Boring tool control using remote locator including a command generation arrangement and method

In a drilling system for performing underground boring including a locating and control arrangement, said system also including a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground responsive to the drill rig to form an underground bore, said boring tool including a configuration for emitting a locating signal, said locating and control arrangement comprising:

• a) a portable device forming one portion of the locating and control arrangement for generating certain information about the position of the boring tool in response to said locating signal, said portable device including a control member to generate command signals selected from at least an advance command for pushing the boring tool in a forward direction by moving the control member in a fore direction, a retract command for pulling the boring tool in a rearward direction by moving the control member in an aft direction and a stop command issued with the control member positioned between the fore and aft directions for ceasing all movement of the boring tool such that maintaining the advance and retract commands requires continuous interaction with a user of the portable device and further including an update arrangement for repeating a maintained one of the command signals at periodic times and a transmitting arrangement for transmitting the command signals, including repeated ones of the command signals, to said drill rig such that a stop command signal is issued following release of the control member after each advance and retract command;
• and
• b) a receiving arrangement forming another portion of the locating and control arrangement located at said drill rig for receiving said command signals to cause the drill rig to move the boring tool responsive to the advance and retract commands and for ceasing movement of the boring tool (i) responsive to a received stop command and (ii) responsive to failing to receive repetitions of a maintained one of the command signals at the drill rig.

In a drilling system for performing underground boring including a drill rig, a boring tool configured for emitting a locating signal and configured for movement by the drill rig, and a portable locating device configured at least for receiving the locating signal to establish certain information related to an underground position of the boring tool, a method for controlling said boring tool, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) producing at least one movement command using the portable device such that maintaining the movement command requires a continuous interaction between the portable device and a user;
• b) transmitting said movement command from the portable device;
• and
• c) receiving said movement command at the drill rig for use in controlling the boring tool responsive thereto.