US 5,099,927 A · Apparatus for guiding and steering earth boring casing

Abstract

Apparatus for guiding and steering pipe casing bored and pushed underground by an earth boring machine is disclosed which includes hinge assemblies pivotally connecting a steering head to a front casing. Each hinge assembly includes two pivots. A first pivot has a horizontal pivot axis and a second pivot has a vertical pivot axis. Preferably, the hinge assemblies are compound hinges so that the pivots are carried by a unitary hinge assembly. Actuators are provided which impart an actuation force on the steering head to rotate the steering head about the first and second pivot axes. One of the actuators is provided by slidably mounting one of the hinge assemblies so that the first and second pivot axes of that hinge assembly are compounded and moved unitarily. A second actuator is connected to the steering head to move the steering head about the first pivot axis while the hinge assembly slides to pivot the steering head about the second axis.

Claims33

Dependent claims

Earth boring apparatus for boring and laying pipe casings underground beginning at a boring station pit to form a cased bore which includes means for forming a bore and pushing the pipe casings through the bore as it is formed, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pipe casings joined together having a forward casing at a forward end of said casings;
a steering head carried by said forward casing;
a cutting head carried by said steering head for forming said bore;
first hinge means connecting said forward casing and steering head for rotation about a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to said first axis;
second hinge means connecting said forward casing and steering head for rotation about said first and second axes;
and
actuation means connected to said steering head for imparting an actuation force to rotate said steering head through said first and second hinge means about said first and second axes to steer said steering head in corresponding vertical and horizontal directions.

4 more elements

Earth boring apparatus for boring and laying pipe casings underground from a boring pit to form a cased bore which includes means for forming a bore and pushing the pipe casings through the bore as it is formed, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pipe casings joined together having a forward casing at a forward end of said casings;
a steering head carried by said forward casing;
a cutting head carried by said steering head for forming said bore;
hinge means connecting said steering head and said forward casing so that said steering head rotates relative to said forward casing about a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to said first axis;
guidance means for measuring the horizontal and vertical positions of said pipe casings with respect to said first and second axes and for generating corresponding first and second position signals;
actuator means connected to said steering head for imparting an actuation force to rotate said steering head through said hinge means about said first and second axes;
drive means for driving said actuation means;
and
control means for controlling said drive means and said actuator means in response to said first and second position signals to steer said steering head along a desired path.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for guiding and steering earth boring casing

Life of this patent

Apparatus for guiding and steering earth boring casing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33