Remote control for a drilling machine
First Claim
1. A tracking system for use with a drilling machine to monitor the position of a beacon, the tracking system comprising:
- a signal detector to detect a tracking signal transmitted by the beacon;
an enable signal generator adapted to generate a drilling machine enable signal; and
a transmitter assembly to transmit the drilling machine enable signal and the tracking signal to the drilling machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A tracking system for use with a drilling machine to monitor the position of a beacon, the tracking system comprising:
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a signal detector to detect a tracking signal transmitted by the beacon; an enable signal generator adapted to generate a drilling machine enable signal; and a transmitter assembly to transmit the drilling machine enable signal and the tracking signal to the drilling machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A directional drilling system comprising:
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a drilling machine having an enabled mode and a disabled mode; a drill string connectable to the drilling machine; a beacon supported on the drill string and adapted to transmit a tracking signal; a tracking system comprising; a signal detector to detect tracking signals transmitted by the beacon; an enable signal generator to generate a drilling machine enable signal; and a transmitter system to transmit the drilling machine enable signal and the data indicative of the position of the beacon to the drilling machine; wherein the drilling machine is put into the enabled mode in response to the drilling machine enable signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of drilling a substantially horizontal borehole using a drilling machine and a tracking system, the drilling machine having an enabled mode and a disabled mode, the method comprising:
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transmitting a drilling machine enable signal and a tracking signal from the tracking system; receiving the drilling machine enable signal and the tracking signal at the drilling machine; wherein the drilling machine enable signal places the drilling machine in the enabled mode; and interrupting the drilling machine enable signal at the tracking system to disable the drilling machine. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A system for moving a downhole tool along a subsurface path, the system comprising:
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a drilling machine having an enabled mode and a disabled mode; a beacon adapted to transmit a signal indicative of the position of the downhole tool; a tracking system having an enable mode signal generator and a receiver, wherein the enable mode signal generator is adapted to generate a drilling machine enable signal and wherein the receiver is adapted to receive the signal transmitted by the beacon and provide data indicative of the position of the beacon; and a drilling machine control system having a receiver system adapted to receive the drilling machine enable mode signal and to place the drilling machine in the enabled mode while receiving the enable mode signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A tracking system for use with a drilling machine to monitor the position of a beacon, the beacon being adapted to transmit a tracking signal, and the drilling machine having an enabled mode and a disabled mode, the tracking system comprising:
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a housing; an enabling signal generator supported by the housing and adapted to transmit a drilling machine enabling signal; a receiver assembly supported by the housing and adapted to detect the tracking signal and to transmit the tracking signal; and a processor supported by the housing and adapted to receive the tracking signal, to process the tacking signal, and to transmit the data indicative of the position of the beacon and the enabling signal to the drilling machine; and wherein cessation of transmitting the enabling signal places the drilling machine in the disabled mode.
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39. A method of backreaming a horizontal borehole using a tracking system, a backreaming tool, and a drilling machine having an enabled mode and a disabled mode, the method comprising:
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pulling the backreaming tool through the borehole using the drilling machine; transmitting a drilling machine enable signal from the tracking system; receiving the drilling machine enable signal at the drilling machine; wherein the drilling machine enable signal places the drilling machine in the enabled mode for backreaming; and interrupting the drilling machine enable signal at the tracking system to disable the drilling machine and cease pulling of the backreaming tool. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification