EP2553202B1 - Method for operating a horizontal drilling device and horizontal drilling device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a horizontal bore and a horizontal boring device.

Horizontal drilling devices are used to bring in trenchless construction methods disposal lines in the ground or already existing old lines trenchless exchange.

There are a variety of different Horizontalbohrvorrichtungen. Horizontal drilling devices are widely used, in which a drill head is initially driven obliquely into the soil by means of a drill pipe and, starting from a drilling carriage positioned on the earth's surface, until the drill head reaches the desired drilling depth. Then the drill head is reversed to the horizontal to perform the actual horizontal bore. The target point of such a horizontal well may be, for example, in a specially excavated target mine or in a basement room or he may also, i. as the starting point, are located at the surface of the earth, so that the drill head is reversed after a certain Bohr progress in an obliquely upward direction to let the drill head to exit again on the earth's surface.

After the boring head has reached the target point, it is often replaced by an expander, such as a conical expander, to recover the drill string when the drill string is withdrawn by the borer carriage (Pilot) bore to widen. It can be provided to attach to the expansion device a newly retracted line to collect these simultaneously with the expansion of the pilot hole in the soil.

Horizontal drilling rigs are also used to replace trenchless trenchings buried underground. For this purpose, in a first step, the drill string is pushed by the drill carriage along the old line (and in particular by an old pipe) and after reaching a destination point, which may for example lie in a maintenance shaft of the sewer, the front end of the drill string connected to a widening device the old line is cut or ruptured during the retraction of the drill pipe, the parts of the destroyed old pipe are displaced radially into the surrounding soil. At the same time a new pipe can be pulled into the old pipe. By destroying the old pipe and displacing the sections of the old pipe, the new pipe can have an outer diameter which corresponds to or even exceeds the outer diameter of the old pipe.

Alternatively, it is also possible, instead of a widening device to connect an adapter to the front end of the drill pipe, which acts on the rear end of the old pipe and this pulls when retracting the drill string from the ground. This can prevent fragments or a damaged old pipeline from remaining in the ground, which could otherwise damage the neuro-ear due to the sharp-edged break edges and the pressure exerted by the surrounding soil.

Horizontal drilling devices regularly have a linear drive, with which the drill string is driven in the ground and withdrawn; Furthermore, a rotary drive is provided regularly, with which the drill pipe (and thus the associated drilling or expander) can be set in rotation. Through the rotation of the drill head or the expander the propulsion in the soil can be improved.

Furthermore, in most of the controllable horizontal drilling devices, a rotation of the drill head is required in order to be able to control it in the desired drilling direction. The drill heads of such horizontal drilling devices have an asymmetrically shaped (eg bevelled) drill head front which results in lateral deflection of the drill head during movement through the soil. If the drill head is driven in rotation simultaneously with the driving in the ground, the asymmetrical design of the drill head has no influence on the straight bore course, because the lateral deflection compensates in the middle of a turn. If, however, the rotation of the drill head stopped and this only sliding possibly supported by blows exerted by an impact device integrated in the drill head or in the drill carriage, is driven in advance, the asymmetrical configuration of the drill head leads to a (constant) lateral deflection. As a result, an arcuate bore course and as a result a change in the drilling direction is achieved.

Horizontal drilling devices, which are provided exclusively for replacing old pipes already laid in the ground, frequently have no additional rotary drive.

Horizontal wellhead drilling rigs are often only suitable for use in out-of-town areas as they must be positioned at a considerable distance from the area because of the tapping path required to achieve the desired depth of drilling in which the bore or the new pipeline is to be introduced into the soil or in which an existing old pipeline is to be replaced. Frequently, space is not available in built-up urban areas. Another disadvantage of such Horizontalbohrvorrichtungen is that these - regularly trained as a self-propelled Bohrlafette - horizontal drilling produce considerable land damage that must be eliminated again with a corresponding financial outlay.

Because of these disadvantages, the trenchless line construction in built-up areas is still largely limited to the trenchless replacement of old pipes, since the old pipes always extend between existing underground cavities (in particular supply shafts and cellars), which can be used for the positioning of the horizontal drilling. Excavation and consequently land damage can be largely prevented. Horizontal drilling devices have been developed that are designed to be positioned in a sewer service well. However, as new utility lines are often not to be routed along existing utility lines, it is often not possible to resort to these horizontal wells for utility relocation.

From the DE 196 33 934 A1 a horizontal boring machine is known, which is designed for use in small excavation pits with a rectangular cross section of about 70 cm x 40 cm and a depth of about 1 m to 1.5 m. This horizontal drilling device comprises a frame whose dimensions correspond approximately to the cross-sectional dimensions of the excavation and which is lowered into the excavation. A part of the frame protrudes beyond the upper edge of the excavation. In the section of the frame located within the excavation is a combined linear / rotary drive provided over a screwed from individual rod sections together drill pipe is driven into the soil. The linear / rotary drive comprises a rotary drive which can be displaced in the horizontal direction within the frame by means of the linear actuator consisting of two hydraulic cylinders. To propel the drill string, the last rod assembly is fixed non-positively in the rotary drive, for which the rotary drive has jaws. The rod sections, which are gradually screwed to the rear end of the already drilled drill string, are fed to the linear / rotary drive upper a linkage, which this from a rod magazine, in the upper, over the edge of the pit extending portion of the frame is arranged, transported to the linear / rotary drive. The linkage comprises a changer motor whose motor shaft is provided with a threaded pin. The threaded pin is screwed into the rear end of a linkage, which is intended for transport to the linear / rotary drive. By a method of the changeover motor along the linkage pin the linkage can then be transported in a position coaxial with the drilling axis.

The from the DE 196 33 934 A1 known horizontal drilling device allows the introduction of holes in the soil from any starting positions. Since only a relatively small excavation is required for the positioning of the horizontal drilling device and the horizontal drilling is also very easy to transport due to the compact design, their use is associated with relatively low floor damage.

A disadvantage of the DE 196 33 934 A1 known Horizontalbohrvorrichtung is that due to the coaxial alignment of the changer motor, the new rod assembly and the drill string only relatively short (compared to the length of the frame) short rod sections can be used. However, the shorter the individual rod sections, the more frequently new rod sections have to be attached to the drill pipe in order to introduce the hole of the desired length into the ground. The preparation or release of a rod section is associated with a considerable amount of time.

Out DE 101 59 712 A1 For example, there is known a method and apparatus for making wells or for destructively replacing buried conduits. The device has a rotary drive, which is not a has shown hollow shaft which is adapted to receive a pipe section, the front end can be screwed to the last linkage portion of the already located in the ground part of a linkage. To make this possible, is located on a carriage a clamping device for holding the linkage section. The power transmission between the hollow shaft and the linkage section is done upper form or frictional engagement.

Due to the non-positive fixation of the drill string in the rotary drive, the height of the transferable to the drill string forces is limited. In addition, the non-positive fixation of the drill string requires the use of powerful and expensive hydraulic cylinder, thereby increasing the cost of the drilling device.

Based on this prior art, the invention was the object of an improved method for operating a horizontal drilling and a specify improved horizontal drilling device. In particular, a method for operating a horizontal drilling device, which allows the use of as long as possible rod sections and a horizontal drilling device, which is suitable inter alia for carrying out this method should be specified.

This object is solved by the subject matters of independent claims 1 and 4. Advantageous developments of the method according to the invention or the horizontal drilling device according to the invention are the subject of the respective dependent claims and will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

The invention is based on the idea to provide as long as possible rod sections for the drill string in order to limit the time required for a rod change (ie, the attachment or release of a rod section to / from the drill string) to a minimum. For drilling devices, which - as is known from the DE 196 33 934 A1 is known - are arranged in a pit with small dimensions, the maximum length that may have the rod sections, limited by the dimensions of the pit in the direction of the drilling axis. In such drilling devices, there is also the problem of handling the rod sections during the linkage change. In the drilling device of DE 196 33 934 A1 the rod sections are held during the linkage change of the removable motor. Since this changeover motor is positioned in a coaxial position behind the linkage, the maximum possible length of the rod sections is shortened at least by the length of the changeover motor.

The present invention is therefore based on a changer motor, as in the drilling device of DE 196 33 934 A1 is present to dispense, the linkage change the rod sections by means of the rotary drive (over which during operation of the drilling device, the drill pipe is then driven to rotate) perform. Since according to the invention also resorted to a rotary drive, which does not attack at the front or rear end of the rod sections, but this encompasses (so that it engages the mantle of the respective rod section), a design-related loss of length for the rod sections is avoided. These can thus be formed as long as possible.

An inventive method for operating a drilling apparatus having a linear drive, a movable by means of the linear drive rotary drive and a drill string, which is designed as a drill string of a plurality of interconnected rod sections, wherein the rotary drive forms a through hole into which the drill string is pluggable and wherein in the passage opening force transmission means for transmitting pressure and / or tensile forces and / or a torque are provided on the drill pipe, according to the invention is characterized in that a rod assembly is fixed within the passage opening of the drill string and connected by a linear and / or rotational movement of the rotary drive with the rear end of the drill string or is released from this.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention it can be provided that the linkage boom provided for the linkage change is fixed in a form-fitting manner within the passage opening of the rotary drive. A positive fixation of the rod sections has opposite to the DE 196 33 934 A1 known non-positive fixation on the advantage that the risk of slippage of the drill string is avoided at high loads and also the design effort that is required by the use of hydraulic cylinders to form a clamping device can be avoided.

A corresponding horizontal drilling device, which is particularly suitable for operation according to a method of the invention, has a linear drive, a movable by means of the linear drive rotary drive and a drill pipe, wherein the rotary drive forms a through hole into which the drill string is pluggable. According to the invention, the rotary drive within the passage opening on force transmission means for the positive transmission of pressure and / or tensile forces and / or torque on the drill string on.

In a preferred embodiment of the horizontal drilling device according to the invention it is provided that the force transmission means are formed so that the drill string in a first angular position (the power transmission means relative to the drill string) can be plugged into or removed from the rotary drive, while in a second angular position a locking of Linkage is given, can be transmitted in accordance with the invention pressure and / or tensile forces and / or torque. A locking of the linkage within the rotary drive is thus achieved via a relative rotation of the rod assembly relative to the power transmission means of the rotary drive.

A locking of the drill string in the rotary drive by a relative rotation can preferably be achieved in that the force transmission means comprise a power transmission ring which forms an opening through which the drill string can be inserted through. In addition, the drill pipe in at least one first section to a cross section of the opening as far as corresponding first cross section, that the linkage in only the first angular position through the opening of the power transmission ring is pluggable. Furthermore, the drill pipe has in at least one second section, which is formed as a partial section of the first section, has a second cross section, which differs from the first cross section, and which is configured so that the linkage can only be rotated into the second angular position when the second section is within the second angular position Opening of the power transmission ring is located.

Preferably, it can be provided that the power transmission ring is interchangeable arranged in the rotary drive. As a result, the cost of maintenance of the horizontal boring device according to the invention is kept low, since the power transmission ring, which is subject to a relatively large wear by the locking contact with the drill string, can be replaced without having to replace the entire rotary drive.

In a further preferred embodiment it can be provided that the drill string has a circular base cross-section, wherein this circular base cross-section in the first section is flattened at least on one side (and preferably on two sides with opposite parallel flats). Further preferably, the drill string may then have in the second portion at least one (preferably two) arcuate groove (s) which terminates in the lateral flattening (s).

In a preferred embodiment of the horizontal drilling device according to the invention, the drill string is designed as a drill string of a plurality of interconnected rod sections, wherein each rod section has at least two first sections and at least two second sections. This can ensure that the rotary drive or the power transmission means of the rotary drive can engage two (spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the rod assembly) positions of each rod section.

By engaging the rotary drive at least two positions of each rod section can - in a preferred embodiment of the method - the rod section for the rod change at a first position and for drilling the drill string at a second position is fixed. This makes it possible to design the rod assembly longer than the maximum stroke of the linear drive, which generally always has to be significantly shorter than the length of the excavation pit (in the direction of the drilling axis) for design reasons.

Preferably, it can be provided that in each case a first and a second section are in the region of the two ends of each rod section, between which at least a third section is arranged, which have a lower bending stiffness than the two first sections. Over a defined bending stiffness This third section can be adapted to the overall bending stiffness of the individual rod section and thus of the entire drill string.

The rotary drive of the horizontal drilling device according to the invention preferably has a hollow gear with a bevel gear driven by a motor, wherein the bevel gear meshes with a toothed ring, which in turn is rotatably connected to the power transmission means. This configuration makes it possible to arrange the motor of the rotary drive in the vertical direction (i.e., perpendicular to the drilling axis) within the excavation, whereby the rotary drive as a whole can be kept as short as possible (in the direction of the drilling axis). By a shortest possible rotary drive, the smallest possible stroke for the rotary drive moving linear drive can be realized in tight spaces.

The linear drive of the horizontal drilling device according to the invention is preferably in the form of one or more drive cylinders (preferably operated hydraulically or pneumatically). The rotary drive can then be connected to the linear drive by being connected to the cylinder tube (s) of the drive cylinder (s).

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

Fig-1

eine erfindungsgemäße Horizontalbohrvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 2

die Horizontalbohrvorrichtung der Fig. 1 in einer zweiten perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 3

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der Darstellung gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

den unteren Abschnitt der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung gemäß den Fig. 1 bis 3 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 5

die Darstellung gemäß Fig. 4 in einer anderen Betriebsstellung der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung;

Fig. 6

eine isolierte Darstellung des Rotationsantriebs der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 7a

eine isolierte Darstellung der Gestängeaufnahme der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung in einer ersten Betriebsstellung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 7b

eine isolierte Darstellung der Gestängeaufnahme der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung in einer ersten Betriebsstellung in einer geschnittenen Seitenansicht;

Fig. 8a

eine isolierte Darstellung der Gestängeaufnahme der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 8b

eine isolierte Darstellung der Gestängeaufnahme der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung in einer geschnittenen Seitenansicht;

Fig. 9a

eine isolierte Darstellung des Mitnehmerrings des Rotationsantriebs einschließlich eines Gestängeschusses in einer ersten Betriebsstellung in einer isometrischen Ansicht;

Fig. 9b

eine Frontansicht des in der Fig. 9a dargestellten Mitnehmerrings und Gestängeschusses;

Fig. 10a

eine isolierte Darstellung des Mitnehmerrings des Rotationsantriebs einschließlich eines Gestängeschusses in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung in einer isometrischen Ansicht;

Fig. 10b

eine Frontansicht des in der Fig. 10a dargestellten Mitnehmerrings und Gestängeschusses; und

Fig. 11

eine isolierte Darstellung der Gestängeaufnahme sowie des unteren Abschnitts des Gestängelifts in einer isometrischen Ansicht.

In the drawings shows:

Fig-1

a horizontal drilling device according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 2

the horizontal drilling of the Fig. 1 in a second perspective view;

Fig. 3

an enlarged section of the illustration according to Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

the lower portion of the horizontal drilling according to the Fig. 1 to 3 in a perspective view;

Fig. 5

the representation according to Fig. 4 in another operating position of the horizontal drilling device;

Fig. 6

an isolated view of the rotary drive of the horizontal drilling in a perspective view;

Fig. 7a

an isolated view of the boom support of the horizontal drilling in a first operating position in a perspective view;

Fig. 7b

an isolated view of the boom support of the horizontal boring device in a first operating position in a sectional side view;

Fig. 8a

an isolated view of the boom support of the horizontal drilling in a second operating position in a perspective view;

Fig. 8b

an isolated view of the boom support of the horizontal drilling in a second operating position in a sectional side view;

Fig. 9a

an isolated view of the driving ring of the rotary drive including a rod section in a first operating position in an isometric view;

Fig. 9b

a front view of the in the Fig. 9a illustrated Mitnehmerrings and rod section;

Fig. 10a

an isolated view of the drive ring of the rotary drive including a rod section in a second operating position in an isometric view;

Fig. 10b

a front view of the in the Fig. 10a illustrated Mitnehmerrings and rod section; and

Fig. 11

an isolated view of the boom support and the lower portion of the linkage pin in an isometric view.

The Fig. 1 shows in an isometric view of a horizontal drilling device 1 according to the invention when introducing a pilot hole in the ground.

The horizontal drilling device comprises a cylindrical housing 2, which is partially closed by a cylindrical jacket 3. Functionally, the horizontal boring device 1 or the housing 2 of the horizontal boring device 1 is subdivided into two sections, namely a lower section called a "pit section", which is located inside a excavation pit 4 specially excavated for receiving the horizontal boring device 1. In the pit section of the horizontal drilling device 1, the housing 2 is substantially completely closed by the jacket 3. This prevents soil from falling off the wall of the excavation 4 from falling into the cavity formed by the housing 2, where there are further functional elements the horizontal drilling device 1 and in particular a combined linear / rotary drive 5 is located. Otherwise, soil falling into the cavity could contaminate these functional elements, which could impair the function of the horizontal drilling apparatus 1.

In the upper section of the horizontal drilling device 1, also referred to as a "surface section" according to the invention, the housing 2 is partially open in order to give an operator access to a linkage pin 6 extending into this area.

The horizontal boring device 1 is positioned "suspended" within the excavation 4, i. this is not supported on the bottom of the excavation 4, but rather on a support device with a total of three support legs 7, which are attached to the longitudinal members 8 of the housing 2 in the region of the surface portion of the horizontal drilling device 1. Each of the support legs 7 can be attached to the respective side member 8 at a total of five different positions. As a result, a height adjustment of the suspended in the excavation 4 horizontal drilling 1 done. This height adjustment is important to e.g. to position the located within the pit section linear / rotary drive 5 on the right for the introduction of the pilot hole in the ground height. A fixing of the support legs 7 at the various positions along the side members 8 via a respective transverse pin 9, which is inserted through a through hole in a cross member 10 of the respective support leg 7 and the respective longitudinal member 8 of the housing 2 through and then fixed.

Each of the support legs 7 further comprises a spindle support, which is connected via a rotary joint with the cross member 10 of the respective support leg 7. The spindle support comprises a threaded rod 11 which has a support leg 12 at its foot end. At the opposite end of the support leg 12 of the threaded rod 11, a handle 13 is provided, via which the threaded rod 11 can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, whereby a longitudinal displacement relative to the threaded rod surrounding the spindle housing 14 is achieved. The spindle supports serve to align the horizontal drilling device 1 within the pit 4 exactly after a first height positioning has already been achieved by the attachment of the support legs 7 to the side rails 8 of the housing 2.

In the Fig. 1 It can be seen that the excavation 4 - as well as the housing 2 of the horizontal drilling device 1 - (substantially) has a cylindrical shape whose inner diameter also corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the housing 2 of the horizontal drilling device. The shell 3 of the horizontal drilling device 1 in the region of the pit section is thus more or less directly against the wall of the Excavation 4 on. Due to the extensive agreement of the inner diameter of the excavation 4 and the outer diameter of the housing 2, not only the size of the excavation pit 4 to be excavated can be kept to a minimum, but it can be achieved within the excavation 4 as large as possible and homogeneous support of the horizontal drilling 1. Due to the circular cross-section of the excavation 4 and the housing 2, the support is also independent of the respective rotational orientation (about the longitudinal axis of the horizontal drilling).

The excavation 4 was excavated by first with a crown drill (not shown), an annular groove with the required (outer) diameter in the surface seal (asphalt surface) was introduced, which removes dislodged disc-shaped asphalt cover and then the underlying soil by means of a Suction dredger (not shown) was sucked. The suction dredger used for this purpose comprises a suction nozzle, which likewise has a circular cross section. The excavation 4 is excavated slightly lower than necessary in order to allow a height adjustment of the suspended horizontal drilling device 1 within the excavation 4, without causing an accidental placement of the lower end of the horizontal drilling 1 on the pit floor.

After digging the excavation 4, the horizontal drilling 1 was lowered by means of a crane (not shown) in the pit 4 until the previously secured to the side rails 8 of the housing 2 support legs 7 have contact with the earth's surface. With the help of the crane, the horizontal drilling device 1 was then still rotationally aligned within the excavation by being rotated about its longitudinal axis until the arranged by the arranged within the pit portion of the horizontal drilling 1 linear / rotary drive drilling axis has in the desired starting direction for the pilot hole , On the spindle supports then a fine adjustment of the working height of the horizontal drilling device 1 and within limits of the inclination of the horizontal drilling device 1 with respect to the vertical could be achieved.

Since the wall of the excavation 4 - in particular when it was excavated by means of a suction dredger - is not uniformly cylindrical, the horizontal boring device 1 according to the invention has in the region of the excavation section a total of four support elements 15 distributed uniformly over the circumference. These support elements 15 comprise support plates 16, which in a retracted position in each case form a section of the cylindrical jacket 3 of the horizontal drilling device. The support plates 16 can each be deflected by means of a hydraulic cylinder 17 in the radial direction to the outside to make a direct contact of the horizontal drilling device 1 with the wall of the excavation 4 in order to safely support these within the excavation 4.

The individual components of these support elements 15 are good in the Fig. 3 recognizable. Each of the support plates 16 is connected via a first pivot 18 to a first end of a Auslenkhebels 19, which in turn is rotatably supported by a second pivot joint 21 on the housing 2 of the horizontal drilling device 1. A second end of the Auslenkhebels 19 is connected to the head of a piston rod 20 of the hydraulic cylinder 17. A extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder 17 thus causes a partial rotation of the Auslenkhebels 19 about the pivot 21, whereby the respective support plate 16 can be deflected radially or withdrawn. End stops 22 prevent the support plate 16 when retracting the hydraulic cylinder 17 penetrates into the interior defined by the shell of the housing.

The Fig. 2 shows one of the Fig. 1 corresponding representation of the entire horizontal drilling device 1, but in which a part of the shell 3 is removed in the pit section to make visible the functional elements arranged therein.

The Fig. 3 to 5 show various views of this portion of the horizontal drilling device 1 in enlarged views. It can be seen that the combined linear / rotary drive 5 is arranged at the lower end of the horizontal drilling device 1 within the housing 2. This serves to propel a composite of individual rod sections 23 drill pipe 24 rotating in the soil.

The Fig. 6 shows a partial section through the linear / rotary drive 5 in an isolated from the other elements of the horizontal drilling device 1 representation. The linear drive is formed by two hydraulic cylinders 25. The piston rods 26 of the two hydraulic cylinders 25 pass through the respective cylinder tube 27 completely and are connected at their two ends to the housing 2 of the horizontal drilling device 1. The piston rods 26 each have a centrally disposed piston (not shown), which divides the respectively formed between the cylinder tube 27 and the piston rod 26 annular space into two working chambers, which can be supplied via a hydraulic line 66 with the hydraulic oil. Depending on the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the individual working chambers, a movement of the respective cylinder tube 27 on the piston rod 26 in one or the other direction is achieved. The movement of the two hydraulic cylinders 25 of the linear drive is synchronized.

A rotary drive is arranged between the two cylinder tubes 27 of the linear drive forming hydraulic cylinder 25 and secured thereto. The rotary drive comprises a flange-mounted on a hollow gear 28 motor 29 (in particular a hydraulic or an electric motor). A drive shaft 30 of the motor 29 is connected to a bevel gear 31, which in turn meshes with a toothed ring 32, which in turn is connected via screw 33 with a drive sleeve 34. The drive sleeve 34 is rotatably supported by two roller bearings 35 within a housing 36 of the hollow gear 28. A rotation of the drive shaft 30 of the motor 29 thus causes a rotation of the drive sleeve 34 about its longitudinal axis. This longitudinal axis substantially corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the drill pipe 24 held therein and consequently also to the drilling axis, ie the starting direction of a pilot bore to be introduced or the longitudinal axis of a bore or an old pipe extending in the wall of the excavation 4.

For transmitting the rotational movement of the drive sleeve 34 and the longitudinal movement generated by the hydraulic cylinders 25 of the linear drive on the drill pipe 34 held in the drill pipe 24 is a drive ring 37 which - fixed in an operating position of the drill string 24 within the driver ring 37 - the drill string 24 positively. The driving ring 37 is mounted in a form-fitting manner within the drive sleeve 34 and can be exchanged in a simple manner by first removes a snap ring 63 from a corresponding groove in the inside of the drive sleeve 34 and then a spacer ring 64 is pulled out of the drive sleeve. The driver ring 37 can then be easily pulled out of the drive sleeve 34.

The Fig. 9a and 9b 10a and 10b show, in two views in each case, the two operating positions of the drill pipe 24 within the driver ring 37 relevant to the operation of the horizontal drilling apparatus 1. These two operating positions differ by a 90 ° relative rotation of the driver ring 37 about its longitudinal axis relative to the drill pipe 24. In the in the Fig. 9a and 9b shown operating position, the drill pipe 24 is locked in the drive ring. This locking is achieved by the special shell shape of the rod sections 23 of the drill string 24 and a shape adapted thereto of the central opening of the driver ring 37.

Each rod assembly 23 of the drill string 24 has a cylindrical basic shape with a relatively small diameter central portion 38 and two relatively large diameter end portions 39a, 39b. In each of the end portions 39a, 39b of a rod section 23, two parallel flats 40 are provided, resulting in a cross section with two parallel straight sides and two opposite arcuate sides. The driving ring 37 forms a passage opening corresponding to this cross section, so that it is possible, provided the driving ring 37 and the rod section 23 guided therein in the in the 10a and 10b Rotational alignment shown arranged to each other are to insert the rod assembly 23 in the through hole of the cam ring 37 and free to move (in the longitudinal direction).

For locking the rod assembly 23 in the driver ring 37 this is moved as far within the through hole until two arcuate locking grooves 41, which are formed in each of the end portions 39a, 39b of the rod section 23, located within the driving ring 37. These locking grooves allow a relative rotation of the cam ring 37 by 90 ° clockwise in the in the Fig. 9a and 9b shown operating position (locking position). A rotation of more than 90 ° is prevented by the fact that the two mutually offset by 180 ° about the longitudinal axis of the rod assembly 23 locking grooves 41 are curved in an angular portion of 90 ° and then just run out. As a result, two cams 42 are formed whose distance is greater than the narrow width (corresponding to the distance between the two straight edges of the through hole of the driving ring) of the through hole of the cam ring 37. These cams 42 strike in the in the Fig. 9a and 9b illustrated locking position at the edges of the driving ring 37 and thus prevent further rotation (clockwise).

In the locking position of the rod section 23 in the driving ring 37, 37 longitudinal forces (in the longitudinal direction of the rod assembly axes) and a torque (in the Fig. 9a to 10b clockwise) on the boom or the entire drill pipe to be transferred.

The middle section 38 of each rod section 23 has a reduced outer diameter in order to achieve a (defined) bending stiffness in relation to the end sections 39a, 39b. This should enable the use of a controllable inclined drilling head. By reversing the drill head 43 in the ground, a sectionally arcuate bore profile is achieved. The drill string 24 must adapt to this arcuate bore profile, which leads to a corresponding bending stress. The reduced diameter and thus relative to the end portions 39a, 39b relatively flexible middle section 38 of each rod section 23 serves to keep the rod assembly 23 altogether pliable, while at the same time the end portions 39a, 39b, which are particularly vulnerable to breakage, stiff perform.

Due to the arrangement of the combined linear / rotary drive 5 at the lower end of the pit portion of the horizontal drilling device 1 and due to the small outer dimensions of the horizontal drilling device 1 (the housing 2 has a maximum diameter of about 60 cm), the individual rod sections 23 the linear / Rotary drive 5 are not manually fed. Rather, this is for this an automated rod feed provided, which consists of a rod holder 44, which is arranged at the height of the linear / rotary drive 5, and the linkage pin 6.

The rod receiver 44 is in the overall view of Fig. 4 and 5 as well as isolated in the representations of the Fig. 7a, 7b . 8a and 8b shown. The central element of the boom support 44 is a receiving mandrel 45, which is mounted in a bridge 46 which is connected to the cylinder tubes 47 of two further hydraulic cylinders 48. Also in the hydraulic cylinders 48 are those in which the piston rod 49 protrudes from both sides of the cylinder tube 47. The two free ends of the two piston rods 49 are connected to the housing 2 of the horizontal drilling device 1, so that by a corresponding pressurization of the hydraulic cylinder 48 with hydraulic oil, the cylinder tubes 47 can be moved on the stationary piston rods 49 and consequently the boom support 44 in the horizontal direction.

The receiving mandrel 45 of the boom receptacle 44 is pivotally mounted within the bridge 46 about a horizontal axis, wherein a pivoting between the two in the Fig. 7a, 7b on the one hand and 8a, 8b on the other hand shown end positions is possible. The pivoting is achieved via a further hydraulic cylinder 50, which is supplied via corresponding hydraulic connections 65 with a hydraulic oil.

In the in the Fig. 7a, 7b The alignment shown is the longitudinal axis of the receiving mandrel 45 and an attached thereon rod assembly 23 coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the drive sleeve 34 of the rotary drive and thus has in the drilling direction of the horizontal drilling device 1. In the in the Fig. 8a, 8b shown vertical and thus by 90 ° to the operating position according to Fig. 7a and 7b pivoted alignment of the mandrel 45 and the attached thereon rod assembly 23 is positioned within a guide rail 51 of the linkage pin 6. In this operating position of the receiving mandrel 45, a rod section 23 can be plugged by the linkage pin 6 on the receiving mandrel 45 or deducted from this.

Within the guide rail 51 of the linkage pin 6, a receiving carriage 52 which can receive a rod section 23, slidably guided, wherein the receiving carriage 52 is fixed to a run of a drive belt 53 which extends outside of the guide rail 51 and parallel thereto. An upper drive roller of the drive belt 53 is connected to a motor (not shown) for driving the same. A lower guide roller 54 is mounted on an axle 55, which is guided at its two ends on a respective threaded rod 56 and in a respective groove 57. By rotating the threaded rods 56, the vertical position of the lower guide roller 54 can be changed to tension the drive belt 53. By means of the drive belt 53, the receiving carriage 52 can be moved up and down within the guide rail 51. In this way, a boom section 23, which is used by an operator in a loading station 58 in the surface portion of the horizontal drilling device 1, to the boom support 44 in the pit section - and vice versa - be transported.

The Fig. 11 shows in an isolated view of the boom receptacle 44 and the lower part of the linkage pin 6 including the receiving carriage 52, in which a rod section 23 is held. The receiving carriage 52 forms a passage opening into which the rod section 23 can be inserted by the operator in the region of the loading station 58 from the side. In the receiving carriage 52, the inserted rod assembly 23 is suspended, ie two pairs of projections 59 each form a clearance which is only slightly wider than the diameter of the central portion 38 and narrower than the wider side of the end portions 39a, 39b of the rod section 23 , One of the projection pairs engages in the locking grooves 41 of the front end portion 39 a, while the second projection pair engages in the central portion 38 of the rod section 23. About the two projection pairs of the receiving carriage 52 of the rod assembly 23 fixed therein is held in a form-fitting (in the vertical and lateral directions). Of course, it is also possible to use only one projection pair or even a single projection to hold the rod assembly 23 within the receiving carriage 52.

By lowering the receiving carriage 52 within the guide rail 51 of the linkage pin 6 held in the receiving carriage 52 rod assembly 23 is mounted on the vertically oriented receiving mandrel 45 (see. Fig. 5 [Receiving carriage not shown] and 8a, 8b). The mandrel is then 90 ° in the in the Fig. 4 and 7a, 7b shown horizontal operating position pivoted, whereby the rod assembly 23 is pivoted out of the receiving carriage 52 in the lateral direction. The receiving carriage 52 can then be moved back to the loading station 58, so that a further rod section 23 can be used.

The horizontal drilling device 1 is designed for the execution of flushing holes, ie the drill bit 43 arranged on the front side of the drill string 24 is supplied via the drill string 24 with a drilling fluid which emerges through front and side outlet openings. In order to enable the supply of the drilling fluid to the drill head 43, the individual rod sections 23 of the drill string 24 are designed to be hollow throughout. The drilling fluid is supplied to the drill pipe 24 via the mandrel 45, which is also designed to be almost continuous hollow. Only at the rear end, ie from an attached rod section 23rd outstanding end, this is closed by means of a screw 60. The hollow space formed by the hollow mandrel 45, the drilling fluid is supplied via a likewise hollow shaft on which the receiving mandrel 45 is rotatably mounted. Two sealing rings on the outside of the mandrel 45 prevent leakage of the drilling fluid through the gap between the mandrel 45 and the rod section 23. This can be achieved in a simple manner a safe and structurally simple connection of the pivoting mandrel 45 to the Bohrflüssigkeitsquelle. To achieve a connection to the Bohrflüssigkeitsquelle while maintaining the pivotability of the mandrel via flexible supply hoses, however, is structurally complex, since the high pressure with which a drilling fluid is fed to such a drill string 24, the use of extremely pressure-resistant and thus less elastic supply hoses required which in turn would hinder the pivotal movement of the take-up mandrel 45, requiring a larger and more efficient hydraulic cylinder 50 for pivoting.

• Noch vor dem Absenken der Horizontalbohrvorrichtung 1 in die Baugrube 4 wird der in der Fig. 1 dargestellte Bohrkopf 43 durch eine Durchtrittsöffnung 61 für das Bohrgestänge, die in dem Gehäuse 2 ausgebildet ist, in die Antriebshülse 34 des Rotationsantriebs eingesteckt. Dies ist erforderlich, da der Bohrkopf einen integrierten Sender für die Lokalisierung mittels eines sogenannten Walk-Over-Empfängers aufweist und dadurch länger als die Gestängeschüsse 23 ist. Der Bohrkopf weist einen (hinteren) Endabschnitt 62 auf, der hinsichtlich der geometrischen Form den Endabschnitten 39a, 39b der Gestängeschüsse 23 entspricht: In den Endabschnitt 62 mit einer zylindrischen Grundform, die an zwei gegenüberliegenden Seiten mit parallelen Abflachungen versehen ist, sind zwei bogenförmige Verriegelungsnuten eingebracht, in die der Mitnehmerring 37 durch eine 90°-Rotation im Uhrzeigersinn eingedreht werden kann, wodurch der Bohrkopf 43 in dem Rotationsantrieb verriegelt ist. Der Rotationsantrieb befindet sich dabei in der hintersten Stellung, in der dieser mittels des Linearantriebs so weit wie möglich von der Durchtrittsöffnung 61 weg gefahren ist.

A use of the horizontal drilling device 1 for creating a pilot hole is as follows:

• Even before lowering the horizontal drilling device 1 in the pit 4 is in the Fig. 1 illustrated drill head 43 through a passage opening 61 for the drill string, which is formed in the housing 2, inserted into the drive sleeve 34 of the rotary drive. This is necessary because the drill head has an integrated transmitter for localization by means of a so-called walk-over receiver and thereby longer than the rod sections 23. The drill head has a (rear) end portion 62 which corresponds in terms of geometric shape to the end portions 39a, 39b of the rod sections 23: In the end portion 62 with a cylindrical basic shape, which is provided on two opposite sides with parallel flats, are two arcuate locking grooves introduced, in which the driving ring 37 can be screwed by a 90 ° rotation in a clockwise direction, whereby the drill head 43 is locked in the rotary drive. The rotary drive is in the rearmost position in which this is driven by the linear drive as far as possible from the passage opening 61 away.

The horizontal drilling device 1 is then lowered into the excavation 4, aligned and supported, as already described.

By using the linear / rotary drive 5 then the drill head 43 is drilled as far as possible in the ground. Due to the length of the drill head 43, the drilling is carried out with two strokes of the linear drive; at the first stroke, the cam ring 37 is located at the front end of the two parallel flats, so that the Compressive forces are transmitted via the paragraph formed there and the torque on serving as the key surfaces parallel flats. After the first stroke of the linear drive is moved back so that the driving ring 37 engage in the locking grooves and lock the drill head 43. Then the linear drive is again moved forward by one working stroke, whereby the drill head 43 is completely bored. The rotary drive is then in the example in the Fig. 4 and 5 illustrated foremost position. A provided in the region of the passage opening locking fork (not shown) is then shut down. The fork width of the locking fork corresponds to the distance between the two parallel flats of the drill head 43 and the distance between the two locking grooves. Previously, the drill bit 43 was aligned by means of the rotary drive so that the two flats of the end portion are aligned vertically, so that the locking fork can drive over the end portion (in a section in front of the locking grooves) of the drill head 43, whereby rotation of the drill head by means of a positive fixation 43 is temporarily prevented.

During the propelling of the drill head 43 into the ground, the operator has already used a first rod section 23 in the receiving carriage 52 and attached it to the receiving mandrel 45 by a method of the linkage pin 6. After a pivoting of the mandrel 45 and the attached thereon rod assembly 23 by 90 ° in its horizontal orientation, the rod assembly 23 is in a largely coaxial position to the already drilled bit 43. By a method of the two hydraulic cylinders 48 of the rod holder 44 can then the front Threaded plug of the rod assembly 23 are moved up to the rear threaded bushing of the drill head 43. The driving ring 37 is then released from the locking grooves of the drill head 43 and the linear / rotary drive 5 is moved back so far that this is located in a defined region of the front end portion 39 a of the first rod section 23. By actuating the rotary drive, the first rod assembly 23 is screwed to the drill head 43 fixed in the direction of rotation by the locking fork, the torque being transmitted via the parallel flats 40. Due to the fact that the driving ring 37 is not yet locked in the locking groove 41, the rod section can be displaced relative to the driving ring 37 during screwing in the longitudinal axial direction. As a result, the longitudinal movement of the rod section 23 required for screwing the rod section 23 can be realized without a complex length compensation realized by the linear drive.

The position of the rotary drive during the screwing is chosen so that the locking grooves 41 of the front end portion 39 a after the complete screwing of the rod section 23 with the drill head 43 within the driving ring 43, so that it can directly engage in the locking grooves 41 by a 90 ° rotation directly, that is, without another method of the linear drive is required to fix the rod assembly 23 in the longitudinal direction. The drill string is then drilled so far until the rotary drive has returned to its front end position.

Thereafter, the rotary drive is unlocked by a 90 ° rotation (in the opposite direction) of the driver ring and moved back by means of the hydraulic cylinder 25 of the linear drive until the driver ring 37 can engage in the locking grooves 41 of the rear end portion 39b of the first rod section 23; There, the driving ring 37 is locked again by a 90 ° rotation. Then the drill string, consisting of drill head 43 and first rod assembly 23 is driven by the use of the linear / rotary drive 5 by a further working stroke of the linear drive further into the soil.

As soon as the rotary drive has reached its front end position, the boom support 44 is moved back into the rear position and the take-up mandrel 45 is pivoted into the vertical position, where this second linkage 23, which already by the operator in the receiving carriage 58 moved into the loading station 52 was used, can accommodate.

Upon completion of the power stroke of the linear actuator, the locking grooves 41 of the front end portion 39a of the first linkage 23 are below the locking fork, which can then be lowered to fix the drill string while the second linkage 23 is bolted to the existing drill string. For this purpose, the second rod assembly 23 is moved up by means of the rod holder 44 to the rear end of the first rod assembly 23. At the same time, the rotational drive is released from the first linkage 23 and moved backwards so far that it can engage the parallel flats 40 in the front end section 39a of the second linkage section 23. Through the use of the linear / rotary drive 5, the second rod section 23 is then screwed to the first rod section 23, wherein after completing the screwing of the cam ring 37 is locked again in the locking grooves 41 of the front end portion 39 a of the second rod section and the drill string back to the Reaching the front end position (of the linear drive) is bored. The linear / rotary drive 5 is then released by a 90 ° relative rotation of the driving ring 37 of the second rod section 23 and moved back to lock the second rod section 23 in the rear end portion 39b and the drill string to another working stroke in to drive the soil.

Unlike the drill head 43, the locking fork always engages in the locking grooves 41 of the rod sections 23 in order to secure this or the drill string not only rotationally but also against longitudinal movement. As a result, it is possible to prevent the drill string from shifting unintentionally due to elastic re-deformations of the compressed soil and of the drill string compressed or stretched by the loads.

The preparation and Verbohren further rod sections 23 is then carried out in an identical manner.

After the pilot bore has been completed, it may be provided to replace the drill head 43 by a widening device (not shown) to widen the bore during retraction of the drill string. Optionally, a neural tube (not shown) or other supply line (not shown) may be attached to the expander head, which is retracted into the bore simultaneously with the expander.

When retracting the drill string 24, this is gradually shortened by a rod section 23. This is done in the following way.

The driving ring 37 of the rotary drive is locked in the locking grooves 41 of the rear end portion 39 b of the last rod section 23. The rotary drive is moved by a process of the hydraulic cylinder 25 of the linear drive to the rear. The locking fork is then moved down and fixes the penultimate rod assembly 23 by this in the locking grooves 41 of the rear end portion 39 b of this rod section 23 engages. The linear / rotary drive is then released by a 90 ° rotation of the driving ring of the rod section 23 and moved forward again until the driving ring 37 can engage in the locking grooves of the front end portion 39a of the last rod section 23. Through a further working stroke of the linear drive, the drill string 24 is pulled out of the ground so far that the locking fork can lock the penultimate rod section 23 in the front end portion 39a. Then the last rod section 23 can be unscrewed from the penultimate rod section 23 by a rotation of the drive sleeve 34 in the counterclockwise direction. Due to the particular shape of the rod section in the region of the end sections, a torque for releasing the threaded connection can be transmitted without the carrier ring 37 being fixed in the locking groove 41 also in the longitudinal axial direction. This allows the driving ring 37 slide when unscrewing the rod assembly 23 according to the thread pitch over the rod section, whereby a length compensation on the linear drive can be avoided. At the same time moves the boom support 44 forward to the unscrewed last rod section 23 record. The boom support 44 then moves back to its rearmost position and the linear / rotary drive 5 at the same time forward, so that it can attack on the rear end portion 39b of the then last (previously penultimate) rod section 23. The unscrewed rod assembly 23 is then completely moved out of the drive sleeve 34 and can be used by pivoting the mandrel 45 in the vertical position in the receiving carriage 52 of the linkage pin 6. The receiving carriage 52 can then be moved up to the feed station 58, where the rod section can be removed by an operator.

In an identical manner, all rod sections are successively detached from the drill string and removed from the horizontal drilling apparatus.

The horizontal drilling device shown is particularly suitable for use in inner city areas and in particular for the creation of domestic connections in the supply area (in particular gas, water, electricity, glass fiber, etc.). Drill holes of up to 20 meters in length can be drilled and used to retract pipes or cables with an outside diameter of up to 63 mm.

Claims (13)

1. Method for operating a horizontal drilling device (1), said horizontal drilling device (1) comprising a linear drive, a rotary drive which can be displaced by the linear drive and a drill rod assembly (24) which is configured as a train of a plurality of interconnected rod segments (23), the rotary drive forming a passage opening into which the drill rod assembly can be inserted, force transmission means for transmitting compressive and/or tensile forces and/or a torque onto the drill rod assembly (24) being provided in the passage opening, and a rod segment (23) being fixed inside the passage opening of the rotary drive and being connected to the rear end of the drill rod assembly (24) or being released from the drill rod assembly (24) by a linear and/or rotational movement of the rotary drive, characterised in that the force for connecting or releasing a rod segment (23) is transmitted by force transmission means such that in a first angular position of the force transmission means relative to the drill rod assembly (24), the drill rod assembly (24) can be inserted into the rotary drive or can be removed therefrom, while in a second angular position, a locking of the drill rod assembly (24) is provided in which compressive and/or tensile forces and/or a torque can be transmitted.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the rod segment (23) is fixed positively inside the passage opening of the rotary drive.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the rod segment (23) is fixed in a first position inside the passage opening for connection/release and is fixed in a second position at a distance from the first position in a longitudinally axial direction for the drilling of the drill rod assembly (24).
4. Horizontal drilling device (1) having a linear drive, a rotary drive displaceable by the linear drive and a drill rod assembly (24), the rotary drive forming a passage opening into which the drill rod assembly (24) can be inserted, and the rotary drive comprising force transmission means for the positive transmission of compressive and/or tensile forces and/or a torque onto the drill rod assembly (24), characterised in that the force transmission means are configured such that in a first angular position of said force transmission means relative to the drill rod assembly (24), the drill rod assembly (24) can be inserted into the rotary drive or can be removed therefrom, while in a second angular position, a locking of the drill rod assembly (24) is provided in which compressive and/or tensile forces and/or a torque can be transmitted.
5. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the force transmission means comprise a force transmission ring which forms an opening through which the drill rod assembly (24) can be inserted and the drill rod assembly (24) has in at least a first portion a first cross section corresponding to such an extent to the cross section of the opening that the drill rod assembly (24) can be inserted through the opening only in the first angular position, and has in at least a second portion configured as a partial portion of the first portion, a second cross section different from the first cross section so that the drill rod assembly (24) can only be rotated into the second angular position when the second portion is located inside the opening of the force transmission ring.
6. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the force transmission ring is arranged in a replaceable manner in the rotary drive.
7. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the drill rod assembly (24) has a circular basic cross section and has at least one lateral flattening (40) in the first portion.
8. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the drill rod assembly (24) has in the second portion at least one arched groove which runs out into the lateral flattening.
9. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the drill rod assembly (24) is configured as a train of a plurality of interconnected rod segments (23), each rod segment (23) having at least two first portions and at least two second portions.
10. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that a first portion and a second portion is respectively located in the region of both ends of each rod segment (23), a third portion which has a lower flexural strength than the first portions being arranged between said first and second portions.
11. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterised in that the rotary drive has a hollow transmission (28) with a bevel gear wheel (31) driven by a motor (29), the bevel gear wheel (31) meshing with an annular gear (32) which is connected for co-rotation with the force transmission means.
12. Horizontal drilling device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 11, characterised in that the rotary drive is connected to the cylinder tube (27) of at least one drive cylinder of the linear drive.
13. Drill rod assembly (24) of a horizontal drilling device according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 12, characterised in that the rod segments (23) of the drill rod assembly (24) have a casing form with two arched locking grooves, which casing form is adapted to the force transmission means.

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