Abstract:
A pilot tube drive assembly used with an auger boring machine includes a height adjustment mechanism for aligning the pilot tube path of travel with an axis about which an auger of the machine rotates during trenchless installation of underground pipe. A drive mechanism mounted on a drive assembly frame drives the pilot tube to form a pilot hole in the ground for guiding the auger. The height adjustment mechanism may include shorter and taller mounting assemblies which are typically removably mounted on the drive assembly frame. The shorter and taller mounting assemblies may be alternately mounted on the frame at the same location. Typically, the mounting assemblies are removably mounted on spaced rails of an auger boring machine frame via mounting legs which are removably inserted into openings in the spaced rails by an actuating mechanism between the rails.
Abstract:
An auger boring machine includes a two-stage guidance control system for controlling a pilot tube during formation of an underground pilot hole which is subsequently followed by an auger to form a larger hole for installation of underground pipe. The system includes a first stage guidance control mechanism for guiding the pilot tube during a first stage of driving the pilot tube and a second stage guidance control mechanism for guiding the pilot tube during a second subsequent stage of driving the pilot tube. The first stage mechanism typically includes a theodolite which allows for pilot tube control during the first several hundred feet of pilot hole formation. The second stage mechanism typically includes a sonar sensor such as a radio frequency receiver for sensing signals transmitted from within the pilot tube and allows for pilot tube control when the first stage mechanism is no longer functional.
Abstract:
An apparatus that facilitates the insertion of a stanchion into the ground. The apparatus comprises a first side including a plurality of connection apertures, a second side including a plurality of connection apertures, and at least one connector engaging the connection apertures to removably engage the first side to the second side. The first and second sides reposition the ground and substantially separate the stanchion from the ground during insertion. Additionally, the apparatus maintains the integrity of the hole into which the stanchion is placed during insertion of the stanchion into the ground. Preferably, the first and second sides define a substantially circular opening when engaged to one another. Additionally, each side includes a length and the connector substantially spans the length and vertically connects the first side to the second side along the length.
Abstract:
In a method and device for boring or drilling, in particular percussion drilling or rotary percussion drilling, holes in soil or rock, wherein a borehole is formed by a percussive and/or rotary movement carried out by a drill bit (2) mounted on a drill rod assembly (3) and a jacket tube (6) coupled with the drill bit (2) is introduced into the borehole, it is provided that the jacket tube (6) is received in a socket (5) provided on the end facing away from the drill bit working surface, of an envelope tube (4) coupled with the drill bit (2), and that the jacket tube (6) is subjected to a percussive and/or compressive stress on its end facing away from the drill bit, whereby directionally precise boring or drilling is rendered feasible.
Abstract:
A steering head that comprises a forward pivot block and a rearward pivot block. The forward pivot block is attached to a leading edge of a casing. The rearward pivot block is attached to a trailing portion of the casing, the leading edge being separated from the trailing portion by a gap in the casing. Extending between the forward and rearward pivot blocks is a central drive shaft. The central drive shaft includes a threaded portion and is rotatable to move a drive nut away from or towards the rearward pivot block. The central drive shaft, to either side of the drive nut, is covered by a cylindrical sleeve. A second internal sleeve extends between the rearward pivot block and the drive nut to protect the threads of the drive shaft from earthen debris when the casing is being advanced or reversed to steer the forward-most casing portion during operation.
Abstract:
An earth displacement drill is provided including a drill tube which can be driven for rotary movement and a boring tip connected thereto, wherein the boring tip has a cylindrical part which adjoins the drill tube and has at least two helical strips uniformly distributed around the circumference, which climb upwardly at a shallow angle, with the flat side of the strips preferably extending substantially parallel to the radius at the relevant position and in particular only over a fraction of the circumference of the cylindrical part. The boring tip also has a tapering part located beneath the cylindrical part and having at least two arched surfaces which are uniformly distributed around the tapering part. These arched surfaces expediently extend approximately parallel to the vertical and preferably more steeply than the helical strips. Moreover, they preferably extend only over a fraction of the periphery of the tapered part and terminate radially outwardly at least in the vicinity of the start of an associated helical strip. Such an earth displacement drill is improved in that the arched surfaces have lower edges which adjoin flat helical surfaces in a substantially step-free manner. The flat helical surfaces extend continuously to the lower edge of the cylindrical part and to the upper edge of the following arched surface as viewed opposite to the direction of rotation. The flat helical surfaces in each case form a step with the following arched surface as viewed opposite to the direction of rotation.
Abstract:
Drilling apparatus which comprises support structure mounted guide tracks which extend in a drilling direction. A rotating and pushing unit is mounted on said guide tracks for movement in the drilling direction. The apparatus is provided with a series of members for adjusting the height of the rotating and pushing unit in relation to the guide tracks, the members extending in the drilling direction and allowing the rotating and pushing unit to glide in the drilling direction.
Abstract:
A method for controlling advancement of a drilling apparatus comprising a drill head having tools therein and at least one conveying tube is disclosed. The method utilizes changes in pressure sensed in the drill head or the conveying tube as a means for assessing forces acting on tools in the drill head. The measured pressure information is transmitted to control equipment which adjusts the driving force applied by a power unit to the apparatus to effect the drilling operation. The method thereby provides an effective means of preventing damage to the tools.
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus for the formation of casing assisted grout piles at low density overburden construction sites is provided which includes a collar assembly (44) adapted to be secured to the conventional upright support frame (12) forming a part of typical pile-forming equipment. Preferably, the assembly (44) includes a pair of hingedly interconnected arcuate collar sections (46,48) which cooperatively grip the upper protruding end (42) of an embedded metallic casing (40). The sections (46,48) are provided with circumferentially spaced elongated, gripping elements (70) thereon, as well as a piston and cylinder assembly (60) for selective opening and closing movement of the sections (46,48). Use of the casing-gripping assembly (44) prevents substantial movement or uprooting of the embedded casing (40), and permits pile formation at sites such as landfills containing municipal solid wastes.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an excavator and conveyor for an underground jacking apparatus for pipelines having a preferably non-man-sized rated cross section, which is driven into the surrounding soil from a manhole and comprises a digging head and at least one follower, jacking the digging head, and thereafter introducing additional jacked lengths of pipe. Rotating in the end area of the digging head is a digging disc which is set into rotation by a shaft. The shaft is surrounded at a distance by a conveyor tube, the wall of which is compartmentalized with respect to its outer cylindrical jacket in the vicinity of the digging head. Conveyor means are provided in the conveyor tube for conveying the excavated material back to the manhole. Sluice means are also provided in the conveyor cross section between the shaft and the conveyor tube wall, these sluice means serving to prevent incursions of groundwater. The sluice means comprise at least one annular bellows that can be expanded by means of a flowable medium; the shaft extends all the way through the bellows, and the conveyor cross section is closed completely or partially by the bellows depending on the required compartmentalization and on the extent of expansion.