Apparatus and method for controlling an underground boring tool
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling an underground boring tool, comprising:
- a boring tool coupled to a drill pipe;
a driving apparatus coupled to the drill pipe for driving the boring tool along an underground path;
a detector interface that receives telemetry data from at least one of a plurality of antennae substantially in real-time, the telemetry data representative of a location of the boring tool along the underground path; and
a control system comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the driving apparatus and the detector interface, the controller receiving the telemetry data from the detector interface and computing the location of the boring tool substantially in real-time, the controller transmitting control signals to the driving apparatus substantially in real-time to control one or both of a rate and a direction of boring tool movement along the underground path relative to the computed boring tool location.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining a location and an orientation of an underground boring tool by employment of a radar-like probe and detection technique. The boring tool is provided with a device which generates a specific signature signal in response to a probe signal transmitted from above the ground. Cooperation between the probe signal transmitter at ground level and the signature signal generating device provided at the underground boring tool results in accurate detection of the boring tool location and, if desired, orientation, despite the presence of a large background signal. Precision detection of the boring tool location and orientation enables the operator to accurately locate the boring tool during operation and, if provided with a directional capacity, avoid buried obstacles such as utilities and other hazards. The signature signal produced by the boring tool may be generated either passively or actively, and may be a microwave or an acoustic signal. Further, the signature signal may be produced in a manner which differs from that used to produce the probe signal in one or more ways, including timing, frequency content, information content, or polarization.
71 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling an underground boring tool, comprising:
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a boring tool coupled to a drill pipe; a driving apparatus coupled to the drill pipe for driving the boring tool along an underground path; a detector interface that receives telemetry data from at least one of a plurality of antennae substantially in real-time, the telemetry data representative of a location of the boring tool along the underground path; and a control system comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the driving apparatus and the detector interface, the controller receiving the telemetry data from the detector interface and computing the location of the boring tool substantially in real-time, the controller transmitting control signals to the driving apparatus substantially in real-time to control one or both of a rate and a direction of boring tool movement along the underground path relative to the computed boring tool location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling an underground boring tool, comprising:
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rotating the boring tool; displacing the boring tool; detecting, by at least one of a plurality of antennae substantially in real-time, the boring tool while rotating and/or displacing the boring tool; computing, substantially in real-time, a location of the boring tool in response to detection of the boring tool; and controlling, substantially in real-time, one or both of a rate and a direction of boring tool movement along the underground path relative to the computed boring tool location. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for controlling an underground boring tool, comprising:
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means for rotating the boring tool; means for displacing the boring tool; means for detecting, by at least one of a plurality of antennae substantially in real-time, the boring tool while rotating and/or displacing the boring tool; means for computing, substantially in real-time, a location of the boring tool in response to detection of the boring tool; and means for controlling, substantially in real-time, one or both of a rate and a direction of boring tool movement along the underground path relative to the computed boring tool location. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification