Abstract: An improved leading end assembly for a HDD percussion boring system comprises a sonde housing, a percussion hammer and a tilted-face slant bit. The sonde housing body comprises a bent engagement feature and a shoe aspect that creates an asymmetrical cross section of the sonde housing. The percussion hammer is connected to the sonde housing via the bent engagement feature which is configured to position the percussion hammer on an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the sonde housing. The tilted-face slant bit comprises a front face facet that defines a plane that is tilted relative to a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bit shaft. Advantageously, embodiments of the solution do not include a bent sub component. Rather, the shoe aspect, the bent engagement feature and the front face facet collectively form an effective bend angle (as opposed to a single, abrupt bend angle imposed by a bent sub in prior art solutions).

Abstract: A bidirectional cluster hammer reamer (“BCHR”) for use in a horizontal direction drilling system comprises a plurality of percussive hammers and bits arranged around a central drive rod. The central drive rod is translatable between a forward most position and a rear most position. The central drive rod is translated to the forward most position when the BCHR is being pulled through a previously drilled pilot channel. The central drive rod is translated to the rear most position when a reverse feed force is applied to the BCHR. When in the rear most position, the central drive rod cooperates with an air distribution assembly at the rear of the BCHR to expel a portion of a pressurized fluid to the exterior of the BCHR for clearing accreted debris.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hammer reamer comprising cutting wheels, a product-pulling feature, and a hammer component operable to deliver a percussive cycle of an internal piston component. Notably, an internal impact surface within the head of the hammer reamer is positioned relative to the piston component in the hammer consistent with a “sweet spot” position of a drill bit used in a pilot boring configuration. Unlike a slidably engaged drill bit, however, the internal impact surface in the hammer reamer is fixed in place so that the impact surface remains in the “sweet spot” of the piston stroke range. In this way, even though the hammer reamer is being pulled back through a bore while the drill string is being retracted, the hammer component may continue to deliver percussive blows to the hammer reamer head to introduce a vibratory force that contributes to the efficiency of the reaming process.

Abstract: A bidirectional cluster hammer reamer (“BCHR”) for use in a horizontal direction drilling system comprises a plurality of percussive hammers and bits arranged around a central drive rod. The central drive rod is translatable between a forward most position and a rear most position. The central drive rod is translated to the forward most position when the BCHR is being pulled through a previously drilled pilot channel. The central drive rod is translated to the rear most position when a reverse feed force is applied to the BCHR. When in the rear most position, the central drive rod cooperates with an air distribution assembly at the rear of the BCHR to expel a portion of a pressurized fluid to the exterior of the BCHR for clearing accreted debris.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments, as well as features and aspects thereof, of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system. More specifically, one non-limiting embodiment of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system comprises a bit and a product engagement member. The bit comprises a slant faced head and at least one exhaust port. The product engagement member comprises a product coupling portion and at least one fluid restriction portion. This improved drill bit assembly is such that, when the product engagement member is detachably engaged with the slant faced head of the bit, a first portion of the fluid stream expelled from the bit is directed substantially forward of the slant faced head and a second portion of the fluid stream is directed substantially rearward from the slant faced head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hammer reamer comprising cutting wheels, a product-pulling feature, and a hammer component operable to deliver a percussive cycle of an internal piston component. Notably, an internal impact surface within the head of the hammer reamer is positioned relative to the piston component in the hammer consistent with a “sweet spot” position of a drill bit used in a pilot boring configuration. Unlike a slidably engaged drill bit, however, the internal impact surface in the hammer reamer is fixed in place so that the impact surface remains in the “sweet spot” of the piston stroke range. In this way, even though the hammer reamer is being pulled back through a bore while the drill string is being retracted, the hammer component may continue to deliver percussive blows to the hammer reamer head to introduce a vibratory force that contributes to the efficiency of the reaming process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hammer reamer that comprises similar features to prior art reamers such as cutting wheels and a product-pulling feature. An exemplary hammer reamer, however, also includes a hammer component operable to deliver a percussive cycle of an internal piston component. Notably, an internal impact surface within the head of the hammer reamer is positioned relative to the piston component in the hammer consistent with a “sweet spot” position of a drill bit used in a pilot boring configuration. Unlike a slidably engaged drill bit, however, the internal impact surface in the hammer reamer is fixed in place so that the impact surface remains in the “sweet spot” of the piston stroke range. In this way, even though the hammer reamer is being pulled back through a bore while the drill string is being retracted, the hammer component may continue to deliver percussive blows to the hammer reamer head to introduce a vibratory force that contributes to the efficiency of the reaming process.

Abstract: An improved leading end assembly for a HDD percussion boring system comprises a sonde housing, a percussion hammer and a tilted-face slant bit. The sonde housing body comprises a bent engagement feature and a shoe aspect that creates an asymmetrical cross section of the sonde housing. The percussion hammer is connected to the sonde housing via the bent engagement feature which is configured to position the percussion hammer on an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the sonde housing. The tilted-face slant bit comprises a front face facet that defines a plane that is tilted relative to a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bit shaft. Advantageously, embodiments of the solution do not include a bent sub component. Rather, the shoe aspect, the bent engagement feature and the front face facet collectively form an effective bend angle (as opposed to a single, abrupt bend angle imposed by a bent sub in prior art solutions).

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments, as well as features and aspects thereof, of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system. More specifically, one non-limiting embodiment of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system comprises a bit and a product engagement member. The bit comprises a slant faced head and at least one exhaust port. The product engagement member comprises a product coupling portion and at least one fluid restriction portion. This improved drill bit assembly is such that, when the product engagement member is detachably engaged with the slant faced head of the bit, a first portion of the fluid stream expelled from the bit is directed substantially forward of the slant faced head and a second portion of the fluid stream is directed substantially rearward from the slant faced head.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments, as well as features and aspects thereof, of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system. More specifically, one non-limiting embodiment of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system comprises a bit and a product engagement member. The bit comprises a slant faced head and at least one exhaust port. The product engagement member comprises a product coupling portion and at least one fluid restriction portion. This improved drill bit assembly is such that, when the product engagement member is detachably engaged with the slant faced head of the bit, a first portion of the fluid stream expelled from the bit is directed substantially forward of the slant faced head and a second portion of the fluid stream is directed substantially rearward from the slant faced head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method employed in a horizontal directional drilling (“HDD”) process. An exemplary embodiment includes a drill bit with thirteen (13) or more splines for improved orientation of the drill bit relative to the orientation of a bent sub. Another exemplary embodiment includes a drill bit configured for receipt of a pulling device so that the drill bit may be used in a back reaming step to pull a product back through a pilot bore. Another exemplary embodiment includes a pulling device for mounting to a drill bit. The pulling device, in some embodiments, may include one or more pins for diverting and channeling air and/or fluid through the drill bit to lubricate a hammer assembly and/or the product being pulled as the drill string to which the drill bit is attached is retracted back through the pilot bore.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments, as well as features and aspects thereof, of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system. More specifically, one non-limiting embodiment of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system comprises a bit and a product engagement member. The bit comprises a slant faced head and at least one exhaust port. The product engagement member comprises a product coupling portion and at least one fluid restriction portion. This improved drill bit assembly is such that, when the product engagement member is detachably engaged with the slant faced head of the bit, a first portion of the fluid stream expelled from the bit is directed substantially forward of the slant faced head and a second portion of the fluid stream is directed substantially rearward from the slant faced head.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments, as well as features and aspects thereof, of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system. More specifically, one non-limiting embodiment of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system comprises a bit and a chuck. The bit head comprises a slant face. The chuck comprises at least thirteen splines. This improved drill bit assembly is such that when the chuck is fully threaded onto the percussion boring system, and when the bit is detachably received by the chuck, the slant face of the bit is aligned to substantially within an average range of 0.00-27.70 arcseconds of an alignment reference point on the surface of the percussion boring system.

Abstract: A percussive drill bit or reamer having a plurality of bit segments formed into a circular pattern suitable for drilling or reaming a hole. The bit segments are close-fitted and shaped to increase the cutting area and improve efficiency. Pressurized air exhausted from driving the percussion mechanism, or provided from a separate source, is passed into the bit segment and exits from a side face thereof into the gap formed between adjacent bit segments, thereby driving out any debris present in the gap and preventing binding of the bit segments. When utilized with mechanically-driven percussive bit assemblies, where air is only needed to remove debris from a rock face, separately-provided air is delivered to the bit segments of the present invention as described above to clear the gaps of debris.