Patent ID: RE39259

Claim:
A drill head forming a portion of a drill string for boring a hole through the ground, comprising: a member having a generally longitudinally extending housing including an outer surface, an inner surface defining a hollow passage therethrough, said housing further defining a chamber, a first end adapted and configured for boring through the ground and a second end adapted and configured to be coupled to any one of a starter rod and a drill stem; an electrically insulative ring radially disposed about said second end an electrically conductive ring radially disposed within said electrically insulative ring; an electrically conductive piercing means located about said electrically insulative ring, said piercing means for piercing through said electrically insulative ring to establish electrical continuity with said electrically conductive ring beyond said electrically insulative ring in response to pressure applied to said electrically conductive piercing means; an electrical conductor encapsulated by an electrically insulative material, said electrical conductor disposed within said hollow passage and being electrically connectable between said conductive ring and an electronic device disposed within said chamber, said electrically insulative ring providing electrical isolation between said conductive ring and said outer surface of said drill head and between said piercing means and said electrical conductor when no pressure is applied to said piercing means, and said electrically insulative material providing electrical isolation between said electrical conductor and said inner surface of said hollow passage.