Abstract: A core drill apparatus includes a swing arm pivotably couplable to a mobile platform and a core drill carried by the swing arm. The core drill being movable via the swing arm between a stowed position and a deployed position with respect to the mobile platform. An excavation rig incorporating the same is also provided.

Abstract: A process is provided for accessing an underground pressurized gas main for retirement of replacement of the connection of a gas service pipe thereto. A gas main fixture that has a service tee adaptor and a pressurized chamber connected thereto is mounted onto the gas main with the tee adaptor above a tee plug on the gas service pipe. The chamber is closed against gas discharge and the tee plug is unscrewed from the gas service pipe while the pressure chamber is closed. The tee plug is removed through the service tee adapter and pressure chamber while minimizing gas discharged to atmosphere. The plug hole is preferably reamed through the pressure chamber while the chamber is closed to atmosphere, tapped for a straight fine thread, and a main plug with the fine thread is screwed into the tapped hole while limiting its depth of engagement.

Abstract: A process is provided for accessing an underground pressurized gas main for retirement of replacement of the connection of a gas service pipe thereto. A gas main fixture that has a service tee adaptor and a pressurized chamber connected thereto is mounted onto the gas main with the tee adaptor above a tee plug on the gas service pipe. The chamber is closed against gas discharge and the tee plug is unscrewed from the gas service pipe while the pressure chamber is closed. The tee plug is removed through the service tee adapter and pressure chamber while minimizing gas discharged to atmosphere. The plug hole is preferably reamed through the pressure chamber while the chamber is closed to atmosphere, tapped for a straight fine thread, and a main plug with the fine thread is screwed into the tapped hole while limiting its depth of engagement.

Abstract: A steerable subsurface soil-boring head arranged to be rotated and advanced by a pipe string operated by an above-surface drilling apparatus which also provides a supply of high-pressure fluid emitted from a nozzle in the head as an eroding jet stream. The head comprising a body portion coupled to a pipe string and a nose portion hingedly coupled to the body portion with a biasing mechanism coupled therebetween to align the head portions. The head when rotated and advanced retains the nose portion and body portion in alignment due to the rotation of the head and the effect of the biasing mechanism. When advanced without rotation, the nose portion pivots about the hinged coupling and compresses the biasing mechanism to follow the contour of the cavity ahead of the nose portion. The body portion and the nose portion return to alignment when the head is rotated due to rotation and recovery of the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: In an apparatus for creating an underground bore hole using high-pressure fluid within a steerable drill string to disturb and displace the subsoil, the improvement of the steering capability of the boring head by the inclusion of a percussive device to hammer the drill string forward after the desired steering of the boring head has take place to cause the boring head to fully engage the media being bored so that upon resumption of normal rotary drilling the boring head will proceed in the selected path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an underground bore hole using high pressure fluid within a drill string to disturb and displace the subsoil. The drill string is steerable by increasing the pressure of the fluid above a predetermined range to a second range and apparatus is responsive thereto to effect a bending movement and change in the direction of the drill string.

Abstract: A fluid-operated self-propelled subsoil penetrating tool of the type including an elongated housing member having a penetrating nose portion capable of ejecting a jet of liquid under high pressure to break up and disrupt the subsoil adjacent such nose portion followed by a two-component hammering of such soil to displace and compact same as the tool advances. Remotely-operated steering mechanisms control the path of the tool while remotely-read instruments denote the position, depth, direction and attitude of the tool. A trailing umbilical cord provides all motive and operational fluids and electrical power while transmitting instructions and data between the tool and the remote control station. A unique internal structure reduces the rotation of the tool as it advances and provides for the reverse movement of the tool and electrical supplies through the bore created by the movement of the tool through the subsoil.

Abstract: A means and method to pre-tension a cable or components thereof which provides an auxiliary reel mounted upon the primary cable reel, which auxiliary reel can be rotated independently of said primary cable reel and also rotated with said primary cable reel. The rotation of such auxiliary reel, when attached to a tension member, prior to rotation of the primary cable reel, pre-tensions, such tension member and said cable to limit rotation, deformation and distortion of the cable under preset conditions. The rotation of the auxiliary reel with the primary cable reel maintains such pre-tension regardless of whether the rotation of the primary cable reel increases such tension in the cable.

Abstract: A fluid-operated self-propelled subsoil penetrating tool of the type including an elongated housing member having a penetrating nose portion capable of ejecting a jet of liquid under high pressure to break up and disrupt the subsoil adjacent such nose portion followed by a two-component hammering of such soil to displace and compact same as the tool advances. Remotely-operated steering mechanisms control the path of the tool while remotely-read instruments denote the position, depth, direction and attitude of the tool. A trailing umbilical cord provides all motive and operational fluids and electrical power while transmitting instructions and data between the tool and the remote control station. A unique internal structure reduces the rotation of the tool as it advances and provides for the reverse movement of the tool and electrical supplies through the bore created by the movement of the tool through the subsoil.

Abstract: A cable used with a subsoil penetrating tool which contains a plurality of tubes and hoses used to transport all operational fluids and a plurality of electrical conducting wires used to transmit power ane electrical impulses for information. A unique internal structure reduces the rotation of the cable as the tool advances and provides rigidity to the cable to allow for the transmission of compressional forces along the cable to be applied to the advancing tool.

Abstract: A fluid-operated self-propelled subsoil penetrating tool of the type including an elongated housing member having a penetrating nose portion capable of ejecting a jet of liquid under high pressure to break up and disrupt the subsoil adjacent such nose portion followed by a two-component hammering of such soil to displace and compact same as the tool advances. Remotely-operated steering mechanisms control the path of the tool while remotely-read instruments denote the position, depth, direction and attitude of the tool. A trailing umbilical cord provides all motive and operational fluids and electrical power while transmitting instructions and data between the tool and the remote control station. A unique internal structure reduces the rotation of the tool as it advances and provides for the reverse movement of the tool and electrical supplies through the bore created by the movement of the tool through the subsoil.

Abstract: A cable reeling system which provides means to control the tension applied to a cable during rereeling including a reel having an axle supported by members mounted upon a first skid which also supports a drive motor for such a reel. The first skid is mounted upon a second, longer, skid to which is coupled by 4 links so as to aligned the skids adjacent their first ends. A tension gauge is mounted on second skids adjacent to its second end and coupled to the first skid at its second end to measure the actual tension between first and second skid which is related to the tension applied to the cable by the reeling system.