Patent ID: 8276687
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A steering head for use with an auger machine and a casing engageable to the auger machine for boring through soil, the steering head comprising: a generally cylindrical body defining a longitudinal body axis, the body having a first body end and an opposing second body end, the second body end being mountable to the casing, the body further having a bore channel with a channel surface concentrically received in the body, a front lip radially extending from the bore channel proximate to the first body end, a rear lip radially extending from the bore channel proximate to the second body end, a body surface enveloping the body from the front lip to the rear lip, the body further having a lead edge radially extending from the front lip at the first body end, the lead edge having a first soil face and an opposing lead face; an outer tube having an internal side and an opposing external side, the internal side generally facing and operative to cover the body surface and the lead face from the first body end to the second body end; a steering flap disposed on the external side of the outer tube defining a longitudinal flap axis and a generally lateral flap axis disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal flap axis, the steering flap having a first flap face and an opposing second flap face, the first flap face disposable facing toward and generally parallel to the body surface in a retracted position, the first flap face disposable radially away from the body surface in an extended position, the steering flap further having a distal end and a hinge end, the hinge end generally disposed between the distal end and the lead edge, the hinge end being mountable to the outer tube by a biased hinge operative to retract the steering flap into the retracted position; and a powered actuator mountable to the first flap face and the body surface, the powered actuator when activated operative to extend the first flap face into the extended position.