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US 9,506,344 B2Granted
Tunneling apparatus
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsStuart Harrison, Edwin Spoelstra, Nathan James Meyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tunneling apparatus includes a drill head and a steering shell. The drill head includes a main body having a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end. The steering shell is disposed at the distal end of the drill head and is movable relative to the main body of the drill head. The drill head includes structure that assists in maintaining a precise line.
Claims23
A tunneling apparatus comprising:
- a drill head including a main body having a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end;
- a steering shell disposed at the distal end of the drill head and being movable relative to the main body of the drill head, the steering shell being pivotally movable relative to the main body of the drill head;
- and
- a universal joint disposed between the steering shell and the main body of the drill head for allowing the steering shell to be pivoted relative to the main body of the drill head, wherein the drill head includes a plurality of pistons mounted in a plurality of piston cylinders for altering the relative position between the steering shell and the main body of the drill head, and wherein the pistons have multi-piece configurations including main piston bodies and outer feet, the pistons having pivoting joints provided between the main piston bodies and outer feet.
1 more element
A tunneling apparatus comprising:
- a drill head including a main body having a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end;
- a steering shell disposed at the distal end of the drill head and being movable relative to the main body of the drill head, the steering shell including a body having an outer surface and a plurality of wings attached in a fixed position on the outer surface, wherein the wings are selectively extendable to at least a second fixed position.
A tunneling apparatus comprising:
- a drill head including a main body and a cutter unit and defining a central longitudinal axis, the main body having a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end, the cutter unit being disposed on the distal end of the main body and adapted to rotate about the central longitudinal axis;
- a steering shell disposed at the distal end of the drill head and being movable relative to the main body of the drill head, the steering shell including a body having an outer surface and a plurality of wings attached in a fixed position on the outer surface, each of the wings having a leading end and a tail end, the wings extending farther outwardly in a radial direction than the cutter unit of the drill head, wherein the wings are selectively extendable to at least a second fixed position.
A tunneling apparatus comprising:
- a drill head including a main body having a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end;
- a steering shell disposed at the distal end of the drill head and being movable relative to the main body of the drill head;
- and
- stabilization wings attached in a fixed position on the drill head, wherein the wings are selectively extendable to at least a second fixed position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.