Apparatus and method for forming ducts and passageways
US6102137A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B7/06
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The apparatus and method of the invention relates to the formation of ducts or passageways, referred to as ducts underground by using existing lengths of plant such as pipes, cables or wires, or a length of plant laid in predetermined position as a guidance or reference for the drill head used to form the duct or passageway as it passes through the ground. The plant is used to generate an electromagnetic field which is sensed by at least one electromagnetic field sensor mounted in the drill head, said sensor rotated to allow comparison of signals and the distance of the drill head from the plant to be calculated. Other sensors can also be provided to determine other positional characteristics of the drill head with respect to the plant. This allows the duct to be formed with the avoidance of potentially hazardous plant and/or along a path which is determined with reference to the plant. The apparatus can also be used as a guidance means without the drill to pass along existing passageways and indicate the path of the same using the same operating procedure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.