Find products best meets your needs. No more worries about the authenticity of suppliers.
Find SuppliersPosted on Dec 15, 2020
Horizontal boring, trenchless digging, directional drilling - whatever you want to call it, this may be the solution you've been looking for.
Directional drill rigs have the ability to push, pull and rotate drill rods underground with minimal disruption to landscaping, sidewalks, roads, etc. Directional drilling is preferred over trenches when it comes to installing underground utilities such as water, sewer, gas, telephone electric, optical fiber, etc. But it is not so popular in housing, and this is a mistake.
Directional boring, sometimes called trenchless excavation, is performed by punching the ground with a drill / drill head at a small angle. The bit is spun and pushed through the soil. Poles are added continuously to increase coverage. Once the desired depth is reached, the drill tip will align to keep the hole level.
:: Read more : What is a Horizontal Boring Machine?
In addition to the aggressive carbide teeth, the drill heads are equipped with electronics that send a radio signal. The signal is picked up by a receiver above the ground that continuously detects the position of the drill head. The person holding the handset is talking to the operator of the machine to indicate the direction of the machine. Some high-end machines have an on-board system that allows the operator to see for himself which way it is going.
This is a typical cutterhead configuration. It is shaped like a duckbill. When the head spins, it moves straight through the soil. When a change of direction is needed, the operator will stop the pipes from turning and instead simply push them through the soil. The head will change direction depending on its orientation. Several other methods exist, one with a bent pipe end and the other with a directional high pressure water jet.
The drill pipe, also known as drill rod, drill shank, or drill string, comes in many different lengths and widths depending on the size of the machine and the hole size required. This threaded pipe is similar to a steel hydraulic pipe but is designed to withstand high torque. The pipe diameter is 1 inch to 36 inch and larger. The pipes not only twist and push through the soil, but also deliver water or other drilling fluid that cools the drill head and electronics in it, and in some cases the water helps steer the drill head. Most machines automatically connect and disassemble the pipe.
After the drill has left the ground at its target location, the drill head is removed and a "rear reamer" or "expander" is installed in its place. Rear reamers come in a variety of sizes, depending on the size of the pipe, wire or cable. Pipe, line or conduit is then connected to the back reamer and pulled back towards the drilling rig.
There are basically two types of machines, standalone and remote units. Remote drill rigs can be attached to a truck, trailer or skid steer bed. They are often operated with hydraulic pressure provided by a separate power source. Standalone kits are more popular because they take less time to set up and can be maneuvered in tight spaces. Many machines are track driven and can navigate uneven or unstable terrain with ease. Drills have booms that press into the ground to prevent them from being pushed backwards while the pipes are being driven forward. And some have water tanks on board to cool their heads.
Suppose your client abandons the well and connects to the municipal water. Why dig and tear down your entire front yard and possibly lose some beautiful trees that can be decades old. If the utility room is in the center of the house, directional boring makes even more sense. You can cut 12 inches. square hole in concrete floor and good operatorwill be able to hit it, no problem. This is only one scenario. Think water drainage or connecting out-buildings to power and utilities. Basically, if you need a trench and there’s something in the way, directional boring may be able to save you a bunch of time and a pile of money.
Horizontal directional drilling or HDD are feats that can spark your imagination. It's unbelievable how a pipeline can be placed under rivers, railroads, highways, environmentally sensitive areas and urban environments without disrupting the environment or obstructing traffic or urban activities for construction. What is horizontal directional drilling and how does directional drilling work?
What is directional drilling?
Horizontal directional drilling, also known as directional boring, is a trenchless technology for laying pipes underground without affecting the area above the borehole. Typically a shallow-curved or crescent-shaped borehole through which the pipeline, conduit or cables pass after the well is completed. While usually a shallow arc, directional boring can also lead to turns during the boring process. This is especially important in boring urban situations where existing underground infrastructure such as sewage, water and tunnels needs to be be avoided.
The directional boring machine drills a pilot hole and successively larger, re-drilled holes, pulling out dirt and chips with a drilling fluid. When the wellbore is large enough, the pipeline is pulled through the hole and the pipeline installation process can continue along its path using standard trench methods.
STEP 1: PILOT BORE
The drill bit is connected to a rotating drill pipe and pressed into the place intended for the borehole. It is guided through the boring process until it appears on the opposite side of the boring design. The drilling fluids or drilling mud are a mixture of water and bentonite clay and are very important during the operation. This drilling fluid is used to guide the drill bit while drilling the hole. It also stabilizes the drill hole and acts as a lubricant and coolant for the drill bit. Additionally, the drilling fluid carries all the soil and wood chips from the borehole back to the drilling rig location. The drilling fluid is then separated from the cuttings and recycled back into the drilling process. Finally, the drill will exit the drill hole at the exit hole.
STEP 2: AGAIN
A recapture tool is then attached to the drill pipe and pulled back through the drill hole. Increasingly larger reloading tools are pulled back and forth through the borehole until the hole is approximately one and a half times the size of the pipe being installed. Finally, a swab is pulled through the opening again to check that everything is clean and ready to be drawn through the pipeline. This swab reloading tool is larger than the tube being installed, but smaller than the largest re-jam already made.
STEP 3: INSTALL THE PRODUCT PIPES
The pipes are brought to the exit point and welded together, coated, x-rayed and pressure tested. A bit of a finished pipe line longer than the bored hole, is placed on rollers in preparation to be pulled through the borehole. It is then positioned and angled to make the pull as easy as possible with minimum resistance.
Once fully manufactured, tested, and properly set up, the recall process begins. When the pipeline arrives at the site of the drill rig, it is then inspected, examined and tested. At the end of the work sites, the equipment is cleared and restored to existing conditions.
IMTS gathered worldwide Horizontal Boring Machine manufacturers into this online platform. Browse and search for your next supplier with us.
Should you run into any difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact us.
