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:
Nov. 06, 2001
Filed:
May. 23, 2000
Jerry W. Beckwith, Perry, OK (US);
Floyd R. Gunsaulis, Perry, OK (US);
The Charles Machines Works, Inc., Perry, OK (US);
Abstract
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.