Steering head
First Claim
1. A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body defining a longitudinal body axis and having a bore channel, a first body end with a lead edge and a second body end with a rear edge, the second body end being mountable to the casing, and a body surface extending from the lead edge to the rear edge;
an outer tube having an internal side and an external side, the internal side generally facing the body surface, and the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end;
a steering flap disposed on the external side of the outer tube and having a distal end, a hinge end, a first flap face and an opposing second flap face, the first flap face facing radially inwardly toward the body surface and the second flap face facing radially outwardly away from the longitudinal body axis; and
a biased hinge secured to both the outer tube and the hinge end of the steering flap such that the steering flap is mounted to the outer tube,wherein the biased hinge is operative to retract the steering flap into the retracted position from the extending position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head having a generally cylindrical body with a first body end with a lead edge, a second body end with a rear edge, and a body surface extending from the lead edge to the rear edge, an outer tube with an internal side generally facing the body surface, the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end, and a steering flap disposed on an external side of the outer tube having a first flap face facing radially inwardly and a second flap face facing radially outwardly. A biased hinge is secured to both the outer tube and the steering flap, the biased hinge being operative to retract the steering flap into a retracted position from an extending position.
28 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head comprising:
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a generally cylindrical body defining a longitudinal body axis and having a bore channel, a first body end with a lead edge and a second body end with a rear edge, the second body end being mountable to the casing, and a body surface extending from the lead edge to the rear edge; an outer tube having an internal side and an external side, the internal side generally facing the body surface, and the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end; a steering flap disposed on the external side of the outer tube and having a distal end, a hinge end, a first flap face and an opposing second flap face, the first flap face facing radially inwardly toward the body surface and the second flap face facing radially outwardly away from the longitudinal body axis; and a biased hinge secured to both the outer tube and the hinge end of the steering flap such that the steering flap is mounted to the outer tube, wherein the biased hinge is operative to retract the steering flap into the retracted position from the extending position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head comprising:
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a generally cylindrical body defining a longitudinal body axis and having a first body end with a lead edge and a second body end with a rear edge, the second body end being mountable to the casing, and a body surface extending from the front edge to the rear edge; an outer tube having an internal side and an external side, the internal side generally facing the body surface, and the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end; a steering flap disposed on the external side of the outer tube and having a distal end, a hinge end, a first flap face and an opposing second flap face, the first flap face facing radially inwardly toward the body surface and the second flap face facing radially outwardly away from the longitudinal body axis; and a powered actuator mountable to the first flap face and the body surface, the powered actuator being operative to extend the steering flap to the extended position from the retracted position, wherein the first flap face, the body surface, and portions of the outer tube form a recess in which the powered actuator is disposed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head comprising:
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a generally cylindrical body defining a longitudinal body axis and having a bore channel, a first body end with a lead edge, a second body end with a rear edge, the second body end being mountable to the casing, a body surface extending from the lead edge to the rear edge, and a rear lip radially extending from the bore channel proximate the second body end; an outer tube having an internal side and an external side, the internal side generally facing the body surface, and the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end; a steering flap disposed on the external side of the outer tube and having a distal end, a hinge end, a first flap face and an opposing second flap face, the first flap face facing radially inwardly toward the body surface and the second flap face facing radially outwardly away from the longitudinal body axis; and a first light fixture disposed on the rear lip of the body proximate the second body end, wherein the first light fixture is operative to measure the position of the steering head along a horizontal rail axis that is transverse to the longitudinal body axis of the body. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification