US2633334A

US2633334A - Boring tool

Info

Publication number: US2633334A
Application number: US126990A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Lavender
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-11-14
Filing date: 1949-11-14
Publication date: 1953-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1970-03-31

Description

March 31, 1953 w. H. LAVENDER BORING TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 14, 1949 m w y m .n Mm M m 6 V s W m y L m, H w l .W W Nv S vm wwl, xw hh S Nm D v 2U.. .b..h

March 31, 1953 W, LAVENDER 2,633,334

' BORING TOOL Filed Nov. 14, 1949 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 31, 1953 w.A H. LAVENDER BORQENG TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 14, 1949 Will/'am H. Lavender INVENTOR.

B-Y @mu W Anomeyx Patented Mar. 31, V1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BORING TOOL William H. Lavender, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 126,990 7 claims. (o1. 255-20) A still further object of the invention is to prol vide an improved rotary drilling apparatus in conformity with the foregoing objects which shall have a, simplified and improved mechanism and drilling operation, which may be associated with a pipe casing in an improved manner for carrying out the desired drilling operation; and wherein there is provided improved means for operating the rotary drilling apparatus and for removing material excavated thereby, all housed within a pipe casing section.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View showing a preferred embodiment of the invention in operative position for excavating a horizontal tunnel below a road bed for receiving a conduit or casing member therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical central longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a pipe casing having the invention applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and illus.

trating the driving mechanism of the rotary drilling apparatus;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of therdrilling apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 and taken from the left end thereof;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane of section line 5--5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a group perspective detail view illustrating a portion of the cutter bar and of a cutting tooth forming a part of the invention.

Referring now more specifically to the accomsection I8 and extends forwardly from the front,

2 panying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, attention is directed iirst to Figure 1 wherein there is disclosed, purely by way of illustrating the principle and manner of applying the inven-v tion, a portion of a road bed I9 having a roadv surface I2 thereon, the road having a pair of drainage or other ditches i4 and IS extending parallel to and upon opposite sides of the road.

Although the principles of the invention, and the rotary drilling apparatus forming the subject thereof are applicable to a variety of purposes for drilling horizontal and other tunnels through the earth, the invention is especially.

adaptable for drilling horizontal transverse tunnels beneath a road bed for connecting drainage ditches on both sides of the same, or for receiving pipes or conduits which it is desired to conduct beneath the road bed. For this purpose, the invention conveniently employs a cylindrical or other elongated member I8 which may conveniently comprise a, section of a pipe or conduitv casing, this section being employed to detachably receive the rotary drilling head, the power operating means for the same, and a waste material excavating means employed therewith, as set forth hereinafter.

Referring now more specifically to Figure 2, it will ybe understood that the casing section I8 which may conveniently comprise a cylindrical conduit or casing section, is open at both of its ends, these being hereinafter referred to as,- Detachably mounted upon the front end of the casing section I8, in any suitable manner such as by fastening boltsthe front and rear ends.

20 or the like, is a support 22 which may conveniently comprise a cylindrical sleeve or theV like and which may be loosely but snugly received in the open front end of the casing section I8 as shown clearly in Figure 2.

As shown best in Figure 3, this support or sleeve 22 is provided with a longitudinal -slot 24 at its lower side, for a purpose whichjwillbe later apparent.

effect forms a smooth continuation of the exterior surface of the casing section I8, and which at suitable circumferential intervals is provided with annular cut out portions 28. Suitable radially extending support ribs 30 are connected,V

with the interior surface of the support sleeve 22, and merge into a tubular member 32 which is axially disposed with respect to the casing end thereof as shown in Figure 2. Similar radially disposed bores 34, are received in the ribs 30, and serve to journal and mount radially extending

drive shafts

36, 38 and 40.

Obviously, any desired number of radial drive shafts could be provided, but for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention it has been deemed sufficient to illustrate -three of these shafts.

A plurality of forwardly extending supporting, journaling and retaining brackets 42 are provided which are secured to the support sleeve 22 as by bolts 44, whereby the brackets are retained on the inner surface of the support sleeve and extend outwardly therefrom, being provided with upwardly intiu'ned lingers or flanges 46.

A drill head consisting of an annular member 48 is provided with an integral internal .flange 50 thereon, this flange being received within the upturned fingers 46 whereby the latter serve to retain the drill head in operative position in the assembly as set forth hereinafter.

'What may be termed the rear surface of this drill head 48, is provided with a plurality of teeth 52 and constitutes thereby a ring gear, the latter facing rearwardly of the device. The outer surface of the drill head 48 is preferably substantially -flush with the exterior surfaces of the casing section I8 and of the support sleeve meniber 26.` Both the forward and rear ends of the drill head are open in order that material excavated by the drill may pass through the head, through the support member yaround the radial ribs 36, and longitudinally of the casing section I8 for discharge from 'the rear end thereof.

integrally formed with or vif desired rigidly attached but vseparately secured tothe forward or front lend of the drill head 48, are a plurality of forwardly inclined cutting bars 54, any suitable number of these bars being employed, these bars being connected at their forward end to provide an auger or drill bit 56, which is disposed upon the longitudinal axis of rotation of the rdrilling head. The bit 56, cutter bars 54 are likewise provided with an axially extending shank 158 which is journaled in and carried -by the forwardly extending tubular member -32 for rotation therein.

As will be apparent from Figures Zand 6, each of the cutter bars k54 is preferably provided with a plurality of vlongitudinally spaced slots or recesses 60, which are adapted to detachably receive the shank portions 62 Aof any suitable type of cutting teeth 64. Preferably, the forwardly inclined cutter bars 54 are disposed radially of the shaft 58 which lies upon lthe axis of rotation of the cutter head, and the plurality of drill teeth 64, secured in the retaining slots 68, are preferably spaced successively laterally of the cutter bars in the direction of rotation of the latter.

Rigidly secured to the outer ends `of each of the

shafts

36, 38 and 46, is a driving gear 66, which is constantly in mesh with the ring gear 52 for driving the latter upon rotation of the driving shafts .36. 38 and 46. At their inner extremities, the shafts Y38 and 48 are each provided 'with driven gears 68 and 1.6 which constantly mesh witha similargear 'i2 iixedly secured to the shaft 36 adjacent its lower end, whereby rotation of the shaft 36 will kcause operation of the plurality of .driving gears `66 to thereby rotate the drill head. Preferably, the

shafts

36, 38 and v46 and the .gear 66 are disposed at equal angular intervals about 'the .circumference Aof the ring `gear the same for rotating the drill head and the cutter elements carried thereby.

At its lower extremity, the shaft 36 is provided with a beveled gear T4 which is constantly in mesh with a similar gear 'i6 rigidly carried by a power shaft 16, having its front end journaled as at 80 in a suitable bearing and the radial web members 30. The shaft I8 may conveniently comprise the central shaft of a spiral `screw conveyor 82, the latter being disposed in the lower portion of the casing section I8 and extending into the slotted portion 24 of the support sleeve 22, as will be apparent from Figures 2 4.

At its rear end, the casing section I8 has suitably ydetachably secured thereto as by fastening 'bolts 84, a rearwardly extending frame construction .86 upon which is mounted a suitable prime mover such as an internal combustion engine, an electric motor or the likeas indicated at 88. The latter is operatively connected, as by universal couplings 96 and V92, and an intermediate shaft 64, to the rear end 'of the power shaft 18 for rotating the same.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will now be readily ap-l parent. When it is desired to excavate a tunnel beneath a road bed, .a casing section I6 is positioned in the ditch I6 and has the vprime mover secured thereto as shown in Figure 1, while the drill head is secured to the lforward end of the same. Conveniently, the casing section may .be supported in proper position as by a supporting platform or the like 96. Upon 'rotation of the power shaft 'I8 by the prime mover 88, the shaftv 36 is rotated, and through the

gears

12, 68 and 76, the shafts -38 .and 40 are likewise rotated. The three driving gears 66 carried at the outer ends of the same now Acause rotation of the ring gear, and through the latter of the drilling head and of the cutter elements carried thereby. The latter serve to excavate and bore into the soil, and will thus form a tunnel therein. The entire apparatus, consisting of the casing section I8 and of the instrumentalities detachably secured thereto and carried thereby, may then be advanced into the tunnel so formed by any desired means. .As the device is advanced, it will be evident that the excavating screw 82 will remove the material excavated by the cutter or drill head longitudinally of the casing .section of the members carried thereby, whereby this material will be discharged from the .rear end of the device.

It is .evident that .although the .device has .been

illustrated as employed for drilling a .horizontal tunnel beneath a road bed, the same is adapted for many other purposes, a very important feature of this construction being the ease with which .the drilling head, the power plant, the driving connection .between the same and the excavating means .may be detachably mounted .upon a conventional casing section to perform the complete drilling apparatus.

yFrom the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be -unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled 4in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, .falling within the scope of the for .imparting aan evenly distributed thrust to appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a casing having open front and rear ends, a support detachably secured upon the front end of said casing and within the interior thereof, a drill head journaled on said support and having an exterior surface forming a smooth continuation of that of the casing and having cutting means, driving means operatively connected to said drill head and extending through said casing, a conveyor surrounding said driving means and extending through said casing for removing material from said drill head.

2. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a casing having open front and rear ends, a support detachably secured upon the front end of said casing and within the interior thereof, a drill head journaled on said support and having an exterior surface forming a smooth continuaf tion of that of the casing and having cutting means, a driving means operatively connected to said drill head and extending through said casing, a conveyor extending through said casing for removing material from said drill head, said cutting means comprising a plurality of bars angularly and forwardly inclined from said drill head, a plurality of cutting teeth mounted on each bar.

3. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a casing having open front and rear ends, a support detachably secured upon the front end of said casing and within the interior thereof, a drill head journaled on said support and having an exterior surface forming a smooth continuation of that of the casing and having cutting means, a driving means operatively connected to said drill head and extending through said casing, a conveyor extending through said casing for removing material from said drill head, said cut- A ting means comprising a plurality of bars angularly and forwardly inclined from said drill head, a plurality of cutting teeth mounted on each bar, said teeth being spaced longitudinally and laterally of said bar.

4. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, a cylindrical drill head journaled upon said support and having a ring gear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly of said drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, and having driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing with said ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaft operatively connected to said driven gears, said drill head being journaled upon the exterior surface of said support, means for guiding and retaining said drill head on said support.

5. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, a cylindrical drill head journaled upon said support and having a ring gear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly of said drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, and having driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing with said ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaft operatively connected to said driven gears, said drill head being journaled upon the exterior surface of said support, means for guiding and retaining said drill head on said support, means for mounting said support on the open end of a casing.

6. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, a cylindrical drill head `lournaled upon said support and having a ring gear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly of said drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, and having driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing with said ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaft operatively connected to said driven gears, said drill head being journaled upon the exterior surface of said support, means for guiding and retaining said drill head on said support, means for mounting said support on the open end of a casing, means for removing through said casing the material cut by said drill head.

'7. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, a cylindrical drill head journaled upon said support and having a ring gear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly of said drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, and having driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing with said ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaft operatively connected to said driven gears, said cutter bars having each a pluralty of longitudinally and laterally spaced apertures, cutting teeth received in said apertures.

WILLIAM H. LAVENDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 444,244 Grover Jan. 6, 1891 537,899 Mitchell Apr. 23, 1895 1,532,243 Hebsacker Apr. 7, 1925 1,943,103 Benson Jan. 9, 1934 2,529,246 Detrick Nov. 7, 1950