US3182732A - Horizontal earth boring machine - Google Patents

Horizontal earth boring machine Download PDF

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US3182732A
US3182732A US211571A US21157162A US3182732A US 3182732 A US3182732 A US 3182732A US 211571 A US211571 A US 211571A US 21157162 A US21157162 A US 21157162A US 3182732 A US3182732 A US 3182732A
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spindle
drill
drill string
passage
power shaft
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J T Earnest
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    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04Directional drilling
    • E21B7/046Directional drilling horizontal drilling

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  • .It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a relatively lightweight inexpensive and readily portable apparatus which may be quickly and easily andv with a minimum of manpower be utilized to effect the drilling of relatively long horizontalbores below the surface of the ground.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a horizontal drilling apparatus of a portable nature which will ⁇ include a portable supporting frame readily carried by and manipulated by two men and upon which is mounted the power plant, a drilling spindle and a reduction gearing assembly connecting the plant and the spindle.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a portable drilling apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects which shall have a pair of oppositely projecting support handles each adapted tobe carried and supported by a man on opposite sides of the device and which handles are positioned closely adjacent to the center of gravity of the device to thereby facilitate ready maneuvering of the device in preparation for and' during a drilling operation.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an improved portable drilling apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects wherein an exceptionally sturdy and rugged frame structure shall be provided to effect the mounting and journalling of a reduction gear assembly connecting the power plant to the drill spindle, ⁇ and will adequately journal and support the latter despite the considerable side thrust which may be imparted tothe spindle during the drilling operation.
  • ⁇ Still another object of the ⁇ invention is to p provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects in which provision is made for supplying a stream of water under Vpressure through the drill string to the drill bit for supplementing the action of the latter by removing and exg cavating the material from the bore or passage to ⁇ be drilled.
  • a still-further object of the invention is to provide a Vdevice in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the power operated drilling spindle on the support frame includes means for effecting the introduction of water under pressure into the drilling string attached to the spindle.
  • ⁇ FIGURE l is an elevational View partly in vertical ,section illustrating the manner in which the portable drill- A3,l8Z,732 Patented May 1l, i965 ice ing apparatus of this invention is utilized to effect the drilling of a horizontal bore or passage below the surface of the ground, part of the drilling string being broken away;
  • FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the'drilling apparatus, one of the support handles being broken away;
  • yFIGURE 3 is an endelevational view of the drilling apparatus of FIGURE 2 taken from the right end thereof;
  • FIGURE 4 is a detail View in a vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular a power control clutch associated with Vthe gear reduction assembly of the apparatus;
  • FIGURE 5 is a View in side elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;
  • FIGUR-E 6 is a view in side elevation taken from the other side of the apparatus from that of FIGURE 5;
  • FIGURE 7 is a detail view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular the mounting of the lay shaft forming a part of the gear reduction assembly of the device;
  • FIGURE 8 is a further detail view in vertical longitudinal section taken uponan enlarged scale substantially upon a plane indicated by section line 8-8 of FIGURE 2, parts being broken away,y and illustrating details of the bearing sleeve for journalling the drill spindle and the water supplying means associated therewith, a midportion of the drilling string being broken away;
  • 4FIGURE 9 ⁇ is a further detail view in vertical longitudinal section taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 9 9 of FIGURE 8;
  • FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of an initial or pilot form of drill bit which is employed with the apparatus
  • FIGURE l1 is a detail view in vertical section showing the manner in which a replacement bit is provided for the purpose of enlarging an initially drilled horizontal bore by .effecting a back flow of water and a reverse movement of the drilling string therethrough; and l FIGURE 12 is a perspective View of the modified reamer type of drill bit employed in FIGURE 11.
  • the numeral 10 designates generally the portable drilling apparatus in accordance with' this invention, the apparatus being shown as supplied with water as a drilling uid by means of a flexible hose or conduit 12 which may be a gar-den hose or the like and having an extensible hollow drilling string 14 connected to and driven by the apparatus for effecting the formation of a horizontal bore or passage 16 beneath the surface of the soil 18.
  • a relatively short first hollow section of drill string may be connected to the apparatus for initiatin relatively confined quarters as for example when it is desired to tunnel underneath the road tbed from a dit-ch on either side thereof.
  • FIGURE l there is illust-rated the use of the apparatus for eiecting a horizontal bore for which it is necessary to initiate the drilling operation from the surface. Under this condition, there is shown a shallow excavation 19 such as trench, pit or the like which is cut downwardly to a depth suicient to enable the end of the drill to be applied against the earth at the desired location and thus begin the horizontal between.
  • a shallow excavation 19 such as trench, pit or the like which is cut downwardly to a depth suicient to enable the end of the drill to be applied against the earth at the desired location and thus begin the horizontal between.
  • the drilling apparatus 1h consists of ka supporting frame of a lightweight and readily portable character.
  • the frame includes a platform or baise 3l) which may conveniently comprise a pair of conventional angle members 32 formed on the opposite sides-of the base and which are rigidly connected together by suitable cross members 34 rigidly secured and extending there- Mounted upon this base at one end as upon a cross plate 36 thereon is a power plant 38 which may conveniently consist of a lightweight gasoline engine. Obviously, however, an electric motor may be utilized in lieu of the gasoline engine.
  • the power plant includes a driving shaft 40 by means of which its power output is transmitted to the drilling string in a manner to be subsequently described.
  • a drill spindle Y42 At the opposite end of the base 3l) from the power plant there is rotatably supported and journalled a drill spindle Y42.
  • a bearing sleeve 44 see also FIGURE 8, there being a suitable journal bearing 4e disposed in the sleeve and retained therein as y by means of the end plates48 which are detachably secured to the spindle 42 as by set screws Si).
  • the end plates thus serve to close the ends of the bearing sleeve 44 and retainthe bearing journal 46 therein, and a conventional lubricant supply means indi-cated by the nipple '52 may be utilized to supply vthe necessary lubricant to this bearing.
  • the bearing sleeve 44 is secured as by welding 54 to a transversely extending angle member 56, which latter in turn is secured as by welding 58 at its ends to a pair of vertical standards 60 rising from the side frame members 32. Further brace means are provided for assuring a rigid ixed support of the bearing sleeve 44 upon the base.
  • a strut 62 is secured to a transverse angle member 64 at that end of the base 30 and to t-he underside ofthe bearing sleeve 44 by means of welding or the like.
  • the drill spindle 42 extends completely through the bearing sleeve and upon its extremity which is adjacent to the power plant it is provided with a sprocket gear 66 over which is entrained a sprocket chain 68 which is driven by a sprocket '70 carried upon a lay shaft 7,2.
  • the lay shaft in turn is connected by a belt and pulley drive to the power plant, having a driven pulley 74 thereon which
  • the support frame further includes means for supporting the reduction gearing assembly just described.
  • the belt and'pulley drive however lies outside of this support structure and is disposed between the power plant and the support standards 80.
  • the belt and pulley drive may also be adapted to constitute a clutch mechanism for controlling the application of the power from the power plant to the spindle.
  • the belt 76 may be sufficiently loose to have slack therein and an idler pulley 90 journalled Yupon a clutch lever 92 is adapted to engage the belt and by Varying the slack renders the pulley drive operative or inoperative as desired.
  • the clutch lever is provided with a longitudinal extending slot 94 therein through which pass a pair of fastening bolts or the like 95 by in addition to the two standards 60, there is provided a f second pair of standards Sil welded or otherwise secured to the side frame members 32 adjacent the power plant.y
  • this lever' isV secured to one ⁇ of thesupport posts Se.
  • the lever is thus manually adjusted to vary the tension of the belt and thus control or vary the connection of the Vpower plant to the spindle.
  • the drill spindle 42 provides a detachable connection to the adjacent section of the drill string 14.
  • the outer extremity of the spindle 42 is externally threaded as at V100' to receive the internally threaded nipple or coupling 162 by means of which the adjacent section 104 of the drill string is detachably connected to the spindle.
  • successive sections of the drill string are connected to each other by corresponding couplings 162 to provide the desired length of drill string with the drill bit 20 or 22 being detachably connected to the open end of the outermost section of the drill string.
  • the spindle In addition to itsfunction as providing a readily engageable and disengageable driving member for the drill string, the spindle also yserves as a means to effect the introduction of drilling fluid thereto.
  • a sleeve 166 see FIGURES 8 and 9 in particular, which loosely encircles the drill spindle 42.
  • This sleeve is externally threaded as at 108 at its opposite extremities to receive packing glands 110 thereon which serve to retain packings 112 tightly compressed between the spindle and a cooperating annular shoulder 114 which is counterbored in the interior of the sleeve 106 as shown in FIGURE 9; 'Thus a fluid tight rotatable seal is established between the sleeve 106 and the drill spindle 42 passing therethrough.
  • the sleeve has a tubular neck 116 projecting laterally from a mid-portion thereof and the interior of this neck is in continuous communication with the interior of the sleeve.
  • the outer end of the spindle is provided with an axial bore or passage 120 therethrough and lateral bores 122 continuously connect this passage with theinterior of the sleeve and the annular space 124 therein disposed between the spindle and the sleeve and the inlet passage of the tubular portion 116.
  • the drill bit 20 vprovided for forming bore 15 during the initial drilling operation as the drill string is advanced into the bore is internally threaded as at for detachable connection to the extremity of the outermost section 104 of the drill string.
  • This drill f bit is provided with any suitable type of cutting blades 132 and there are provided passages or ceremoniess 134 connecting the interior of the drill string with the exterior of the drill bit closely ,adjacent the blades 132.
  • sleeve 140 which is internally threaded for engagement upon the end of theyoutermost drill string section in the same manner as the bit 20, but is ⁇ closed at its outer end as by an end iwall or plug 142. It is provided with plates 144 able apparatus.
  • rdrilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with secured as by welding-to its outer vsurface and continuing longitudinallythereof, to which plates there are removably secured ⁇ as by fastening bolts 146 cutter elements in the form of plates 1f48having cutting edges 156.A
  • handles,f160 In order to-more easily manipulate the drill apparatus, there is secured to the support frame a pair of-oppositely projecting aligned handles,f160. Conveniently, these handles may be detachably secured in sockets 162 which latter are secured toand project laterally from the vertical support standards 80 adjacent A ⁇ the power plant. In any event, the location of these handles is such that they are positioned to suppont the apparatus at a proximate center lof gravity to permit easy tilting ofthe apparatus about the handles when .the latter are carried by two men, one on each side ot the apparatus.
  • the apparatus will be readily lifted, tilted about the horizontal transverse axis of the handlesto position the drill spindle and the attached drill bit or drilling string at the 'desired angle for 'penetration of the soil, as suggested in FIGURE l I and ⁇ forforwardly advancing or rearwardly retracting the drill string during the previously mentioned drilling operations. l
  • the strut 62 braces the spindle bearing sleeve against vertical upward or downward movement relative to the base 30.
  • Additional rigidity against lateral deiiection is obtained by the bracesY 63, each ot which may be formed by a strap of metal,
  • the bearing sleeve 44 is rigidly secured against either vertical or lateral displacement relative to the support frame, an essential condition necessary to withstand theY support means attached thereto, a source of power mounted upon said ,frame and including a generally horizontal rotatablepower shaft, a drill spindle, said power shaft and drill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supporting and journaling said spin- ⁇ dle upon said frame for ⁇ rotation ⁇ about an, axis in sideby-side relation and generally parallel to that of said power shaft, a reduction gear assembly connecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having a passage extending longitudinally ⁇ thereinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminating inwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and defining a water chamber thereabout, means establishing continuous communicationV between said passage antiwa-ter chamber,
  • a manually portable power operated horizontal drilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with support means attached thereto, a ,source of npower mounted upon Vsaid frame and including a generally horizontal rotatabley power shaft, a rdrill spindle, said power shaft and drill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supportingand journaling said spindle upon said frame for rotation about an axis in sideby-side relation and.
  • a reduction gear assembly connecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having a passage extending longitudinally thereinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminating inwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and defining a water chamber thereabout, means establishing continuous communication between said [passage and water chamber, means supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured to and driven by said spindle and having communication with said spindle passage, a drill bit including jet orifices secured to the outer end of said drill string, said drill string having suiiicient lateral exibility to enable said drill bit and drill string to operate in a substantially horizontal position below ground when said power shaft is positioned substantially horizontally above ground and while said apparatus is being manually supported and moved along the general direction of said drillstring, said frame including a base and a support structure mounted upon and rising ffroni a mid-portion of said base, said power source being mounted on said base and said spindle
  • VA manually portable power operated horizontal drilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with support means attached thereto, a source of power mounted upon said trame and including a generally horizontal rotatable ,power shaft, a drill spindle, said power shaft and Idrill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supporting and journaling said spindle upon said frame for rotation about an axis in sideby-s'ide relation and generally parallel to that of said power shaft, a reduction gear assemblyvconnecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having a passage extending longitudinally thereinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminating inwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow-body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and deining a Water chamber thereaboumeans establishing continuous communication between said passage and water chamber, means supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured t-o and driven by said spindle and having communication with said spindle passage, a drill bit including jet ofritices secured to the outer end of said
  • one of said irst and second means includes a belt and pulley drive, a belt tensioning device mounted on said support structure and connected to said belt and pulley drive and constituting a clutch device controlling the delivery of power yfrom said power source to said spindle.
  • a manually portable powerV operated horizontal drilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with support means attached thereto, a source of power mounted upon said frame and including a generally horizontal rotatable power shaft, a drill spindle, said power shaft and drill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supporting and journaling said spindle upon said frame for rotation about an axis inV side- 'by-side relation and generally parallel to that'of said power shaft, a reduction gear assembly connecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having'a passage extending longitudinally theneinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminatinginwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and defining a water chamber thereabout, means establishing continuous communication between said passage and water chamber, means supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured to and driven by said spindle and *having communication with said spindle passage, a drill -b1t lncluding jet oriiices secured to the outer end
  • said water jacket body comprises a Tfitting including a sleeve with a tubular neck projecting laterally from intermediate its ends, said Water supplyumeans including said tubular neck, sealing means with each end of said sleeve engaging and having a fluid-tight seal with the exterior surface of said spindle.

Description

May 11, 1965 J r-EARNEST HORIZONTAL EARTH BORING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2s, 1962 m. R w N A Jl E 1 s V. 9 e N n 1 a Nm .QS QQ E w T ...J Ww I... b J Y ,w B v wv mm g Q m uw /S h. .ubi
Q l www 2,\\\\ /4w\/s\\\/4 May l1', 1965 J r EARNEsT 3,132,732
' HORIZONTAL EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IL- llll llllld J T Earnest INVENTOR.
May 1l, 1965 Filed July 23, 1962 Fig. 6
J lT' EARNEST HORIZONTAL EARTH BORING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.
United States Patent() 3,182,732 HGRIZONTAL EARTH BURNS MACHINE .I T Earnest, 14th Ave., Jasper, Ala. Filedtluly 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,571 11 Claims. (Cl. 173-57) a horizontal direction for a considerable distance, as for example underneath road beds or the like. Conventional power operating equipment for effecting horizontal drilling is usually expensive, bulky in size and requires considerabletime to bring it to the location desired, arrange the equipment for drilling and then drill" the desired horizontal passage. f Y
.It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a relatively lightweight inexpensive and readily portable apparatus which may be quickly and easily andv with a minimum of manpower be utilized to effect the drilling of relatively long horizontalbores below the surface of the ground.
A further object of the invention is to provide a horizontal drilling apparatus of a portable nature which will` include a portable supporting frame readily carried by and manipulated by two men and upon which is mounted the power plant, a drilling spindle and a reduction gearing assembly connecting the plant and the spindle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a portable drilling apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects which shall have a pair of oppositely projecting support handles each adapted tobe carried and supported by a man on opposite sides of the device and which handles are positioned closely adjacent to the center of gravity of the device to thereby facilitate ready maneuvering of the device in preparation for and' during a drilling operation.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved portable drilling apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects wherein an exceptionally sturdy and rugged frame structure shall be provided to effect the mounting and journalling of a reduction gear assembly connecting the power plant to the drill spindle,` and will adequately journal and support the latter despite the considerable side thrust which may be imparted tothe spindle during the drilling operation.
`Still another object of the `invention is to p provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects in which provision is made for supplying a stream of water under Vpressure through the drill string to the drill bit for supplementing the action of the latter by removing and exg cavating the material from the bore or passage to`be drilled.
A still-further object of the invention is to provide a Vdevice in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the power operated drilling spindle on the support frame includes means for effecting the introduction of water under pressure into the drilling string attached to the spindle.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter describedV and claimed, reference bein-g had to the accompanyirig drawings forming apart hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, vand in which:
`FIGURE l is an elevational View partly in vertical ,section illustrating the manner in which the portable drill- A3,l8Z,732 Patented May 1l, i965 ice ing apparatus of this invention is utilized to effect the drilling of a horizontal bore or passage below the surface of the ground, part of the drilling string being broken away;
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the'drilling apparatus, one of the support handles being broken away;
yFIGURE 3 is an endelevational view of the drilling apparatus of FIGURE 2 taken from the right end thereof;
FIGURE 4 is a detail View in a vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular a power control clutch associated with Vthe gear reduction assembly of the apparatus;
FIGURE 5 is a View in side elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;
FIGUR-E 6 is a view in side elevation taken from the other side of the apparatus from that of FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is a detail view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular the mounting of the lay shaft forming a part of the gear reduction assembly of the device; t
FIGURE 8 is a further detail view in vertical longitudinal section taken uponan enlarged scale substantially upon a plane indicated by section line 8-8 of FIGURE 2, parts being broken away,y and illustrating details of the bearing sleeve for journalling the drill spindle and the water supplying means associated therewith, a midportion of the drilling string being broken away;
4FIGURE 9`is a further detail view in vertical longitudinal section taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 9 9 of FIGURE 8;
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of an initial or pilot form of drill bit which is employed with the apparatus;
FIGURE l1 is a detail view in vertical section showing the manner in which a replacement bit is provided for the purpose of enlarging an initially drilled horizontal bore by .effecting a back flow of water and a reverse movement of the drilling string therethrough; and l FIGURE 12 is a perspective View of the modified reamer type of drill bit employed in FIGURE 11.
Referring first to FIGURE l it will be observed that the numeral 10 designates generally the portable drilling apparatus in accordance with' this invention, the apparatus being shown as supplied with water as a drilling uid by means of a flexible hose or conduit 12 which may be a gar-den hose or the like and having an extensible hollow drilling string 14 connected to and driven by the apparatus for effecting the formation of a horizontal bore or passage 16 beneath the surface of the soil 18. It may be here understood that a relatively short first hollow section of drill string may be connected to the apparatus for initiatin relatively confined quarters as for example when it is desired to tunnel underneath the road tbed from a dit-ch on either side thereof. As the drilling operation progresses additional sections of the drilling string are added, the entire drilling string-being rotated by the apparatus and advanced forwardly under the surface of the ground until the bore 15 is completed. In FIGURE l, however, there is illust-rated the use of the apparatus for eiecting a horizontal bore for which it is necessary to initiate the drilling operation from the surface. Under this condition, there is shown a shallow excavation 19 such as trench, pit or the like which is cut downwardly to a depth suicient to enable the end of the drill to be applied against the earth at the desired location and thus begin the horizontal between.
of the type shown in FlGURE 10 is attached to the end under the soil, through the use of the drill bit 2t). When this passage is completed, the drill bit 20 is removed and a reamer bit of a particular construction indicated generally by the numeral 22 and which is shown in FIGURES ll and l2 is then attached to the drill string in place o-f the drill bit 20. Thereupon, the drill is then started and the drill string is pulled in a reverse direction through the bore with the reamer bit 22 enlarging the bore to the desired diameter. During this operation successive sections of the drill string are removed as the drill is retracted through the bore in the reverse direction until the bore has been completely reamed out to the desired size.
Referring now primarily to FIGURES 2, and 6 it will be observed that the drilling apparatus 1h consists of ka supporting frame of a lightweight and readily portable character. Thus, the frame includes a platform or baise 3l) which may conveniently comprise a pair of conventional angle members 32 formed on the opposite sides-of the base and which are rigidly connected together by suitable cross members 34 rigidly secured and extending there- Mounted upon this base at one end as upon a cross plate 36 thereon is a power plant 38 which may conveniently consist of a lightweight gasoline engine. Obviously, however, an electric motor may be utilized in lieu of the gasoline engine. The power plant includes a driving shaft 40 by means of which its power output is transmitted to the drilling string in a manner to be subsequently described.
At the opposite end of the base 3l) from the power plant there is rotatably supported and journalled a drill spindle Y42. For this purpose there is provided a bearing sleeve 44, see also FIGURE 8, there being a suitable journal bearing 4e disposed in the sleeve and retained therein as y by means of the end plates48 which are detachably secured to the spindle 42 as by set screws Si). The end plates thus serve to close the ends of the bearing sleeve 44 and retainthe bearing journal 46 therein, and a conventional lubricant supply means indi-cated by the nipple '52 may be utilized to supply vthe necessary lubricant to this bearing. The bearing sleeve 44 is secured as by welding 54 to a transversely extending angle member 56, which latter in turn is secured as by welding 58 at its ends to a pair of vertical standards 60 rising from the side frame members 32. Further brace means are provided for assuring a rigid ixed support of the bearing sleeve 44 upon the base. Thus, a strut 62 is secured to a transverse angle member 64 at that end of the base 30 and to t-he underside ofthe bearing sleeve 44 by means of welding or the like.
The drill spindle 42 extends completely through the bearing sleeve and upon its extremity which is adjacent to the power plant it is provided with a sprocket gear 66 over which is entrained a sprocket chain 68 which is driven by a sprocket '70 carried upon a lay shaft 7,2. The lay shaft in turn is connected by a belt and pulley drive to the power plant, having a driven pulley 74 thereon which The support frame further includes means for supporting the reduction gearing assembly just described. Thus,
ture 6i), 82 and between the spindle and the power plant. The belt and'pulley drive however lies outside of this support structure and is disposed between the power plant and the support standards 80. The belt and pulley drive may also be adapted to constitute a clutch mechanism for controlling the application of the power from the power plant to the spindle. Thus, as shown best in FIGURE 4, the belt 76 may be sufficiently loose to have slack therein and an idler pulley 90 journalled Yupon a clutch lever 92 is adapted to engage the belt and by Varying the slack renders the pulley drive operative or inoperative as desired. The clutch lever is provided with a longitudinal extending slot 94 therein through which pass a pair of fastening bolts or the like 95 by in addition to the two standards 60, there is provided a f second pair of standards Sil welded or otherwise secured to the side frame members 32 adjacent the power plant.y
which this lever' isV secured to one `of thesupport posts Se. The lever is thus manually adjusted to vary the tension of the belt and thus control or vary the connection of the Vpower plant to the spindle.
The drill spindle 42 provides a detachable connection to the adjacent section of the drill string 14. Thus, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 8, the outer extremity of the spindle 42 is externally threaded as at V100' to receive the internally threaded nipple or coupling 162 by means of which the adjacent section 104 of the drill string is detachably connected to the spindle.' As will be appreciated, successive sections of the drill string are connected to each other by corresponding couplings 162 to provide the desired length of drill string with the drill bit 20 or 22 being detachably connected to the open end of the outermost section of the drill string. In addition to itsfunction as providing a readily engageable and disengageable driving member for the drill string, the spindlealso yserves as a means to effect the introduction of drilling fluid thereto. Thus, there is provided a sleeve 166, see FIGURES 8 and 9 in particular, which loosely encircles the drill spindle 42. This sleeve is externally threaded as at 108 at its opposite extremities to receive packing glands 110 thereon which serve to retain packings 112 tightly compressed between the spindle and a cooperating annular shoulder 114 which is counterbored in the interior of the sleeve 106 as shown in FIGURE 9; 'Thus a fluid tight rotatable seal is established between the sleeve 106 and the drill spindle 42 passing therethrough.
The sleeve has a tubular neck 116 projecting laterally from a mid-portion thereof and the interior of this neck is in continuous communication with the interior of the sleeve. By means of the manually operated valve member 118 of any conventional design, the previously mentioned water conduit or hose 12 is connected to and the supply of water therefrom to the sleeve is thus controlled.
The outer end of the spindle is provided with an axial bore or passage 120 therethrough and lateral bores 122 continuously connect this passage with theinterior of the sleeve and the annular space 124 therein disposed between the spindle and the sleeve and the inlet passage of the tubular portion 116.
Referring now to FIGURES 8 and l0 in particular it will be observed that the drill bit 20 vprovided for forming bore 15 during the initial drilling operation as the drill string is advanced into the bore is internally threaded as at for detachable connection to the extremity of the outermost section 104 of the drill string. This drill f bit is provided with any suitable type of cutting blades 132 and there are provided passages or orices 134 connecting the interior of the drill string with the exterior of the drill bit closely ,adjacent the blades 132. The arrangementis such that as suggested' in FIGURE l, as the rotating drill string 'is' advanced into the bore 16, the flow of water under, pressure therethrough will soften the ground inradvance of the drill bit and assist in excavating and removing this material, with the iiow of water being thenrearwardly from the drill bit and bore 16 into the sump provided by the trench or excavation 19. ,Y i Y,
In this manner it will be apparent that by merely advancing manually the drill string, and adding additional sections of drill string thereto as necessary, a horizontal bore` may be readily advanced for a considerable distance,'as'for example 200. feet or more beneath the surface ofthe groundl in a-lhorizontal manner. After the bore is completed, if ,it isof suflicient size operation may then be discontinued and the bore placed into desired use. On the other hand, if itis desired to produce a larger bore so that thel bore thus drilled ismerely a pilot bore for that purpose, the drill bit 20 is removed and the bit 22 is applied` in place thereof upon the drill string. As shown best from FIGURE 12, the bit 22 is a'reverse `action reamer bit. It includes a sleeve 140 which is internally threaded for engagement upon the end of theyoutermost drill string section in the same manner as the bit 20, but is `closed at its outer end as by an end iwall or plug 142. It is provided with plates 144 able apparatus.
" rdrilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with secured as by welding-to its outer vsurface and continuing longitudinallythereof, to which plates there are removably secured` as by fastening bolts 146 cutter elements in the form of plates 1f48having cutting edges 156.A
on their inward surfaces. l The arrangement is such that Aonce thiereamer-type of'bitis applied to the drill string 14, the.. .latter may be #retracted through a previously formed bore 16, inthe direction indicated by the arrow 152 inV FIGURE;v '11', and thusl will ream out or enlarge the pilot bore to the desired size. During this operation, the flow of: water through thedrill bit maybe continued in the mannerfpreviously described, emergingjfrom the bit 22 by suitably located apertures, not shown, and collecting in the pit 19. On the other hand, it may be preferred toretfect the reaming operation without the iiow of water in some instances.
In order to-more easily manipulate the drill apparatus, there is secured to the support frame a pair of-oppositely projecting aligned handles,f160. Conveniently, these handles may be detachably secured in sockets 162 which latter are secured toand project laterally from the vertical support standards 80 adjacent A`the power plant. In any event, the location of these handles is such that they are positioned to suppont the apparatus at a proximate center lof gravity to permit easy tilting ofthe apparatus about the handles when .the latter are carried by two men, one on each side ot the apparatus. Thus, the apparatus will be readily lifted, tilted about the horizontal transverse axis of the handlesto position the drill spindle and the attached drill bit or drilling string at the 'desired angle for 'penetration of the soil, as suggested in FIGURE l I and `forforwardly advancing or rearwardly retracting the drill string during the previously mentioned drilling operations. l
As will beunderstood, the strut 62 braces the spindle bearing sleeve against vertical upward or downward movement relative to the base 30. .Additional rigidity against lateral deiiection, when desired, is obtained by the bracesY 63, each ot which may be formed by a strap of metal,
twisted about its longitudinal axis as shown Iin FIGURES j 2, 3l and 5. The, outerends of the straps are secured as by welding to .the opposite sides of the` sleeve 44 while their inner ends are detachably fastened by bolts 65 to the opposite ends of the cross member 56. In this manner, the bearing sleeve 44 is rigidly secured against either vertical or lateral displacement relative to the support frame, an essential condition necessary to withstand theY support means attached thereto, a source of power mounted upon said ,frame and including a generally horizontal rotatablepower shaft, a drill spindle, said power shaft and drill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supporting and journaling said spin-` dle upon said frame for `rotation `about an, axis in sideby-side relation and generally parallel to that of said power shaft, a reduction gear assembly connecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having a passage extending longitudinally` thereinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminating inwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and defining a water chamber thereabout, means establishing continuous communicationV between said passage antiwa-ter chamber,
' means supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured to and driven by said spindle and having communication with said spindle passage, a drill bit including jet oriiices secured to the outer end ot said i drill string, said drill string having suliicient lateral exibility to enable said drill bit and drill string to operate in a substantially horizontal position below` ground when said power shaft is positioned substantially horizontally above ground and while said apparatus is being manually supported and moved along the general direction of said drill string, said water jacket being spaced from and lies between said spindle adjacent end and said spindle supporting and journaling means.
2. A manually portable power operated horizontal drilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with support means attached thereto, a ,source of npower mounted upon Vsaid frame and including a generally horizontal rotatabley power shaft, a rdrill spindle, said power shaft and drill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supportingand journaling said spindle upon said frame for rotation about an axis in sideby-side relation and. generally parallel to that off said power shaft, a reduction gear assembly connecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having a passage extending longitudinally thereinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminating inwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and defining a water chamber thereabout, means establishing continuous communication between said [passage and water chamber, means supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured to and driven by said spindle and having communication with said spindle passage, a drill bit including jet orifices secured to the outer end of said drill string, said drill string having suiiicient lateral exibility to enable said drill bit and drill string to operate in a substantially horizontal position below ground when said power shaft is positioned substantially horizontally above ground and while said apparatus is being manually supported and moved along the general direction of said drillstring, said frame including a base and a support structure mounted upon and rising ffroni a mid-portion of said base, said power source being mounted on said base and said spindle being mounted on said support structure on the opposite side thereof from said power source.
3. A manually portable power operated horizontal horizontal rotatable power Ysha'iit', a drill spindle, said Y power shaft and drill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supporting and journaling said spindle upon said frame for rotation about an axis in sideby-side relation and generally parallel to that of said power shaft, a reduction gear assembly connecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having a passage extending longitudinally thereinto from said spindle adjacent end lmeans supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured to and driven by said spindle and having communication with said spindle passage, a drill bit including jet orifices secured tot the outer tend of said drill string, said drill string having suiiicient lateral ilexibility to enablev said drillbit and drill string to operate in a substantially horizontal position below ground when said power r shaft is positionedsubstantially horizontally above ground and while said apparatus is being manually supported and moved along the general direction of said drillstring, said spindle supporting and journaling means is mounted upon said support structune and extends both inwardlyv andoutwardly thereof, brace members upon theV exterior of said support'l structure connecting said spindle supporting and journaling means to said base.
4. Thexcombination of claim 3 further including brace means connecting opposite sides of said water jacket body to said `support structure, said body being supported directly by said spindle. j
5. VA manually portable power operated horizontal drilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with support means attached thereto, a source of power mounted upon said trame and including a generally horizontal rotatable ,power shaft, a drill spindle, said power shaft and Idrill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supporting and journaling said spindle upon said frame for rotation about an axis in sideby-s'ide relation and generally parallel to that of said power shaft, a reduction gear assemblyvconnecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having a passage extending longitudinally thereinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminating inwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow-body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and deining a Water chamber thereaboumeans establishing continuous communication between said passage and water chamber, means supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured t-o and driven by said spindle and having communication with said spindle passage, a drill bit including jet ofritices secured to the outer end of said drill string, said drill string having sufficient lateral flexibility to enable said drill bit and drill string to operate in a substantially horizontal position below ground when said power shaft is positioned substantially horizontally above ground and while said apparatus is being manually supported and moved along the general direction of said drill string, said frame including a base with a support structure mounted thereon and rising from a midportion thereof, said adjacent ends being disposed at the lower portion of said support structure adjacent said base with one of said spindle Vadjacent ends extending into said support structure, Said reduction gear assembly being carried by said frame and including a lay shaft mounted upon the top of standards and having its ends each overlying one of said adjacent ends, first and second means connecting each of the opposite ends of said lay shaft tp one o f said adjacent ends.
6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first means is disposed within said standards and drives said spindle and said second means is exterior of saidstandards and connects said power source and lay shaft.
7.y The combination of claim 6 wherein one of said irst and second means includes a belt and pulley drive, a belt tensioning device mounted on said support structure and connected to said belt and pulley drive and constituting a clutch device controlling the delivery of power yfrom said power source to said spindle.
8.A manually portable powerV operated horizontal drilling apparatus comprising a supporting frame with support means attached thereto, a source of power mounted upon said frame and including a generally horizontal rotatable power shaft, a drill spindle, said power shaft and drill spindle having longitudinally spaced adjacent ends, means supporting and journaling said spindle upon said frame for rotation about an axis inV side- 'by-side relation and generally parallel to that'of said power shaft, a reduction gear assembly connecting said adjacent ends, said spindle having'a passage extending longitudinally theneinto from said spindle adjacent end and terminatinginwardly of the other spindle end, a water jacket comprising a hollow body surrounding said spindle in sealed engagement therewith and defining a water chamber thereabout, means establishing continuous communication between said passage and water chamber, means supplying water into said water chamber, a hollow drill string secured to and driven by said spindle and *having communication with said spindle passage, a drill -b1t lncluding jet oriiices secured to the outer end of said drill string, said drillstring having sufficient lateral flexibility toV enable said drill bit and drill string to operateA in a substantialy horizontal position below ground when said power shaft is positioned substantially horizontally above ground and while said apparatus is being manually supported and moved along the .general direction of .said drill string, said water jacket bodyhaving its opposite ends disposed between and in spaced relation te said spindle supporting and journaling means and the-end of said spindle to which said drill string is connected.
9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said water jacket body. comprises a Tfitting including a sleeve with a tubular neck projecting laterally from intermediate its ends, said Water supplyumeans including said tubular neck, sealing means with each end of said sleeve engaging and having a fluid-tight seal with the exterior surface of said spindle.
l0. The combination of claim` 9 wherein said means establishing communication between said spindle passage and said water chamber comprise a plurality of ports in said spindle.
1l. The combination of claim 5 wherein said support means comprise a pair of laterally and oppositely projecting handles secured to the upper portion of said support structune and adjacent the centerof gravity of the apparatus.
References Cited by the ExaminerV UNlTED STATES PATENTS BRoUGHroN G. DURHAM, Primarymminer. C. oCoNNELL, Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. A MANUALLY PORTABLE POWER OPERATED HORIZONTAL DRILLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAME WITH SUPPORT MEANS ATTACHED THERETO, A SOURCE OF POWER MOUNTED UPON SAME FRAME AND INCLUDING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL ROTATABLE POWER SHAFT, A DRILL SPINDLE, SAID POWER SHAFT AND DRILL SPINDLE HAVING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED ADJACENT ENDS, MEANS SUPPORTING AND JOURNALING SAID SPINDLE UPON SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS IN SIDEBY-SIDE RELATION AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THAT OF SAID POWER SHAFT, A REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY CONNECTING SAID ADJACENT ENDS, SAID SPINDLE HAVING A PASSAGE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREINTO FROM SAID SPINDLE ADJACENT END AND TERMINATING INWARDLY OF THE OTHER SPINDLE END, A WATER JACKET COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY SURROUNDING SAID SPINDLE IN SEALED ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND DEFINING A WATER CHAMBER THEREABOUT, MEANS ESTABLISHING CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID PASSAGE AND WATER CHAMBER, MEANS SUPPLYING WATER INTO SAID WATER CHAMBER, A HOLLOW DRILL STRING SECURED TO AND DRIVEN BY SAID SPINDLE AND HAVING COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SPINDLE PASSAGE, A DRILL BIT INCLUDING JET ORIFICES SECURED TO THE OUTER END OF SAID DRILL STRING, SAID DRILL STRING HAVING SUFFICIENT LATERAL FLEXIBILITY TO ENABLE SAID DRILL BIT AND DRILL STRING TO OPERATE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION BELOW GROUND WHEN SAID POWER SHAFT IS POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY ABOVE GROUND AND WHILE SAID APPARATUS IS BEING MANUALLY SUPPORTED AND MOVED ALONG THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF SAID DRILL STRING, SAID WATER JACKET BEING SPACED FROM SAID LIES BETWEEN SAID SPINDLE ADJACENT END AND SAID SPINDLE SUPPORTING AND JOURNALING MEANS.
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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3339646A (en) * 1965-02-01 1967-09-05 Jr Albert G Bodine Sonic driving system for bendable lines
US3651872A (en) * 1970-07-13 1972-03-28 Joseph E Smith Jr Method of and apparatus for boring holes under streets, highways or the like
US3720272A (en) * 1971-06-07 1973-03-13 Toro Mfg Corp Apparatus and method for drilling an arcuate bore from ground surface under an obstruction to ground surface
US3774556A (en) * 1971-07-02 1973-11-27 E Poll Process and apparatus for introducing liquids into soil
US3814193A (en) * 1972-12-06 1974-06-04 M Schneider Hydraulic boring device
US3840079A (en) * 1972-08-14 1974-10-08 Jacobs Ass Williamson K Horizontal drill rig for deep drilling to remote areas and method
US3905431A (en) * 1972-10-02 1975-09-16 Boehler & Co Ag Geb Earth boring method and apparatus
US3990523A (en) * 1975-03-17 1976-11-09 Schramm Buford J Piston engine powered rotary drive with mount and fuel container
US8256531B1 (en) * 2009-08-06 2012-09-04 Williams Comfort Air, Inc. Vertizontal geothermal loop and installation method
CN105625943A (en) * 2016-01-11 2016-06-01 德阳坚兵工程技术有限公司 Method for accurately controlling overbreak and underbreak by adopting peripheral hole formation through fine-adjustment drill rod of rock drilling jumbo

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1377575A (en) * 1921-05-10 Rotary well-drilling apparatus
US1704053A (en) * 1925-03-16 1929-03-05 Sullivan Machinery Co Drilling mechanism
US2016667A (en) * 1933-10-16 1935-10-08 John H Crowell Portable earth boring machine
US2027063A (en) * 1935-01-02 1936-01-07 John W Reifel Machine for trenchless boring
US2136152A (en) * 1937-01-16 1938-11-08 Margaret Parrish Method and means for installing drainage conduits
US2598565A (en) * 1948-08-05 1952-05-27 Silas P Lagant Posthole digger
US2697457A (en) * 1952-07-23 1954-12-21 Brushmaster Saw Inc Manually portable brush cutting power tool
US2919899A (en) * 1956-10-29 1960-01-05 Leo L Hitchcock Drilling rig

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1377575A (en) * 1921-05-10 Rotary well-drilling apparatus
US1704053A (en) * 1925-03-16 1929-03-05 Sullivan Machinery Co Drilling mechanism
US2016667A (en) * 1933-10-16 1935-10-08 John H Crowell Portable earth boring machine
US2027063A (en) * 1935-01-02 1936-01-07 John W Reifel Machine for trenchless boring
US2136152A (en) * 1937-01-16 1938-11-08 Margaret Parrish Method and means for installing drainage conduits
US2598565A (en) * 1948-08-05 1952-05-27 Silas P Lagant Posthole digger
US2697457A (en) * 1952-07-23 1954-12-21 Brushmaster Saw Inc Manually portable brush cutting power tool
US2919899A (en) * 1956-10-29 1960-01-05 Leo L Hitchcock Drilling rig

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3339646A (en) * 1965-02-01 1967-09-05 Jr Albert G Bodine Sonic driving system for bendable lines
US3651872A (en) * 1970-07-13 1972-03-28 Joseph E Smith Jr Method of and apparatus for boring holes under streets, highways or the like
US3720272A (en) * 1971-06-07 1973-03-13 Toro Mfg Corp Apparatus and method for drilling an arcuate bore from ground surface under an obstruction to ground surface
US3774556A (en) * 1971-07-02 1973-11-27 E Poll Process and apparatus for introducing liquids into soil
US3840079A (en) * 1972-08-14 1974-10-08 Jacobs Ass Williamson K Horizontal drill rig for deep drilling to remote areas and method
US3905431A (en) * 1972-10-02 1975-09-16 Boehler & Co Ag Geb Earth boring method and apparatus
US3814193A (en) * 1972-12-06 1974-06-04 M Schneider Hydraulic boring device
US3990523A (en) * 1975-03-17 1976-11-09 Schramm Buford J Piston engine powered rotary drive with mount and fuel container
US8256531B1 (en) * 2009-08-06 2012-09-04 Williams Comfort Air, Inc. Vertizontal geothermal loop and installation method
CN105625943A (en) * 2016-01-11 2016-06-01 德阳坚兵工程技术有限公司 Method for accurately controlling overbreak and underbreak by adopting peripheral hole formation through fine-adjustment drill rod of rock drilling jumbo

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