# US 10,480,147 B2 · Drilling machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,147 B2 - Document ID: US10480147B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/758,761 - Filed: 2016-09-08 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-10 - Assignees: Soletanche Freyssinet - Applicants: Soletanche Freyssinet - Inventors: Sara Cascarino; Daniel Perpezat; Laurent Pivert; Régis Bernasinski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480147B2 ## CPC - E02D 17/13: Foundation slots {or slits}; Implements for making these slots {or slits} - E02F 3/188: {with the axis being horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel} - E02F 3/205: {with a pair of digging wheels, e.g. slotting machines (implements for making foundation slots with definition of the walls or foundations E02D17/13; bulkheads or similar walls made solely of concrete in situ E02D5/18; with a pair of buckets E02F3/475)} - E02F 3/22: Component parts - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract The invention relates to a drilling machine (10) for making an excavation in ground in a drilling direction, said drilling machine comprising: an anchor module (12) having an anchor device for preventing the anchor module from moving in the drilling direction relative to the ground by bearing against one of the walls of the excavation; a drilling module (20) provided with cutter members connected to the anchor module while being movable in translation relative to the anchor module; and movement means (35) for moving the cutter members in translation relative to the anchor module. The drilling module is also hinged relative to the anchor module, and the drilling machine comprises first path correction means (40) for causing the drilling module to pivot relative to the anchor module about a pivot axis (X) perpendicular to the drilling direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drilling machine for making an excavation in ground in a drilling direction, said excavation having walls and said drilling machine comprising: an anchor module having at least one anchor device for preventing the anchor module from moving in the drilling direction relative to the ground by bearing against one of the walls of the excavation; a drilling module provided with cutter members, the cutter members being connected to the anchor module while being movable in translation relative to the anchor module; and a movement device for moving the cutter members in translation relative to the anchor module; wherein the drilling module is hinged relative to the anchor module, and wherein the drilling module further comprises at least a first path correction device configured to cause the drilling module to pivot relative to the anchor module about a pivot axis perpendicular to the drilling direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the anchor module includes the first path correction device that is configured to exert thrust on the drilling module in a direction extending transversely relative to the drilling direction, whereby actuating the first path correction device causes the drilling module to pivot relative to the anchor module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drilling machine according to claim 2, wherein the drilling machine has a bottom section carrying the cutter members, and a top section extending at least in part inside the anchor module, and wherein the first path correction device is arranged between the anchor module and the top section of the drilling module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drilling machine according to claim 3, wherein the drilling machine further comprises a second path correction device that is situated on the bottom section of the drilling module and that are configured to exert thrust on one of the walls of the excavation transversely relative to the drilling direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the first path correction device comprises at least one thrust pad. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drilling machine according to claim 5, wherein the thrust pad is actuated by an actuator mounted on the anchor module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the first path correction device is arranged on the drilling module and is configured to exert thrust on one of the walls of the excavation in a direction that extends transversely relative to the drilling direction, whereby actuating the first path correction device causes the drilling module to pivot relative to the anchor module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the movement device is mounted to pivot relative to the anchor module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the movement device comprises a thrust device for exerting downwardly directed thrust on the cutter members along the drilling direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The drilling machine according to claim 9, wherein the thrust device includes at least one thrust actuator arranged between the anchor module and the drilling module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the anchor device has at least one anchor pad suitable for bearing against one of the walls of the excavation to prevent the anchor module from moving along the drilling direction relative to the ground. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the drilling machine also has a damper device for damping the vibration generated by the cutter members while drilling. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, including a lift cable, with the drilling module being suspended from the bottom end thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drilling machine to claim 13, wherein the top section of the drilling module passes through the anchor module and the lift cable is fastened to the top end of the top section of the drilling module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The drilling machine according to claim 1, wherein the drilling machine is a milling machine in which the cutter members comprise two pairs of drums that are rotatable about axes of rotation that are parallel, distinct, and perpendicular to the drilling direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drilling machine according to claim 15, wherein the first path correction device is configured to cause the drilling module to pivot relative to the anchor module about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the drilling direction and to the axes of rotation of the drums.