Abstract: An apparatus and method for horizontal drilling are provided. The apparatus has: (A) a thrust frame; (B) a carriage on the thrust frame; (C) a wheel truck, wherein a rearward portion of the thrust frame can be supported in a lowered position on the wheel truck; (D) a king pin for operatively connecting a forward portion of the thrust frame to a tractor; (E) a trailer-leg assembly that can be connected operatively between: (i) the forward portion of the thrust frame; and (ii) the ground; and wherein the trailer-leg assembly is capable of assisting in supporting the forward portion of the thrust frame: (a) in a raised position so a tractor can be connected for towing; and (b) in a lowered position where the forward portion of the thrust frame is in a lowered position adjacent the ground to assist in positioning the thrust frame in a position for drilling.

Abstract: A reamer for underground boring is provided. The reamer includes at least: (a) a center mandrel, wherein the center mandrel defines a mandrel axis; (b) a plurality of radial members extending radially from the center mandrel; (c) a plurality of cutting heads, wherein each of the cutting heads: (i) is supported by at least one of the radial members; (ii) is arcuately spaced-apart around the center mandrel from the other cutting heads; (iii) has a rounded surface; and (d) a plurality of cutting teeth on the rounded surface of each of the cutting heads. A method of horizontal drilling with the reamer is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for horizontal drilling are provided. The apparatus has: (A) a thrust frame; (B) a carriage on the thrust frame; (C) a wheel truck, wherein a rearward portion of the thrust frame can be supported in a lowered position on the wheel truck; (D) a king pin for operatively connecting a forward portion of the thrust frame to a tractor; (E) a trailer-leg assembly that can be connected operatively between: (i) the forward portion of the thrust frame; and (ii) the ground; and wherein the trailer-leg assembly is capable of assisting in supporting the forward portion of the thrust frame: (a) in a raised position so a tractor can be connected for towing; and (b) in a lowered position where the forward portion of the thrust frame is in a lowered position adjacent the ground to assist in positioning the thrust frame in a position for drilling.

Abstract: A reamer for underground boring is provided. The reamer includes at least: (a) a center mandrel, wherein the center mandrel defines a mandrel axis; (b) a plurality of radial members extending radially from the center mandrel; (c) a plurality of cutting heads, wherein each of the cutting heads: (i) is supported by at least one of the radial members; (ii) is arcuately spaced-apart around the center mandrel from the other cutting heads; (iii) has a rounded surface; and (d) a plurality of cutting teeth on the rounded surface of each of the cutting heads. A method of horizontal drilling with the reamer is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for horizontal drilling are provided. The apparatus has: (A) a thrust frame; (B) a carriage on the thrust frame; (C) a wheel truck, wherein a rearward portion of the thrust frame can be supported in a lowered position on the wheel truck; (D) a king pin for operatively connecting a forward portion of the thrust frame to a tractor; (E) a trailer-leg assembly that can be connected operatively between: (i) the forward portion of the thrust frame; and (ii) the ground; and wherein the trailer-leg assembly is capable of assisting in supporting the forward portion of the thrust frame: (a) in a raised position so a tractor can be connected for towing; and (b) in a lowered position where the forward portion of the thrust frame is in a lowered position adjacent the ground to assist in positioning the thrust frame in a position for drilling.

Abstract: A reamer for underground boring is provided. The reamer includes at least: (a) a center mandrel, wherein the center mandrel defines a mandrel axis; (b) a plurality of radial members extending radially from the center mandrel; (c) a plurality of cutting heads, wherein each of the cutting heads: (i) is supported by at least one of the radial members; (ii) is arcuately spaced-apart around the center mandrel from the other cutting heads; (iii) has a rounded surface; and (d) a plurality of cutting teeth on the rounded surface of each of the cutting heads. A method of horizontal drilling with the reamer is also provided.

Abstract: A reamer for underground boring is provided. The reamer includes at least: (a) a center mandrel, wherein the center mandrel defines a mandrel axis; (b) a plurality of radial members extending radially from the center mandrel; (c) a plurality of cutting heads, wherein each of the cutting heads: (i) is supported by at least one of the radial members; (ii) is arcuately spaced-apart around the center mandrel from the other cutting heads; (iii) has a rounded surface; and (d) a plurality of cutting teeth on the rounded surface of each of the cutting heads. A method of horizontal drilling with the reamer is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for horizontal drilling are provided. The apparatus has: (A) a thrust frame; (B) a carriage on the thrust frame; (C) a wheel truck, wherein a rearward portion of the thrust frame can be supported in a lowered position on the wheel truck; (D) a king pin for operatively connecting a forward portion of the thrust frame to a tractor; (E) a trailer-leg assembly that can be connected operatively between: (i) the forward portion of the thrust frame; and (ii) the ground; and wherein the trailer-leg assembly is capable of assisting in supporting the forward portion of the thrust frame: (a) in a raised position so a tractor can be connected for towing; and (b) in a lowered position where the forward portion of the thrust frame is in a lowered position adjacent the ground to assist in positioning the thrust frame in a position for drilling.

Abstract: The invention provides a pit pump having a submersible hydraulic drive motor, a pump, and a bearing block assembly. The pump has a body, a fluid inlet in the body, a fluid outlet in the body, and an impeller operatively positioned in the body, whereby fluid can be pumped between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The bearing block assembly operatively connects the hydraulic drive motor to the impeller of the pump, whereby the submersible hydraulic drive motor is spaced apart from the pump. The bearing block assembly preferably includes a housing and a drive shaft operatively positioned for rotational movement within the housing, whereby rotational movement can be transferred from the hydraulic drive motor to the impeller of the pump. The bearing block assembly preferably has at least one grease nipple and at least one bleeder nipple for maintaining grease lubrication within the bearing block assembly.

Abstract: Drill pipe guide apparatus provided for use in conjunction with a pipeline drilling rig as used in drilling substantially horizontal holes for pipe to pass beneath natural or man-made obstruction has a “Vee” shaped trough extending longitudinally from an inclined ramp that serves as a base for the drilling rig. Inverted “Vee”, pipe confining members are hingedly mounted at each end of the trough member so as to confine the pipe within the trough but also allow passing a drill string member of larger diameter, such as a stabilizer, by opening and closing each hinge confining member in turn as the stabilizer passes. A hydraulic cylinder member is connected between trough member and the inclined ramp to provide the trough with vertical movement capability for pipe guiding purposes.

Abstract: A boring head is provided for use in mounting to a drill pipe of a drilling rig for enlarging a pilot bore in horizontal boring operations. The boring head has an axial member positioned along a central axis of the boring head for connecting the boring head to the drill pipe of the drilling rig. A plurality of flanges extend radially from the axial member, and a flange support frame is provided for structurally interconnecting and supporting the flanges on the axial member. A plurality of cutting cones are mounted to the boring head. In particular, each of the cutting cones has a cone axis, each of the cutting cones is mounted to one of the flanges such that its cone axis extends at an acute angle ranging from zero degrees up to about 45 degrees relative to the central axis; each of the cutting cones is mounted for independent rotation about its cone axis; and each of the cutting cones has a plurality of independently rotatable cutting bits mounted thereto.

Abstract: A boring head is provided for use in mounting to a drill pipe of a drilling rig for enlarging a pilot bore in horizontal boring operations. The boring head has an axial member positioned along a central axis of the boring head for connecting the boring head to the drill pipe of the drilling rig. A plurality of flanges extend radially from the axial member, and a flange support frame is provided for structurally interconnecting and supporting the flanges on the axial member. A plurality of cutting cones are mounted to the boring head. In particular, each of the cutting cones has a cone axis, each of the cutting cones is mounted to one of the flanges such that its cone axis extends at an acute angle ranging from zero degrees up to about 45 degrees relative to the central axis; each of the cutting cones is mounted for independent rotation about its cone axis; and each of the cutting cones has a plurality of independently rotatable cutting bits mounted thereto.

Abstract: A boring head is provided for use in mounting to a drill pipe of a drilling rig for enlarging a pilot bore in horizontal boring operations. The boring head has an axial member positioned along a central axis of the boring head for connecting the boring head to the drill pipe of the drilling rig. A plurality of internally tapered longitudinal pockets around the periphery of the axial member each receive an externally tapered body mounting an independently rotatable cutter bit which rotates about a rolling axis inclined at an angle in the range between ten and eighty degrees with respect to the central axis of the boring head. The tapered body is drawn into the tapered pocket by a threaded retainer and forced into the pocket when boring by the force of the boring head against the bore face.

Abstract: A padding apparatus for padding underground cable or pipeline is provided. The padding apparatus is adapted to continuously separate excavated material piled alongside an excavated ditch into relatively fine padding material and relatively rough residual material as the apparatus moves forward. The padding apparatus continuously places the relatively fine padding material in the ditch. According to the invention, the apparatus includes a frame for supporting and moving an endless openwork in an endless path for lifting excavated material in an elevating direction. The endless openwork has rods and transverse chain sections attached to the rods, whereby the rods and chain sections define openings that allow relatively fine padding material to pass therethrough. A discharge conveyor is positioned beneath at least a portion of the endless openwork of the separator to receive the relatively fine padding material and convey the padding material to the ditch for padding cable or pipeline therein.

Abstract: An improved padding machine is provided with a shaker assembly that vigorously shakes a moving openwork at a high frequency. The shaker assembly includes resilient mounts for attaching the shaker assembly to the frame of the padding machine, preferably adjacent the supports for an upper portion of the screening belt, which slides across the top of such supports. The rubber or rubber-like resilient mounts support an eccentric shaft that is journalled in associated bearings for rotation beneath an upper portion of the screening belt. The eccentric shaft preferably extends substantially the entire width of the screening belt to either side of the padding machine. A motor is connected to a drive end of the eccentric shaft for rotating the shaft. When the motor rapidly rotates the eccentric shaft, the off-center body of the eccentric shaft causes vibration, which is translated through the resilient mounts to the frame of the padding machine adjacent the supports for the screening belt.

Abstract: An improved pipeline padding apparatus includes a separator for separating fine material out of spoil which is piled along side an excavation, an elevator for transporting spoil to the separator, and a pair of spaced-apart guide projections for guiding spoil into the elevator. The spaced-apart guide projections form a substantially open bottom extending the width of the elevator between the guide projections. A conveyor is provided to transport the separated fine portion of the spoil back into the excavation, thereby padding the pipeline. The separator, the elevator, the guide projections, and the vehicle are all mounted on a support vehicle. According to one aspect of the invention, one or more rotary feeder assemblies is mounted to the guide projections for assisting in moving spoil through toward the elevator. The rotary feeder assemblies have a low profile so that spoil material and rocks do not become stuck as they move toward the elevator.

Abstract: An improved pipeline padding apparatus includes a separator for separating fine material out of spoil which is piled along side an excavation, an elevator for transporting spoil to the separator, and a pair of guide projections for guiding spoil into the elevator. A conveyor is provided to transport the separated fine portion of the spoil back into the excavation, thereby padding the pipeline. The separator, the elevator, the guide projections and the vehicle are all mounted on a tracked support vehicle. In one embodiment, the motor of the tracked support vehicle is mounted above and forward of the elevator, which helps reduce the amount of dust that the motor is exposed to during operation. According to another aspect of the invention, the guide projections may be configured to allow excess spoil to flow underneath in such a manner as to smooth out a path for the tracks of the support vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a horizontal pipeline boring apparatus and method for installing a pipeline section under a surface barrier such as a roadway or the like. A pilot bore is formed under the barrier. Next, a pipeline section bore large enough to received the pipeline section is formed long the path of the pilot bore using a pipeline boring head having a guide on the advancing side thereof. The guide is designed to engage the walls of the pilot bore and steer the pipeline boring head during cutting along the path of the pilot bore. Drilling liquids can be supplied to the boring operation through the pilot bore and discharged through the pipeline section.

Abstract: An improved pipeline padding apparatus includes a separator for separating fine material out of spoil which is piled along side an excavation, an elevator for transporting spoil to the separator, and a pair of guide projections for guiding spoil into the elevator. A conveyor is provided to transport the separated fine portion of the spoil back into the excavation, thereby padding the pipeline. The separator, the elevator, the guide projections and the vehicle are all mounted on a tracked support vehicle. In one embodiment, the motor of the tracked support vehicle is mounted above and forward of the elevator, which helps reduce the amount of dust that the motor is exposed to during operation. According to another aspect of the invention, the guide projections may be configured to allow excess spoil to flow underneath in such a manner as to smooth out a path for the tracks of the support vehicle.

Abstract: An improved pipeline paddling apparatus includes a separator for separating fine material out of spoil which is piled along side an excavation, an elevator for transporting spoil to the separator, a pair of guide projections for guiding spoil into the elevator and a pair of auger type devices for directing spoil from the guiding projection both toward the elevator and in the elevating direction. A conveyor is provided to transport the separated fine portion of the spoil back into the excavation, thereby padding the pipeline. The elevator, guide and augers are pivotally adjustable as a unit with respect to a tracked vehicle, which provides maximum adjustability. In a second embodiment for use in rocky soil, the auger-type devices are eliminated and the guide projections are given a broader, concave inner guide surface.