Boring or penetrating the earth – Processes – Boring horizontal bores
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-01-30
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Boring or penetrating the earth
Processes
Boring horizontal bores
C175S162000, C173S185000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179068
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to directional drilling apparatus, in particular but not solely to directional drilling apparatus which can be used in confined spaces or utilised in locations close to such obstacles such as fences, houses, buildings, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide directional drilling devices which provide directional drilling by means of a drilling head which has an angled cutting or drilling device thereon, the angled device being monitorable in respect to its orientation about the axis of the drill. Change in direction of the drill is achieved by ceasing or preventing rotation of the drill bit when said angle device is in a desired orientation and then pushing forward the drill such that the angled device causes the drill to deviate from its current course. Drilling can then be recommenced with the drill head being pushed forward in the desired new direction.
Directional drilling (also referred to as boring, thrusting and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is a technology which allows services such as power cables, ducts, water pipes, gas lines, drainage pipes, etc, to be placed underground without the need to cut open the ground surface as is required in cut and cover methods. The drill gains its directional ability through the use of an angled steering blade on the drill head. Immediately behind the drill head is a transmitter (sonde) which relays information to an above ground operator, such information may include how deep the drill head is, the direction in which the drill is heading and the orientation of the drill head such as the angle it is pointing up or down.
Such devices are normally bulky and incorporate means to rotate and push forward or advance the drill bead as well as means to rotate it. It is also known to provide means to extend the drill such as a set of rods which are screwed into each other to provide additional length to the drill. The power requirement of such a device are somewhat high and as these devices incorporate the source of power the devices are large. This limits the use of the device in that it is common for drilling to be required substantially horizontally or parallel to the surface of the ground from a distance beneath the surface of the ground. Thus since the abovementioned device must rest on ground level the drill must be angled in from the surface of the ground such that it levels off at the required depth. The drills as aforementioned are of course flexible to some degree however flexibility is limited therefore to the angle at which the drill enters the ground. This means that the drilling unit itself must be positioned some distance back from the point at which the level drilling commences. Obviously this is inconvenient and may in some cases limit drilling. It may in other cases mean that neighbouring land must be encroached upon and as the ultimate length of the drill usable by such a device is limited, the length of useful drilling may also be somewhat lirmited. There is also a need for apparatus which can be used in situations when the pit or hole that is possible or preferable is somewhat smaller than the abovementioned apparatus. For example it is often the case when drilling under a road that the grass strip or verge beside the footpath is very narrow. It would be useful to have drilling apparatus which can be used in a pit which can be dug in this grass verge without having to remove or disturb the footpath or road. However a drawback of such a drilling apparatus could be that the drill rods utilised would also have to be relatively compact. This would limit the efficiency of drilling as the drill requires the attachments of drill rods one behind the other.
There is therefore a need for drilling apparatus which can be used in a configuration in which longer drill rods can be utilised therefore the apparatus itself is long but can be converted to a form in which the drilling apparatus itself is more compact.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect the present invention consists in directional drilling apparatus comprising:
a directional drill head (that is a drill head whose direction of advancement can be controlled by a user);
an extendable drill;
means to rotate said extendable drill and drill head;
means to advance said extendable drill and drill head such that said drill moves in the direction of said directional drill head;
characterised in that said means to advance and rotate said drill and directional drill head are unitary and are capable of being articulated from a prime mover or source of power such that said unitary unit can be articulated relative to said prime mover or source of power.
Preferably said unitary unit can be adjusted in size as can, preferably, said extendable drill.
Preferably means are provided to monitor the location of said directional drill head.
Preferably said means are provided to monitor the orientation (and hence advancement direction when not rotating) of directional drill head.
Preferably said prime mover or power source is a digger or excavator.
Preferably said directional drilling apparatus is powered by said prime mover.
Preferably said directional drilling apparatus is powered by power transferred by hydraulic means.
In another aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in directional drilling apparatus comprising a drill head where direction of advancement can be controlled by the user;
an extendable drill;
means to rotate and advance said extendable drill and drill head, said means capable of advancing said drill and drill head without rotation such that the direction of advancement of said directional drill head can be controlled;
characterised in that said directional drilling apparatus can be held from a remote location.
Preferably said means to advance and rotate said drill and directional drill head are a unitary unit.
Preferably said unitary unit can be adjusted in size as can, preferably, said extendable drill.
Preferably said adjustment in size is by means of removing part of said unit. Alternatively said unitary unit is telescopic.
Preferably said powering of said directional drilling apparatus is from a prime mover such as a digger or excavator.
Preferably said directional drilling apparatus are articulated from said prime mover.
Preferably said means are provided to monitor the orientation and hence advancement direction when not rotating the directional drill head.
In another aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in:
an extendable drill;
means to rotate said extendable drill and drill head;
means to advance said extendable drill and drill head such that said drill moves in the direction of said directional drill head;
characterised in that said means to advance and rotate said drill and directional drill head are unitary and are capable of being articulated from a prime mover or source of power such that said unitary unit can be articulated relative to said prime mover or source of power when articulated from a prime mover.
Preferably said unitary unit can be adjusted in size as can, preferably, said extendable drill.
Preferably said adjustment in size is by means of removing part of said unit. Alternatively said unitary unit is telescopic
Preferably means are provided to monitor the location of said directional drill head.
Preferably said means are provided to monitor the orientation of directional drill head.
Preferably said prime mover or power source is an hydraulic digger.
In yet another aspect, the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of directional drilling comprising providing as a unit means to rotate and advance or push directional drill head, means to power said unitary device, characterised in that said unitary device can be articulated relative to said means to power said device.
Preferably said unitary device can be adjusted in size as can, preferably, said extendable drill.
Preferably said adjustment in size is by means of removing part of said device.
Alternatively said unitary device is telescopic.
In yet another aspect, the
Flexidrill Limited
Jacobson Price Holman & Stern PLLC
Johnson Brian L.
Sliteris Joselynn
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