-
The HDD manhole drill TERRA MINI-JET MJS 1600 operates in a manhole. It is controlled from the top via an automatic drill rod lift. The operator stands on top of the road during drilling and backreaming, and not down in the manhole.
Imagine being able to use existing sewer manholes to lay networks for electricity, gas and water without the need to dig up roadways or front gardens of private properties.
Swiss producer of trenchless pipe and cable laying equipment TERRA AG has developed such a manhole HDD drill that is able to undertake directional bores from manhole to manhole and from manhole to all near-by homes. At 0.8 m (2.5 ft) depth you can lay telephone cables, at 1.20 m (4”) depth fresh water lines, and at 1.60 m (5 ft) depth gas or power lines.
This innovative pipe laying method was developed over a 2 year period in close co-operation with the French water supplier SADE.
The TERRA MINI-JET MJS 1600 is a manhole HDD drill for directional bores in lengths up to 50 m (165 ft) with a minimum turning radius of 15 m (50 ft). The directional bore can be reamed in several steps up to 300 mm (12”) even in hard ground. The TERRA MINI-JET MJS 1600 is equipped with a torque of 1600 Nm (1200 ft.lbs) and thrust and pull back forces of 60 kN (6 tons, 13’200 lbs).
The MJS 1600 can drill from manholes with an internal diameter of 1.0 m (3.3 ft) and can fit through manhole entrances of just 0.62 m (25”). Where the entrance is smaller than this, the manhole cover frame can be removed. First the drill’s bed frame is lowered into place in the manhole and tightened hydraulically in position, thereafter the manhole drill is lifted vertically through the manhole cover and bolted onto the bed frame. Drilling and back reaming takes place with bentonite drilling fluid pressure of 0-55 bar (0-800 psi) and drilling fluid volumes of 0-38 ltr/min (0-9 gpm). This makes the TERRA MINI-JET MJS 1600 a small but extremely effective horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine.
