The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2019
Filed:
Dec. 21, 2016
Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US);
Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US);
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.