Patent ID: 7467675

Claim:
A device for channeling solids and fluids within a reverse circulating, fluid operated drill, the drill having first and second ends and an axis extending between the ends and including a casing, the casing having a central longitudinal bore extending generally between the drill first and second ends and a drive chamber, a fluid supply chamber, and a valve operation chamber each defined within the bore, a fluid distributor disposed within the casing and having at least one supply passage fluidly coupling the supply chamber and the drive chamber, a valve movably disposed within the casing so as to at least partially bound the valve chamber and being contactable with the distributor, the valve being configured to control flow through the supply passage and being displaceable between closed and open positions, and a piston having a central bore and being movably disposed within the casing bore, the channeling device comprising: an elongated body disposeable at least partially within the casing bore so as to extend generally along the casing axis and through the piston bore, the body having a central longitudinal axis, a first end locatable generally proximal to the drill first end, a second end spaced axially from the first end and locatable generally proximal to the drill second end, a material transport passage extending axially between the body first and second ends and providing a path for moving solid materials through the drill, and a fluid passage configured to fluidly couple the valve and drive chambers, the body fluid passage is configured to direct fluid from the drive chamber to the valve chamber such that the valve is displaced toward the closed position and to alternatively direct fluid from the valve chamber to one of the drive chamber and the piston bore to at least facilitate movement of the valve toward the open position.