BORING BIT LOCATOR

• US 3,746,106 A
• Filed: 12/27/1971
• Issued: 07/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Duane A. Ladine, Lester E. Mccullough
• Original Assignee: Duane A. Ladine, Lester E. Mccullough
• Inventors: McCullough, Lester E., Ladine, Duane A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US05/212,134
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 175/45,50,24,26 340/18LD,18NC,224,222 23/151 325/29,119
• US Class Current: 340/853.5
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/02 Couplings; joints expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106
• 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 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/04 Directional drilling

Abstract

A bore pipe is rotatably driven to dirve a horizontal bore below the earth'"'"''"'"'s surface, and radio energy transmitted from a locator device is monitored on the ground surface by means of a radio receiver tuned to the same frequency. A boring bit locator is rigidly attached between the bore pipe and a boring bit, and carries a small battery powered transmitter. A single operator working on the surface of the ground with a single radio receiver is able to monitor the progress and location of the boring bit. The boring bit locator has a water passageway which permits a stream of water delivered through the bore pipe to flow to the boring bit for the purpose of washing cuttings back through the hole. The method of determining the position of the locator device takes advantage of the radiation pattern of the transmitter, which is so arranged as to be susceptible to being precisely measured.

Claims

1. A boring bit locator comprising:

a generally cylindrical body having one end opening adapted for attachment of a bore pipe and another end opening adapted for attachment of a boring bit, a laterally opening compartment adapted to receive a radio transmitter, and another oppositely disposed laterally opening compartment adapted to receive a battery;

a radio transmitter disposed within said transmitter compartment and permanently embedded in electrical insulating sealing material;

said transmitter compartment having an otherwise open window closed by said sealing material;

a battery removably disposed within said battery compartment;

battery terminal means mounted within said battery compartment, and electrically connected to said radio transmitter through laterally extending passageway means; and

a removable cover closing said battery compartment;

said transmitter being completely insulated from said body whereby neither said body, the bore pipe, or the boring bit forms a part of the transmitter antenna system.

2. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body also has formed therein a water passageway extending longitudinally between said end openings but not communicating with said transmitter compartment or said battery compartment or said laterally extending passageway means.

3. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said end openings is threaded and is located axially of said body, said battery compartment is deeper than said transmitter compartment, and wherein said water passageway is located eccentrically of said body longitudinal axis on the side thereof toward said transmitter compartment.

4. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitter compartment is elongated in a direction lengthwise of said body, said transmitter includes a ferrite rod antenna, the ferrite rod extending lengthwise of said transmitter compartment and the antenna winding being wound transversely about the ferrite rod.

5. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 4 wherein other portions of the transmitter circuit are positioned in the relatively deep part of said transmitter compartment and said antenna is positioned in the upper part of said compartment and covered by a relatively thin layer of said sealing material.

6. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 4 wherein said body also has formed therein a water passageway extending longitudinally between said end openings but not communicating with said transmitter compartment or said battery compartment or said laterally extending passageway means.

7. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 6 wherein other portions of the transmitter circuit are positioned in the relatively deep part of said transmitter compartment and said antenna is positioned in the upper part of said compartment and covered by a relatively thin layer of said sealing material.

8. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said end openings is threaded and is located axially of said body, said battery compartment is deeper than said transmitter compartment, and wherein said water passageway is located eccentrically of said body longitudinal axis on the side thereof toward said transmitter compartment.

9. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 1 which further includes a cylindrical sleeve placed removably about said body, said sleeve having one window for said transmitter compartment and another window for said battery cover;

said sleeve being made of hardened steel; and

a pair of end caps removably attached to respective ends of said body and retaining said sleeve therebetween.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter includes an antenna coil, a continuous wave oscillator circuit drivingly coupled to said antenna coil, and a switching circuit for periodically energizing said oscillator circuit.

11. A boring bit locator comprising:

a generally cylindrical body having one end adapted for attachment of a bore pipe and another end adapted for attachment of a boring bit, said body having formed therein a laterally opening compartment adapted to receive a radio transmitter, and another compartment formed therein adapted to receive a battery;

a radio transmitter disposed within said transmitter compartment and permanently embedded in electrical insulating sealing material, said transmitter compartment having an otherwise open window closed by said sealing material; and

a battery removably disposed within said battery compartment, having associated circuit means connected to said transmitter for energizing the same;

said transmitter being completely insulated from said body whereby neither said body, the bore pipe, or the boring bit forms a part of the transmitter antenna system.

12. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said transmitter compartment is elongated in a direction lengthwise of said body, said transmitter includes a ferrite rod antenna, the ferrite rod extending lengthwise of said transmitter compartment and the antenna winding being wound transversely about the ferrite rod.

13. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 12 wherein other portions of the transmitter circuit are positioned in the relatively deep part of said transmitter compartment and said antenna is positioned in the upper part of said compartment and covered by a relatively thin layer of said sealing material.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein said transmitter includes an antenna coil, a continuous wave oscillator circuit drivingly coupled to said antenna coil, and a switching circuit for periodically energizing said oscillator circuit.

15. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 14 wherein said transmitter compartment is elongated in a direction lengthwise of said body, said transmitter coil incluDes a ferrite rod antenna, the ferrite rod extending lengthwise of said transmitter compartment and the antenna winding being wound transversely about the ferrite rod.

16. A boring bit locator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cylindrical body is made of metal and said insulating material filling said window is impregnated with silicon carbide particles.