Horizontal Drilling Device with Cylindrical Cross-Section for Small Excavation Pits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing horizontal drilling devices are limited in their ability to flexibly drill into the ground from a small excavation pit, requiring precise alignment and causing significant ground damage, and are not suitable for urban areas due to space constraints and damage concerns.

Innovation Solution

A horizontal drilling device with a cylindrical cross-section that can be rotated within a circular excavation pit, allowing for flexible alignment and reduced excavation volume, along with a support system that includes radially extendable support elements and a rod lift for efficient rod section management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If a horizontal drilling device is positioned at a considerable distance from the drilling area to reach the desired drilling depth, then the drilling depth can be achieved, but the device requires large space and causes significant ground damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling depthVSAvoidexcavation pit size
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The drilling device is designed with a circular cross-section that matches the circular excavation pit, enabling the device to be rotated within the pit to change drilling directions without relocation. This curved/geometric matching allows compact positioning while achieving deep horizontal drilling through rotation rather than requiring large linear space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The drilling device incorporates a rotation mechanism that allows it to dynamically change its drilling direction by rotating within the circular excavation pit. This dynamic capability enables the same device to drill in multiple directions (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) from a single fixed position, eliminating the need for large positioning areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the horizontal drilling device is designed to be rotated within the excavation pit, then flexible alignment in multiple directions is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling direction flexibilityVSAvoidrotation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support legs are designed with asymmetric extendable structures that can be independently adjusted to provide stable support during rotation. This asymmetric design allows the device to maintain stability while rotating, as the support legs can be extended or retracted depending on the drilling direction, simplifying the rotation mechanism compared to a fully symmetric multi-directional support system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Area of stationary object

If the excavation pit is minimized to reduce ground damage, then urban area suitability improves, but the drilling device has limited space for operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexcavation pit sizeVSAvoiddevice operation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drilling device components are arranged in a nested configuration where the drill rod, drill head, and other components are housed within the cylindrical body of the device. The support legs can be retracted into the device body when not in use, maximizing space utilization within the compact excavation pit and providing adequate operational space despite the minimized pit size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2728104B1Method for producing a horizontally drilled bore hole in the ground and horizontal drilling device
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 TRACTO TECHN
  • EP2728104B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2728104B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2728104B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves producing a trench (4) with diameter of less than or equal to 60 cm, where the trench is circular in cross-section. A horizontal drilling device (1) is lowered in the trench, where the drilling device partially has circular cross-section. A horizontal drill hole is produced by using the drilling device. The trench is produced by drilling of a surface sealing with a core drill and/or by excavation of the ground, and a drill rod (24) of the horizontal drilling device is driven by a linear drive in the ground. An independent claim is also included for a horizontal drilling device comprising a linear drive.