Roadway access hole cutter having a utility avoidance safety device, method of cutting a hole in a roadway, method of cutting a horizontal hole under a roadway

Abstract

A method of cutting a microtrench in which the buried utility is exposed by opening an access hole in a roadway above the buried utility using a roadway access hole drill that is controlled by a computer system connected to an under-roadway detection unit that detects a buried utility and stops movement of the drill to avoid damaging the buried utility. Also provided is a method of drilling a substantially horizontal hole under a roadway using a horizontal drill that is controlled by a computer system connected to an under-roadway detection unit that detects a buried utility and stops movement or changes direction of the drill to avoid damaging the buried utility.

1 . A method of installing optical fiber, innerduct or microduct under a roadway comprising:
 drilling an access hole in a roadway above a buried utility using a roadway access drill comprising a drill head driven by a motor;   controlling the movement of the drill head by a computer system;   measuring in real time a distance between the drill head and the buried utility by the computer system and an under-roadway detection unit connected to the computer system, wherein the under-roadway detection unit is only above the roadway surface;   the computer system automatically at least one of providing warning to an operator of the roadway access drill or stopping movement of the drill head towards the buried utility at a set distance between the drill head and the buried utility to avoid damaging the buried utility;   removing dirt below the roadway through the access hole to expose the buried utility;   cutting a microtrench in the roadway using a microtrencher so that the microtrench crosses the buried utility and does not damage the buried utility;   laying the optical fiber, innerduct or microduct in the microtrench; and   filling the microtrench with a fill material to cover and protect the optical fiber, innerduct or microduct.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising placing a debris containment collar on a roadway surface over a buried utility, the debris containment collar having a debris containment collar body defining a hollow chamber sized to accept the drill head; and
 inserting the drill head into the hollow chamber of the debris containment collar so that the debris containment collar body surrounds the drill head.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising providing a source vacuum to the hollow chamber of the debris containment collar and vacuuming debris from the access hole during drilling. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the set distance comprises 2-24 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the set distance comprises 4-12 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer system automatically stopping movement of the drill head towards the buried utility at a set distance between the drill head and the buried utility to avoid damaging the buried utility. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising uploading buried utility information from the computer system to a server using a network, wherein the buried utility information comprising a location of the buried utility. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising making a video of the drilling of the access hole and cutting of the microtrench. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising uploading buried utility information from the computer system to a server using a network, wherein the buried utility information comprising a location of the buried utility. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising making a video of the drilling of the access hole and cutting of the microtrench. 
     
     
         11 . A roadway access drill configured to reduce damage to a utility buried under a roadway comprising:
 a drill head driven by a motor;   a computer system configured to control movement of the drill head;   an under-roadway detection unit connected to the computer system and configured to measure in real time a distance between the drill head and a buried utility under the roadway, wherein the under-roadway detection unit is only above the roadway surface; and   the computer system being configured to automatically at least one of providing warning to an operator of the roadway access drill or stopping movement of the drill head towards a buried utility at a set distance between the drill head and the buried utility to avoid damaging the buried utility.   
     
     
         12 . The roadway access drill according to  claim 11 , further comprising a lifting device for lifting and lowering the roadway access drill. 
     
     
         13 . The roadway access drill according to  claim 11 , further comprising a debris containment collar comprising a vacuum attachment for attaching a source of vacuum to a hollow chamber configured to at least partially surround the roadway access drill. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing a new utility under a roadway comprising:
 drilling an access hole in a roadway above a buried utility using a roadway access drill comprising a drill head driven by a motor;   controlling the movement of the drill head by a computer system;   measuring in real time a distance between the drill head and the buried utility by the computer system and an under-roadway detection unit connected to the computer system, wherein the under-roadway detection unit is only above the roadway surface;   the computer system automatically at least one of providing warning to an operator of the roadway access drill or stopping movement of the drill head towards the buried utility at a set distance between the drill head and the buried utility to avoid damaging the buried utility;   removing dirt below the roadway through the access hole to expose the buried utility;   cutting a microtrench in the roadway using a microtrencher so that the microtrench crosses the buried utility and does not damage the buried utility;   laying the new utility in the microtrench; and   filling the microtrench with a fill material to cover and protect the new utility.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising placing a debris containment collar on a roadway surface over a buried utility, the debris containment collar having a debris containment collar body defining a hollow chamber sized to accept the drill head; and
 inserting the drill head into the hollow chamber of the debris containment collar so that the debris containment collar body surrounds the drill head.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising providing a source vacuum to the hollow chamber of the debris containment collar and vacuuming debris from the access hole during drilling. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the set distance comprises 2-24 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the set distance comprises 4-12 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the computer system automatically stopping movement of the drill head towards the buried utility at a set distance between the drill head and the buried utility to avoid damaging the buried utility. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising uploading buried utility information from the computer system to a server using a network, wherein the buried utility information comprising a location of the buried utility.