Collapsible Rock Head With Spring-Actuated Roller Cones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boring equipment faces inefficiencies when dealing with rock obstacles during underground pipe laying, as current cutting heads require time-consuming and costly procedures to switch between dirt heads for soil and rock heads, involving surface excavation and pipe disconnection.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible rock head with movable mounts and spring-actuated roller cones that reduce diameter for pipe travel and expand for rock cutting, allowing seamless transition without surface access or pipe disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rock head is used to bore through rock obstacles, then the ability to cut through rock is improved, but the efficiency of cutting through soil deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rock head employs movable mounts with spring-actuated roller cones that can dynamically change the diameter of the cutting head. The roller cones pivot inward to reduce diameter for entering pipe sections, then pivot outward to expand for rock cutting, allowing the same device to adapt between different cutting conditions without manual replacement
2Ease of operation
If the rock head diameter is reduced to fit through the pipe, then the ability to travel through the pipe is improved, but the cutting capability through rock deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable mounts allow the roller cones to pivot between two extreme positions: inward pivot to minimize diameter for pipe traversal, and outward pivot to maximize diameter for rock cutting. The spring mechanism provides automatic positioning based on the operational requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The rock head is divided into a base portion and multiple movable mount portions, each with independent spring-actuated roller cones. This segmentation allows each component to move independently, enabling the overall structure to change its effective cutting diameter while maintaining a compact form factor for pipe entry
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual replacement of rock head with dirt head is used, then the adaptability to different substrates is improved, but the operational time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-actuated movable mounts automatically adjust the rock head configuration based on the substrate being encountered. When rock is detected, the springs push the roller cones outward to expand the cutting diameter; when soil is encountered, the springs allow the roller cones to pivot inward, effectively transforming the cutting head without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The rock head system is self-regulating through the spring mechanism that automatically adjusts the roller cone positions based on operational conditions. The system monitors substrate type and automatically reconfigures the cutting head geometry, eliminating the need for manual replacement operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and efficient boring through rock without surface excavation, reducing operational time and costs by allowing the rock head to automatically adjust diameter for pipe travel and rock cutting, enhancing the overall efficiency of underground pipe laying.
Implementation Method 1
A spring is disposed between the movable mount and the base. The spring is compressed as the movable mount pivots the roller cones inwardly toward a central region of the base.
Implementation Method 2
When the rock head exits the pipe, the springs automatically pivots each roller cone outwardly so that at least a portion thereof is disposed beyond the outermost edge of the base.
Implementation Method 3
Each movable mount is provided with at least one wheel so that it can ride smoothly through the pipe.
Data Source
AI summary
A rock head for use with an auger borer to bore a passageway through a body of soil and rock and simultaneously laying a pipe in that bored passageway. The rock head has a base connectable to the leading end of the auger. A plurality of movable mounts are provided on the base and a roller cone is secured to each movable mount. A spring is disposed between the movable mount and the base. The spring is compressed as the movable mount pivots the roller cones inwardly toward a central region of the base. This reduces the diameter of the rock head so that it can travel through the bore. Each movable mount is provided with at least one wheel so that it can ride smoothly through the bore. When the rock head exits the pipe, the springs automatically pivots each roller cone outwardly so that at least a portion thereof is disposed beyond the outermost edge of the base. In this second position, the rock head has a greater diameter than the pipe bore and therefore it cannot travel therethrough. When the auger is withdrawn through the pipe, the movable mounts pivot the roller cones from the second position back to the first position, thereby causing the rock head to collapse to a diameter sufficiently small enough to travel back through the pipe.