US4026371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pilot head for laying pipes in the ground
Assignee: Komatsu Ltd
•
Filing: 1975-12-22
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Granted: 1977-05-31
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Expires: 1995-12-22
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a pilot head used for laying small-diameter pipes such as gas, water conduits or the like precisely in position in the ground. The pilot head comprises an expandable and contractable pilot jack disposed within a pilot casing, a pivoting cylinder adapted for pivoting said pilot jack in any selected direction in a plane normal to the central axis of the pilot head, and an electromagnetic valve for operating said cylinder. The pilot head further includes a target and a clinometer both for detecting the position and posture thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Takada
- 👤 Yasuo Kawada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:12
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/02; E21B47/022; E21B7/00; E21B7/04; E21B7/046; E21B7/06; E21B7/20; E21B7/205; E21B7/206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A pilot head for laying pipes in the ground comprising: a pilot head casing; an expandable and contractable pilot jack disposed within said casing; a pilot jack head secured to a front end of said pilot jack for consolidating soil; sealing means for preventing water or soil from entering said casing, said sealing means being provided between a front end of said casing and said pilot jack; pivoting means for pivoting said pilot jack in any selected direction in a plane normal to the central axis of said pilot head, said pivoting means including a first pivoting cylinder, and a second pivoting cylinder circumferentially spaced in phase from said first cylinder by 90° said first and second cylinders being positioned at a rear portion of said casing, and; electromagnetic valve means for remotely controlling said pivoting means, said electromagnetic valve means being disposed in the rear portion of said casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A pilot head for laying pipes in the ground comprising: a pilot head casing; an expandable and contractable pilot jack disposed within said casing; a pilot jack head secured to a front end of said pilot jack for consolidating soil; sealing means for preventing water or soil from entering said casing, said sealing means being provided between a front end of said casing and said pilot jack; pivoting means for pivoting said pilot jack in any selected direction in a plane normal to the central axis of said pilot head, said pivoting means including a first pivoting cylinder, and a second pivoting cylinder circumferentially spaced in phase from said first cylinder by 90° said first and second cylinders being positioned at a rear portion of said casing, and; electromagnetic valve means for remotely controlling said pivoting means, said electromagnetic valve means being disposed in the rear portion of said casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pilot head according to claim 1 in which said pilot jack is mounted on said casing via a first spherical bearing and is capable of pivoting about the pivotal center of the spherical bearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A pilot head according to claim 1 further comprising a collar means having a diameter greater than that of said pilot head casing secured to a front peripheral surface of said pilot head casing, for pushing out the soil surrounding said pilot head casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pilot head according to claim 1 in which said first and second pivoting cylinders are mounted on said pilot jack via a link member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pilot head according to claim 4 in which said pilot jack, link member and pivoting cylinders are interconnected with each other by spherical bearings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pilot head according to claim 4 in which said link member and said first cylinder are interconnected with each other by a pin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pilot head according to claim 4 in which said link member and said second cylinder are interconnected with each other by a pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A pilot head according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of indicia plates extending perpendicularly to the axis of said casing and spaced from each other a predetermined distance, and means for illuminating each indicia plates independently, said plates and said means being disposed in a rear portion of said casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A pilot head according to claim 8 further comprising a tilt detector provided forwardly of said indicia plate and adapted to detect a pitch angle of said pilot head by the use of gravity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2874936A
Cited
US3326008A
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US3468133A
Cited
US3506310A
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US3465834A
Cited
US3526285A
Cited
US3767836A
Cited
US3857449A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-30 | 1980-11-29 | 1981-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-30 | 1984-11-29 | 1985-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-30 | 1988-11-29 | 1989-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |