# US 10,246,993 B2 · Direct pullback devices and method of horizontal drilling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,993 B2 - Document ID: US10246993B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/623,145 - Filed: 2017-06-14 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-14 - Assignees: Melfred Borzall, Inc. - Applicants: Melfred Borzall, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Melsheimer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246993B2 ## CPC - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - E21B 7/046: {horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003)} - E21B 7/20: Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes - E21B 7/28: Enlarging drilled holes, e.g. by counterboring - E21B 10/602: {the bit being a rotary drag type bit with blades} - E21B 10/633: independently detachable - E21B 17/05: Swivel joints - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An apparatus for horizontal directional drilling includes a housing and a sonde transmitter mounted in the housing. The housing includes a main fluid channel to permit a flow of a fluid therethrough. The apparatus further includes a fluid outlet at the front of the housing in communication with the main fluid channel and adapted to emit fluid from the front of the housing during pilot bore operations. The housing further includes a plurality of fluid ports in fluid communication with the main fluid channel and adapted to emit fluid from the housing during pullback operations. Drill bits, drill bit adapters, swivel connectors, and tow heads adapted to be coupled to the drill bits for direct pullback operations, as well as methods of direct pullback operations during horizontal direction drilling are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cutting block for attachment to a 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, the first and second arms having an opening therebetween configured to permit a portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus to pass therethrough, the first and second arms including opposed portions adapted to permit the first and second arms of the cutting block to slide over corresponding portions of the horizontal drilling apparatus such that the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus passes through the opening between the first and second arms of the cutting block and the first and second arms of the cutting block at least in part surround the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus; and at least one of the first and second arms including at least one fastener-receiving hole passing therethrough and adapted to permit a fastener to pass therethrough to attach the at least one of the first and second arms of the cutting block to the horizontal drilling apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cutting block of claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting element includes a plurality of cutting elements that are incrementally increased in size. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cutting block of claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting element is configured to enlarge a hole being drilled by the horizontal drilling apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cutting block of claim 3, wherein the hole enlargement is to a size larger than a pilot bore hole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cutting block of claim 1, wherein the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus is a portion of a housing of the horizontal drilling apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cutting block of claim 1, wherein the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus is a portion of a drill bit of the horizontal drilling apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cutting block of claim 6, wherein the drill bit is an offset drill bit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cutting block of claim 7, the cutting block further comprising a tab coupled to the body of the cutting block, the tab configured to allow the cutting block to be used as a pullback adapter when the cutting block is mounted to the horizontal drilling apparatus. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 9, wherein the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus is a portion of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 10, further including at least a first cutting block removably coupled to the housing and including first cutting block cutting elements defining a first outer diameter extending therefrom, and at least a second cutting block removably coupled to the housing and including second cutting block cutting elements defining a second outer diameter extending therefrom, the second outer diameter being greater than the first outer diameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 9, wherein the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus is one of a portion of the drill bit of the horizontal drilling apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 12, wherein the drill bit is an offset drill bit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 13, further comprising a tab coupled to the body of the cutting block, the tab configured to allow the cutting block to be used as a pullback adapter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 9, wherein the at least one cutting element of the cutting block includes a plurality of cutting elements that are incrementally increased in size. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 9, wherein the at least one cutting element of the cutting block is configured to enlarge a hole being drilled by the horizontal drilling apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 16, wherein the hole enlargement is to a size larger than the pilot bore hole. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 9, further comprising a rear adapter coupled to the rear of the housing, the rear adapter configured to permit a fluid source to be coupled to the housing, the rear adapter including a fluid passage extending in a direction along the longitudinal axis and in communication with the main fluid channel in the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 18, wherein the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus is a portion of the rear adapter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The apparatus for horizontal drilling of claim 9, wherein the mounting of the cutting block includes holes in the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus and at least one of the first and second arms including at least one fastener-receiving hole passing therethrough and adapted to permit a fastener to pass therethrough to attach the at least one of the first and second arms of the cutting block to the portion of the horizontal drilling apparatus.