameter of <NUM> millimetres (<NUM> inches) or less.

The plurality of rotary elements can comprise a thrust bearing in engagement between the upper body portion of the flushing body and the shaft, a radial bearing in engagement between the lower body portion of the flushing body and the shaft, and tapered roller bearing in engagement between the flushing body and the shaft, wherein the tapered roller bearing is disposed between the radial bearing and the thrust bearing with respect to a rotational axis of the high pressure injection flushing head.

The shaft can define an inner bore having an inner diameter, wherein the diameter of the inner bore of the shaft is between <NUM> and <NUM> millimeters.

An apparatus can comprise the high pressure injection flushing head and a rod adapter having a first end that is attached to the flushing head and a second end that is configured to attach to a drill rod.

An apparatus can comprise a high pressure injection flushing head and a pressurized lubrication source that is configured to provide a lubricant to the high pressure injection flushing head. A lubricant diverter can be is configured to receive the lubricant from the pressurized lubricant source. The lubricant diverter can define at least a portion of a conduit between the grease pump and the at least one lubricant nipple.

The pressurized lubrication source can comprise a grease supply and a grease pump that is configured to pump grease from the grease supply to the high pressure injection flushing head.

The pressurized lubrication source can comprise a pressurized lubricant cartridge.

A method can comprise decoupling the first drill rod from the first rod adapter of the apparatus and replacing the rod adapter with a second rod adapter different than the rod adapter in at least one of size or profile. Replacing the rod adapter with a second rod adapter can comprise attaching a first end of the second rod adapter to the flushing head and engaging a second drill rod with a second end of the second rod adapter. The second drill rod can be different from the first drill rod in at least one of size, profile, or thread type.

Additional advantages of the disclosed system and method will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be understood from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed system and method. The advantages of the disclosed system and method will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the disclosed apparatus, system, and method and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed apparatus, system, and method.

The disclosed system and method may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of particular embodiments and the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previous and following description.

It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a nipple" includes a plurality of such nipple, and reference to "the nipple" is a reference to one or more nipples and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

"Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event, circumstance, or material may or may not occur or be present, and that the description includes instances where the event, circumstance, or material occurs or is present and instances where it does not occur or is not present.

When such a range is expressed, also specifically contemplated and considered disclosed is the range from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value unless the context specifically indicates otherwise. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another, specifically contemplated embodiment that should be considered disclosed unless the context specifically indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint unless the context specifically indicates otherwise. Finally, it should be understood that all of the individual values and sub-ranges of values contained within an explicitly disclosed range are also specifically contemplated and should be considered disclosed unless the context specifically indicates otherwise. The foregoing applies regardless of whether in particular cases some or all of these embodiments are explicitly disclosed.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which the disclosed apparatus, system, and method belong. Although any apparatus, systems, and methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present apparatus, system, and method, the particularly useful methods, devices, systems, and materials are as described.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises," means "including but not limited to," and is not intended to exclude, for example, other additives, components, integers or steps. In particular, in methods stated as comprising one or more steps or operations it is specifically contemplated that each step comprises what is listed (unless that step includes a limiting term such as "consisting of'), meaning that each step is not intended to exclude, for example, other additives, components, integers or steps that are not listed in the step.

Disclosed herein is a high pressure injection flushing head. Although the disclosed embodiment is directed to a dual phase flushing head, it should be understood that various features can be applied to other configurations, such as single and triple phase flushing heads. Referring to <FIG>, a dual phase flushing head <NUM> can include a flushing body <NUM> having a low pressure body portion <NUM>, which can be a lower body portion when the flushing head <NUM> is oriented for vertical downward drilling, and a high pressure body portion <NUM>, which can be an upper body portion when the flushing head <NUM> is oriented for vertical downward drilling. Thus, as used herein the term "upper body portion" refers to the portion of the flushing body that is farthest away from the base/bottom of the drill hole, whereas the term "lower body portion" refers to the portion of the flushing body that is closest to the base/bottom of the drill hole. A drive shaft <NUM> can be rotatably disposed at least partially within the flushing body <NUM>. The drive shaft <NUM> can include a main drive shaft <NUM> and an inner drive shaft <NUM>. The main drive shaft <NUM> and the low pressure body portion <NUM> can define a low pressure area <NUM>, and the inner drive shaft <NUM> and the high pressure body portion <NUM> can define a high pressure area <NUM>. Optionally, the low pressure area <NUM> can be configured for pressures of up to <NUM> bar, and the high pressure area <NUM> can be configured for pressures of up to <NUM> bar. Each of the low and high pressure sections can use different sealing components (e.g., O-rings) and bearings. The low pressure body portion and the high pressure body portion can optionally be coupled via body screws <NUM> for quick disassembly and reassembly. In contrast, in conventional designs, the low and high pressure sections couple via bayonette couplings. Attachment via screws as disclosed herein allows for a smaller, more compact, and lighter (less heavy) configuration.

The drive shaft <NUM> can further include an upper flange <NUM>, defined by the inner drive shaft <NUM>, and a connection flange <NUM>. A ring <NUM> can have an inner diameter that is less than the inner diameter of an opening of the upper flange <NUM> of the drive shaft <NUM> so that the ring <NUM> and upper flange of the drive shaft can define an annular recess that is configured to receive an annular lip <NUM> extending radially from a wear bushing <NUM>. A plurality of shaft screws <NUM> can extend through the ring <NUM>, through the upper flange <NUM>, through a top flange of the inner drive shaft <NUM>, through the connection flange <NUM>, and into threaded holes in the main drive shaft <NUM> to form the assembled drive shaft <NUM>. The wear bushing <NUM> can be coupled to the rotating assembly via receipt of the annular lip <NUM> into the annular recess defined by the drive shaft and the ring <NUM>. The drive shaft <NUM> can be rotatably supported by a small ball bearing <NUM> and a large taper roller bearing <NUM>. The tapered roller bearing <NUM> can be disposed at a location slightly above a plane <NUM> below which (i.e. in the axial direction toward an end that couples to a drill rod adapter as disclosed further herein) the low pressure area <NUM> begins. The roller bearing <NUM> can engage the drive shaft <NUM> at the connection flange <NUM>. The roller bearing <NUM> can support the axial load of both the main drive shaft <NUM> and the inner drive shaft <NUM>. The drive shaft <NUM> can further be supported by an axial bearing <NUM> that can be disposed between the connection flange <NUM> and the high pressure body portion <NUM>. The interface between the main drive shaft <NUM> and the inner drive shaft <NUM> can be sealed by at least one and preferably at least two seals (e.g., O-rings <NUM>).

The low pressure body portion <NUM> can include a low pressure fluid connection <NUM> at a duct that leads from an exterior of the low pressure body portion to a circumferential interior groove <NUM>. The circumferential groove <NUM> can align with at least one hole <NUM> in the main drive shaft <NUM> so that low pressure fluid can travel from the low pressure fluid connection <NUM> to the low pressure area <NUM>, which can be an annulus between the interior surface of the main drive shaft <NUM> and the inner drive shaft <NUM>. One or more slide rings <NUM> (e.g., rota slide rings), that are adapted for rotation and sliding motion are disposed on each side of the groove, seal the low pressure area <NUM> between the low pressure body portion <NUM> and the main drive shaft <NUM>. Although only two slide rings <NUM> are depicted in the drawings, it is contemplated that three or more slide rings can be used.

The connection flange <NUM> acts as a boundary between the low pressure area <NUM> and the high pressure area <NUM>. Accordingly, a rotation lip seal <NUM>, which, as shown in <FIG>, can abut and circumferentially enclose a portion of the connection flange <NUM>, provides a seal between the high pressure body portion <NUM> and the drive shaft <NUM>. The rotation lip seal <NUM> can have a V-shaped cross section having its opening facing the high pressure side so that the high pressure grout cannot force its way past the seal.

A rotary shaft seal <NUM> can be disposed within an end cap <NUM> that attaches to the lower pressure body portion <NUM>. The rotary flange <NUM> can prevent dirt from getting into the roller bearing <NUM> and the interior of the flushing body <NUM>.

High pressure grout can be delivered to the head via a flushing hose coupling <NUM>, through a wear bushing <NUM>, and into the inner drive shaft <NUM>. The grout can be abrasive. The flushing hose coupling can have a central axis that is coaxial with a rotational axis <NUM> of the flushing head. Accordingly, minimizing discontinuous interfaces between components of the flushing head and flushing hose coupling can increase the lifetimes of those respective components. A roof collar seal set <NUM> can be disposed between the hose coupling <NUM> and the wear bushing <NUM>. The roof collar seal set <NUM> can optionally comprise V-seals that have a V-shaped cross-section (e.g., an outwardly facing V-shaped cross-section) as is known in the art. As the roof collar seal set is compressed, the lips of the respective V-seals can be forced axially.

The flushing hose coupling <NUM> can be tightened down to adjust the roof collar seal set <NUM>. The hose coupling <NUM> can define external threads <NUM> that are receivable into internal threads <NUM> of the high pressure body portion <NUM>. The hose coupling <NUM> can further define spanner (wrench) flats <NUM> so that the hose coupling <NUM> can be rotated to select the axial spacing between the hose coupling and the wear bushing <NUM>. An internally threaded flange <NUM> can engage the external threads <NUM> on the hose coupling to screw down to bias a locknut <NUM> between the high pressure body portion <NUM> and the internally threaded flange. One or more screws <NUM> can fix the rotational position of the internally threaded flange <NUM> with respect to the high pressure body portion <NUM>. An interior of the hose coupling <NUM> can receive a plug <NUM> (<FIG>) that has a protruding surface <NUM> for gripping and removing the plug. In some aspects, the flushing hose coupling can be tightened down so that its bottom face is flush against an opposing face of the wear bushing <NUM>. In further embodiments, the spacing between the flushing hose coupling and the wear bushing can be less than <NUM> millimeters. In further embodiments, the spacing between the flushing hose coupling and the wear bushing can be less than <NUM> millimeters, <NUM> millimeters, <NUM> millimeter, or <NUM> millimeter. For example, the spacing may be less than <NUM> millimeters for a two-inch hose coupling, and the spacing can be less than <NUM> millimeter for a <NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM> inch (<NUM> millimetres) or smaller hose coupling.

It is contemplated that the adjustable position between the hose coupling <NUM> and the wear bushing <NUM> can enhance the life of the roof collar seal set <NUM>. For example, the roof collar seal set <NUM> can initially be compressed between the hose coupling and the wear bushing at a first, low pressure. As the seal wears, the seal set can begin to leak. Thus, the hose coupling <NUM> can be tightened down against the wear bushing <NUM> to increase the pressure on the roof collar seal set <NUM> to reduce or stop the leaking, thereby extending the lifetime of the coupling. The hose coupling can repeatedly be tightened down as necessary to reduce leaking.

Referring to <FIG>, in further optional embodiments, a flushing head <NUM>' can include a labyrinth seal <NUM>' between a flushing hose coupling <NUM>' and a wear bushing <NUM>'. In this way, the spacing between the flushing hose coupling and the wear bushing can be reduced to <NUM> millimeters or less. This decreased spacing is a substantial improvement over conventional flushing heads, which typically required significantly greater spacing. As an example, the labyrinth seal <NUM>' can include overlapping and interlocking annular protrusions that create a path that inhibits leakage between the respective components. That is, a portion of the top end of wear bushing <NUM>' can be received within an annular recess <NUM>'. Accordingly, instead of having a relatively large gap between opposing planar faces parallel to the flushing head's rotational axis, the labyrinth seal <NUM>' provides a relatively smaller gap between an interior surface of the wear bushing <NUM>' and an opposing face of the flushing hose coupling's annular recess <NUM>'.

Referring again to <FIG>, the pressure of the seal set <NUM> can cause wear on the wear bushing at its engagement area around the circumference of the wear bushing's exterior. Accordingly, the engagement area can be hardened via chrome plating, a carburized surface, tungsten carbide nickel coating, a chromized coating, or a quench-polish-quench (QPQ) preparation. The end of the wear bushing <NUM> opposite the roof collar set is sealed via an O-ring <NUM> against the inner drive shaft <NUM>. A rotation lip seal <NUM> is disposed within the high pressure body portion <NUM> and engages an exterior surface of the wear bushing <NUM>. The wear bushing <NUM> is disposed in the flushing head <NUM> so that it can be easily removed and replaced. According to one aspect, all of the inner diameters of the hose coupling <NUM>, the wear bushing <NUM>, and the inner drive shaft <NUM> are at least <NUM> millimeters and up to <NUM> millimeters, and optionally <NUM> millimeters. In this way, the inner diameter is configured to receive a deviation tool having the most common diameter. Further, the interface between the hose coupling <NUM> and the wear bushing <NUM> and the interface between the wear bushing <NUM> and the inner drive shaft <NUM> can both be smooth and continuous.

A lubrication system <NUM> can be configured for receiving a plurality of different lubricants (e.g., greases) at various pressures, viscosities and quantities. Accordingly, the lubrication system <NUM> can comprise a lower grease nipple <NUM> on the lower body portion <NUM>. The first grease nipple <NUM> can be coupled with a grease supply. A conduit <NUM> can have a first branch <NUM> that extends from the first grease nipple <NUM> to the rotary shaft seal <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> can have a second branch <NUM> that extends from the first grease nipple <NUM> to the slide rings <NUM> (e.g., to a pair of annular grooves <NUM> in lower body portion <NUM>, each groove disposed between a respective pair of slide rings <NUM>). The lubrication system <NUM> can further include a second grease nipple <NUM> in the lower body portion <NUM> that is in fluid communication with the rotary shaft seal <NUM> and the tapered roller bearing <NUM> via a conduit <NUM>. The lubrication system <NUM> can further include a third grease nipple <NUM> that is in fluid communication with the axial bearing <NUM> via a conduit <NUM>. The lubrication system <NUM> can further include a fourth grease nipple <NUM> that is disposed in the high pressure body portion <NUM>. The fourth grease nipple <NUM> can be in fluid communication with the roof collar seal set <NUM> via a channel <NUM> and at least one hole <NUM> in the hose coupling <NUM>. A fifth nipple <NUM> can be in fluid communication with lip seal <NUM> and the wear bushing <NUM> via a conduit <NUM>.

The lubrication system <NUM> can further include a visible indicator <NUM> that extends from the body <NUM> when the lubricant pressure in fluid communication with the indicator exceeds a threshold. For example, the lubricant system can be in communication with visible indicator having a housing defining a hole and a cover, wherein the cover is spring-biased to block lubricant from exiting the hole until the pressure reaches a threshold. Upon the lubricant pressure exceeding the threshold, lubricant can flow through the hole to drive a pin to extend from the housing. Such indicators are also commonly referred to as reset indicators. In still further embodiments, the visible indicator <NUM> can comprise a pressure gauge that can optionally be configured to provide an electrical signal when the threshold pressure is reached. Optionally, the electrical signal provided by the pressure gauge can directly or indirectly (such as, through microcontroller or other processor control) effect movement, activation, and/or illumination of a visible component of the visible indicator <NUM>.

The lubrication system <NUM> can further include pressure relief valves <NUM> that are configured to open to relieve pressure when lubricant pressures in fluid communication with a respective relief valve exceeds a threshold. The pressure relief valves <NUM> can include a hole that is closed by a spring-loaded steel ball <NUM>. When the pressure exceeds the threshold, the lubricant pressure overcomes the spring force, and the ball moves to unblock the hole and allow lubricant to vent therefrom. The spring force and hole size can be selected to provide a desired threshold pressure at which the pressure relief valve <NUM> releases.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, a system <NUM> can include a central lubrication system that maintains the lubrication levels in the flushing head <NUM>. The system can include a pressurized lubricant source such as, for example, a lubricant supply <NUM> and at least one pump <NUM>. The at least one pump <NUM> can pump grease or other lubricant from the lubricant supply through one or more lines to deliver lubricant to one or more nipples of the lubrication system <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>). In some embodiments, the system <NUM> can comprise a single pump <NUM> that pumps lubricant through a conduit <NUM> to a diverter <NUM> that splits the lubricant into a plurality of pathways (e.g., five pathways) that respectively connect to a plurality of nipples (e.g., the five nipples (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>)). In further optional embodiments, the pressurized lubricant source can comprise a pressurized lubricant cartridge that provides lubricant through the conduit <NUM> to the diverter <NUM> that redirects the lubricant to the nipples. The pressurized lubricant cartridge can optionally comprise a small battery-powered pump and a lubricant supply. In some optional aspects, the pressurized lubricant cartridge can be manufactured by SKF. According to some optional aspects, the pressurized lubricant cartridge can be used in place of the lubricant supply <NUM> and pump <NUM>.

The flushing head <NUM> can attach to a sled adapter bracket <NUM> that is configured to couple to the mast of the drilling rig. The flushing head <NUM> can attach to the sled adapter bracket <NUM>, for example, via screws or other suitable fasteners. According to another aspect, the flushing head <NUM> can include threaded holes in various places around its circumference in order to allow a plurality attachment locations (e.g., first location <NUM>, second location <NUM>, and third location <NUM>) for the sled adapter bracket. In this way, the flushing head <NUM> can be oriented in order to optimize accessibility of the nipples, the low pressure hose coupling, and other features of the flushing head. Optionally, the holes that receive the fasteners in the sled adapter bracket can comprise elongate slots. In this way, the slots can enable the position of the sled adapter bracket <NUM> to be adjustable with respect to the flushing head <NUM> to account for misalignment.

According to other aspects, the flushing head <NUM> can be selectively fitted with a plurality of adapters so that various drill rod sizes and rod profile types can operatively couple to the flushing head. The main drive shaft <NUM> can include a flange <NUM> that provides an attachment location for a rod adapter <NUM>. The rod adapter <NUM> can include a complementary flange <NUM> with corresponding holes to receive bolts <NUM> for attachment to the flushing head <NUM>. Accordingly, the chuck drives, via a drill rod coupled with the rod adapter, the main drive shaft. The rod adapter can have an outer portion <NUM> and an inner portion <NUM>. The inner portion can have a flange <NUM> that rests against a ledge <NUM> of outer portion <NUM>. The flange <NUM> can have, in cross section in a plane transverse to the adapter's longitudinal dimension, a star profile (e.g. having triangular protrusions) so that holes are defined between the flange <NUM> and the ledge <NUM> to allow air or water to pass therethrough. Main drive shaft <NUM> and inner drive shaft <NUM> can have respective recessed annuluses <NUM>, <NUM> that receive respective outer and inner protruding hollow cylindrical portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the rod adapter <NUM>. Both ends of each of the outer portion and the inner portion can comprise annular grooves <NUM> to receive O-rings <NUM> or other types of seals. When the flange <NUM> of the flushing head <NUM> is bolted to the flange <NUM> of the rod adapter <NUM>, protruding hollow cylindrical portion <NUM> can be received within an inner circumferential wall of the main drive shaft <NUM>, and protruding hollow cylindrical portion <NUM> can be received within an inner circumferential wall of the inner drive shaft <NUM>. The seals <NUM> can engage respective surfaces of the drive shaft <NUM> to fluidly seal the drive shaft to the rod adapter <NUM>. Accordingly, the rod adapter <NUM> can effectively seal its respective high and low pressure channels at a first end that attaches to the flushing head <NUM> and at a second end that attaches to a drilling rod.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation, a first rod adapter <NUM> can be coupled to a first drill rod. For example, a first end of the first rod adapter <NUM> can be attached to the flushing head <NUM>, and an opposing second end of the first rod adapter can be attached to the first drill rod. After use of the first drill rod, the first drill rod can be decoupled from the first rod adapter, and the first rod adapter can be decoupled from the flushing head <NUM>. Then, the first rod adapter can be replaced with a second rod adapter <NUM> that is different from the first rod adapter in at least one of size (e.g., diameter), profile (e.g., cross-sectional profile), or thread type (e.g., thread pitch, single vs. dual thread, thread height, thread taper, etc.). After the second rod adapter has replaced the first rod adapter, a second drill rod can be engaged with the second rod adapter, with the second drill rod being different from the first drill rod in at least one of size (e.g., diameter), profile (e.g., cross-sectional profile), or thread type. For example, a first end of the second rod adapter <NUM> can be attached to the flushing head <NUM>, and an opposing second end of the second rod adapter can be attached to the second drill rod. In this way, the flushing head can be adapted for use with a plurality of rod types. A single flushing head can, therefore, be used with a plurality of rod types.

Claim 1:
A high pressure injection flushing head (<NUM>), wherein in that the high pressure injection flushing head (<NUM>) comprises:
a flushing body (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper body portion (<NUM>), and
a lower body portion (<NUM>) coupled to the upper body portion (<NUM>), wherein the upper body portion (<NUM>) and the lower body portion (<NUM>) cooperate to define a bore,
wherein the lower body portion (<NUM>) comprises a fluid connection (<NUM>);
a shaft (<NUM>) rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore; and
a plurality of rotary elements that are configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft (<NUM>) relative to the flushing body (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the flushing body (<NUM>) comprises a lubrication system (<NUM>) having:
at least one lubricant nipple (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and
a network of pathways (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary elements.