Auger drill directional control system

Abstract

An auger drill directional control system includes a positional transmitter mounted on a drillhead at the front of a pipe, the positional transmitter transmitting directional and pitch signals to a positional receiver disposed above the grade at the desired terminal location of the drillhead; the positional receiver transfers the signal information to the positional processor that detects deviations by the drillhead from the desired course of travel and produces a correction signal to compensate for the deviation; the correction signal is transmitted by a control transmitter and is received by a control receiver disposed on the underground boring machine; the control receiver passes the correction signal to the control processor which converts the correction signal into a correction command that is delivered to an adjustment apparatus operatively connected with the drillhead. The control system thus provides a closed loop control system that controls the drillhead in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the pipe and that employs a receiver that can be placed on the ground above grade and can be moved from position to position to allow the drillhead to be directed around obstacles.