Wireless remote boring apparatus guidance system

• US 5,469,155 A
• Filed: 07/11/1994
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McLaughlin Manufacturing Co Inc.
• Inventors: Mizuno, Morio, Archambeault, John T., Gasmovic, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US08/273,278
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 340/853.3, 340/853.4, 340/853.5, 340/853.6, 340/853.1, 340/854.6, 340/856.1, 367/77, 175/45, 175/61, 175/62, 324/326, 324/346, 324/329
• US Class Current: 340/853.4
• 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 7/04 Directional drilling

Abstract

Guidance system for an underground boring device that includes a receiver for signals from a signal generator associated with an underground boring head. A wireless transmitter is provided for transmitting the information about the boring head from a boring head location to an initial location where the boring device is controlled.

Claims

1. A boring apparatus useable by at least two operators to produce an underground bore substantially horizontally through the earth from an initial location, said apparatus comprising:

a boring machine having a boring rod including a directional boring head, said boring machine further including manipulative controls actuatable by a first operator to guide said boring head;

a signal generating probe associated with said boring head for generating informational signals about said boring head including information indicative of the location and depth thereof;

a portable assembly adapted to be carried by a second operator during operation at a location approximately directly above the boring head, said portable assembly including a first graphic display device for producing a first visual display indicative of information about said boring head;

said portable assembly further including a probe receiver for directly receiving the informational signal from said signal generating probe, said probe receiver operatively connected to said first graphic display device for yielding the first visual display;

said portable assembly further including a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the informational signal from the portable assembly;

a receiver device located at the boring machine, said receiver device including a second graphic display device for producing a second visual display indicative of information about the boring head;

said receiver device operative to receive the informational signal as wirelessly transmitted by said transmitter of said portable assembly, said receiver device operatively connected to said second graphic display device for yielding the second visual display,

whereby said first operator and said second operator may each view a visual display showing information about the boring head such that the second operator may keep the portable assembly substantially directly above the boring head and the first operator may control the direction of the boring head.

2. A boring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transmitter of said portable assembly and said receiver device respectively transmit and receive on a carrier frequency falling within a range of approximately 469.50 MHz to 469.550 MHz.

3. A boring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information about said boring head contained in said informational signal includes an angular location of said boring head.

4. A boring apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first graphic display and said second graphic display each include a clock face display to visually represent the angular orientation of said boring head.

5. A boring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said signal generating device generates a magnetic field carrying said informational signal, said magnetic signal being received by said probe receiver.

6. A boring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information about said boring head contained in said informational signal further includes information indicative of remaining battery life of said signal generating probe.

7. A boring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information about said boring head contained in said informational signal includes information indicative of a temperature of said boring head.

8. A boring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information about said boring head contained in said informational signal includes information indicative of a pitch of said boring head.