Underground drills are well known for steerable underground drilling, typically described as Horizontal Directional Drills (HDD). Often times, horizontal directional drills comprise an anchor mechanism, a drill mechanism and a pipe loading mechanism. Separate controls are commonly provided for anchor operations and drill operations. The anchor and drill controls often operate in dissimilar manners and reside in separate locations. Furthermore, the task of manually loading a drill pipe into an HDD is often complicated and time-consuming. Therefore, a drill with improvements in these areas is desirable.
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an underground directional drill comprising a frame, a drill carriage, an anchor assembly, a multi-axis input device, an electronic controller, and a mode selector. The drill carriage assembly and the anchor assembly are operably connected to the frame. The electronic controller is configured to receive a signal from the multi-axis input device and produce a corresponding output signal. The mode selector has an anchor mode, wherein the output signal actuates the anchor assembly, and a drill mode, wherein the output signal actuates the drill carriage assembly.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an underground directional drill comprising a frame, a drill spindle, a pipe rack, and a pipe loading frame. The drill spindle, pipe rack, and pipe loading frame are operably connected to the frame. The pipe loading frame is movable between a manual loading position and a drill string position. A pipe positioned in the pipe loading frame maintains continuous contact with the pipe loading frame during movement of the pipe loading frame between the manual loading position and the drill string position.
In still another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of loading a pipe into an underground directional drill. The method comprises providing an underground directional drill and a pipe, wherein the drill comprises a pipe loading frame movable between a manual loading position and a drill string position. The pipe loading frame is positioned in the manual loading position and a pipe is placed into a pipe receiver associated with the pipe loading frame. The pipe loading frame is moved to a drill string position. The pipe maintains continuous contact with the pipe receiver as the pipe loading frame moves from the manual loading position to the drill string position.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereafter in the Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments section, taken in conjunction with the following drawing, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements or parts throughout, wherein:
The figures are rendered primarily for clarity and, as a result, are not necessarily drawn to scale. Moreover, various structure/components, including but not limited to fasteners, electrical components (wiring, cables, etc.), and the like, may be shown diagrammatically or removed from some or all of the views to better illustrate aspects of the depicted embodiments, or where inclusion of such structure/components is not necessary to an understanding of the various exemplary embodiments described herein. The lack of illustration/description of such structure/components in a particular figure is, however, not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the various embodiments in any way.
In the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawing which form a part hereof. It is to be understood that other embodiments, which may not be described and/or illustrated herein, are certainly contemplated.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to underground horizontal directional drills that may control an anchor system and rod loading system with a multi-axis input device. Additionally, the input device may be used for controlling both the anchor system and the drill carriage (thrust and rotation). Such features may provide a directional drill with increased utility and convenience.
All headings provided herein are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of any text that follows the heading, unless so specified. Moreover, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, and all terms expressing direction/orientation (e.g., vertical, horizontal, parallel, perpendicular, etc.) in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.”
It is noted that the terms “comprises” and variations thereof do not have a limiting meaning where these terms appear in the accompanying description and claims. Further, “a,” “an,” “the,” “at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably herein. Moreover, relative terms such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “fore,” “forward,” “rear,” “aft,” “rearward,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and the like may be used herein and, if so, are from the perspective of one operating the directional drill while the drill is in a typical operating configuration (see, e.g.,
With reference to the figures of the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts and assemblies throughout the several views,
Referring to
Mode selector 106 may include or be connected to a controller adapted to monitor and control various functions. For example, an electronic system controller 134 receives input (e.g., one or more signals) through actuation of input devices 102,104 and, depending on the mode selected in mode selector 106, controller 134 will process the input and output a corresponding signal to actuate either the drill carriage assembly 300 or the anchor assembly 200 (see
With reference now to
Drill carriage assembly 300 is supported by frame 110 and operably supports: one or more (e.g., two) carriage thrust generators 302 (only one visible), a carriage torque generator 304, a carriage frame 306, and a drill spindle 308. Thrust generators 302 are secured to carriage frame 306 and arranged on opposing sides of a thrust rack 500. Thrust generators 302, when actuated, rotate pinion gears along thrust rack 500. In other words, thrust rack 500 is a longitudinal track, having opposing rack gears, along which the carriage frame 306 translates by way of thrust generators 302. The longitudinal direction of drill 100 is identified as L1 (see
A first anchor mode selected by mode selector 106 may direct output signals from the input devices 102,104 to actuate (via the controller 134) the anchor assembly 200. In one embodiment, controller 134 may require an operator to be seated in seat 138 prior to sending an output signal to the anchor assembly 200 (see
Additional anchor modes are contemplated, which allow input devices 102,104 to control generators in temporal succession. For example, a second anchor mode may have a first state and a second state, wherein the first state will cause input device 102 to control generators 204,206 and the second state will cause input device 102 to control generators 214,216. Upon entering the second anchor mode, mode selector 106 may default to a pre-determined state and a transition to the other state may be made through mode selector 106. Alternatively, the state transition may be conducted through actuation of a switch 112 on input device 102. A third anchor mode is contemplated, which may carry out the function described in the second anchor mode, but using input device 104 and switch 114, in place of input device 102 and switch 112.
A fourth anchor mode is also contemplated, wherein one input device controls a thrust generator and the other input device controls a torque generator. For example, in this fourth anchor mode and in a first state, input device 102 may control thrust generator 214 and input device 104 may control torque generator 216. In the fourth anchor mode and in a second state, input device 102 may control thrust generator 204 and input device 104 may control torque generator 206. A state transition in the fourth anchor mode may be conducted through mode selector 106 or, alternatively, through switches 112, 114. Alternatively, input device 102 may control generators 206,216 and input device 104 may control generators 204,214.
In a drill mode, output signals from the input devices 102,104 may be directed to actuate the drill carriage assembly 300. In a first drill sub-mode, input device 102 may control both thrust generators 302 and torque generator 304. For example, movement of input device 102 in directions 103C,103D may actuate thrust generators 302, thereby translating the drill carriage along thrust rack 500, and movement of input device 102 in directions 103A,103B may actuate torque generator 304, thereby rotating the drill spindle 308. In a second drill sub-mode, both input devices 102,104 may be utilized to control the actuation of the drill carriage assembly in combination. For example, movement of input device 102 may actuate or control torque generator 304, which rotates drill spindle 308, and movement of input device 104 may actuate or control thrust generators 302, which translates drill carriage assembly 300 along thrust rack 500. Upon entering the drill mode, the mode selector 106 may default to a pre-determined sub-mode and a transition to the other sub-mode may be made through actuation in the mode selector 106. Alternatively, the state transition may be conducted through actuation of switches 122,124 on input devices 102,104. Furthermore, movement of input devices 102,104 in any direction may be configured to perform any of the above-described movements of drill carriage 300 translation and drill spindle 308 rotation.
The loading frame 404 may be positioned to the manual loading position P1 through selection of manual loading mode using the mode selector 106. An operator control device receives input from an operator and outputs a signal to initiate a movement of pipe 420 via pivoting and extension of receiver 408 from first position P1 to second position P2. In one embodiment, the control device may be mode selector 106. The loading frame 404 may be brought into the manual loading position (P1) through a selection in the mode selector 106. Alternatively, mode selector 106, may further require actuation of switch 136 (see
In position P1, the primary axes A1,A2 of receivers 406,408 are in coaxial alignment and receivers 406,408 may receive and hold pipe 420. The transition from P1 to P2 may be initiated through the mode selector 106. Alternatively, the loading frame 404 may be transitioned between P1 and P2 through actuation of remote selector switch 132 (see
The pipe loading assembly may also move a pipe 420 from the manual loading position (first position P1) to the pipe rack 402 by translating pipe 420 to a third position P3, fourth position P4, or fifth position P5. Similar to transition of P1 to P2, transition from one position to another position may be initiated through actuation of mode selector 106, switch 132, or switch 136. A lift actuator 416 (see
While described with reference to specific embodiments herein, those of skill in the art will recognize that other embodiments are possible. For example, the features of input devices 102,104 may be exchanged.
In addition, embodiments of the above disclosure may find applications to other construction equipment which requires additional stabilizing pads or anchors, in which joysticks are utilized to control the main function of the equipment, for example: aerial work platforms; cranes; and backhoes.
Illustrative embodiments are described and reference has been made to possible variations of the same. These and other variations, combinations, and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it should be understood that the claims are not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/564,117, filed Sep. 9, 2019 (abandoned), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/738,075, filed Sep. 28, 2018, the content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to underground drilling and, more particularly, to various operations related to horizontal underground directional drills.
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20210404259 A1 | Dec 2021 | US |
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62738075 | Sep 2018 | US |
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Parent | 16564117 | Sep 2019 | US |
Child | 17474376 | US |