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EP0256601A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and device for making a hole in the ground

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-08-10
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2007-08-10
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Abstract

Abstract The head (13,14) is carried by two flexible continuous drill pipes (4 and 5) which surround each other and which are flexible enough to be uncoiled from a reel but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted in the ground on themselves or relative to each other during the operation of the head (13,14). The head is directed in the ground by means of fluid which is pumped through one of the pipes (4 or 5) and wherewith the head (13,14) is repelled relative to the wall of the already-­formed portion of the hole (18). One of the pipes (4 or 5) connects to one or more directable spray nozzles (15) on the front end of the head, the other one (5 or 4) connects to one or more sidewise-issueing openings (21) wherein preferably a directable spray nozzle (22) is mounted.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nik Smet

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 22:36
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B17/00; E21B17/20; E21B17/203; E21B19/00; E21B19/22; E21B21/00; E21B21/12; E21B7/00; E21B7/04; E21B7/06; E21B7/065; E21B7/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 255 words
Method for making a hole in the ground, according to which one brings at least two lines (4 and 5) in the ground which connect with one end thereof to one and the same head (13,14), lines (4 and 5) from which the one (4 or 5) communicates with at least one spray opening (15) which opens on that end lying forward in the direction of the hole to be made, of the head (13,14), outside said head, and the other one (5 or 4) communicates with at least one sidewise-issueing opening (21) in the head (13,14), whereby the head (13,14) is driven into the ground notably by pumping fluid under a first high pressure through that line (4) which opens on the opening (15) in the forward-lying head end (13,14) ,and at least temporarily fluid is pumped under another second pressure through the other line (5), characterized in that use is made for the lines (4 and 5), of somewhat flexible continuous drill pipes which are flexible enough to be coiled on a reel and uncoiled therefrom, but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted in the ground, on themselves or relative to one another during the operation of the head (13,14), and the head is directed in the ground by means of fluid which is pumped through at least one of the pipes (4 or 5) for repelling the head (13,14) relative to the wall of the already-formed portion of the hole (18), until said head has the required direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 255 words
Method for making a hole in the ground, according to which one brings at least two lines (4 and 5) in the ground which connect with one end thereof to one and the same head (13,14), lines (4 and 5) from which the one (4 or 5) communicates with at least one spray opening (15) which opens on that end lying forward in the direction of the hole to be made, of the head (13,14), outside said head, and the other one (5 or 4) communicates with at least one sidewise-issueing opening (21) in the head (13,14), whereby the head (13,14) is driven into the ground notably by pumping fluid under a first high pressure through that line (4) which opens on the opening (15) in the forward-lying head end (13,14) ,and at least temporarily fluid is pumped under another second pressure through the other line (5), characterized in that use is made for the lines (4 and 5), of somewhat flexible continuous drill pipes which are flexible enough to be coiled on a reel and uncoiled therefrom, but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted in the ground, on themselves or relative to one another during the operation of the head (13,14), and the head is directed in the ground by means of fluid which is pumped through at least one of the pipes (4 or 5) for repelling the head (13,14) relative to the wall of the already-formed portion of the hole (18), until said head has the required direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 47 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that use is made of a head (13,14) which comprises at least in one spray opening on the front end, a directable spray nozzle (15), and the head (13,14) is directed by adjusting the direction of said spray nozzle (15).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
Method according to claim 2, characterized in that use is made of a head (13,14) which comprises in a spray opening on the frontmost end,a spray nozzle (15) adjustable in itself relative to the head,and said spray nozzle (15) is adjusted in direction by adjusting same relative to that portion of the spray head (13,14) it is mounted on.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 61 words
Method according to either one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that use is made of a head (13,14) which has a rotatable portion (14) whereon the spray nozzle (15) is provided, and said spray nozzle is adjusted in direction notably by revolving that portion (14) of the head (13,14) with said spray nozzle (15) relative to the head remainder(13).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 49 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that use is made of a head (13,14) which comprises at least two spray openings (15) on the front end, whereby the flow rate of at least one of them is adjustable,and the head (13,14) is directed by adjusting the flow rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that use is made of a head (13,14) which comprises in at least one sidewise-issueing opening (21), a directable spray nozzle (22), and the head (13,14) is directed by adjusting the direction of said spray nozzle (22).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 47 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that use is made of a head (13,14) which comprises at least two sidewise-issueing openings (21), whereby the flow rate from the one of which at least is adjustable, and the head (13,14) is directed by adjusting said flow rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 70 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that use is made of a head (13,14) which comprises one or a plurality of sidewise-issueing spray openings (21) lying asymmetrically over the circumference, whereby the head proper is rotatable or comprises a part which is rotatable about the axis thereof, wherein then said latter spray openings (21) lie, and the head (13,14) is directed by revolving same or the rotatable part thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flexible pipes (4 and 5) are uncoiled from or coiled on a reel (1).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the pipes (4 and 5) are straightened before feeding same to the hole (18) in the ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 66 words
Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that use is made of two flexible pipes (4 and 5), the one (5) of which surrounds the other one (4), and thus fluid under the one pressure is pumped through the innermost pipe (4) and fluid under the other pressure through the space between the outermost pipe (5) and the innermost pipe (4).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 40 words
Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the fluid with the higher pressure is pumped through the innermost pipe (4), and the fluid under the lower pressure is pumped through the outermost pipe (5), around the innermost pipe (4).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
Method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the fluid under the first pressure is being pumped under a pressure higher than 300 kg/cm².
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
Method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the fluid under the first pressure is being pumped with a first flow rate which is larger than 10 l/min.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the fluid under the first pressure is being pumped with a first flow rate which lies between 100 and 150 l/min.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 36 words
Method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the fluid under the second pressure is being pumped in the corresponding pipe (5 or 4) with a pressure of about 200 kg/cm².
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 142 words
Device for making a hole (18) in the ground, which device comprises a head (13,14) which is provided with at least one spray opening (15) on the front most end thereof and with at least one sidewise-issueing opening (21), and two lines (4 and 5) for pressurized fluid which connect respectively with said first spray opening (15) and said latter opening (21), and at least one pump (11 or 12) which is connected to at least one of (4 or 5) said lines, characterized in that it comprises a reel (1) and the lines (4 and 5) are continuous flexible drill pipes which are flexible enough to be coiled on and uncoiled from the reel (1), but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted,in the ground,on themselves or relative to one another during the operation of the head (13,14).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 142 words
Device for making a hole (18) in the ground, which device comprises a head (13,14) which is provided with at least one spray opening (15) on the front most end thereof and with at least one sidewise-issueing opening (21), and two lines (4 and 5) for pressurized fluid which connect respectively with said first spray opening (15) and said latter opening (21), and at least one pump (11 or 12) which is connected to at least one of (4 or 5) said lines, characterized in that it comprises a reel (1) and the lines (4 and 5) are continuous flexible drill pipes which are flexible enough to be coiled on and uncoiled from the reel (1), but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted,in the ground,on themselves or relative to one another during the operation of the head (13,14).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the one flexible pipe (5) surrounds the other one (4).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 44 words
Device according to either one of claims 17 and 18, characterized in that it comprises two pumps (11 and 12), the one of which is connected to the one pipe (4 or 5), and the other one to the other pipe (5 or 4).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 28 words
Device according to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises means (8) to change the connection of the pumps (11 and 12) to the pipes (4 and 5).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 53 words
Device according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that the head (13,14) is comprised of a body (13) and an end (14) rotatably mounted thereon, the body (13) being provided with at least one sidewise-issueing opening (21 or 22), and the end bears at least one spray nozzle (15).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 27 words
Device according to claim 21, characterized in that in said at least one sidewise-issueing opening (21 or 22) of the body, a spray nozzle (22) is mounted.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 23 words
Device according to either one of claims 21 and 22, characterized in that the spray nozzle (15 or 22) is adjustable in direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 36 words
Device according to any one of claims 17 to 23, characterized in that it comprises means (23,24) to straighten the flexible pipes (4 and 5) between the reel (1) and the hole in the ground (18).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 38 words
Device according to any one of claims 17 to 24, characterized in that the head (13,14) comprises adjustable means for adjusting asymmetrically the spraying through the openings (15 and 21) relative to the axis of the head (13,14).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2710170A Cited
FR1262151A Cited
US3211244A Cited
GB979984A Cited
US3744579A Cited
US3856095A Cited
US3958641A Cited
US3934659A Cited
US4073351A Cited
AU523505B2 Cited
US4431069A Cited
FR2493907A1 Cited
GB2126267A Cited

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