Apparatus for directional boring under mixed conditions

Abstract

A drill head for an apparatus for horizontal directional drilling. The drill head includes a device for detecting angular orientation, a holder for the device for detecting angular orientation, the device for detecting angular orientation being disposed therein, a hammer driven by a liquid and a drill bit. The holder, the hammer and the drill bit are connected head to tail along a longitudinal axis of a drill string with the holder at a proximate end of the drill head and the drill bit at a distal end of the drill head.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, for use in horizontal directional drilling in compressible soil, non-compressible soil, or rock, of the type having a drill string coupled to a directional boring machine at a proximal end and a drill head coupled to the drill string at a distal end of the drill string, comprising:
 a drill bit generally adapted and configured to bore through rock; 
 a device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation; and 
 an offset coupling member attached at a first end to the drill string and at a second end to the drill bit, the offset coupling member angularly offsetting the drill head from a longitudinal axis of the drill string, wherein, the offset coupling member is oriented in response to the generated signals to steer the drill bit; 
 wherein the drill bit further comprises an effective steering geometry suitable for steering the drill bit. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hammer driven by a liquid interposed between the offset coupling member and the drill bit. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the drill bit further comprises an effective steering geometry suitable for steering the drill bit. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim  3  1, wherein the effective steering geometry is a gage tower radially outwardly offset from an outermost point away from the longitudinal axis of the drill string and having one or more frontwardly facing gage cutting teeth disposed thereon, the one or more gage cutting teeth being suitable for cutting over an angle defined by less than one full rotation of the drill bit. 
     
     
       5. A system for use in horizontal directional drilling in compressible soil and rock, comprising:
 a horizontal directional drilling machine having a drill string coupled thereto, the directional drilling machine being used to rotate and push the drill string into a medium to be bored, the directional drilling machine including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a proximate end of the drill string and generally configured for applying a thrust force to the drill string; 
 a pressure source for generating a working pressure to be transmitted through a liquid used for drilling; and 
 a controller for controlling the thrust force generated by the drive member and for controlling the working pressure output of the pressure source; 
 wherein the drill string includes at a distal end:
 a device for detecting angular orientation and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation; 
 a holder for the device for detecting angular orientation and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation, the device for detecting angular orientation and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation being disposed therein; 
 a hammer driven by the liquid; and 
 a drill bit including a frontwardly facing main cutting surface, the frontwardly facing main cutting surface having an effective steering geometry for steering the drill string; 
 wherein, the holder, the hammer and the drill bit are connected head to tail along a longitudinal axis of the drill string with the holder being located at a proximate end of the drill string and the drill bit being located at a distal end of the drill string; 
 
 wherein the system further includes an offset coupling member attached at a first end to the drill string and at a second end to the drill bit, the offset coupling member angularly offsetting the drill bit from a longitudinal axis of the drill string to establish the angular orientation of the drill bit, wherein, the offset coupling member is oriented in response to the generated signals to steer the drill bit. 
 
     
     
       6. A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the effective steering geometry is a gage tower radially outwardly offset from an outermost point away from the longitudinal axis of the drill string and having one or more frontwardly facing gage cutting teeth disposed thereon, the one or more gage cutting teeth being suitable for cutting over an angle defined by less than one full rotation of the drill bit. 
     
     
       7. A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the frontwardly facing main cutting surface includes one or more cutting teeth disposed thereon. 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller is an electronic automatic controller. 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller is operated by an operator. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus, for use in horizontal directional drilling in compressible soil, non-compressible soil, or rock, of the type having a drill string coupled to a directional boring machine at a proximal end and a drill head coupled to the drill string at a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the drill string, comprising:
 a drill bit with a longitudinal axis generally adapted and configured to bore through rock, the drill bit including:
 a frontwardly facing circular main cutting surface having a plurality of main cutting teeth disposed thereon in a single plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and 
 a gage tower extending radially outwardly from the main cutting surface, which gage tower having a plurality of gage teeth positioned in an arc comprising less than one-half of the circumference of the bit; 
 
 an offset coupling member attached at a first end to the drill string and at a second end to the drill bit, the offset coupling member causing the longitudinal axis of the drill bit to be angularly offset at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the drill string, and the direction of the offset being coordinated with the location of the gage tower of the drill bit; and 
 a device for determining the angular orientation of the offset coupling member or the gage tower of the drill bit, and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation, wherein, the offset member is oriented in response to the generated signals to steer the drill bit. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a hammer driven by a liquid interposed between the offset coupling member and the drill bit. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein during use the drill bit is not rotatable relative to the offset coupling member.  
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drill bit is non-rotatably mounted relative to the offset coupling member.  
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drill head is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the drill string between 0.5 to 2.0 degrees.  
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drill head further comprises shock absorbers at opposite ends of the device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit.  
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit is loaded into a compartment through a door arranged on a side of the drill head.  
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drill head includes a hammer for generating impacts transferred to the drill bit.  
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the hammer is pneumatic.  
     
     
       19. An apparatus, for use in horizontal directional drilling in compressible soil, non-compressible soil, or rock, of the type having a drill string coupled to a directional boring machine at a proximal end and a drill head coupled to the drill string at a distal end of the drill string, comprising:
 a drill bit generally adapted and configured to bore through rock;   a device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation; and   an offset coupling member attached at a first end to the drill string and at a second end to the drill bit, the offset coupling member angularly offsetting the drill head from a longitudinal axis of the drill string, wherein, the offset coupling member is oriented in response to the generated signals to steer the drill bit; and   the drill bit being non-rotatably mounted relative to offset coupling member.    
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the drill head is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the drill string between 0.5 to 2.0 degrees.  
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the drill head further comprises shock absorbers at opposite ends of the device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit.  
     
     
       22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit is loaded into a compartment through a door arranged on a side of the drill head.  
     
     
       23. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the drill head includes a hammer for generating impacts transferred to the drill bit.  
     
     
       24. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the hammer is pneumatic.  
     
     
       25. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the drill bit is asymmetric.  
     
     
       26. An apparatus, for use in horizontal directional drilling in compressible soil, non-compressible soil, or rock, of the type having a drill string coupled to a directional boring machine at a proximal end and a drill head coupled to the drill string at a distal end of the drill string, the drill head comprising:
 a drill bit generally adapted and configured to bore through rock;   a sensing device mounted in a compartment of the drill head for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation wherein at least one shock absorber isolates the sensing device from vibrations and shocks;   an offset coupling member attached at a first end to the drill string and at a second end to the drill bit, the offset coupling member angularly offsetting the drill head from a longitudinal axis of the drill string to establish the angular orientation of the drill bit, wherein, the offset coupling member is oriented in response to the generated signals to steer the drill bit;   a hammer for delivering impacts to the drill bit, the offset coupling member including a hammer housing that houses the hammer and a sensing device housing that houses the sensing device, the hammer housing and the sensing device housing being angled relative to one another, the hammer housing being positioned between the sensing device housing and the drill bit and the sensing device housing aligning with the longitudinal axis of the drill string; and   the offset coupling member defining a passage for carrying compressed fluid through the drill head to the hammer for actuating the hammer, the passage being isolated from the compartment, wherein a bend of the offset coupling member is located at an interface between the sensing device housing and the hammer housing.    
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sensing device housing is directly adjacent to the hammer housing.  
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sensing device housing is directly coupled to the hammer housing.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein ends of the sensing device housing and the hammer housing are connected by a threaded connection.  
     
     
       30. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit is loaded into the compartment through a door arranged on a side of the drill head.  
     
     
       31. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the drill bit is non-rotatably mounted relative to the offset coupling member.  
     
     
       32. An apparatus, for use in horizontal directional drilling in compressible soil, non-compressible soil, or rock, of the type having a drill string coupled to a directional boring machine at a proximal end and a drill head coupled to the drill string at a distal end of the drill string, comprising:
 a horizontal directional drilling machine for applying thrust and torque to the drill string; and   a drill head including:
 a drill bit generally adapted and configured to bore through rock; 
 a device mounted in a compartment of the drill head for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit and for providing a generated signal corresponding to the orientation wherein at least one shock absorber isolates the device from vibrations and shocks; 
 an offset coupling member attached at a first end to the drill string and at a second end to the drill bit, the offset coupling member angularly offsetting the drill head from a longitudinal axis of the drill string to establish the angular orientation of the drill bit, wherein, the offset coupling member is oriented in response to the generated signals to steer the drill bit; and 
 a hammer for delivering impacts to the drill bit.  
   
     
     
       33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein a bend of the offset coupling member is located at an interface between a sensing device housing and a hammer housing.  
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the sensing device housing is directly coupled to the hammer housing.  
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein ends of the sensing device housing and the hammer housing are connected by a threaded connection.  
     
     
       36. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the device for determining the angular orientation of the drill bit is loaded into the drill head through a door arranged on a side of the drill head.  
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the device generates a locate signal that is transmitted through the ground and received by an above-ground locator.  
     
     
       38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the locator is a hand-held locator.