Drill with modular electric skid
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsJordan C. Cash, Dylan J. Cook, Mark W. Kiner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A horizontal directional drill including a frame configured for modular attachment of either a diesel power pack or an electric power pack. The frame defines mounting features for securing the selected power pack. Each power pack includes a hydraulic pump driven respectively by a combustion engine or an electric drive motor. The hydraulic pumps of the interchangeable power packs are connectable to the same hydraulic power connections on the frame, enabling operation of the drill using either combustion-based or electrically supplied power.
Claims20
A horizontal directional drill comprising:
- a frame;
- a spindle;
- a carriage, configured to move the spindle along the frame;
- and
- hydraulic power connections supported on the frame and configured to supply hydraulic power to the spindle and the carriage;
- wherein the frame includes mounting features configured to position either of an electric power pack or a diesel power pack such that, when selected, the selected one of the electric power pack or the diesel power pack is configured to drive the hydraulic power connections.
A kit, comprising:
- a horizontal directional drill comprising:
- a frame, comprising mounting features;
- a spindle;
- a carriage, wherein the carriage is configured to move the spindle relative to the frame;
- and
- hydraulic power connections configured to receive hydraulic fluid to drive operation of the carriage and the spindle;
- an electric power pack configured to be mounted to the mounting features, the electric power pack comprising a first hydraulic pump and an electric drive motor, wherein the first hydraulic pump is configured to be driven by the electric drive motor and to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic power connections;
- and
- a diesel power pack configured to be mounted to the mounting features, the diesel power pack comprising a second hydraulic pump and a combustion engine, wherein the second hydraulic pump is configured to be driven by the combustion engine and to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic power connections.
A method of reconfiguring a horizontal directional drill having a frame with mounting features and hydraulic power connections configured to supply hydraulic power to a carriage and a spindle, the method comprising:
- removing a diesel power pack from the mounting features, the diesel power pack comprising a combustion engine configured to drive a hydraulic pump of the diesel power pack;
- disconnecting the hydraulic power connections from fluid communication with the hydraulic pump of the diesel power pack;
- thereafter, mounting an electric power pack to the mounting features, the electric power pack comprising an electric drive motor configured to drive a hydraulic pump of the electric power pack;
- and
- placing the hydraulic pump of the electric power pack in fluid communication with the hydraulic power connections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.