Automatically operated boring head

Claim 2

A boring head assembly for automatically maintaining a horizontal plane while forming a hole for a pipe installation through the subsoil beneath a roadway and the like, comprising: an elongated cylindrical housing having a leading and trailing end adapted to be pushed or driven through the subsoil, a boring head removably secured to said leading end, a shaft disposed through said boring head transversely of the longitudinal axis of said housing, a pair of canard stabilizers disposed respectively at opposite sides of said boring head and each secured to a respective end of said shaft, rocker means in said boring head for effecting limited movement of said shaft in respective opposite directions about its longitudinal axis, electrically operably means in said housing operatively connected to said rocker means whereby movement of said rocker means correspondingly moves said canard stabilizers to and away from a horizontal plane, a battery operated switch controlled electronic circuit in said housing, comprising: a relay operably connected to said electrically operable means, means for sensing the horizontal position and any deviations therefrom of said housing and for transmitting signals relative thereto, means for receiving and amplifying said signals, and means for receiving said amplified signals and converting the same in degrees up and down into digital signals and transmitting the same to said relay for effecting selective upwardly and downwardly movement of said canard stabilizers.

Claim 3

An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrically operable means is a 1/200 horsepower direct current electric motor with reversible high torque.

Claim 4

An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for sensing the horizontal position of said housing is a gyroscope.

Claim 5

An assembly as defined in claim 1 including means on said boring head responsive to motion thereof and operably connected to said electrically operable means whereby in the absence of motion of said boring head, said canard stabilizers are rendered immobile.

Claim 6

An assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said means responsive to motion is a pressure responsive accelerometer.

Claim 7

A boring head assembly for automatically maintaining a horizontal plane while forming a hole for a pipe installation through the subsoil beneath a roadway and the like, comprising: an elongated cylindrical housing having a leading and trailing end and adapted to be pushed or driven through the subsoil, a boring head removably secured to said leading end, a shaft disposed through said boring head transversely of the longitudinal axis of said housing, a pair of canard stabilizers disposed respectively at opposite sides of said boring head and each secured to a respective end of said shaft, a direct current electric motor with reversible high torque-mounted in said housing, a motor shaft on said electric motor extending towards said leading end, an elongated rod disposed in said housing in axial alignment with said motor shaft, one end of said rod being in spaced relationship to said motor shaft and the other end extending into said boring head, a threaded coupling operably engaged with said motor shaft and said one end of said rod whereby rotation of said motor shaft in one direction effects the rearward movement of said rod and rotation of said motor shaft in the opposite direction effects the forward movement of said rod, a rocker member assembly disposed in said boring head and operably connected to said rod for forward and rearward movement therewith and to said shaft in said boring head for effecting limited movement thereof in respective opposite directions about its longitudinal axis whereby movement of said rocker member in respective opposite directions acts to correspondingly move said canard stabilizers to and away from a horizontal plane, a battery operated switch controlled electronic circuit in said housing comprising: a relay operably connected to said electric motor, means for sensing the horizontal position and any deviations therefrom of said housing and for transmitting signals relative thereto, means for receiving and amplifying said signals, and means for receiving said amplified signals and converting the same in degrees up and down into digital signals and transmitting the same to said relay for effecting operation of said electric motor to move said rod and rocker member in a direction dictated by said signals and correspondingly move said canard stabilizers.

Claim 8

A boring head assembly for automatically maintaining a horizontal plane while forming a hole for a pipe installation through the subsoil beneath a roadway and the like, comprising: an elongated cylindrical housing having a leading and trailing end and adapted to be pushed or driven through the subsoil, a boring head removably secured to said leading end, a shaft disposed through said boring head transversely of the longitudinal axis of said housing, a pair of canard stabilizers disposed respectively at opposite sides of said boring head and each secured to a respective end of said shaft, a direct current electric motor with reversible high torque-mounted in said housing, a motor shaft on said electric motor extending towards said leading end, an elongated rod disposed in said housing in axial alignment with said motor shaft, one end of said rod being in spaced relationship to said motor shaft and the other end extending into said boring head, a threaded coupling operably engaged with said motor shaft and said one end of said rod whereby rotation of said motor shaft in one direction effects the rearward movement of said rod and rotation of said motor shaft in the opposite direction effects the forward movement of said rod, a rocker member assembly disposed in said boring head and operably connected to said rod for forward and rearward movement therewith and to said shaft in said boring head for effecting limited movement thereof in respective opposite directions about its longitudinal axis whereby movement of said rocker member in respective opposite directions acts to correspondingly move said canard stabilizers to and away from a horizontal plane, a battery operated switch controlled electronic circuit in said housing comprising: a relay operably connected to said electric motor, means for sensing the horizontal position and any deviations therefrom of said housing and for transmitting signals relative thereto, means for receiving and amplifying said signals, and means for receiving said amplified signals and converting the same in degrees up and down into digital signals and transmitting the same to said relay for effecting operation of said electric motor to move said rod and rocker member in a direction dictated by said signals and correspondingly move said canard stabilizers.

Claim 9

An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said rocker member assembly includes: a toothed rack disposed in said boring head and operably connected to said rod for forward and rearward movement therewith, and said shaft in said boring head provided with a depending rocker member having a lower arcuate toothed end in meshing engagement with said toothed rack whereby movement of said toothed rack acts to rock said shaft in said boring head and correspondingly effect the movement of said canard stabilizers.

Claim 10

An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said electric motor is 1/200 horsepower.

Claim 11

An assembly as defined in claim 6 including means on said boring head responsive to motion thereof and operably connected to said electric motor whereby in the absence of motion of said boring head, said electric motor is rendered inoperative.

Claim 12

An assembly as defined in claim 9 wnerein said means responsive to motion is a pressure responsive accelerometer.