Directional drill securing device and method

Abstract

A directional drill securing device and associated methods are shown. Securing devices and methods shown include a plurality of staking devices on a single lateral side of a directional drill. Using examples shown, a lower force is required to drive multiple staking devices than would be needed for a larger staking device of equivalent area.

1 . A directional drill, comprising:
 a drill carriage;   a rotating spindle coupled to the drill carriage, wherein the rotating spindle is adapted to translate along a surface of the drill carriage;   a stakedown system coupled to an end of the drill carriage, including   a plurality of first stake implements including auger flights located on a first lateral side of the drill carriage, the plurality of first stake implements both being rotated concurrently by a common drive motor; and   at least one second stake implement including auger flights located on a second lateral side of the drill carriage, opposite the first lateral side, wherein the first lateral side of the drill carriage includes a larger number of stake implements than the second lateral side.   
     
     
         2 . The directional drill of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first stake implements are coupled to a single drive system to drive the plurality of first stake implements into the ground at the same time. 
     
     
         3 . The directional drill of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral side of the drill carriage includes two stake implement. 
     
     
         4 . The directional drill of  claim 1 , wherein the second lateral side of the drill carriage includes one stake implement. 
     
     
         5 . The directional drill of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of first stake implements are located adjacent to one another at a distance of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 times an auger flight diameter from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The directional drill of  claim 1 , wherein the common drive motor includes a gear drive. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a directional drill, comprising:
 positioning a drill carriage and a rotating spindle coupled to the drill carriage along a drilling axis;   driving multiple stake implements into the ground concurrently, including rotating a common drive motor coupled to the multiple stake implements; and   staking down the directional drill using the multiple stake implements.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further including selecting an optional desired number of stake implements from a plurality of stake implements located on both a first lateral side of the drill carriage and a second lateral side of the drill carriage wherein the first lateral side of the drill carriage includes a larger number of stake implements than the second lateral side. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein selecting an optional desired number of stake implements includes selecting a plurality of first stake implements coupled to a single driver to drive the plurality of first stake implements into the ground at the same time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein selecting an optional desired number of stake implements includes selecting two first stake implements coupled to a single hydraulic system to drive the two first stake implements into the ground at the same time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein selecting an optional desired number of stake implements includes selecting two first stake implements located adjacent to one another at a distance of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 times an auger flight diameter from each other. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein staking down the directional drill using the selected number of stake implements includes selecting a staking depth, and wherein the single hydraulic system includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders coupled together, and selecting the staking depth includes selecting actuation of one or both or the pair of hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a directional drill, comprising:
 positioning a drill carriage and a rotating spindle coupled to the drill carriage along a drilling axis;   driving multiple stake implements into the ground concurrently, including actuating a single drive system to drive the multiple stake implements into the ground at the same time; and   staking down the directional drill using the multiple stake implements.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein driving multiple stake implements into the ground concurrently, includes rotating a common drive motor coupled to the multiple stake implements. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further including selecting an optional desired number of stake implements from a plurality of stake implements located on both a first lateral side of the drill carriage and a second lateral side of the drill carriage wherein the first lateral side of the drill carriage includes a larger number of stake implements than the second lateral side. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selecting an optional desired number of stake implements includes selecting a plurality of first stake implements coupled to a single driver to drive the plurality of first stake implements into the ground at the same time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selecting an optional desired number of stake implements includes selecting two first stake implements coupled to a single hydraulic system to drive the two first stake implements into the ground at the same time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selecting an optional desired number of stake implements includes selecting two first stake implements located adjacent to one another at a distance of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 times an auger flight diameter from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein staking down the directional drill using the selected number of stake implements includes selecting a staking depth, and wherein the single hydraulic system includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders coupled together, and selecting the staking depth includes selecting actuation of one or both or the pair of hydraulic cylinders.