System and method for assisting with automatically connecting pipe joints with a horizontal boring machine
US7011166B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 14, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 29, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02K37/125
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An automatic pipe handling system for automatically transporting pipe sections to and from a horizontal boring machine. The system comprises a pipe handling assembly, a pipe lubrication assembly, a makeup/breakout assembly, and an automatic control system. The pipe handling assembly stores pipe sections and transports the pipe sections to and from the drill string of a boring machine. As the pipe handling assembly transports a pipe section, the pipe lubrication assembly lubricates the appropriate pipe joints. The makeup/breakout assembly secures the drill string and pipe joints so that pipe sections can be added to or removed from the drill string. A programmed controller automatically operates the pipe handling system and its components by synchronizing the operations of the pipe handling system. The controller sequences and times the operation of each aspect of the pipe handling system during both the boring operation and the backreaming operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.