Portable earth boring machine with steering head
First Claim
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1. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
auger means mounted co-axially within said casing sections for removing earth in the path of movement of the casing sections;
pivot means connecting said lead casing section to said second casing section;
actuating means connected to said lead casing section for varying the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section, said angle variation of said lead casing section being affected independently wiith respect to said auger means, said actuating means comprising an actuating rod extending along the walls of said casing sections and including an inner end connected to said lead casing section and an outer end; and
a motor connected to said outer end of said actuating rod for extending and retracting said rod.
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Abstract
A portable earth boring machine for the horizontal boring of shafts and the insertion of pipeline casing sections in installations where excavation from the surface is undesirable. The machine is characterized by a steering head positioned at the front of the casings and remotely controlled by the machine operator so as to directionally control the direction of extension of the pipeline as the drilling operation progresses.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
auger means mounted co-axially within said casing sections for removing earth in the path of movement of the casing sections;
pivot means connecting said lead casing section to said second casing section;
actuating means connected to said lead casing section for varying the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section, said angle variation of said lead casing section being affected independently wiith respect to said auger means, said actuating means comprising an actuating rod extending along the walls of said casing sections and including an inner end connected to said lead casing section and an outer end; and
a motor connected to said outer end of said actuating rod for extending and retracting said rod.
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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2. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushed sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
auger means mounted co-axially within said casing sections for removing earth in the path of movement of the casing sections;
pivot means comprising a male protrusion welded to one of said casing sections and a female recess, said male protrusion being pivotally disposed in said female recess;
actuating means connected to said lead casing section for varying the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section, said angle variation of said lead casing section being affected independently with respect to said auger means, said actuating means comprising an actuating rod extending along the walls of said casing sections and including an inner end connected to said lead casing section and an outer end; and
a motor connected to said outer end of said actuating rod for extending and retracting said rod.
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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3. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
pivot means including a male member including a base portion welded to the outer surface of one of said casing sections and a protruding male portion and a female member formed by a plate welded to the outer surface of said second casing section, said plate including a female recess pivotally receiving said male portion; and
actuating means connected to said lead casing section for varying the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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4. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
pivot means connecting said lead casing section to said second casing section;
actuating means including an actuator base mounted on said apparatus, a pivot bracket mounted on said lead casing section, power means mounted on said actuator base, and an actuating rod operatively connecting said power means with said pivot bracket, said actuating means serving to vary the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section. - View Dependent Claims (11)
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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5. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
pivot means connecting said lead casing section to said second casing section; and
actuating means connected to said lead casing section for varying the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section, said actuating means comprising an actuator base mounted on said apparatus, a pivot bracket mounted on said lead casing section, power means mounted on said actuator base, and an actuating rod operatively connecting said power means with said pivot bracket.
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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7. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
pivot means connecting said lead casing section to said second casing section;
actuating means including a pivot bracket mounted on said lead casing section; and
an actuating rod including a front end pivotally connected to said pivot bracket and a rear end extended outwardly of the bored hole for remote actuation of said lead casing section to vary the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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8. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
pivot means comprising a male protrusion welded to one of said casing sections and a female recess;
said male protrusion being pivotally disposed in said female recess;
actuating means including a pivot bracket mounted on said lead casing section; and
an actuating rod including a front end pivotally connected to said pivot bracket and a rear end extended outwardly of the bored hole for remote actuation of said lead casing section to vary the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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9. In an earth boring apparatus of the type that forms horizontal holes and pushes sections of casing into said holes, the combination of casing means including a lead casing section including a first longitudinal axis;
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
pivot means including a male member including a base portion welded to the outer surface of one of said casing sections and a protruding male portion and a female member formed by a plate welded to the outer surface of said second casing section, said plate including a female recess pivotally receiving said male portion;
actuating means including a pivot bracket mounted on said lead casing section; and
an actuating rod including a front end pivotally connected to said pivot bracket and a rear end extended outwardly of the bored hole for remote actuation of said lead casing section to vary the angle of said first longitudinal axis of said lead casing section relative to said second longitudinal axis of said second casing section
- a second casing section rearwardly adjacent to said lead casing section and including a longitudinal axis normally aligned with said first longitudinal axis;
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12. A mechanism for controlling the direction of movement of a pipe being driven underground generally along a horizontal path, and wherein a mechanical device is employed at the rear end of the pipe to forcibly drive the pipe along the path, said mechanism comprising:
- a pipe;
an auger means mounted coaxially within the pipe for removing earth in the path of the movement of the pipe;
a cylindrical head pivotally mounted to the forward end of the pipe, said cylindrical head being pivotable independently of said auger means; and
control means for inclining said cylindrical head with respect to the longitudinal axis of said pipe, the movement of said cylindrical head being inclined independently with respect to said auger means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- a pipe;
Specification