Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Daniel Dwaine Apperson

Clint Recker

Tanner Vos

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.

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Monroe, IA, United States of America

Daniel Dwaine Apperson