Drill head for earth boring, Drilling device for earth boring having the drill head, and Method to detect objects while earth boring

Abstract

A drill head for earth boring, in particular for a horizontal drilling device, includes a housing, a transmitter for generating a radio signal, an antenna and a receiver for receiving a reflected radio signal, wherein the antenna unit is adapted to transmit radio signal into the earth as well as to receive a reflected radio signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Drill head for earth boring, in particular for a horizontal drilling device, comprising a housing, a transmitter for generating a radio signal, an antenna and a receiver for receiving a reflected radio signal, characterized in that the antenna unit is adapted to transmit a radio signal into the earth as well as to receive a reflected radio signal, the antenna unit arranged to receive signals relating to obstacles ahead and on the side of the drill head. 
     
     
         2 . Drill head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the receiver is adapted such that the reflected radio signal can be transmitted unprocessed to a device above ground. 
     
     
         3 . Drill head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the receiver is coupled to a signal transmitter and the signal transmitter is adapted to transmit the reflected radio signal received by the receiver unprocessed to a device above ground. 
     
     
         4 . Drill head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the device above ground is adapted to receive the unprocessed reflected radio signal wirelessly. 
     
     
         5 . Drill head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the receiver is coupled to a cable or wire being connected to a connecting element for transmission of the reflected radio signal to a connection element of a drill rod segment connectable to the drill head. 
     
     
         6 . Drill head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drill head comprises a location acquisition device and the receiver is adapted to transmit data of the location acquisition device together with the reflected radio signal to a device above ground. 
     
     
         7 . Drill head according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the receiver is adapted to transmit the reflected radio signal and the data of the location acquisition device by discrete multitoned modulation. 
     
     
         8 . Drilling device for earth boring, in particular a horizontal drilling device, characterized in that the drilling device comprises:
 a drill head for earth boring, in particular for a horizontal drilling device, comprising a housing, a transmitter for generating a radio signal, an antenna and a receiver for receiving a reflected radio signal, characterized in that the antenna unit is adapted to transmit a radio signal into the earth as well as to receive a reflected radio signal, the antenna unit arranged to receive signals relating to obstacles ahead and on the side of the drill head; and   a device above ground.   
     
     
         9 . Drilling device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the device above ground is adapted to steer the drill head. 
     
     
         10 . Drilling device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the device above ground is adapted to visualize the reflected radio signal and/or the data of a location acquisition device. 
     
     
         11 . Drilling device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the device above ground is adapted to steer the drill head in response to the reflected radio signal and/or the data of a location acquisition device. 
     
     
         12 . Method to detect objects while earth boring comprising the steps: transmitting a radio signal from a drill head, and receiving a reflected radio signal via a receiver in the drill head, characterized by transmitting the radio signal into earth and receiving the reflected radio signal by the same antenna unit, which detects obstacles ahead and on the side of the drill head. 
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 12 , characterized by transmitting the received reflected radio signal unprocessed to a device above ground, wherein the received reflected radio signal is transmitted via a wire through the drill head and drill rod segments being connected to the drill head. 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 12 , characterized by transmitting the received reflected radio signal unprocessed to a device above ground, wherein the received reflected radio signal is transmitted wirelessly from the drill head to the device above ground. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 12 , characterized by transmitting the reflected radio signal together with data of a location acquisition device, especially by discrete multitoned modulation.