×

Mining drill with gradient sensing

  • US 8,857,539 B2
  • Filed: 09/28/2012
  • Issued: 10/14/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A drill for excavating a bore in the earth, the drill comprising:

  • a steerable boring tool configured to excavate a bore;

    a plurality of sensors coupled to the boring tool, wherein the sensors are spaced apart from one another at a plurality of azimuthal locations around the steerable boring tool and wherein the sensors are configured to detect a mineral property in the earth adjacent the steerable boring tool; and

    a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to determine a sensor value-function associated with each of the plurality of sensors where each sensor value-function includes the mineral property detected by the associated sensor as an input, compare the sensor value-functions, determine a locally preferred drilling direction in response to the comparison, and provide an output indicative of the locally preferred drilling direction to the steerable boring tool to steer the steerable boring tool in the locally preferred drilling direction.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×