Pipe-driving apparatus

Pipe-driving apparatus comprising:

• a pressing station in an access zone for thrusting a succession of pipe sections end-to-end to form a pipe string, a working pipe section at the front end of the pipe string defining a working zone, cutting means and a conveyor worm at the working zone for detaching material from a working face and for conveying such material away from the face, a displaceable container operably associated with the cutting means and the conveyor worm to receive said material, the cutting means taking the form of a rotatable boring head carried on a drive shaft extending through the container, the drive shaft being provided with a spiral flight constituting at least part of the conveyor worm, coupling means for coupling the drive shaft to the boring head selectively to permit relative axial separation while inhibiting relative rotation therebetween, the container being movable between the working and access zones to transfer the material, a drive unit for driving the cutting means and the conveyor worm, the drive unit being supported by the container, and bracing means which selectively cooperates with the working pipe section to brace the container and hold the container in position whilst it is filled with material.

Pipe-driving apparatus comprising:

• a pressing station in an access zone for thrusting a succession of pipe sections end-to-end to form a pipe string, a working pipe section at the front end of the pipe string defining a working zone, cutting means and a conveyor worm at the working zone for detaching material from a working face and for conveying such material away from the face, a displaceable container operably associated with the cutting means and the conveyor worm to receive said material, the cutting means taking the form of a rotatable boring head carried on a drive shaft extending through the container, the drive shaft being provided with a spiral flight constituting at least part of the conveyor worm, coupling means for connecting and locking the drive shaft to the boring head to cause the boring head to move axially and rotatably with the drive shaft, the container being movable between the working and access zones to transfer the material, a drive unit for driving the cutting means and the conveyor worm, the drive unit being supported by the container, and bracing means which selectively cooperates with the working pipe section to brace the container and hold the container in position whilst it is filled with material.