Steering apparatus

• US 6,607,045 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Beyerl
• Original Assignee: Donald Beyerl
• Inventors: Beyerl, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/972,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 175/24, 175/61, 175/62, 175/73, 175/76
• US Class Current: 175/73
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/062 the tool shaft rotating inside a non-rotating guide travelling with the shaft E21B7/067 and E21B7/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/201 with helical conveying means

Abstract

A steering apparatus for an auger in its casing to bore a horizontal hole in earth by utilizing four expandable and retractable wings equally spaced at the head of the casing. The wings are actuated by integrated single action low profile hydraulic cylinders energized by external single action hydraulic cylinders to minimize the diameter of the hole bored due to State building codes. Two embodiments of the wings are shown.

Claims

1. A steering wing apparatus system for attaching to a pipe casing of an auger digging horizontally comprising:

a planar base plate and a hinge means, said base plate having a conical truncated proximate end ending in said hinge means;

a substantially planar top plate having a shape commensurate to that of the base plate, circular protuberance adjacent said hinge means and connected to said base plate by said hinge means;

a low profile hydraulic cylinder included under said protuberance and between said top plate and said base plate; and

a hydraulic hose connected to said low profile hydraulic cylinder;

whereby the steering wing apparatus can be expanded and contracted via the low profile hydraulic cylinder to direct the horizontal digging of the auger in the pipe casing auger;

wherein a rectangular plate is attached on a distal end of the top plate for enhancing the amount of expansion capability of the wing apparatus.

2. The steering wing apparatus system according to claim 1, wherein an expansion range of the distal end of the top plate is from 1.5 to 7 inches.

3. The steering wing apparatus system according to claim 1, wherein four wings are attached equidistantly on the pipe casing of the auger for control of the direction of the digging.

4. A steering wing apparatus system for attaching to a pipe casing auger digging horizontally comprising:

a planar base plate and a hinge means, said base plate having a conical truncated proximate end ending in said hinge means;

a substantially planar top plate having a shape commensurate to that of the base plate, circular protuberance adjacent said hinge means and connected to said base plate by said hinge means;

a low profile hydraulic cylinder included under said protuberance and between said top plate and said base plate; and

a hydraulic hose connected to said low profile hydraulic cylinder;

whereby the steering wing apparatus can be expanded and contracted via the low profile hydraulic cylinder to direct the horizontal digging of the auger in the pipe casing auger;

wherein the substantially planar top plate has a vertical flange extending down from it'"'"'s distal end.

5. The steering wing apparatus system according to claim 4, wherein the vertical flange has a slot for accommodating the hydraulic hose.

6. The steering wing apparatus system according to claim 4, wherein the steering wing can expand 1.5 to 7 inches.