A grade management system configured to control a depth of a dig includes a vehicle including an arm assembly coupled to an implement, the implement configured to dig into a surface, and an implement position sensor coupled to the arm assembly, the implement position sensor configured to detect a position of the implement relative to the vehicle, wherein in response to digging into the surface with the implement, detecting the position of the implement relative to the vehicle and determining whether any portion of the implement reaches a targeted depth into the surface.

A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head having a body with a first body end with a lead edge, a second body end with a rear edge, and a body surface extending from the lead edge to the rear edge, an outer tube with an internal side generally facing the body surface, the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end, and a steering flap disposed on an external side of the outer tube having a first flap face facing radially inwardly and a second flap face facing radially outwardly. A fluid dispenser is disposed in a void defined between the outer tube and the body.

Utilities (e.g., apparatuses, systems, methods, etc.) for use in converting a container (e.g., crate, box, packaging) within which a post hole digger (e.g., unassembled) is disposed into a stand useful for facilitating connection of the post hole digger to a tractor or the like.

A boring apparatus for coupling to a drill rod and drilling a borehole includes a boring tool head configured to couple to the drill rod and receive drilling fluid. The boring tool head has an exterior surface with a hole and defines an internal cavity. The hole is configured to receive ground spoils such that the ground spoils are conveyed into the internal cavity, and the drilling fluid dispenses into the cavity such that the drilling fluid mixes with the ground spoils to form a drilling slurry. A housing is coupled to the boring tool head and has a chamber in fluid communication with the cavity. A pump in the chamber is configured to pump the drilling slurry out of the cavity and the chamber.

An excavating machine includes an actuation unit for moving the excavator, a main winch and secondary winch for lifting and lowering the actuation unit. A closed hydraulic circuit or an electric circuit drives the main winch. An open hydraulic circuit drives the secondary winch. A first pressure or current sensor measures fluid pressure or, electric current intensity in the hydraulic or electric driving circuit. A second pressure sensor measures fluid pressure in the open hydraulic circuit. A pressure regulator regulates fluid pressure in the open hydraulic circuit. A control unit executes a combined operating condition with the winches applying a force simultaneously and based on values sensed, controls the pressure regulator so the fluid pressure in the open hydraulic circuit, during the combined operating condition, has a target value that is a function of: the fluid pressure in the closed hydraulic circuit or the current in the electric circuit.

A cutting assembly and method for drilling an underground borehole. The cutting assembly includes front and rear cutting heads of different diameters mounted on a shaft. An air passage defined through the cutting assembly may be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized remote air source and with a bore of a casing extending rearwardly from the cutting assembly. Pressurized air flows through the air passage and entrains cuttings produced by the front and rear cutting heads. A housing extends rearwardly from the larger diameter rear cutting head and an auger provided within the housing aids in directing cuttings into the casing. The auger rotates independently of the rest of the cutting assembly and may be configured to further reduce the size of the cuttings. A collar on the housing seals the borehole cut by the rear cutting assembly and aids in preventing frac-out.

A drilling machine has a drilling tool, a rotary, a main engine that actuates a high-pressure pump, a hydraulic motor, actuated by the high-pressure pump and connected to the rotary at least one pressure sensor disposed in a discharge pipe. The fluid flows from the high-pressure pump to the hydraulic motor. An adjustment valve is disposed in a discharge pipe such that the fluid flows from a low-pressure circuit to the hydraulic motor in order to adjust the cylinder capacity of the hydraulic motor according to the pressure measured by the pressure sensor when the tool is unloaded.

A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment is disclosed. The assembly includes a first rotating table having a main body; one or more motors, each having a pinion, associated with the main body; a bearing having a fixed ring constrained to the main body and a movable ring that is coaxial and rotatable with respect to the fixed ring; a dragging sleeve integrally coupled with the movable ring coaxially to the bearing; a ring gear integrally and coaxially coupled with the dragging sleeve to engage with the pinion and be moved in rotation by the motors rotating integrally with the dragging sleeve and integrally with the movable ring. The assembly also has a second rotating table adapted to be coupled to a continuous excavating propeller; a plurality of accessories associated with the first rotating table so it can be coupled to a telescopic Kelly rod or to a continuous excavating propeller or to a casing and excavating pipe.

Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile through a first conduit into a region of geologic material, which generates debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device located in a second conduit using a conveying device, such as an auger. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. A third conduit may be used to provide and remove material from the bottom of the first conduit to control pressure at the end of the conduit to prevent ingress of material into the first conduit. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.

Systems for forming or extending a tunnel or shaft within geologic material may include a ram accelerator assembly for accelerating one or more projectiles into geologic material to weaken a region of the geologic material. The projectile(s) pre-condition the geologic material, such as by forming one or more holes in a central region of the material or to define a perimeter of the region to be displaced. A cutting tool or subsequent projectile impacts may then be used to remove the weakened material. The voids formed by the first projectile(s) cause compressive forces from subsequent impacts or cutting operations to be converted to tension forces that more efficiently break geologic material, which may fall into the voids created by the first projectile(s). The voids created by the projectile impacts may also control the material that is removed and the shape of a resulting section of the tunnel or shaft.