Steering head
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head comprising:
- a 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, 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 such that the outer tube and the body define a void therebetween, and the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end;
at least one steering flap pivotably disposed on the external side of the outer tube and having a distal end, a hinge end, a first flap face facing radially inwardly toward the body surface and an opposing second flap face facing radially outwardly away from the longitudinal body axis, the at least one steering flap being moveable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
a fluid dispenser disposed in the void defined by the outer tube and the body, the fluid dispenser being in fluid communication with the void for selectively dispensing a fluid into the void,wherein the void between the body and the outer tube is substantially sealed from an outer environment when the at least one steering flap is in the retracted position and the void is in fluid communication with the external environment when the steering flap is in the extended position.
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Abstract
A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head having a 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 fluid dispenser is disposed in a void defined between the outer tube and the body.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head comprising:
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a 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, 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 such that the outer tube and the body define a void therebetween, and the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end; at least one steering flap pivotably disposed on the external side of the outer tube and having a distal end, a hinge end, a first flap face facing radially inwardly toward the body surface and an opposing second flap face facing radially outwardly away from the longitudinal body axis, the at least one steering flap being moveable between an extended position and a retracted position; and a fluid dispenser disposed in the void defined by the outer tube and the body, the fluid dispenser being in fluid communication with the void for selectively dispensing a fluid into the void, wherein the void between the body and the outer tube is substantially sealed from an outer environment when the at least one steering flap is in the retracted position and the void is in fluid communication with the external environment when the steering flap is in the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head comprising:
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a 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 such that the body and the outer tube define a void therebetween, and the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end and defining an aperture therein; a steering flap disposed over the aperture defined by 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; a powered actuator mountable to the first flap face and the body surface, the powered actuator being disposed in the void and operative to extend the steering flap to an extended position from a retracted position; and a fluid dispenser disposed in the void defined by the outer tube and the body, the fluid dispenser being in fluid communication with the void for selectively dispensing a fluid into the void. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification