DATA TRANSFER SYSTEM

• US 20010012703A1
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen
• Original Assignee: Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen
• Inventors: WURM, DIETER, KOCH, ELMAR, ZERBS, KLAUS
• Granted Patent: US 6,402,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/32
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements

Abstract

A system for transfer of data or electric current for a steerable horizontal boring machine for laying and destructive replacement of supply lines, which is suitable both for percussive and for rotary drilling operation and permits reliable and problem-free use of a cable connection between a consumer or sensor and a power supply or a data utilising unit, preferably comprises three elements (machine adapter, string adapter, transmitter adapter) for connecting the cable.

Claims

1. A system for transfer of data or electric current for a steerable horizontal boring machine for laying and/or destructive replacement of supply lines comprising a drill head, a drive, a string, a consumer, a drive adapter (10), a string adapter (100) and a consumer adapter (200), wherein

the drive adapter (10) is provided with an electrical connecting element which is stationary with respect to the string and a current collector (12) which is stationary with respect to a data utilising unit or power source;

the string adapter is in the form of a length (101,

     102) of drill string having a string head at each end and an internal electric lead (106,

     107) the ends of the leads being fixed in the string head of the string length (101,

     102) and being aligned such that connecting two string lengths (101,

     102) results in automatic connection of the leads (106,

     107); and

the consumer adapter (200) is provided with a cable-side connecting element (275) and a consumer-side connecting element (209) connected thereto, the connecting elements (270,

     290) allowing relative axial movement between the electrical consumer (215) and the connecting cable (255).

2. An adapter for transfer of data or electric current between a length of a string of a steerable horizontal boring machine for laying and/or destructive replacement of supply lines and a data utilising unit or a power source, comprising an electrical connecting element (14) which is stationary with respect to the string and a current collector (12) which is in contact with the electrical connecting element and is stationary with respect to the data utilising unit or the power source.

3. An adapter as claimed in

claim 2

, wherein the electrical connecting element is in the form of a slip ring (14).

4. An adapter as claimed in

claim 2

or

claim 3

, wherein the electrical connecting element (14) is mounted axially displaceably with respect to the axis of the string.

5. An adapter according to any one of

claims 2

to

4

, wherein the current collector (12) is mounted axially displaceably with respect to the axis of the string.

6. A drill string length having a string head at each end and an internal electric lead, wherein the ends of the lead are fixed in the string head (101, 102) and are aligned such that connecting two string lengths (101, 102) results in automatic connection of the leads.

7. A drill string length as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein the lead (106, 107) runs axially in the drill string length and lies centrally in the string head (101, 102).

8. A drill string length as claimed in

claim 6

or

claim 7

, wherein the lead (106, 107) is a coaxial cable or a cable with an insulated litz wire.

9. A drill string length as claimed in any one of

claims 6

to

8

, wherein the electric lead (106, 107) runs in an inner pipe with a media space (108) and is sealed off from this space.

10. A drill string length as claimed in any one of

claims 6

to

9

, wherein the string length is provided with a further media space (109) between its outer jacket and the inner pipe,

11. A drill string length as claimed in any one of

claims 6

to

10

, wherein the string length has an external screw thread at one end and an internal screw thread at the opposite end.

12. A drill string length as claimed in

claim 11

, wherein the leads which are fixed in the string length have a coupler socket (112) at one end and a coupler plug (111) at the opposite end.

13. A drill string length as claimed in

claim 12

, wherein the coupler socket (112) and the coupler plug (111) of the leads are in sliding contact when the string is connected up and as it is being connected.

14. A drill string length as claimed in one or more of

claims 6

to

13

, wherein a sealing element (113;

114) is fitted between the coupler socket (112) and the coupler plug (111).

15. A drill string length as claimed in

claim 12

or

claim 13

, wherein the couplings (111, 112) are in the form of swivel couplings.

16. A drill string length as claimed in one or more of

claims 6

to

15

, wherein a string strand is made up of several individual strings.

17. A method for trenchless earth boring using string lengths as claimed in one of

claims 9

to

16

, wherein the internal pipe or the medium present therein is used to transfer pulses.

18. A cable connection for connecting electrical consumers fitted in a boring machine to an external power source or data utilising unit, including a cable-side connecting element (270) and a consumer-side connecting element (290) in contact therewith, the connecting elements (270, 290) allowing relative axial movement between the electrical consumer (215) and a connecting cable (255).

19. A cable connection as claimed in

claim 18

which includes a plug (b 270) and a sliding bushing (290).

20. A cable connection as claimed in

claim 18

or

claim 19

, wherein the sliding bushing (290) Is located on the transmitter side.

21. A cable connection as claimed in one or more of

claims 18

to

20

, wherein the sliding bushing (290) is screwed on to the electrical consumer (215).

22. A cable connection as claimed in one or more of

claims 18

to

21

, wherein the sealing element (265) seals the transmitter chamber (210) against penetration by drilling fluid.

23. A cable connection as claimed in one or more of

claims 18

to

22

, wherein the transmitter (215) is grounded through a spring (296).

24. A cable connection as claimed in

claim 23

, wherein the spring (296) is slidably mounted.