U.S. patent application number 10/054765 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-22 for conduit pulling apparatus and method for use in horizontal drilling.
Invention is credited to Crane, Robert F., Wentworth, Steven W..
Application Number | 20020112890 10/054765 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26733469 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020112890 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wentworth, Steven W. ; et
al. |
August 22, 2002 |
Conduit pulling apparatus and method for use in horizontal
drilling
Abstract
An apparatus for pulling a conduit through a horizontal bore
includes a drill head having a forward most end including a pocket
configured to receive an elongated body; coupler, a coupling member
including an elongate body configured to fit in the pocket and a
connecting end extending outside of the drill head beyond the
pocket configured for coupling the coupling member and drill head
to a conduit pulling means, a hole in the drill head intersecting
the pocket alignable with a retainer aperture in the elongate body
and a retainer adapted to pass through the aperture and hole to
secure the coupling member to the drill head. In one variation, a
clevis and or bearing swivel passed through an eyelet in the
connecting end is used with a rope, chain or cable to connect the
drill head to a pipe puller for pulling a pipe or conduit through
an underground horizontal bore.
Inventors: |
Wentworth, Steven W.;
(Brookfield, WI) ; Crane, Robert F.; (Oconomowoc,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Edward Jorgenson
Philip G. Meyers Intellectual Property Law, P.C.
Suite 302
1009 Long Prairie Road
Flower Mound
TX
75022
US
|
Family ID: |
26733469 |
Appl. No.: |
10/054765 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60263172 |
Jan 22, 2001 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
175/57 ; 166/50;
175/398; 175/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 7/046 20130101;
E21B 7/20 20130101; E21B 10/62 20130101; F16L 55/18 20130101; E21B
7/064 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/57 ; 175/62;
175/398; 166/50 |
International
Class: |
E21B 010/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for pulling a conduit through a horizontal bore
comprising: a drill head having a forward most end including a
pocket configured to receive an elongated body; coupler a coupling
member including an elongate body configured to fit in the pocket
and a connecting end extending outside of the drill head beyond the
pocket, the connecting end configured for coupling the coupling
member and drill head to a conduit pulling means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drill head further
comprises a hole intersecting the pocket and adapted to receive a
retainer for retaining the elongate body in the pocket.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the elongate body further
comprises a retainer aperture, the retainer aperture being
alignable with the hole in the drill head and configured to receive
a retainer for retaining the elongate member in the pocket.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the pocket is outwardly angled
with respect to a central axis of the drill head.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hole is substantially
perpendicular to the pocket.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connecting end includes a
hole configured to receive coupler for coupling the drill head to a
conduit pulling means.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connecting end comprises an
eyelet.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pocket is adapted to
receive a cutting tooth for use in drilling operations.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drill head includes a
steering face for steering the drill during drilling
operations.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the drill head includes a
plurality of spaced apart pockets adapted to receive a plurality of
cutting teeth.
11. An apparatus for pulling a conduit through a horizontal bore
comprising: a drill bit comprising a generally cylindrical body
having a forward most end, the drill bit including a plurality of
spaced apart pockets disposed in the forward most end including a
central pocket configured to receive an elongate body; a coupling
member including an elongate body adapted to fit in the central
pocket and a connecting end extending beyond the forward most end,
the connecting end configured for coupling the coupling member and
drill head to a conduit puller.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the drill bit further
comprises a hole intersecting the central pocket and wherein the
elongate body further comprises a retainer aperture, the hole and
the aperture being alignable to receive a retainer for retaining
the coupling member in the central pocket.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of the pockets is
adapted to receive a cutting tooth for use in drilling
operations.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the drill head includes a
steering face for steering the drill during drilling
operations.
15. A method of pulling a conduit through a horizontal bore
comprising: positioning a drill string in a substantially
horizontal underground bore with a drill bit coupled to the drill
string being positioned in a location outside the bore; inserting a
coupling member in a pocket in the drill bit, the coupling member
including an elongate body configured to fit in the pocket and a
connecting end extending outside of the pocket; coupling the
connecting end to a conduit; and pulling the drill string and the
conduit through the bore.
16. The method of claim 16 further comprising installing a retainer
in alignable holes in the drill bit and coupling member to retain
the coupling member in the pocket.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of attaching
a flexible pulling means to the connecting end of the coupling
member and the conduit puller means.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the flexible pulling means is
one of a rope, cable and chain.
19. The method of 17 wherein the connecting end includes an eyelet
and the flexible pulling means comprises a clevis.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the flexible pulling means
further comprises a bearing swivel.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Serial No.: 60/263,172, filed Jan. 22, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to directional boring and, in
particular to an improved apparatus and method for pulling pipes,
conduits and cables through a bore formed with a horizontal
drilling apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Directional boring apparatus for making holes through soil
are well known. The directional borer generally includes a series
of drill rods joined end to end to form a drill string. The drill
string is pushed or pulled though the soil by means of a powerful
hydraulic device such as a hydraulic cylinder. See Malzahn, U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,945,999 and 5,070,848, and Cherrington, U.S. Pat. No.
4,697,775 (RE 33,793). The drill string may be pushed and rotated
at the same time as described in Dunn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,633 and
Deken, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,026. A spade, bit or head
configured for boring is disposed at the end of the drill string
and may include an ejection nozzle for water to assist in
boring.
[0004] After a bore is formed it is desirable in many circumstances
to utilize the horizontal drilling apparatus to pull a conduit such
as a pipe or other utility such as an electric or telephone cable
back through the bore as the drill string is retracted. The
invention provides a unique tool and means to utilize the drill bit
and drill string of a horizontal drilling apparatus to accomplish
this task.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An apparatus for pulling a conduit through a horizontal bore
in accordance with the invention includes a drill bit having a
generally cylindrical body with a plurality of spaced apart pockets
disposed in a forward most end of the drill bit. A coupling member
adapted for use with the drill bit includes an elongate body
configured to fit into a centrally positioned one of the pockets
and a connecting end extending outside of the pocket. The elongate
body includes a retainer aperture that is alignable with a hole in
the drill bit that intersects the pocket allowing a retainer to be
inserted through the retainer hole and retainer aperture to secure
the coupling member to the drill bit.
[0006] In one aspect each of the pockets is adapted to receive a
cutting tooth for use in drilling operations and the bit may be of
the steerable type, including a face or plane adapted for steering
the bit during drilling operations.
[0007] In another aspect, a method of pulling a conduit through an
underground bore in accordance with the invention includes
positioning a drill string in a substantially horizontal
underground bore with a drill bit coupled to the drill string being
positioned in a location outside the bore. A cutting tooth is
removed from a pocket at the forward most end of the drill bit and
a coupling member is inserted in the pocket. A retainer is inserted
through a hole in the bit and a retainer aperture in an elongate
body of the coupling member, locking or securing the elongate body
in the drill bit. A flexible pulling means which may include a
clevis, bearing swivel, rope, cable or chain is used to connect the
coupling member to a pipe or conduit puller. The drill string is
retracted or pulled from the underground bore, simultaneously
pulling the drill bit and conduit through the bore.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is bottom view of a drill bit suitable for use in
connection with the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a first side view of an apparatus according to the
invention including the drill bit of FIG. 1 with a coupling member
installed;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a second side view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 includes top, bottom, front, side and perspective
views of a coupling member of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a third side view of the apparatus of FIG. 2
illustrating a retainer for retaining the coupling member of FIG.
4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the coupling member of FIG.
4 with a clevis and bearing swivel attached; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of
FIG. 2 in use in a method of the invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0017] While the making and using of various embodiments of the
present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be
appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable
inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of
specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are
merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention
and are not to delimit the scope of the invention.
[0018] Turning now to FIGS. 1-8 there is shown a bit 10 generally
of the type disclosed and claimed in copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/657,353 filed Sep. 7, 2000, assigned to
Earth Tool Company L.L.C., Oconomowoc Wis., the entire contents of
which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. The bit
includes a bit body 12 including a sloped face or steering plane 14
effective for steering the bit in dirt. During drilling operations
a first cutting tooth 18 and second cutting tooth 16 are set in
tooth pockets 20 and 22 in the forward end 24 of the bit body. As
illustrated, second cutting tooth 16 is positioned proximate
central axis 21 of bit body 12. Bit body 12 further comprises a
hole 38 extending through the bit body into the tooth pocket
22.
[0019] As best shown in FIG. 7, a rear connection 42 is provided to
allow the bit 10 to be mounted at the lead end of a drill string.
Connection 42 includes a grooved socket 27 designed to receive a
splined projection at the front of an adjoining sonde housing
component as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/373,395, filed Aug. 12, 1999 and PCT publication No. 11/11303,
published Mar. 2, 2000, assigned to Earth Tool Company L.L.C.,
Oconomowoc Wis., the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein for all purposes.
[0020] After the drilling operation is completed, second cutting
tooth 16 is removed from tooth pocket 22 in bit body 12. After
removal of cutting tooth 12 a pullback tooth 26 is inserted into
tooth pocket 22. Pullback tooth 26 comprises an elongate, generally
cylindrical body including a cylindrical shank portion 28 and a
semi-flattened end portion 32 with eyelet or eye 34. Shank portion
28 is configured to be received in tooth pocket 22 of bit body 12
with aperture 30 aligned with hole 38 in bit body 12 and end
portion 32 extending outward beyond pocket 22. In the illustrated
embodiment, aperture 30 is treaded to receive a threaded retainer
therein.
[0021] When pullback tooth 26 is inserted into tooth pocket 22,
shank portion 28 is positioned so as to align aperture 30 with hole
38 in bit body 12. After alignment, a retainer 40, for example a
threaded cap screw, is inserted through hole 38 in bit body 12 and
into aperture 30, securing pullback tooth 26 in position in pocket
22. After pullback tooth 26 is so secured, an appropriate coupler,
such as clevis 36 and/or bearing swivel 37 is attached to pullback
tooth 26 by means of eye 34. A cable rope or chain 39 may also be
used with clevis 36 and/or bearing swivel 37. Pullback tooth thus
allows a pipe or conduit to be connected to bit 10 and pulled
through the bore as the bit is withdrawn.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 9, in order to replace a pipe section
56 located between manholes 58 and 58', a horizontal drilling
machine 50 with a drill string 52 and bit 10 is used to drill a
bore 54 from ground level to manhole 58 and from manhole 58' back
to ground level. After bore 54 is complete, a cutting tooth such as
tooth 16 of FIG. 1 is removed from bit 10 and replaced with pulling
tooth 26. Retainer 40 is installed to secure pulling tooth 26 and
clevis 36 and/or bearing swivel 37 (FIG. 8) is connected through
eyelet 34. Clevis 36 with or without bearing swivel 37 is connected
directly or with a flexible rope, cable or chain to a pipe puller
60 which is fastened to the end of replacement pipe or conduit 62.
Drilling machine 50 is then used to retract drill string 52 pulling
replacement pipe 62 through bore 54 and into position in old pipe
section 56 between manholes 58 and 58'. After replacement pipe 62
is in position, pipe puller 60 is positioned in manhole 58 and
disconnected from bit 10.
[0023] As will be appreciated, the use of pullback tooth 26 in
pocket 22 to draw a pipe or conduit through a bore places the
pulling load near the axial centerline (corresponding to axis 21 of
FIG. 1) of bit 10. This arrangement coupled with the use of a
bearing swivel 37 attached to pullback tooth 26 or clevis 36 allows
the operator to rotate the drill string while the string is being
retracted through the bore while simultaneously drawing a pipe or
conduit. Rotating the drill string in this manner facilitates
removal of the drill string from the bore while simultaneous
pulling or drawing a conduit through the bore.
[0024] It will be appreciated the invention is not limited to the
specific bit geometry illustrated in the Figures. For example, it
is contemplated that the invention may be used in connection with
other conventional drill bits utilized in horizontal drilling
including "duck bill" flat bladed angled drill bits, rock bits and
others. In connection with "duck bill" type bits, the use of the
invention will entail drilling a hole in the leading end of the bit
to receive the pullback tooth.
[0025] While certain embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated for the purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes
in the invention presented herein may be made by those skilled in
the art, such changes being embodied within the scope and spirit of
the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *