Lowered HDD Driveline Layout for Narrower, More Stable Carriages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machines face challenges in optimizing the physical layout and sizing of mechanical elements, leading to increased machine width and instability during drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
The HDD machine design includes a carriage assembly with a thrust drive motor mounted on the carriage frame, a rotary drive assembly, and a compact driveline configuration where the central rotation axis of the drive spindle is offset by a distance equal to or less than 1.5 times the outer diameter of the drive spindle, minimizing the distance between the central axis and the carriage positioning axis, thereby reducing the overall machine width and improving stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the driveline is positioned higher in the carriage assembly, then the mechanical layout is simplified, but the machine width increases and stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the driveline from a higher position to a lower position within the carriage assembly, utilizing the vertical dimension more effectively. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the driveline to be positioned below the carriage centerline, thereby reducing machine width while maintaining mechanical layout simplicity and improving stability.
2Device complexity
If the driveline is positioned higher in the carriage assembly, then the mechanical layout is simplified, but the machine width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the driveline from a higher position to a lower position within the carriage assembly, utilizing the vertical dimension more effectively. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the driveline to be positioned below the carriage centerline, thereby reducing machine width while maintaining mechanical layout simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the offset distance between the central rotation axis and carriage positioning axis is increased, then the driveline can be positioned higher, but the machine width increases and trailering becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the offset distance parameter between the central rotation axis and carriage positioning axis to be equal to or less than 1.5 times the outer diameter of the drive spindle. This parameter optimization allows the driveline to be positioned lower, reducing machine width for standard trailer compatibility while maintaining sufficient driveline accessibility for operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal directional drilling machine including a drilling frame defining a longitudinal axis. A rack gear is mounted on the drilling frame and has a pitch plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. A carriage assembly includes a carriage frame extending over the rack gear while being mounted with a linear bearing assembly. A thrust drive motor is mounted on the carriage frame with no portion thereof extending outboard of the carriage assembly. The thrust drive motor has an output shaft with a pinion gear meshed with the rack gear to define a carriage positioning axis. A rotary drive assembly is mounted on the carriage frame, including a drive spindle engaging a drill string. The central rotation axis of the drive spindle is offset from the carriage positioning axis by a distance equal to or less than 1.5 times an outer diameter of the drive spindle.