Micro Tunneling Machine

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a tunneling apparatus including a drill head including a main body and a steering member that is movable relative to the main body. The tunneling apparatus includes a steering target attached to the main body. The tunneling apparatus also includes a camera mounted within the main body. Further, the tunneling apparatus includes a shell position indicator mounted to the steering member in the field of view of the camera. The shell position indicator is adapted to indicate relative movement between the target and the shell position indicator. Additionally, the position indicator frames the target when no relative movement between the target and shell position indicator is indicated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tunneling apparatus comprising:
 a drill head including a main body and a steering member that is movable relative to the main body;   a steering target attached to the main body;   a camera mounted within the main body;   a shell position indicator mounted to the steering member in the field of view of the camera, the shell position indicator being adapted to indicate relative movement between the target and the shell position indicator; and   wherein the shell position indicator frames the target when no relative movement between the target and shell position indicator is indicated.   
     
     
         2 . The tunneling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cavity between the main body and the steering member where the shell position indicator is mounted to allow the shell position indicator to move freely. 
     
     
         3 . The tunneling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position indicator includes protrusions that align with predetermined portions of the target when there no relative movement between the steering shell and the main body. 
     
     
         4 . A tunneling apparatus comprising:
 a drill head including a main body and a steering member, the steering member is movable relative to the main body, the drill head also including a camera to facilitate steering;   a drilling fluid reservoir;   a fluid pump for pumping drilling fluid to the drill head;   a camera lens cleaner in fluid communication with the fluid pump for cleaning the camera lens; and   wherein the fluid expelled by camera lens cleaner is controlled by varying fluid pump flow.   
     
     
         5 . The tunneling apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a fluid manifold located in the drill head to control of flow of drilling fluid to the drill head and camera lens cleaner. 
     
     
         6 . The tunneling apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the fluid pump and the camera lens cleaner wherein when the fluid pump operates at a predetermined pressure the valve is opened to supply fluid to the fluid lens cleaner. 
     
     
         7 . A tunneling apparatus comprising:
 a drill head having a movable shell;   a series of cylinders for moving the shell, the cylinders including oppositely positioned first and second paired cylinders and third and fourth paired oppositely positioned cylinders,
 the first and second cylinders being configured such that a rod of the first cylinder retracts when a rod of the second cylinder extends and the rod of the second cylinder retracts when the rod of the first cylinder extends, 
 the third and fourth cylinders being configured such that a rod of the third cylinder retracts when a rod of the fourth cylinder extends and the rod of the fourth cylinder retracts when the rod of the third cylinder extends; 
   a first bleed line that fluidly connects the first and second paired cylinders;   a second bleed line that fluidly connects the third and fourth paired cylinders; and   a bleed valve for opening and closing the first and second bleed lines.   
     
     
         8 . The tunneling apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the piston cylinders have two diameters, the first diameter is of a size so that the piston creates a seal with the wall of the cylinder, the second larger diameter is sized to allow oil to flow around the cylinder, regardless of the piston position, and into the bleed port when the hydraulic bleed valve is in the open position. 
     
     
         9 . A tunneling apparatus comprising:
 a hydraulic pump;   a hydraulic reservoir;   a set of four cylinders that each include a piston, the cylinders each having a first a second hydraulic fluid port, the piston in each cylinder being capable of extending and retracting by way of varying the hydraulic fluid pressure in the cylinder;   a first control valve to control the movement of a first pair of cylinders;   a second control valve to control the movement of a second pair of cylinders;   a first steering hydraulic line that travels from the first control valve to a first cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the first cylinder;   a second steering hydraulic line that travels from the first control valve to a second cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the second cylinder;   a third steering hydraulic line that travels from the second control valve to a third cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the third cylinder;   a fourth steering hydraulic line that travels from the second control valve to a fourth cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the fourth cylinder;   a first bleed valve in fluid communication with the first cylinder, the hydraulic pump, and the hydraulic reservoir;   a second bleed valve in fluid communication with the second cylinder, the hydraulic pump, and the hydraulic reservoir;   a third bleed valve in fluid communication with the third cylinder, the hydraulic pump, and the hydraulic reservoir;   a fourth bleed valve in fluid communication with the fourth cylinder, the hydraulic pump, and the hydraulic reservoir;   a means for opening the first, second, third and fourth bleed valves so that fluid contained in the first, second, third or fourth steering hydraulic lines travels into the hydraulic fluid reservoir when the hydraulic pump is in operation.   
     
     
         10 . A tunneling apparatus comprising:
 a drill head including a main body and a steering member, the steering member is movable relative to the main body, the drill head also including a camera to facilitate steering;   a camera lens cleaning fluid reservoir;   a camera lens cleaning fluid pump for pumping cleaning fluid to the camera;   a camera lens washing fluid line;   a camera lens cleaning applicator in fluid communication with the camera lens cleaning fluid pump and the camera lens cleaning fluid reservoir for cleaning the camera lens; and   wherein the fluid expelled by camera lens cleaning applicator is controlled by the camera lens cleaning fluid pump.