The invention relates to the field of what is internationally known as horizontal directional drilling (HDD). HDD is a technique which is much applied for laying pipelines under rivers, canals and roads for the purpose of underground infrastructure, such as water pipes, telecommunication cables and electricity cables.
An HDD machine (internationally known as HDD rig) is equipped for this purpose with a mast with racks for guiding a drill drive for a drill pipe. In the relevant field such a mast is known with racks welded thereto. Applicant markets an alternative mast, which is provided with a manhole for mounting the racks on the mast with bolts.
The present invention relates to an assembly for forming a mast for guiding a drill drive in an HDD machine, which assembly comprises:
The present invention also relates to a method for forming the mast from an assembly according to the invention, which method comprises the following steps of:
a) mounting the racks on the mast cover;
b) placing the mast cover and the racks on the mast body; and
c) mounting the racks on the mast body.
The assembly and the method according to the invention make it possible to assemble the mast from carefully selected components and materials and at any desired location. The racks, which are wear parts, can in particular be replaced faster and under better working conditions. This is because it is no longer necessary to mount them from the inside, and the manhole can be dispensed with. As a result, the mast can also take a more compact form.
In a first preferred embodiment the mast body is provided with support surfaces for the racks. The support surfaces simplify the mounting of the mast considerably.
According to a further development of the first preferred embodiment, the mast body is provided with bent edges which form the support surfaces. These bent edges form integrated support surfaces which enable integral production in advantageous manner.
In an optimal development of the first preferred embodiment the assembly further comprises a set of two or more strengthening strips for placing against the support surfaces. The strengthening strips support the racks and increase the loadability of the mast. The strengthening strips moreover enable a choice of different materials for the racks and the mast body.
In a practical preferred embodiment the first and/or the second connecting means are bolts.
According to a first preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of selecting an assembly with strengthening strips, wherein step c) comprises the following sub-steps of:
c1) placing the strengthening strips against the support edges;
c2) connecting the racks to the support edges and the strengthening strips.
According to an optimal development of the first preferred embodiment of the method, step a) further comprises of placing a plurality of racks adjacently on one or both longitudinal sides of the mast cover and step c) comprises of connecting the strengthening strips to the support edges such that in assembled state of the mast one or more of the strengthening strips overlap the adjacent racks. The racks and the strengthening strips thereby come to lie in brick bond pattern, which will result in a better load distribution during use of the mast.
The invention also relates to a mast formed from the assembly according to the invention or by the method according to the invention.
The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the following figures, in which:
The same components are designated in the figures with the same numerals.
Drill drive 101 is displaceable from a first outer end of mast 1 over a distance D of the upper side of mast 1. Mast 1 is for this purpose provided on both longitudinal sides with racks 30, which co-act with pinions (not shown) in drill drive 101.
Placed at a second outer end of mast 1 is a drill pipe key 103 which during operation supports, secures (makes up) and releases (breaks up) a drill driven by drill drive 101 and consisting of a plurality of drill pipes. The drill pipe key is likewise displaceable over mast 1 by means of the racks.
Mast 1 is assembled by means of the assembly according to the invention.
For strengthening purposes a plurality of metal bridges 14 are arranged between the first and second walls 13, which are preferably welded to the walls.
The assembly further comprises a mast cover 20 which forms the upper side of mast 1.
Mast body 10 and mast cover 20 are mutually connected by means of racks 30, which extends along both longitudinal sides of mast 1. Each rack is here connected to both mast body 10 and mast cover 20.
Mast body 10 is provided on either side with support surfaces 11, which are preferably each formed by a bent edge 11 of mast wall 13. Support surfaces 11 are intended for placing of rack 30 on the upper side of mast body 10. Racks 30 are mounted with bolts 44, or equivalent second connecting means, on support surfaces 11 over the whole length of the racks. Racks 30 are provided for this purpose with a plurality of bolt holes 31. It will be evident that bent edge 11 has corresponding holes over the whole length. In order to absorb the load exerted by racks 30 on mast body 10 strengthening strips 40 are arranged on the underside of bent edges 11, which strips are connected by means of the bolts 44 to the edges 11. Strengthening strips 40 are for this purpose provided in the longitudinal direction with a plurality of bolt holes 41 which correspond to the bolt holes 31 and the corresponding holes 70 in edges 11.
For strengthening of mast 1 a tray-like beam 50 extending between the outer ends of mast 1 is preferably situated on bottom 12 on the inner side of mast body 10.
Mast cover 20 has a recessed upper side 21 which extends in longitudinal direction between the two outer ends of mast 1 and has a width which is smaller than or equal to the opening of U-shaped mast body 10.
For fastening of rack 30 to mast cover 20, mast cover 20 is in the shown preferred embodiment provided with sides 23 which are durably connected on a first longitudinal side to the recessed upper side 21. Sides 23 can be connected by means of filler bushings 25 and bolts 24 to rack 30 over the longitudinal direction of sides 23. Each rack 30 is provided for this purpose with corresponding bolt holes (not shown). The thickness of each side 23 is here greater than the thickness of the mast cover.
For strengthening purposes a plurality of plates 22, which connect sides 23 to each other, are arranged on the underside of mast cover 20 over the longitudinal direction of mast cover 20.
Depending on the length of mast 1, a plurality of racks 30 and a plurality of strengthening strips 40 are generally mounted adjacently over the longitudinal direction of each side of mast 1. They are preferably mounted on mast 1 in overlapping manner in order to ensure that no weak spots form in mast 1. The positions of the ends 32 of adjacent racks 30 and of the ends 42 of adjacent strengthening strips 40 are shown.
Mast 1 can optionally be constructed from a plurality of adjacent mast bodies 10 provided with a plurality of adjacent mast covers 20. Mast bodies 10 can here be connected to each other with additional connecting pieces, as can mast covers 20.
The method for forming the mast 1 for guiding a drill drive in an HDD machine of the assembly according to the invention comprises the following steps of:
Mast 1 according to
The invention is of course not limited to the described and shown preferred embodiment, but extends to any embodiment falling within the scope of protection as defined in the claims and as seen in the light of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021324 | Jul 2018 | NL | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2075185 | Eiler | Mar 1937 | A |
3867989 | Hisey | Feb 1975 | A |
4134237 | Armstrong | Jan 1979 | A |
7255406 | Huck | Aug 2007 | B1 |
10662720 | Wurster | May 2020 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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10206646 | Jul 2003 | DE |
102004019426 | Nov 2005 | DE |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200024909 A1 | Jan 2020 | US |