The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

Jerry W Beckwith

Floyd R Gunsaulis

Brent G Stephenson

Michael F Gard

Kelvin P Self

Richard Felix Sharp

Kendall C Young

H Stanley Mullins

Dustin L Blessum

F Loyd Sands

Wally E Shaffer

Tony D Kukuk

Damon C Webb

Jason N MacDonald

Monika E B Salas

A modular compaction boring device. The boring device comprises a compaction boring head which creates a borehole through a subsurface by operation of a thruster and a rear and forward anchor. Extension of the thruster while the rear anchors are engaged move the boring head forward. Retraction of the thruster while the forward anchors are engaged brings the rear anchors forward for an addition stroke. A steering geometry in the boring head and rotation of the boring head allow steering of the boring device. Steering, thrust, and anchors may be controlled remotely through an umbilical cable pulled through the borehole by the boring device.

Modular compaction boring machine system

A system for boring horizontal boreholes and installing products using a dual member drill string. The system is comprised of a boring machine with a frame and a rotary drive supported on the frame, a downhole tool, and a dual member drill string. The drill string comprises an inner member disposed within a tubular outer member such that the inner member is rotatable independent of the outer member. The outer member has at least one helical projection supported on an exterior surface of the outer member. The projections on the outer member function as an auger to clear spoils and support the bore. The auger arrangement with the dual member drill string can be used in forward reaming or backreaming operations.

Dual-member auger boring system

A taper-drive replaceable boring head for use in horizontal directional drilling applications that utilizes a taper-lock shank with an engaged tang to drive the replaceable boring head during drilling. The boring head assembly utilizes a non-threaded slip-fit connection composed of a tapered shank and a cooperating sleeve along with a mechanism for urging the shank deeper into the cooperating sleeve to provide frictional engagement therebetween. The shank includes a non-circular, asymmetrically shaped tang driver that provides torque transfer from the drill string to the boring head. It only permits one clocking orientation of the boring head relative to the position of the beacon located within the beacon housing. The boring head is retained in position by a longitudinal locking assembly using multiple set screws threadably received in the shank receiving recess sleeve openings. The set screws bear against a circumferential groove on the surface of the tapered shank. The sleeve openings are angled in such a manner that as the screws are threaded into the openings, the shank is urged deeper into the recess. A seal is interposed to prevent leakage of the drilling fluid. The tapped holes for the set screws alternatively, may be aligned with a series of spot faces on the face of the taper to ensure that the head could only be used in one orientation.

Removable boring head with tapered shank connector

A device and method for enlarging a bore and installing a utility line. The device comprises an elongate shaft having a first and second end. The first end of the shaft is connectable to the drill string of a horizontal boring machine. The second end is connectable to a utility line or other device to be installed in the bore. The device is pulled through a pilot bore and enlarges the bore to a desired diameter while simultaneously pulling in a utility line. A set of cutting elements supported near the first end of the shaft, with 120 degree spacing therebetween, enlarges the bore to an intermediate diameter. A series of blades are supported on the shaft between the cutting elements and the second end. The first blade further enlarges the hole behind the cutting elements to the final desired diameter. Along its outer edge, the first blade comprises a plurality of teeth adapted to slice through the wall of the bore. Following the first blade are a second and a third blade, each of which churn the spoils created by the first blade. A central passageway through the shaft transmits drilling fluid to fluid jets positioned near the blades and the cutting elements. The fluid jets clean the blades during the reaming operation and inject fluid into the formation to mix slurry and lubricate the equipment. The device is lighter than conventional backreamers due to its unique design and configuration, yet dramatically increases the penetration and productivity rates over conventional backreamers.

Device and method for enlarging a Bore

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Perry, OK, United States of America

Jerry W Beckwith