Automated bore planning method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling
First Claim
1. A method for electronically developing a bore plan of a bore site for use in connection with an underground boring system, comprisingproviding topographical information representative of topography of the bore site;
- providing bore path information representative of an intended bore path for the bore site, the bore path information comprising at least two target points through which the intended bore path is to pass, the at least two target points comprising an entry point and an exit point, each of the target points defined by at least a distance value, lateral value, and a depth value; and
generating bore plan data using the topographical and bore path information, the bore plan data comprising data representative of an intended bore defined generally along the intended bore path and with respect to the representative topography of the bore site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method provide for electronic development of a bore plan for use in connection with an underground boring machine. Electronically developing a bore plan involves providing topographical information representative of topography of the bore site and providing bore path information representative of an intended bore path for the bore site. The bore path information includes at least two target points through which the intended bore path is to pass. The intended bore path can define a pilot bore path or a backream path. The target points comprise an entry point and an exit point, and each of the target points is defined by at least a distance value, lateral value, and a depth value.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for electronically developing a bore plan of a bore site for use in connection with an underground boring system, comprising
providing topographical information representative of topography of the bore site; -
providing bore path information representative of an intended bore path for the bore site, the bore path information comprising at least two target points through which the intended bore path is to pass, the at least two target points comprising an entry point and an exit point, each of the target points defined by at least a distance value, lateral value, and a depth value; and
generating bore plan data using the topographical and bore path information, the bore plan data comprising data representative of an intended bore defined generally along the intended bore path and with respect to the representative topography of the bore site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for electronically developing a bore plan of a bore site for use in connection with an underground boring system, comprising
providing topographical information representative of topography of the bore site; -
providing utility information representative of one or more utilities situated at the bore site;
providing bore path information representative of an intended bore path for the bore site, the bore path information comprising a plurality of target points through which the intended bore path is to pass, each of the target points defined by at least a distance value, lateral value, and a depth value; and
generating bore plan data using the topographical, utility, and bore path information, the bore plan data comprising data representative of an intended bore. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for electronically developing a bore plan of a bore site for use in connection with an underground boring system, comprising
providing topographical information representative of topography of the bore site; -
providing bore path information representative of an intended bore path for the bore site, the bore path information comprising a plurality of target points through which the intended bore path is to pass;
providing information defining one or more mechanical properties of the boring system; and
generating, using the topographical and bore path information, bore plan data that ensures that limitations associated with the mechanical properties are not violated. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for electronically developing a bore plan of a bore site for use in connection with an underground boring system, comprising:
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a processor;
memory coupled to the processor;
an input interface, coupled to the processor, for inputting bore path information representative of an intended bore path at the bore site and topographical information representative of topography of the bore site, the bore path information comprising at least two target points through which the intended bore path is to pass, each of the at least two target points defined by a distance value, lateral value, and a depth value; and
a display device coupled to the processor, the processor computing bore plan data using the topographical and bore path information, the bore plan data presented on the display in one or both of textual and graphical form. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification