Remote lock-out system and method for a horizontal directional drilling machine

• US 6,766,869 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Brand, Ivan R., Kilborn, Scott, Kelpe, Hans, Austin, Gregg A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/179,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 175/24, 175/27, 175/11, 175/26, 175/40, 175/45, 175/48, 175/61, 340/853.2, 340/853.3, 340/853.4, 340/853.5, 340/853.6
• US Class Current: 175/24
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/04 Directional drilling

Abstract

A remote lock-out system and method are employed with a drilling machine. The remote lock-out system includes a remote lock-out override controller capable of interrupting a drilling operation of the drilling machine. The remote lock-out override controller includes a transmitter and a receiver. A remote lock-out controller is capable of issuing a lock-out signal and a run signal, wherein the lock-out signal, when received by the HDD machine, initiates suspension of the HDD machine drilling operation, and the run signal initiates enablement of the HDD machine drilling operation. The remote lock-out controller includes a transmitter and a receiver. The HDD machine drilling operation generally includes displacing and rotating the drill string, and can further include supplying a drilling fluid through the drill string.

Claims

1. A system for remotely altering operation of a horizontal directional drilling machine, the drilling machine comprising a control system, a driving apparatus coupled to a drill string, a cutting head or reamer coupled to the drill string, the system comprising:

a remote lock-out override controller capable of interrupting a drilling operation of the drilling machine, the remote lock-out override controller comprising a transmitter and a receiver; and

a remote lock-out controller capable of issuing a lock-out signal and a run signal, the lock-out signal, when received by the horizontal directional drilling machine, initiating suspension of the horizontal directional drilling machine drilling operation, and the run signal initiating enablement of the horizontal directional drilling machine drilling operation, the remote lock-out controller comprising a transmitter and a receiver;

wherein the signal transmitted by the remote lock-out override controller is utilized as a handshake signal by the remote lock-out controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the remote lock-out override controller and remote lock-out controller is embodied as a module separate from the control system of the horizontal directional drilling machine, the remote lock-out override controller comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to the horizontal directional drilling machine control system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote lock-out override controller is integral to the control system of the horizontal directional drilling machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein drilling machine operation is enabled only if the handshake signal is detected as between the remote lock-out override controller and remote lock-out controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote lock-out controller does not indicate a lock-out condition unless the handshake signal generated by the remote lock-out override controller is continuously received by the remote lock-out controller.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote lock-out controller does not indicate a run condition unless the handshake signal is repeatedly received by the remote lock-out controller.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal directional drilling machine drilling operation comprises displacing and rotating the drill string.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal directional drilling machine drilling operation comprises supplying a drilling fluid through the drill string.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote lock-out override controller transmits a notification signal to the remote lock-out controller and the horizontal directional drilling machine remains in a current operating state in response to loss of lock-out signal detection by the remote lock-out override controller, the current operating state being one of a lock-out state or a run state.

10. A system for remotely altering operation of a horizontal directional drilling system, the drilling system comprising a drilling machine having a control system, a drill string, and a mud system to pump drilling mud through the drill string, the system comprising:

a remote lock-out controller capable of transmitting a lock-out signal or a run signal;

a remote lock-out override module capable of controlling primary and secondary power transmission components of the horizontal drilling system; and

at least one sensor on the drilling machine capable of providing input that corresponds to transmission of power to the drill string or mud system;

wherein the remote lock-out override module disrupts power transmission to the drill string by disabling the primary power transmission system upon receiving a lock-out request indicative of a lock-out state from the remote lock-out controller, and transmits a verification signal only after the sensor indicates an absence of power transfer; and

wherein the remote lock-out override module continues to monitor the sensor while in the lock-out state and disrupts power transmission to the drill string by the secondary power transmission system if the sensor indicates a subsequent transfer of power while still in the lock-out state.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the primary power transmission system comprises a hydraulic power system.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the secondary power transmission system comprises an internal combustion engine.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the remote lock-out override controller and remote lock-out controller is embodied as a module separate from the control system of the horizontal directional drilling machine, the remote lock-out override controller comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to the horizontal directional drilling machine control system.

14. A remote lock-out system for a horizontal directional drilling system, the horizontal directional drilling system including a drilling machine and a control system, the remote lock-out system comprising:

a remote lock-out controller comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio communications; and

a remote lock-out override module capable of controlling power transmission components of the horizontal directional drilling system, the remote lock-out override module comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio communications, and a manual override switch;

wherein the remote lock-out system continuously monitors for radio communication between the remote lock-out controller and the remote lock-out override module at start-up and prevents operation of the drilling machine until the radio communication is established or until an override state is initiated in response to actuation of the manual override switch; and

wherein the remote lock-out system automatically terminates the override state when the radio communication is established, such that the remote lock-out controller initiates a drilling machine lock-out even if the drilling machine were previously set into an override state.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the remote lock-out override module and remote lock-out controller is embodied as a module separate from the control system of the horizontal directional drilling machine, the remote lock-out override module comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to the horizontal directional drilling machine control system.

16. A remote lock-out system for a horizontal directional drilling system, the horizontal directional drilling system including a drilling machine, a control system, and a transceiver, the remote lock-out system comprising:

a remote lock-out controller comprising indicators capable of indicating to an operator various conditions including normal run mode, lock-out mode, loss of radio communication, and failure to respond to lock-out, the remote lock-out controller further comprising a transceiver for facilitating bi-directional communications with the control system of the horizontal directional drilling system, a run switch for initiating run logic of the control system, and a lock-out switch for initiating lock-out logic of the control system.

17. The remote lock-out system of claim 16, wherein actuation of the lock-out switch initiates lock-out logic for interrupting power transmission to the drilling machine.

18. The remote lock-out system of claim 16, wherein actuation of the lock-out switch initiates lock-out logic for interrupting power transmission to the drilling machine via a primary power transmission system in accordance with first lock-out logic and for interrupting power transmission to the drilling machine via a secondary power transmission system in accordance with second lock-out logic.

19. The remote lock-out system of claim 16, wherein drilling machine operation is enabled only if a handshake signal is detected as between the control system of the horizontal directional drilling system and remote lock-out controller.

20. The remote lock-out system of claim 16, wherein the lock-out mode indicator does not activate so as to indicate a lock-out condition unless a signal generated by the control system is continuously received by the remote lock-out controller.

21. The remote lock-out system of claim 16, wherein the normal run mode indicator will not indicate a run condition unless a signal generated by the control system is continuously received by the remote lock-out controller.

22. A method for remotely altering operation of a horizontal directional drilling machine, comprising:

continuously monitoring for radio communication between a remote lock-out controller and a remote lock-out override module at horizontal directional drilling machine start-up, the remote lock-out override module communicatively coupled to a control system of the horizontal directional drilling machine;

preventing operation of the drilling machine until the radio communication is established or until an override state is initiated in response to actuation of a manual override switch; and

automatically terminating the override state when the radio communication is established, such that a drilling machine lock-out is initiated even if the drilling machine were previously set into an override state.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a handshake signaling protocol is employed to establish the radio communication.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein preventing operation of the drilling machine comprises suspending supplying of drilling fluid.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting a notification signal to the remote lock-out controller and remaining in a current horizontal directional drilling machine operating state in response to loss of the radio communication, the current operating state being one of a lock-out state or a run state.