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 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 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.