Abstract: A control system for a horizontal directional drill includes a user interface, a locator tool, and a controller. The user interface has a first display and a second display. The locator tool measures the rotational position of a drill head of the horizontal directional drill. The controller determines an estimated rotational position of the drill head. The first display is in communication with the locator tool and displays information about the measured rotational position of the drill head. The second display is in communication with the controller and displays information about the estimated rotational position of the drill head. The control system includes means for calibrating the estimated rotational position of the drill head to substantially match the measured rotational position of the drill head.

Abstract: A method of unthreading an up-hole drill rod from a down-hole drill rod includes breaking a joint using a first vise and a second vise, the second vise being in a first axial position, rotating the up-hole drill rod to fully unthread the up-hole drill rod from the down-hole drill rod, moving the second vise to a second axial position and moving the unthreaded up-hole drill rod away from the down-hole drill rod and into alignment with a rod loading region of the rod storage structure, after the up-hole drill rod is aligned with the rod loading region of the rod storage structure, extending the rod handling device to receive the up-hole drill rod in rod receivers, moving the second vise axially to the first axial position, and retracting the rod handling device to move the up-hole drill rod to the rod storage structure.

Abstract: A drilling machine gearbox includes a hollow outer rod drive shaft and an inner rod drive shaft. A break out mechanism is configured to clamp an outer rod of a drill string. A controller communicates via an outer rod drive signal to control rotation of the outer rod drive shaft, communicates via an inner rod drive signal to control rotation of the inner rod drive shaft, and communicates with the gearbox via a gearbox movement signal to control movement of the gearbox along a rack. The controller is operable to apply an oscillating torque of 150 ft-lbs or less to the inner rod drive shaft when the break out mechanism is clamped on the outer rod, and when (1) the outer rod drive signal is signaling rotation of the outer rod drive shaft, or (2) the gearbox movement signal is signaling the gearbox to move along the rack.

Abstract: A drilling machine gearbox includes a hollow outer rod drive shaft and an inner rod drive shaft. A break out mechanism is configured to clamp an outer rod of a drill string. A controller communicates via an outer rod drive signal to control rotation of the outer rod drive shaft, communicates via an inner rod drive signal to control rotation of the inner rod drive shaft, and communicates with the gearbox via a gearbox movement signal to control movement of the gearbox along a rack. The controller is operable to apply an oscillating torque of 150 ft-lbs or less to the inner rod drive shaft when the break out mechanism is clamped on the outer rod, and when (1) the outer rod drive signal is signaling rotation of the outer rod drive shaft, or (2) the gearbox movement signal is signaling the gearbox to move along the rack.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vise arrangement for a directional drilling machine. The vise arrangement can include a translatable and pivotal vise. The vise arrangement can also include up-hole and down-hole rod guides/supports. The vise arrangement can further include a lubrication dispenser.

Abstract: A drilling system includes a hollow outer rod drive shaft that is configured to rotate an outer rod of a drill string. The outer rod drive shaft is driven by an offset hydraulic drive system. The drilling system also includes a hollow inner rod drive shaft that is configured to couple to and rotate an inner rod of the drill string at a first end. The inner rod drive shaft is driven by an inline hydraulic drive system. The inner rod drive shaft further defines an axial fluid flow passage. The drilling system also includes a fluid inlet passage that is axially aligned with the axial fluid flow passage of the inner rod drive shaft. The fluid inlet passage is operatively connected to a second end of the inner rod drive shaft. The fluid inlet passage is configured to direct fluid into the axial fluid flow passage of the inner rod drive shaft. The outer rod drive shaft and the inner rod drive shaft are mounted in fixed relative positions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vise arrangement for a directional drilling machine. The vise arrangement can include a translatable and pivotal vise. The vise arrangement can also include up-hole and down-hole rod guides/supports. The vise arrangement can further include a lubrication dispenser.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine that includes a rod box that has a large capacity, which allows the HDD machine to operate continuously for longer periods of time. The rod box has an upper end and a lower end and is pivotally connected to a frame of the HDD machine at a pivot axis positioned adjacent the lower end of the rod box. The rod box is pivotally movable between a stowed position and an operational position. The rod box obstructs movement of a drill head of the HDD machine when in the stowed position and is laterally offset from the drill head when in the operational position so as to not interfere with movement of the drill head. The rod box is tapered such that a width is larger adjacent the upper end of the rod box as compared to the lower end of the rod box.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vise arrangement for a directional drilling machine. The vise arrangement can include a translatable and pivotal vise. The vise arrangement can also include up-hole and down-hole rod guides/supports. The vise arrangement can further include a lubrication dispenser.

Abstract: A drilling system includes a hollow outer rod drive shaft that is configured to rotate an outer rod of a drill string. The outer rod drive shaft is driven by an offset hydraulic drive system. The drilling system also includes a hollow inner rod drive shaft that is configured to couple to and rotate an inner rod of the drill string at a first end. The inner rod drive shaft is driven by an inline hydraulic drive system. The inner rod drive shaft further defines an axial fluid flow passage. The drilling system also includes a fluid inlet passage that is axially aligned with the axial fluid flow passage of the inner rod drive shaft. The fluid inlet passage is operatively connected to a second end of the inner rod drive shaft. The fluid inlet passage is configured to direct fluid into the axial fluid flow passage of the inner rod drive shaft. The outer rod drive shaft and the inner rod drive shaft are mounted in fixed relative positions.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine that includes a rod box that has a large capacity, which allows the HDD machine to operate continuously for longer periods of time. The rod box has an upper end and a lower end and is pivotally connected to a frame of the HDD machine at a pivot axis positioned adjacent the lower end of the rod box. The rod box is pivotally movable between a stowed position and an operational position. The rod box obstructs movement of a drill head of the HDD machine when in the stowed position and is laterally offset from the drill head when in the operational position so as to not interfere with movement of the drill head. The rod box is tapered such that a width is larger adjacent the upper end of the rod box as compared to the lower end of the rod box.