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Title: Method and apparatus for establishing the drilling line of an overhead boring machine
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An underground base structure for a boring machine of a type having a lower mounting end and an upper boring head end, and which is adapted to bore a sloping hole upwardly through ground formation above the base structure and the boring machine, said base structure comprising: a rotatable substantially flat base member; means for mounting said base member on the floor at an underground location, for rotation about a generally vertical axis; upstanding mounting lug means on said base member for use in attaching the lower mounting end of a boring machine of the type described onto said base member, so that such boring machine would in use extend upwardly generally vertically above said base member and a downward continuation of the drilling line of such boring machine would intersect said base member; and means for affixing said base member, and a boring machine attached thereto, in a selected azimuthal position relative to the floor, to establish the azimuth of the drilling line of such boring machine. 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said means for affixing said base member, and a boring machine attached thereto, in a selected azimuthal position comprises anchor bolt means adapted to secure said base member in a selected rotational position relative to the floor of said underground location. 3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein said anchor bolt means comprises a plurality of anchor bolts positioned about the periphery of said base member, and clamp means on said anchor bolts adapted to secure said base member relative to said floor. 4. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising lift means adapted to position and affix a said boring machine along a selected arc of vertical circle relative to the plane of said base member, said lift means comprising at least one length-adjustable member which in use has one end thereof pivotally connected to such boring machine and its opposite end pivotally connected to said base member. 5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said means for affixing said base member, and a boring machine attached thereto, in a selected azimuthal position includes a bedplate rigidly affixed relative to the ground surface of said underground location, and a shaft mounting said base member for rotation relative to said bedplate. 6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein said means for affixing said base member, and a boring machine attached thereto, in a selected azimuthal position further includes an anchor means adapted to secure said base member to said bedplate in a selected rotational position. 7. The structure according to claim 6, further comprising a concrete foundation permanently emplaced on said ground surface, with said bedplate being rigidly affixed to said foundation. 8. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising a trackway for transporting a boring machine to said underground location extending through the mounting location for said machine below the rotatable base member. 9. A base structure for a boring machine adapted to bore a hole upwardly from an underground location, of a type having a lower mounting end and an upper boring head end, said base structure comprising: a bedplate rigidly affixed relative to the ground surface of said underground location; a base member mounted on said bedplate for rotation about a generally vertical axis; mounting lugs disposed on said base member to which the lower mounting end of said boring machine is attachable; anchor means adapted to adjustably secure said base member to said bedplate in a selected rotational position; and lift means secured to said base member and adapted to position and affix said boring machine generally vertically above said base member along a selected arc of vertical circle relative to the plane of said base member when said boring machine is attached to said mounting lugs, thereby enabling said base member, and said boring machine attached thereto, to be affixed in a selected azimuthal position. 10. The structure according to claim 9, wherein a shaft is rigidly secured to the central portion of said bedplate and projects upwardly therefrom, said base member being rotatable about said shaft. 11. The structure according to claim 9, wherein said mounting lugs are rotatably attached to said boring machine and said lift means comprises at least one axially-adjustable member secured at one end to one of said mounting lugs and securable at its other end to the end frame of said boring machine. 12. The structure according to claim 9, wherein said anchor means comprises a plurality of anchor bolts disposed about the periphery of said rotatable base member and adapted to secure said base member to said bedplate to prevent relative rotation therebetween. 13. The structure according to claim 12, wherein the upper peripheral edge portion of said base member is chamfered inwardly toward the center thereof, and wherein each said anchor bolt includes a flange clamp disposed therearound having a beveled edge for face-to-face engagement with the chamfer of said rotatable base member. 14. A method of establishing the drilling line of a machine for boring upwardly from an underground location, of a type having a lower mounting end and an upper boring head end, said method comprising: transporting said machine in generally horizontal position to said location; securing the lower mounting end of said machine to a base member that is rotatable about a vertical axis; raising said machine along a selected arc of vertical circle relative to said base member; rotating said base member, with said machine attached thereto, to a selected azimuth; and securing said base member against rotation relative to the ground surface of said underground location, thereby establishing the drilling line of said boring machine along a selected azimuthal position. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said boring machine is pivotally secured to a plurality of mounting lugs disposed on said rotatable base member, and said boring machine is raised along a selected arc of vertical circle relative to said base member by at least one length-adjustable member interconnecting said base member and said boring machine. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said base member is secured against rotation relative to said ground surface by a plurality of anchor bolts disposed about the periphery of said base member. 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said base member is rotated about a centrally disposed shaft which projects upwardly from a bedplate fixidly secured relative to said ground surface, said base member being mounted for rotation on said bedplate. 18. A method of establishing the drilling line of a machine for boring upwardly from an underground location, of a type having a lower mounting end and an upper boring head end, said method comprising: positioning a base member which is rotatable about a vertical axis at the underground location; transporting said machine in an essentially horizontal position to said location; securing the lower mounting end of said boring machine to the rotatable base member; placing said boring machine at a selected azimuthal drilling position by raising said boring machine and rotating said base member until said boring machine has reached said azimuthal drilling position; and securing said base member against rotation relative to the ground surface of said underground location, thereby establishing the drilling line of said boring machine along the selected azimuthal position. 19. A method of drilling upwardly from an underground location comprising: permanently forming a concrete foundation on the ground surface of said underground location; rigidly mounting a bedplate on said formation, said bedplate having a centrally disposed shaft projecting upwardly therefrom, said shaft having a substantially vertical axis; mounting a rotational base member on said bedplate for rotation about said shaft and said substantially vertical axis; securing a machine for boring upwardly onto said rotatable base member, to extend upwardly therefrom; placing said boring machine in a desired azimuthal position for drilling by raising said machine along a selected arc of vertical circle and rotating said base member to a selected azimuth, thereby establishing the drilling line of said boring machine along said desired azimuthal position; securing said base member against rotation relative to said bedplate; and advancing said boring machine along said drilling line while drilling away the material ahead of said machine. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said base member is secured against rotation relative to said bedplate by a plurality of anchor bolts circumferentially disposed about said base member. 21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said bedplate is mounted to said foundation by a plurality of rock bolts, each said rock being removably imbedded in said foundation and having a flange member engaging the upper peripheral edge surface of said bedplate. 22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said boring machine is pivotally secured to a plurality of mounting lugs disposed on said rotatable base member, there being at least one length-adjustable member interconnecting said base member and said boring machine for raising said machine along said selected arc of vertical circle relative to said base member. Other info: Inventors: Crane, Clayton H. (Mercer Island, WA, US) Adami, Hans A. (Vashon, WA, US) Application Number: 546604 Filing Date: 1975-02-03 Publication_date: 1976-12-28 Assignee: The Robbins Company (Seattle, WA) Primary Class(es): 173/32 52/295, 173/36, 173/42, 248/654, 299/31 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Purser, Ernest R. Assistant Examiner: Pate, III, William F. Attorney: Graybeal, Barnard & Uhlir |
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