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US 4,226,288 AGranted
Side hole drilling in boreholes
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorEarl R. Collins, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for use in a borehole or other restricted space to bore a side hole into the strata surrounding the borehole, including a flexible shaft with a drill at its end, and two trains of sheathing members that can be progressively locked together into a rigid structure around the flexible shaft as it is directed sidewardly into the strata.
Claims5
Apparatus useful in forming a side hole in a strata from a location within a borehole that extends into the strata comprising:
- boring means which is operable to bore a hole and which includes a flexible elongated portion;
- a first series of sheathing members;
- a second series of sheathing members;
- and
- means for advancing said boring means and sheathing members into the strata surrounding said borehole while operating said boring means to bore a hole, said means for advancing including means for progressively applying said first and second series of members at opposite sides of said boring means portion while advancing said boring means and sheathing members into the strata surrounding said borehole.
2 more elements
A method for forming a side hole from a location along a borehole into the strata surrounding the borehole, comprising:
- advancing a substantially flexible boring tool substantially sidewardly through the borehole side wall and into the surrounding strata;
- and
- successively applying a series of rigid sheathing sections about said boring tool, substantially rigidly connecting together successive sections to prevent the series of sections from bending to a small radius, and advancing said series of sections into the hole formed by said tool to support said tool against excessive bending as it bores deeply into the strata.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.