Common interface architecture for horizontal directional drilling machines and walk-over guidance systems

• US 20080030366A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeremy Jin, Scott Rempe
• Original Assignee: Jeremy Jin, Scott Rempe
• Inventors: Rempe, Scott, Jin, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/853.4
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0232 at least one of the energy sources or one of the detectors being located on or above the ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003

Abstract

A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine with one of a number of different walk-over guidance systems involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk-over guidance system selected for use with the drilling machine. A protocol library associated with the particular walk-over guidance system is accessed in response to the ID signal. The protocol library is used to effect communication between the particular walk-over guidance system and a control system of the drilling machine during cooperative use of the particular walk-over guidance system and drilling machine. Using the protocol library involves converting, as prescribed by the protocol library, locator signals received from the particular walk-over guidance system from a locator protocol to a common protocol used by the control system of the drilling machine. Locator and drilling machine data of various types can be presented to a drilling machine operator via an on-board display.

Claims

1. A system for interfacing a horizontal directional drilling machine with one of a plurality of disparate components of a drilling system, comprising:

a protocol module, provided at the drilling machine, configured to receive an ID signal from a particular component of the drilling system selected for use with the drilling machine;

a protocol library system accessible to the protocol module, the protocol module configured to associate the received ID signal with the particular component and select a protocol appropriate for the particular component; and

a control system configured to use the selected protocol to effect communication between the particular component and the control system of the drilling machine.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular component comprises a walk-over locator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular component comprises a walk-over guidance system.