Abstract: A line and level determination system for a trenchless construction apparatus has a block assembly which is attached by welding to a lead casing to be installed with the trenchless construction apparatus. The block assembly has a water inlet, a water outlet, a tilt sensor and a light emitting device disposed within the water outlet. A water hose has a first end attached to the water inlet and a second end attached to a water source. The line and level determination system has a controller connected to the tilt sensor and the light emitting device. The controller selectively energizes the tilt sensor and the light emitting device. Data from the tilt sensor is displayed on a screen of the controller. A surveying instrument, such as a theodolite, may be utilized to determine line from the illumination of the light emitting device into the casing.

Abstract: A steering head for a pipe ramming hammer bore construction system, configured to allows passage of soil through the center of the steering head while maintaining the ability to change the bore alignment through the use of inflatable bags which are underlying and adjacent to a portion of a shell member which extends radially outward from the steering head upon inflation of the inflatable bag. The inflatable bags may be inflated by inflation media supply lines which extend from the bore pit to the steering head and deflated by release of the inflation media. The media flow to the inflatable bags may be controlled by media valves which may be located in the steering head or, alternatively, at a different location, such as in the bore pit. The remote nature of the system eliminates the need for frequent removal of the pneumatic hammer, confined space entry, and manual corrections performed inside the casing.

Abstract: A steering head for a pipe ramming hammer bore construction system, configured to allows passage of soil through the center of the steering head while maintaining the ability to change the bore alignment through the use of inflatable bags which are underlying and adjacent to a portion of a shell member which extends radially outward from the steering head upon inflation of the inflatable bag. The inflatable bags may be inflated by inflation media supply lines which extend from the bore pit to the steering head and deflated by release of the inflation media. The media flow to the inflatable bags may be controlled by media valves which may be located in the steering head or, alternatively, at a different location, such as in the bore pit. The remote nature of the system eliminates the need for frequent removal of the pneumatic hammer, confined space entry, and manual corrections performed inside the casing.

Abstract: A bore guidance system for a steerable head for boring or tunneling has an inertial measurement unit having a plurality of sensors which provide data to a controller which allows the controller, utilizing a variety of algorithms to calculate various positional values of the steerable head and pipe. One set of the sensors utilized in the bore guidance system are XYZ axes fiber optic gyroscopes. The bore guidance system may also utilize XYZ axes temperature compensated MEMS accelerometers which the controller utilizes, among other things, to calculate pitch and roll of the pipe. The bore guidance system may also utilize XYZ axes magnetometers to assist in stabilizing the random angle walk and drift of the fiber optic gyroscopes. The bore guidance system may also utilize a device for tracking linear distance traveled of the pipe such as a rotary encoder.

Abstract: A line and level determination system for a trenchless construction apparatus has a block assembly which is attached by welding to a lead casing to be installed with the trenchless construction apparatus. The block assembly has a water inlet, a water outlet, a tilt sensor and a light emitting device disposed within the water outlet. A water hose has a first end attached to the water inlet and a second end attached to a water source. The line and level determination system has a controller connected to the tilt sensor and the light emitting device. The controller selectively energizes the tilt sensor and the light emitting device. Data from the tilt sensor is displayed on a screen of the controller. A surveying instrument, such as a theodolite, may be utilized to determine line from the illumination of the light emitting device into the casing.