Apparatus and method of anchoring a horizontal directional drilling machine

Abstract

An anchoring device that includes both rotation at the leading edge of the stake which engages the ground and longitudinal thrust of the stake into the ground is disclosed. The stake portion which is driven into the ground also includes a portion which is square. This shape has been found to promote additional stability of the anchoring device. The portion of the stake which is inserted into and engages the ground includes a sleeve portion and a rotating section. The rotating section is located at the second end of the sleeve and a rotary force device is located at the first end of the sleeve. A shaft extends through the sleeve from the rotary force device to the rotating section. The sleeve portion is supported by guides mounted on the frame of the machine to be staked down. A longitudinal force imparting device is also connected to the frame. The rotating section is made up of a cutter device, an adapter section, and a tube. The rotating section is selectively rotatable so that as downward longitudinal force is applied to the sleeve, the cutter section rotates and assists with the insertion of the anchor device (or “stake”) into the ground.

1 . A powered stake down, comprising:
 (a) a sleeve having a first end and a second end;   (b) a rotating section rotatably connected to the second end of the sleeve;   (c) a longitudinal force imparting device connected to the first end of the sleeve; and   (d) a rotary force device mounted at the first end of the sleeve, and having a shaft extending through the sleeve and connected to the rotating section, wherein when longitudinal force is applied to the sleeve toward the earth, the rotary device turns the rotating section to assist with the insertion of the rotating section into the earth.   
   
   
       2 . The powered stake down of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating section includes:
 (a) a cutting section;   (b) a tube, the tube supported in the first end of the sleeve; and   (c) an adapter section for connecting the cutting section to the tube.   
   
   
       3 . The powered stake down of  claim 2 , wherein the tube is supported in the second end of the sleeve with a bushing. 
   
   
       4 . The powered stake down of  claim 2 , wherein the adapter is frustoconical with the minor diameter at the connection to the cutting section and the major diameter at the connection to the tube. 
   
   
       5 . The powered stake down of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve forms a geometric shape viewed along its longitudinal axis having at least one 90 degree angle. 
   
   
       6 . The powered stake down of  claim 5 , wherein the geometric shape is a square. 
   
   
       7 . The powered stake down of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the second end of the sleeve is lowered to a position where it is engaged into the earth. 
   
   
       8 . The powered stake down of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal force imparting device is a hydraulic cylinder and the rotary force device is a hydraulic motor. 
   
   
       9 . The powered stake down of  claim 1 , wherein the powered stake down is attached to a horizontal directional drilling machine. 
   
   
       10 . An anchoring device for a horizontal directional drilling machine, the device comprising:
 (a) a rotating section located at the bottom end of a sleeve, the rotating section operatively connected to a motor on the opposite, upper end of the sleeve, the motor selectively rotating the rotating section, the rotating section further including a cutting section arranged and configured for engagement with and cutting through hard soils;   (b) a sleeve, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis and supported on the drilling machine; and   (c) a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder attached to the upper end of the sleeve and the drilling machine, wherein the hydraulic cylinder exerts force along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve to push the rotating section into engagement with the soil, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder is arranged and configured exert force until at least a portion of the sleeve is also engaged with the soil.   
   
   
       11 . The anchoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the rotating section further includes:
 (a) an adaptor section having a frustoconical shape, the adaptor having a minor diameter at a first end and a major diameter at a second end, the first end connected to the cutting section; and   (b) a tube connected to the motor via a shaft running generally along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the tube transferring longitudinal force to the adaptor, and connected to the adaptor at the second end of the adaptor.   
   
   
       12 . The anchoring device of  claim 1   1 , wherein the major diameter of the adaptor is greater than the diameter of the cutting section. 
   
   
       13 . The anchoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve forms a geometric shape viewed along its longitudinal axis having at least one 90 degree angle. 
   
   
       14 . The anchoring device of  claim 13 , wherein the geometric shape is a square. 
   
   
       15 . An anchor device for an HDD machine, the device comprising:
 (a) a sleeve, having a longitudinal axis and secured from rotating by guides mounted on the HDD machine, the sleeve arranged and configured to move longitudinally with a hydraulic cylinder to transfer longitudinal force and adapted to engage the ground;   (b) a shaft, located within the sleeve that is connected to and rotated by a hydraulic motor;   (c) an adaptor attached to the shaft and adapted to engage the ground; and   (d) a cutting section attached to the adaptor on the side opposite the shaft, and adapted to cut and engage the ground.   
   
   
       16 . A method for anchoring earth working equipment, the method comprising:
 (a) supporting a sleeve on the equipment, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end;   (b) rotating a cutting section located on the second end of the sleeve, the cutting section cutting into and engaging the ground in operation; and   (c) imparting a longitudinal force on the first end of the sleeve, wherein the cutting section and at least a portion of the sleeve enter into the ground and are engaged therewith.