Boring or penetrating the earth – With signaling – indicating – testing or measuring – Tool position direction or inclination measuring or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-08-28
Bagnell, David (Department: 3673)
Boring or penetrating the earth
With signaling, indicating, testing or measuring
Tool position direction or inclination measuring or...
C340S853400, C340S853600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279668
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to underground boring tool guidance and, more particularly, to a remote walk over locator/controller configured for determining the underground location of a boring tool and for remotely issuing control commands to a drill rig which is operating the boring tool.
Installing underground utility cable using a steerable boring tool is well known in the art. Various examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,155,442, 5,337,002, 5,444,382 and 5,633,589 as issued to Mercer et al (collectively referred to herein as the Mercer Patents), all of which are incorporated herein by reference. An example of the prior art Mercer technique is best illustrated in
FIG. 1
herein which corresponds to
FIG. 2
in the Mercer Patents. For purposes of clarity, the reference numerals used in the Mercer Patents have been retained herein for like components.
As seen in
FIG. 1
, an overall boring machine
24
is positioned within a starting pit
22
and includes a length of drill pipe
10
, the front end of which is connected to the back end of a steerable boring head or tool
28
. As described in the Mercer Patents, the boring tool includes a transmitter for emitting a dipole magnetic field
12
which radiates in front of, behind and around the boring tool, as illustrated in part in
FIG. 1. A
first operator
20
positioned at the starting pit
22
is responsible for operating the boring machine
24
; that is, he or she causes the machine to let out the drill pipe, causing it to push the boring tool forward. At the same time, operator
20
is responsible for steering the boring tool through the ground. A second locator/monitor operator
26
is responsible for locating boring tool
28
using a locator or receiver
36
. The boring tool is shown in
FIG. 1
being guided beneath an obstacle
30
. The locator/monitor operator
26
holds locator
36
and uses it to locate a surface position above tool head
28
. Once operator
26
finds this position, the locator
36
is used to determine the depth of tool head
28
. Using the particular locator of the present invention, operator
26
can also determine roll orientation and other information such as yaw and pitch. This information is passed on to operator
20
who then may use it to steer the boring tool to its target. Unfortunately, this arrangement requires at least two operators in order to manage the drilling operation, as will be discussed further.
Still referring to
FIG. 1
, current operation of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) with a walkover locating system requires a minimum of two skilled operators to perform the drilling operation. As described, one operator runs the drill rig and the other operator tracks the progress of the boring tool and determines the commands necessary to keep the drill on a planned course. In the past, communication between the two operators has been accomplished using walkie-talkies. Sometimes hand signals are used on the shorter drill runs. However, in either instance, there is often confusion. Because an operating drill rig is typically quite noisy, the rig noise can make it difficult, if not impossible, to hear the voice communications provided via walkie-talkie. Moreover, both the walkie-talkie and the hand signals are awkward since the operator of the drill rig at many times has both of his hands engaged in operation of the drill rig. Confused steering direction can result in the drill being misdirected, sometimes with disastrous results.
The present invention provides a highly advantageous boring tool control arrangement in which an operator uses a walk-over locator unit that is configured for remotely issuing control commands to a drill rig. In this way, problems associated with reliable communications between two operators are eliminated. In addition, other advantages are provided, as will be described hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As will be described in more detail hereinafter, there is disclosed herein a locator/control arrangement for locating and controlling underground movement of a boring tool which is operated from a drill rig. An associated method is also disclosed. The boring tool includes means for emitting a locating signal. In accordance with the present invention, the locator/control arrangement includes a portable device for generating certain information about the position of the boring tool in response to and using the locating signal. In addition to this means for generating certain information about the position of the boring tool, the portable device also includes means for generating command signals in view of this certain information and for transmitting the command signals to the drill rig. Means located at the drill rig then receives the command signals whereby the command signals can be used to control the boring tool.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the means located at the drill rig for receiving the command signals may include means for indicating the command signals to a drill rig operator.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the means located at the drill rig for receiving the command signals may include means for automatically executing the command signals at the drill rig in a way which eliminates the need for a drill rig operator.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, drill rig monitoring means may be provided for monitoring particular operational parameters of the drill rig. In response to the particular operational parameters, certain data may be generated which may include a warning that one of the parameters has violated an acceptable operating value for that parameter. In one feature, the certain data regarding the operational parameters may be displayed at the drill rig. In another feature, the certain data regarding the operational parameters may be displayed on the portable device. The latter feature is highly advantageous in embodiments of the invention which contemplate elimination of the need for a drill rig operator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3362750 (1968-01-01), Carnegie
patent: 4323280 (1982-04-01), Lansberry et al.
patent: 4403664 (1983-09-01), Sullinger
patent: 4708395 (1987-11-01), Petry et al.
patent: 4881083 (1989-11-01), Chau et al.
patent: 4934757 (1990-06-01), Steinkuhl et al.
patent: 5337002 (1994-08-01), Mercer
patent: 5585726 (1996-12-01), Chau
patent: 5698981 (1997-12-01), Mercer
patent: 5711381 (1998-01-01), Archambeault et al.
patent: 5904210 (1999-05-01), Stump et al.
patent: 5937954 (1999-08-01), Puttmann et al.
patent: 6035951 (2000-03-01), Mercer et al.
patent: 6079506 (2000-06-01), Mercer
patent: 6102136 (2000-08-01), Archambeault et al.
Bagnell David
Digital Control Corporation
Pritzkau Michael
Singh Sunil
LandOfFree
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