Patent ID: 7607494
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An earth penetrating apparatus for use with a boring machine, comprising: a cutting tool assembly comprising a cutting tool and a sensor housing; a radar unit provided in the sensor housing; an antenna arrangement coupled to the radar unit, the antenna arrangement configured for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; a rate sensor unit provided in the sensor housing; a processor provided in the sensor housing and communicatively coupled to the radar unit and the rate sensor unit, the processor receiving radar data from the radar unit indicative of subsurface strata and obstacles in proximity to the cutting tool and receiving displacement data from the rate sensor unit indicative of one or both of longitudinal and rotational displacement of the cutting tool; and a transmitter provided in the sensor housing and coupled to the processor, the transmitter configured for transmitting one or both of the radar data and the displacement data to an aboveground location.