Electric horizontal directional drilling machine system
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorMichael F. Gard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric horizontal directional drilling machine. An electric horizontal directional drilling machine is powered by an electric power assembly. The power assembly is made up of a fuel cell and inverter, or multiple fuel cells with synchronized inverters. The electric motor operates hydraulic pumps or works independently to rotate, advance and retract a drill string and downhole tool through the earth and operate various machine functions. Mechanical functions of the drilling machine may also be satisfied through the use of electric rotary actuators (e.g., motors) and linear actuators (e.g., linear motors and solenoids).
Claims12
A horizontal directional drilling machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a carriage assembly supported on the frame and movable along the frame;
- an electric motor operatively connected to the carriage assembly to drive movement of the carriage assembly relative to the frame;
- an incoming current conditioner comprising a plurality of inverters to condition an incoming electric direct current used to power the electric motor by converting the direct current to an alternating current;
- a control unit operatively connected to each of the plurality of inverters wherein the control unit sends control signals to each inverter to maintain a timing relationship between the plurality of inverters;
- a drill string comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the carriage assembly;
- and
- a downhole tool connected to the second end of the drill string;
- wherein thrust and pullback forces are applied to the drill string and downhole tool in response to operation of the electric motor.
A method comprising:
- receiving an incoming electric current;
- conditioning the incoming electric current to power an electric motor through the steps of:
- sending control signals to a plurality of inverters from a control unit;
- maintaining a timing relationship between a plurality of inverters in response to the control signals from the control unit;
- and
- converting a direct current electric power to an alternating current electric power, and operating the electric motor with the alternating current electric power;
- and
- operating a downhole tool with the power provided by the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.