Patent ID: 7748471

Claim:
An apparatus for horizontal drilling, the apparatus comprising: (A) a thrust frame; (B) a carriage having a spindle for drilling operations, wherein the carriage is positioned to move forward and backward along the thrust frame; (C) a wheel truck, wherein a rearward portion of the thrust frame can be supported in a lowered position on the wheel truck; and (D) a king pin for operatively connecting a forward portion of the thrust frame to a tractor without operatively connecting through the wheel truck or rearward portion of the thrust frame; (E) a trailer-leg assembly that can be connected operatively between: (i) the forward portion of the thrust frame and (ii) the ground adjacent to the forward portion of the thrust frame without being connected operatively through the rearward portion of the thrust frame; and wherein the trailer-leg assembly is capable of assisting in supporting the forward portion of the thrust frame: (a) in a raised position off the ground so that a connector of a tractor can be moved into or out of position under the forward portion of the thrust frame, whereby the tractor can be removed from or connected to the forward portion of the thrust frame for towing; and (b) in a lowered position where the forward portion of the thrust frame is in a lowered position adjacent the ground, whereby the forward portion of the thrust frame can be lowered to assist positioning the thrust frame in an inclined position for horizontal drilling operations.