US3830318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Excavating machine
Assignee: Subterranean Tools Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-17
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Granted: 1974-08-20
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Expires: 1992-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An excavating machine, particularly for excavating raises in the upward direction from an underground location in which the machine has a base with a pivot frame and with guide columns upstanding therefrom and a gear box slidable on the columns and having an upwardly facing rotatable chuck therein which is driven by a gear train in the gear box. The chuck receives the lower end of a sectioned string of pipe, the upper end of which carries a drilling and reaming head. Fluid cylinders between the base and gear box drive the gear box in the upward direction to perform excavating operations. A hopper is provided on the upper end of the machine to receive the material dislodged by the drilling and reaming head. An arrangement is provided for supporting the drilling and reaming head and the pipe dependent therefrom while the gear box and chuck are retracted and a new length of pipe is put in place.
Inventors
- 👤 D Busby
- 👤 J Busby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B3/00; E21B3/02; E21B3/022; E21B10/00; E21B10/26; E21B10/28; E21B10/44; E21B19/00; E21B19/08; E21B19/086; E21B7/00; E21B7/003; E21B7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
In an excavating machine, especially for driving large diameter cutter heads from beneath in the upward direction; a frame, a gear box guided by said frame for traversing movement therein, thrust means for driving said gear box in said traversing movement in said frame, rotatable chuck means carried by said gear box adapted for detachable connection to the lower end of sectional drill pipe means which extends upwardly from said chuck means and which has cutter means mounted on the upper end, power operable means carried by said gear box for driving said chuck means in rotation on an axis parallel to the direction of traverse of said gear box in said frame, gripper means in the frame moveable therein for selectively supportingly engaging the drill pipe means to permit said chuck means to be disconnected therefrom and to be traversed in said frame independently of the drill pipe means thereby to permit a section of drill pipe to be added to or removed from the lower end of the drill pipe means, and stabilizer means adapted for detachable mounting on the drill pipe means and having helical rib means extending radially therefrom for stabilizing engagement with the wall of a hole being formed by the cutter means, said stabilizer means comprising a pair of support members adapted for being secured together about a length of pipe in said drill pipe means so as to be fixed to the length of pipe, each support member having a respective portion of said helical web means thereon, the said portion of the web means on the respective support members registering when the support members are secured together to form a continuous helical web of at least one turn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
In an excavating machine, especially for driving large diameter cutter heads from beneath in the upward direction; a frame, a gear box guided by said frame for traversing movement therein, thrust means for driving said gear box in said traversing movement in said frame, rotatable chuck means carried by said gear box adapted for detachable connection to the lower end of sectional drill pipe means which extends upwardly from said chuck means and which has cutter means mounted on the upper end, power operable means carried by said gear box for driving said chuck means in rotation on an axis parallel to the direction of traverse of said gear box in said frame, gripper means in the frame moveable therein for selectively supportingly engaging the drill pipe means to permit said chuck means to be disconnected therefrom and to be traversed in said frame independently of the drill pipe means thereby to permit a section of drill pipe to be added to or removed from the lower end of the drill pipe means, and stabilizer means adapted for detachable mounting on the drill pipe means and having helical rib means extending radially therefrom for stabilizing engagement with the wall of a hole being formed by the cutter means, said stabilizer means comprising a pair of support members adapted for being secured together about a length of pipe in said drill pipe means so as to be fixed to the length of pipe, each support member having a respective portion of said helical web means thereon, the said portion of the web means on the respective support members registering when the support members are secured together to form a continuous helical web of at least one turn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An excavating machine according to claim 1 in which said stabilizer means comprise two or more individual stabilizers mounted in axially spaced relation on the drill pipe means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
An excavating machine according to claim 1 which includes cylindrical bushing means on a section of pipe of said sectioned drill pipe means, said stabilizer means being rotatably mounted on said bushing means, and cooperating elements of a one way clutch means on said section of pipe and said stabilizer means permitting rotation of said stabilizer means on said pipe section in only one direction of relative rotation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An excavating machine according to claim 1 in which the radially outer edge of said helical web means is in the form of a radially outwardly opening channel, and wear resistant means mounted in said channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An excavating machine according to claim 4 in which said wear resistant means comprise inserts receivable in said channel and means for securing the inserts in place in the channel, each insert comprising a body of synthetic material and particles of hard wear resistant material distributed in the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
260 words
In an excavating machine; a frame, a gear box guided by said frame for traversing movement therein, fluid motor means connected between saiD gear box and said frame for driving said gear box in said traversing movement in said frame, rotatable chuck means carried by said gear box adapted for detachable connection to the lower end of sectional drill pipe means which extends upwardly from said chuck means and which has cutter means mounted on the upper end, power operable means carried by said gear box for driving said chuck means in rotation on an axis parallel to the direction of traverse of said gear box in said frame, and gripper means in the frame moveable therein for selectively supportingly engaging the drill pipe means to permit said chuck means to be disconnected therefrom and to be traversed in said frame independently of the drill pipe means thereby to permit a section of drill pipe to be added to or removed from the lower end of the drill pipe means, said fluid motor means comprising first and second cylinder means fixed together, first piston means reciprocal in said first cylinder means and projecting downwardly therefrom and connected to said frame, and second piston means reciprocal in said second cylinder means and projecting upwardly therefrom and connected to said gear box, said first cylinder means comprising a respective first cylinder at each side of the frame coplanar with the axis of said chuck means, said second cylinder means comprising a respective second cylinder on each side of each said first cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
260 words
In an excavating machine; a frame, a gear box guided by said frame for traversing movement therein, fluid motor means connected between saiD gear box and said frame for driving said gear box in said traversing movement in said frame, rotatable chuck means carried by said gear box adapted for detachable connection to the lower end of sectional drill pipe means which extends upwardly from said chuck means and which has cutter means mounted on the upper end, power operable means carried by said gear box for driving said chuck means in rotation on an axis parallel to the direction of traverse of said gear box in said frame, and gripper means in the frame moveable therein for selectively supportingly engaging the drill pipe means to permit said chuck means to be disconnected therefrom and to be traversed in said frame independently of the drill pipe means thereby to permit a section of drill pipe to be added to or removed from the lower end of the drill pipe means, said fluid motor means comprising first and second cylinder means fixed together, first piston means reciprocal in said first cylinder means and projecting downwardly therefrom and connected to said frame, and second piston means reciprocal in said second cylinder means and projecting upwardly therefrom and connected to said gear box, said first cylinder means comprising a respective first cylinder at each side of the frame coplanar with the axis of said chuck means, said second cylinder means comprising a respective second cylinder on each side of each said first cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
An excavating machine according to claim 6 which includes base means adapted for fixed emplacement at the bottom of said frame, pivot means connecting the frame at the bottom to said base means for pivotal movement of the frame on the base means, and adjustable means connected between said frame and base means for tilting the frame on the base means and for holding the frame in angularly adjusted position on the base means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An excavating machine according to claim 7 in which said pivot means are substantially coplanar with the axis of said chuck means, said adjustable means being disposed on both sides of the vertical plane of said pivot means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
In an excavating machine; a frame, a gear box guided by said frame for traversing movement therein, thrust means for driving said gear box in said traversing movement in said frame, rotatable chuck means carried by said gear box adapted for detachable connection to the lower end of sectional drill pipe means which extends upwardly from said chuck means and which has cutter means mounted on the upper end, power operable means carried by said gear box for driving said chuck means in rotation on an axis parallel to the direction of traverse of said gear box in said frame, and gripper means in the frame moveable therein for selectively supportingly engaging the drill pipe means to permit said chuck means to be disconnected therefrom and to be traversed in said frame independently of the drill pipe means thereby to permit a section of drill pipe to be added to or removed from the lower end of the drill pipe means, an upwardly opening hopper on the top of said frame for receiving the material dislodged by the cutter means, said hopper having a discharge opening in the bottom, and pusher means moveable in the hopper to move material therein toward said discharge opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
In an excavating machine; a frame, a gear box guided by said frame for traversing movement therein, thrust means for driving said gear box in said traversing movement in said frame, rotatable chuck means carried by said gear box adapted for detachable connection to the lower end of sectional drill pipe means which extends upwardly from said chuck means and which has cutter means mounted on the upper end, power operable means carried by said gear box for driving said chuck means in rotation on an axis parallel to the direction of traverse of said gear box in said frame, and gripper means in the frame moveable therein for selectively supportingly engaging the drill pipe means to permit said chuck means to be disconnected therefrom and to be traversed in said frame independently of the drill pipe means thereby to permit a section of drill pipe to be added to or removed from the lower end of the drill pipe means, an upwardly opening hopper on the top of said frame for receiving the material dislodged by the cutter means, said hopper having a discharge opening in the bottom, and pusher means moveable in the hopper to move material therein toward said discharge opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An excavating machine according to claim 9 in which said pusher means comprises a ring in said hopper, paddles on the ring extending radially in the hopper, and means on the hopper to drive said ring in rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An excavating machine according to claim 9 in which said hopper comprises a ring-like bottom, an outer wall inclined radially outwardly in the upward direction and upstanding from the outer periphery of said bottom, and an inner wall inclined radially inwardly in the upward direction and upstanding from the inner periphery of said bottom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
An excavating machine according to claim 11 in which said inner wall is segmented and each segment at the radially outer end is pivotally supported for swinging movement of the respective segment in a veRtical plane, said segments when in lowered position having the radially inner ends thereof disposed in surrounding relation to the axis of the drill pipe means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An excavating machine according to claim 12 which includes a fluid motor means operatively connected to said segments to actuate the segments in swinging movement about the pivotal supports therefor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
An excavating machine according to claim 12 in which the radially inner end of each segment comprises a curved plate portion which is parallel to the axis of the drill pipe means when the respective segment is in lowered position, said plate portion registering when all of the segments are in lowered position to define a cylinder coaxial with the drill pipe means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An excavating machine according to claim 14 in which said cylinder is adapted to receive bushing means of a size to engage the outside of the drill pipe means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An excavating machine according to claim 12 in which said segments in raised position providing an opening substantially as large in diameter as the cutter means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
An excavating machine according to claim 16 in which said gripper means comprises a pair of arms each pivoted at one end on a vertical axis beneath said hopper near the top of said frame and each swingable inwardly to dispose the other end in supporting engagement with the drill pipe means, said arms being swingable outwardly to move said other ends away from the drill pipe means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |