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:
Apr. 01, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 11, 2010
Stuart Harrison, Clyde, AU;
Andis Normunds Salins, Footscray, AU;
Matthew Arlen Mills, Pella, IA (US);
Matthew Stephen Vos, Pella, IA (US);
Tod Jason Michael, Chariton, IA (US);
Robert Hoch Shuman, V, Pleasant Hill, IA (US);
Stuart Harrison, Clyde, AU;
Andis Normunds Salins, Footscray, AU;
Matthew Arlen Mills, Pella, IA (US);
Matthew Stephen Vos, Pella, IA (US);
Tod Jason Michael, Chariton, IA (US);
Robert Hoch Shuman, V, Pleasant Hill, IA (US);
Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a tunneling apparatus including a drill head having a main body and a drive stem rotatably mounted within the main body. The main body defines a vacuum passage offset from the drive stem that extends through the main body from a proximal end to a distal end of the main body. The tunneling apparatus also includes an axial bearing structure for transferring axial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The axial bearing structure is proximally offset from the distal end of the main body of the drill head. The tunneling apparatus further includes a first radial bearing structure for transferring radial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The first radial bearing structure is positioned between the axial bearing structure and the distal end of the main body of the drill head and is distally offset from the axial bearing structure.