Direct pullback devices and method of horizontal drilling

An apparatus for horizontal directional drilling, comprising:

• an elongated housing including an interior, a front, a rear, a longitudinal axis passing through the front and rear, and at least one opening for receiving a cutting block fastener;
• a sonde transmitter mounted in the interior;
• a main fluid channel to permit a flow of a fluid therethrough, the channel extending in the interior of the housing in a direction along the longitudinal axis;
• a fluid outlet at the front of the housing, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the channel and adapted to permit the fluid to flow therethrough such that the fluid is emitted from the front of the housing;
• a plurality of fluid ports in fluid communication with the main fluid channel and adapted to permit the fluid to be emitted from the housing through the fluid ports, at least one of the fluid ports being at least in part obstructed by a removable fluid plug, whereby the apparatus is configured to adjust flow rate and flow locations to provide suitable lubrication to the housing during drilling operations;
• a drill bit coupled to the front of the housing, the drill bit including a plurality of drill bit cutting elements;
• a connecting member indirectly coupled to the drill bit via one of a connecting link and a pullback adapter such that the connecting member is securely attached to the drill bit with a central longitudinal axis of the connecting member being generally aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the housing;
• a tow head coupled to the connecting member such that the tow head is permitted to swivel relative to the connecting member, the tow head being sized and shaped to receive a portion of a conduit and retain the portion of the conduit during a direct pullback operation of the apparatus;
• and
• at least one cutting block mounted to a portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus, the cutting block comprising a body including at least one cutting element extending therefrom, the at least one cutting element being adapted to cut through soil, and first and second arms extending from the body and having an opening therebetween, whereby the first and second arms of the cutting block at least in part surround the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus.