Adding Drill Pipes
1.
Align the pipe joint in the wrench assembly.
2.
Close the lower wrench (stationary wrench) onto the
first pipe.
Note:
The drilling fluid will automatically shut off
when you activate the upper wrench (makeup/breakout
wrench).
3.
Pull back the carriage approximately 12.7 mm (0.5
inch).
Note:
This will allow the carriage to float, and will not
damage the pipe threads.
4.
Rotate the drill head counterclockwise until the spindle
is completely removed from the pipe.
5.
Spray the spindle with thread joint compound, then
return the drive carriage to the upper end of the frame.
6.
Rotate the pipe-gripper cam to the closest row of pipes
in the pipe holder.
7.
Lower a pipe into the pipe-gripper cam, and grip it in
place.
8.
Rotate the pipe gripper until the pipe is centered in
front of the spindle on the drive carriage.
9.
Rotate the drill spindle clockwise and move the carriage
slowly forward to insert the spindle into the female end
of the pipe (
).
Note:
Tighten the joint until the pipe is rotating with
the spindle.
10.
Move the drive carriage slowly down the frame
until the male threads on the pipe are under the
thread-joint-compound applicator, and apply
thread-joint compound to the threads.
11.
Rotate the drill spindle clockwise and move the carriage
slowly forward to insert the male end of the pipe into
the female end of the previous pipe.
Note:
Tighten the joint until you reach no more than
2,304 N-m (1,700 ft-lb).
12.
Release and rotate the pipe-gripper cam clockwise to
the home position.
Important:
Ensure that you fully rotate the
pipe-gripper cam, or the carriage may collide with
the gripper, damaging the machine.
13.
Rotate the main cam past the fourth row of pipe to
the home position.
Steering the Drill Head
The drill bit is shaped like a wedge, angled from one side of
the bit to the other. When you push the bit through the soil
without rotating it, it will veer toward the direction the wedge
is pointing. When you rotate the pipe and drill head, it bores
through the soil in a straight path.
Figure 85
1.
Drill bit
When drilling, the receiver operator follows the drill head as it
progresses. The receiver receives signals from the sonde in
the drill head identifying its position, depth, pitch, direction,
transmitter temperature, and orientation in the soil. The
remote console is a screen that remains near you (the drill
operator) to show you the information from the receiver
while drilling so that you can make steering decisions.
For detailed information on using the receiver and remote
console to guide the drill head, refer to the
Operator’s Manual
that came with your receiver.
Important:
Do not steer the drill head more than 20
cm (8 inches) off center for every 3 m (10 ft) of forward
travel. If you steer more than this, you will damage the
drill pipes.
Boring the Horizontal Shaft
After creating the entry shaft, you gradually steer the drill
head up while pushing forward, following the planned bore
path. When you reach the desired depth, level out the drill
head and bore the horizontal shaft, adding pipes as you go.
While boring, pay close attention to the information relayed
back to you by the receiver operator about the status and
location of the drill head to ensure that you are following the
planned path.
Important:
While drilling, watch the sonde temperature.
All sondes have a maximum temperature, above which
they will be damaged. Friction between the drill head
and the soil will cause the temperature to raise. To
reduce the temperature, slow down, decrease forward
pressure, and increase the drilling-fluid flow. If the
drill head is entering a soil type other than what it is
designed for, that can also raise the temperature. Assess
the situation and pull out the drill head and change it
if necessary.
If you run into an obstruction, do the following:
1.
Increase the flow of the drilling fluid for a few seconds
without drilling, then attempt to continue drilling
forward.
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