Patent · US Expired

Directional drilling machine and method of directional drilling

US6491115B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
55References
54Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 2001
Grant dateDec 10, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B44/02
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for automatically limiting the thrust force applied to a drill string during an underground boring process, in order to prevent the deformation or collapse to the drill rods due to reaching the yield point of the rods. One or more drill string characteristics that have an impact on the yield point of the drill string, or portions of the drill string, are determined. The yield point of the drill string or portion is computed, where the yield point is computed as a function of the drill string characteristics. The thrust force imparted to the drill string is adjusted in response to the computed yield point.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.