Underground drill

Abstract

An underground 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 and the anchor assembly are operably connected to the frame. The electronic controller is configured to receive input 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underground directional drill comprising:
 a frame;   a drill carriage assembly operably connected to the frame;   an anchor assembly operably connected to the frame;   a multi-axis input device;   an electronic controller configured to receive a signal from the multi-axis input device and produce a corresponding output signal; and   a mode selector comprising: an anchor mode, wherein the output signal actuates the anchor assembly; and a drill mode, wherein the output signal actuates the drill carriage assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The underground directional drill of  claim 1 , wherein the signal from the multi-axis input device is proportional to a displacement of the multi-axis input device. 
     
     
         3 . The underground directional drill of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor assembly further comprises:
 an anchor frame;   a first thrust generator;   a first torque generator; and   a first anchor post, wherein a first end of the first thrust generator operably connects to the anchor frame, a second end of the first thrust generator operably connects to a first end of the first torque generator, and a second end of the first torque generator operably connects to the first anchor post.   
     
     
         4 . The underground directional drill of  claim 3 , wherein the multi-axis input device is horizontally spaced at least 24 inches from the first anchor post. 
     
     
         5 . The underground directional drill of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second thrust generator;   a second torque generator; and   a second anchor post, wherein a first end of the second thrust generator operably connects to the anchor frame, a second end of the second thrust generator operably connects to a first end of the second torque generator, and a second end of the second torque generator operably connects to the second anchor post;   wherein when the mode selector is in the anchor mode, the multi-axis input device comprises: a first state, wherein the multi-axis input device actuates the first thrust generator and first torque generator; and a second state, wherein the multi-axis input device actuates the second thrust generator and second torque generator.   
     
     
         6 . The underground directional drill of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second thrust generator;   a second torque generator;   a second anchor post, wherein a first end of the second thrust generator operably connects to the anchor frame, a second end of the second thrust generator operably connects to a first end of the second torque generator, and a second end of the second torque generator operably connects to the second anchor post; and   a second multi-axis input device, wherein when the mode selector is in the anchor mode, the controller is adapted to additionally receive a signal from the second multi-axis input device, and produce a corresponding second output signal.   
     
     
         7 . The underground directional drill of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-axis input device controls the first thrust generator and first torque generator, and the second multi-axis input device controls the second thrust generator and second torque generator. 
     
     
         8 . The underground directional drill of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second multi-axis input device;   wherein the drill carriage assembly further comprises a carriage thrust generator and a carriage torque generator;   wherein the controller is further configured to receive a signal from the second multi-axis input device; and   wherein the drill mode further comprises: a first sub-mode, wherein movement of the multi-axis input device in a first direction actuates the carriage thrust generator and movement of the multi-axis input device in a second direction actuates the carriage torque generator; and a second sub-mode, wherein movement of the multi-axis input device actuates the carriage torque generator and movement of the second multi-axis input device actuates the carriage thrust generator.   
     
     
         9 . An underground directional drill comprising:
 a frame;   a drill spindle operably connected to the frame;   a pipe rack operably connected to the frame; and   a pipe loading frame operably connected to the frame, wherein the pipe loading frame is movable between a manual loading position and a drill string position, and wherein 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.   
     
     
         10 . The underground directional drill of  claim 9 , wherein the pipe loading frame, when in the manual loading position, is adapted to receive the pipe from a position outside of the pipe rack, and when in the drill string position, is adapted to position the pipe in coaxial alignment with the drill spindle. 
     
     
         11 . The underground directional drill of  claim 9 , further comprising a second pipe located in the pipe rack. 
     
     
         12 . The underground directional drill of  claim 11 , wherein the pipe loading frame comprises a first pipe receiver and an arcuate surface adjacent to, and extending away from, the first pipe receiver, the arcuate surface adapted to prevent the second pipe from descending out of the pipe rack during movement of the pipe loading frame from the manual loading position to the drill string position. 
     
     
         13 . The underground directional drill of  claim 12 , wherein the pipe loading frame further comprises a first actuator in communication with the first pipe receiver. 
     
     
         14 . The underground directional drill of  claim 13 , wherein the pipe loading frame further comprises: a second pipe receiver; and a second actuator in communication with the second pipe receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The underground directional drill of  claim 14 , wherein the first pipe receiver and the second pipe receiver each define a primary axis, and wherein the primary axes of the first and second pipe receivers are coaxially aligned when the pipe loading frame is in the manual loading position, and are coaxially misaligned when the pipe loading frame is in the drill string position. 
     
     
         16 . A method of loading a pipe into an underground directional drill, the method comprising:
 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;   positioning the pipe loading frame in the manual loading position;   placing a pipe into a pipe receiver associated with the pipe loading frame; and   moving the pipe loading frame to the drill string position, wherein 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.