Directional boring head with deflection shoe and method of boring

An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

• a body having an elongate axis and a front end;
• a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;
• rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;
• deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;
• a drill bit rotating shaft rotatably mounted within the body;
• the drill bit rotating shaft being mounted within the body at an angle relative to the elongate axis of the body.

An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

• a body having an elongate axis and a front end;
• a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;
• rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;
• deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;
• a signal beacon being mounted in the body.

An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

• a body having an elongate axis and a front end;
• a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;
• rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;
• deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;
• the deflection control structure being mounted within the body and including a first dog fixed on the body and a second dog mounted on the rotating structure for rotating the drill bit, the rotating structure being movable along its axis from a first position with the dogs disengaged to a second position engaging the dogs to rotate the body to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore.

An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

• a body having an elongate axis and a front end;
• a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;
• rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;
• deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;
• the deflection shoe being bolted to the body.

An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

• a body having an elongate axis and a front end;
• a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;
• rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;
• deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;
• the deflection control structure being mounted externally of the body and including a first dog fixed to the drill bit and a second dog mounted on the body and forming the deflection shoe, the drill bit being movable along its axis from a first position with the dogs disengaged to a second position engaging the dogs to rotate the body with the drill string to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore.

An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control from the surface, comprising:

• a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein proximate the forward end, the casing extending to the surface;
• a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, the bearings preventing movement of the drill stem relative the casing along the elongate axis, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;
• a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit.

An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

• a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;
• a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;
• a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;
• the drill bit axis being offset from the elongate axis.

An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

• a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;
• a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;
• a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;
• the drill bit axis being at an angle relative to the elongate axis of the body.

An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

• a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;
• a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;
• a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;
• the drill stem being flexible.

An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

• a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;
• a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;
• a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;
• a signal beacon being mounted in the body.

An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

• a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;
• a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;
• a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;
• a direction change mechanism, said direction change mechanism including a first dog fixed in the casing and an element for rotating the drill stem but moving along the centerline axis of the housing relative to the drill stem, a rotating dog mounted on said element, the element being movable along the centerline axis of the housing from a first position with the dogs disengaged to a second position engaging the dogs to rotate the casing.

An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

• a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward beating therein and a rearward beating therein;
• a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward beatings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;
• a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;
• a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;
• the deflection shoe being bolted to the casing.