US3907043A

US3907043A - Horizontal boring machine with remote pump control system

Info

Publication number: US3907043A
Application number: US455388A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Appleman
Original assignee: Richmond Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Richmond Manufacturing Co; Augers Unlimited Inc
Priority date: 1974-03-27
Filing date: 1974-03-27
Publication date: 1975-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-23
Also published as: CA1025842A

Abstract

A portable earth boring machine for the horizontal boring of shafts and the insertion of pipeline casing sections in installations where excavation from the surface is undesirable. The machine is characterized by a main frame portion that supports the auger drive and casing pusher apparatus, and a detachably mounted engine frame portion that permits the transmission of power between the engine and the auger drive and casing pusher apparatus not only when the engine frame portion is positioned on the main frame portion at the boring location but also when said engine frame portion is detached and positioned at a location remote from the main frame means. The machine is further characterized by a novel remote electric control means for the auger drive apparatus that provides for remote operation and hydraulically actuated variable speed control of the boring auger at a location remote from the machine.

Description

United States Patent [191 Appleman Sept. 23, 1975 HORIZONTAL BORING MACHINE WITH REMOTE PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM William S. Appleman, Ashland, Ohio The Richmond Manufacturing Company, Ashland, Ohio Filed: Mar. 27, 1974 Appl. No.: 455,388

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1960 Long 60/D1G. 10 10/1963 Osborn i. 175/62 X l/l964 Adams et a1 17 5/62 X 1/1969 Van Wagenen et al. 60/D1G. 1O 9/1973 Gordon 60/488 X Primary E.raminerErnest R. Purser Attorney, Agent, or FirmPalmer Fultz, Esq.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A portable earth boring machine for the horizontal boring of shafts and the insertion of pipeline casing sections in installations where excavation from the surface is undesirable. The machine is characterized by a main frame portion that supports the auger drive and easing pusher apparatus, and a detachably mounted engine frame portion that permits the trans mission of power between the engine and the auger drive and casing pusher apparatus not only when the engine frame portion is positioned on the main frame portion at the boring location but also when said engine frame portion is detached and positioned at a location remote from the main frame means. The machine is further characterized by a novel remote electric control means for the auger drive apparatus that provides for remote operation and hydraulically actu ated variable speed control of the boring auger at a location remote from the machine.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 Of4 3,907,043

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,907,043

lll'l'l nlll-lullllllllllll'lllllll' llllllllllll I'll ll 'lnl' QM OQkZQU US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet4 of4 3,907,043

E m9 v9 m luv. ll qm w J F m n I Q: n n Y f Q m H- mi N m: An Q J vi HORIZONTAL BORING MACHINE WITH REMOTE PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to portable earth boring machines and more particularly to a machine adapted for horizontal boring of shafts for the insertion of pipelines at installations where excavation from the surface is undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the machine of the present invention comprises a base means that includes spaced track members which are disposed in a trench adjacent the hill to be bored. The machine further includes a frame means mounted for movement along the track means and such frame means supports a power train for rotating con neeted sections of auger shafts which comprise a progressively extendable boring auger. The frame means further supports a pusher ring for driving sections of casings into the bored hole and an associated pushing cylinder means is provided for advancing the retracting the frame means and pusher ring along the track means.

With machines of this general type problems have been encountered in the function of driving the boring auger into various types of earth fill which may comprise anything from hard rock to soft earth. Prior boring machines have been characterized by power trains connecting the auger with the engine which power trains have included mechanical transmissions and speed reducer mechanisms for the purpose of providing a multiplicity of speeds, for example two or three, for selective use with various earth fill characteristics.

However, due to the many types of earch fill encountered, including rock formations of various hardness, the several available gear ratios available in prior machines have in most cases necessitated compromises in optimum auger speeds with resulting inefficiency and slow down in production rates.

In accordance with the present invention, the boring machine is provided with a novel infinitely variable bydraulic drive in the power train permitting the operator to select an infinite number of speeds within the available range from zero to maximum.

As another aspect of the present invention the novel control system is selectively controllable with the engine frame portion and associated apparatus either in position on the main frame of the machine, or with such engine frame portion positioned at a remote location suchas outside the trench from which the tunnel is being bored.

As still another aspect of the present invention the novel control means is provided with a maximum'high pressure relief valve means which prevents the operator from at anytime overloading the components of the fluid circuit.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an earth boring machine with a novel control system for the speed of the boring auger which permits the operator to infinitely vary the auger speed to establish the most efficient boring rate for the particular earth conditions being encountered.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a boring machine with a control system of the type described that is uniquely adapted for remote control operation such that the engine frame portion and asso- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boring machine construeted in accordance with the present invention and showing the main frame portion of such machine disposed in a trench in a boring; position with the removable engine frame portion positioned outside the trench:

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the boring machine of FIG. 1;

I FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a control station for the machine of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a hydraulic circuit comprising the control means for the machine of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an electronic circuit comprising the controller for the machine of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to the drawings, FIGS. I and 2 illustrate the complete horizontal earth boring machine of the present invention which comprises a base means indicated generally at 20. Such base means includes spaced longitudinally extending track means 22 which support a carriage means indicated generally at 24.

The carriage means 24 is advanced and retracted along track 22 by hydraulic power cylinders, portions of which are seen at 132 and 134 in FIG. I. With such power cylinder being operatively connected between a power cylinder base 36 and the carriage means 24.

Details of typical power cylinders such as'l32 and 134 and power cylinder base 36 are disclosed and described in detail in the application of Albert R Richmond, Ser. No. 867.8% filed Oct. 20, I969, now US. Pat. No. 3,612,195issued Nov. l2, I971.

It will be further seen that pressurized fluid for actuating power cylinders I32 and 134 is provided by'a fluid power system disclosed and described in detail in our co-pending application Ser. No. 455,254 filed Mar. 27. 1974. In general such circuits include

valve mechanisms

44 and 46 which actuate the pushing cylinders I32 and 134 so as to extend or retract carriage 24 forwardly or rcardly along the track means 22.

Referring again to FIG. I, the boring machine further includes a pusher ring 50 including a front annular surface 52'forengaging the sections of pipe casing for pushing such sections into the bored hole. Such pusher ring 50 includes a thrust plate 60 mounted on the earriage means with such thrust plate 51 serving as a mount for a thrust bearing, not illustrated, for the auger connecting shaft 64. The mechanism comprising the thrust plate 60, the thrust bearing assembly mounted thereon, and the back-up plates 90 transmit the thrust from the auger connecting shaft 64 to the carriage .machine of. the present invention is disclosed and de- .scribed in detail in the application of Albert R. Richmand, Scr. No. 85,614 filed Oct. 30, 1970 now U.S; Pat. No. 3,693,7 34 issued,$ept. 26, 1972.

Reference is ncxtmadc to FIG. 3 which is a diagram:

matie view of the hydraulic system for controlling the operation of the boring auger-drive including thcspeed and reversal of auger connecting shaft. 64. A displacement pump is indicated generally at 100 and receives fluidfroin a reservoir 106, with variable pump 'I00,line 126, line 128, line J44, line 146 and a fixed displacementv hydraulic motor 140 constituting a closed loop circuit.- Itwill be understood that motor l40.-FIG. 2, drives the previously described auger connecting shaft .rneans64, FIG. I.

During forward operation of the boring auger shaft- 64, pressurized hydraulic fluid is-delivered from pump 100 via

pressurized lines

126 and 146 to motor 140 and returned to the pump via

lines

144 and 128. For reverse operation of the auger connecting shaft 64 the variable displacement pump 100 -isreversed and thenflow through the closed Ioopcircuity is in the opposite direction.

,ln general variation inflow volume and,reversal of variable pump 100 is accomplished by a servo-circuit which functions to vary the angle of a conventional wobbleplate in the pump. or other means conventional in the art. Suchwobbleplate is actua t'etl by a small hydraulic servo motor usually integral with the pump with such servo motor mechanismbeing indicated at 101 in FIG S. The circuit for operating servo-motor 101 and hence controlling displacement and reversal of variable pump 100 further includes a fixed displacement pump 102,a fixed flow control valve 124-, and a pump control valve 116..

Referenceis ncxtmade to the-operation of thc .sc,rvo circuit for controlling variable displacement pump 100 and hence the speed and direction of hydraulic motor 140.. Pump control-valve 116 is a normally closed three-position ,valvc which when actuated by arm 204 from centered to right or lcftpositions functions, to deliver pressurizedoil either to one side of servo motor l l yia lines 133 and l08 or to the other side via lines 133 and ,l 10. Thespool of valve, 1 16 is normally biased to its center position by

springs

206 and 208.

Itshouldnext be mentioned that pump control valve 116v is provided. uvith remote control apparatus 1184120. FIGS..3 and-1 which apparatus comprises a servo actuator l 18, that includes an electric motor 202 mounted at.valvc ll6 which merelyfunctions to move valvearm.204 between the above mentioned centercd'l'orncutral position. and right and left valve positions. The remote controlapparatus further includes a remote electric controller 120, FIGS. 1, 2. and 2A which is normally removably mounted on a control console-121. In remote operation FIG. I thcfremote electric controller 120 is removed from console 121 andcarried about by Il'lC operator as seen in FIG. 1. Thefunction of remote electric controller 120 is to op-. crate. the previously mentioned electric motor 202 in scrvoactuator 118 and the controller 120 and actuator 118 are-connected together by wires 119 as" seen-iii FIG. .1. In general when a dial knob 12mm controller its center? position .to. its

is turned thenv a-contact 210.1 of thc slave. potentiometer, FIG 4, is moved 'withrespect to a resistor 212 which serves to varythe resistance. More particularly, when'dial "is tuincd froma 0 'or center position .inone direction by theoperator. then the current in the armature of motor 202 in. servoactuator 118 is varied soas to drive the spool'of pump control valve 116 from right'Yposition. Similarly. when dial knob 125 is turned from its center position in the other direction electric motor202 in servo actuator 118 moves the spool'in pump .control valve from its center. position to its"fleft position,

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, this represents an appropriate circuit WhIChglIlClLldCS atransistor network indicated generally at 220. Such transistor network functions to varythe potential in the armature of motor 202 which motor is ,of the permanentmagnet D.C. type responsivc to movement of contact 210 of a'slave potcntiometeralong the resistor ,212. -When .such contact 210., andthc previously mentioned dial 125 which moves it, FIGS. 2 and 2A, are centered the potential supplied by transistor network 220 balances the field and armature of motor 202 and the motor is stationary with valve actuating arm 204. in its centered position as seen in FIG; 2A. 5

-When the dial 125 is moved from 0 or centered position to the left than thc'transistor network 220 varies .thepotential in the armature of motor 202 and the motor .rotates to. movesvalvccontrol arm 204, FIG. 3,

to the left.

I -Valve; 116 then delivers pressurized fluid to servo control 101. of variable pump 100 and the wobble plate of the pump is-fnoved in a conventional manner to cause the delivery of pressurizedfluid to drive motor 140 in the forward direction. It will now be seen that the more dial 125 is. rotated from 0 to the left, the faster motor 140 will rotate in a forward direction.

Conversely. when dial 125, FIG. 2 andFlG. 2-A is rotated from 0 to right, then movable contact 210 is driven to-the right witharesulting change in potential in the armatureof motor 202. Valve actuating arm 204 is moved progressively to the right whcrebypump 100 and motor 140 are driven in thereverse direction.

It will also be understood that when dial 125 is moved back from left" or right to center' then motor 202 will center pump I00 and rotation of motor l40 and the auger shaft 64 will cease.

It will now be understood that dial knob 125 of controller 120 permits the operator to set-the pump control servomotor I01 atan infinite number of settings within its range from zero to maximum. Hence the settings for flow output from pump 100 and hence the directional rotational speed of motor 140 and the boring auger driven thereby are infinitely variable within the establishcdrange from zero to maximum rotational speed.

With continued reference to FIG. 3. fixed pump 102 further serves .to charge the previously mentioned closed loop circuit via'lincs and

check valves

129 and 127. Whcnoneof the

check valves

129 or 127 is on the pressure side of the closed loop then it will be biased closed and hence oil from line 130 can only be released from the opposite one of the

check valves

129 or 127 to the low pressure side of the closed .loop.

A pressure relief valve 122 is provided in line 130 for releasing excess fluid delivery from fixed pump 102 back to tank.

which connect to the closed loop on opposite sides of motor 140 via the

lines

146 and 144. These

relief valves

148 and 150 are arranged such that if the high pressure side of the closed loop becomes excessive the appropriate one of

such relief valves

148 or 150 will remove fluid into the low pressure side of the closed loop without losing oil from the loop circuit.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, a pilot operated shuttle valve 152 which includes the pressure actuated

pilots

154 and 156 is provided to prevent the build-up of excess pressure within the housing of motor 140 due to the occurrence of leakage and high pressure air around the pistons of the pump.

Pilot operated shuttle valve 152 is shifted upon occurrence of high pressure on the high pressure side of the closed loop circuit so as to open the low pressure side of the closed loop circuit to a surge. flow relief valve 158. For example, if during forward operation and line 126 of the closed loop circuit is pressurized then pilot 154 shifts shuttle valve 152 so as to expose the other side of the circuit, the low pressure side, to surge flow relief valve 158 thereby protecting the low pressure side of the pump'motor circuit from any excessive surge pressures which may occur.

When motor 140 is operating in the opposite direction then the other pilot 156 shifts power operated shuttle valve 152 in the opposite direction thereby opening the other side of the closed loop circuit to relief valve 158. It should be mentioned that any fluid released from relief valve 158 returns hydraulic fluid back to tank via line 172, the cooling chamber of pump 100, line 105, and an oil cooler 104.

It should further be mentioned that the housing of fluid motor 140 is prevented from the build-up of excess pressure due to the leakage past the pistons of the motor via a return line 142 which connects with line 172 leading back to tank 101.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the fluid lines 126., 128, and 172 are extended through the remote control loom 161, along with the wires 119 which connect remote electric controller 120 with the servo actuator 118 as previously described. Also the fluid lines 126,

128 and 172 are preferably provided with quick disconneet couplings 174-176 seen in FIG. 3.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is:

1. An earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means; frame means including a main frame portion mounted for movement along said track means and an engine frame portion; an engine mounted on said engine frame portion; auger connecting shaft means mounted on said main frame portion; variable displacement pump means mounted on said engine frame portion and driven by said engine; a fluid motor mounted on said main frame portion for driving said auger connection shaft means; conduit means extending between said frame portion and forming a closed loop circuit between said pump means and said fluid motor; servo motor for varying the displacement of said pump means; pump control valve means for controlling a control flow of pressurized fluid to said servo motor, said valve means including a center position isolating said fluid motor from said control flow, a *right position for delivering said control flow to one side of said servo motor, and a left position for delivering said control flow to the other side of said servo motor; a servo actuator including an electric motor for said pump control valve means for shifting said valve means between said positions; and a remote electric controller for controlling the rotation of said auger, said controller being electrically connected to said electric motor of said servo actuator and operable from a location remote from said machine.

2. The earth boring machine of claim 1 wherein said closed loop circuit includes a first circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure, and a second circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure; and maximum pressure relief valve means for alternately subjecting only the high pressure circuit portion to a predetermined maximum pressure relief action.

3. The earth boring machine of claim 1 wherein said closed loop circuit includes a first circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure. and a second circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure; and maximum pressure relief valve means for alternately subjecting only the low pressure circuit portion to a predetermined maximum pressure relief action.

4. The earth boring machine of claim 1 wherein said closed loop circuit includes a first circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure, and a second circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure; maximum pressure relief valve means for alternately subjecting only the high pressure circuit portion to a predetermined maximum pressure relief action; and a second maximum pressure relief valve means for alternately subjecting only the low pressure circuit portion to a second predetermined maximum pressure relief action.

5. The earth boring machine of claim 1 that includes a second pump means for supplying said control flow of pressurized fluid; and a pressure relief valve means for said control flow.

6. The earth boring machine of claim 1 wherein said closed loop circuit includes a first circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure, and a second circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure; a second pump means for charging said closed loop circuit with make-up fluid; and check valve means for selectively releasing said makeup fluid to whichever one of the circuit portions is operating at low pressure.

* l l =l

Claims

1. An earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means; frame means including a main frame portion mounted for movement along said track means and an engine frame portion; an engine mounted on said engine frame portion; auger connecting shaft means mounted on said main frame portion; variable displacement pump means mounted on said engine frame portion and driven by said engine; a fluid motor mounted on said main frame portion for driving said auger connection shaft means; conduit means extending between said frame portion and forming a closed loop circuit between said pump means and said fluid motor; servo motor for varying the displacement of said pump means; pump control valve means for controlling a control flow of pressurized fluid to said servo motor, said valve means including a ''''center'''' position isolating said fluid motor from said control flow, a ''''right'''' position for delivering said control flow to one side of said servo motor, and a ''''left'''' position for delivering said control flow to the other side of said servo motor; a servo actuator including an electric motor for said pump control valve means for shifting said valve means between said positions; and a remote electric controller for controlling the rotation of said auger, said controller being electrically connected to said electric motor of said servo actuator and operable from a location remote from said machine.

3. The earth boring machine of claim 1 wherein said closed loop circuit includes a first circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure, and a second circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure; and maximum pressure relief valve means for alternately subjecting only the low pressure circuit portion to a predetermined maximum pressure relief action.

6. The earth boring machine of claim 1 wherein said closed loop circuit includes a first circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure, and a second circuit portion that is alternately exposed to high and low pressure; a second pump means for charging said closed loop circuit with make-up fluid; and check valve means for selectively releasing said make-up fluid to whichever one of the circuit portions is operating at low pressure.