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Ditch Witch JT3020 All Terrain Improves HDD Productivity

April 9, 2009
The Ditch Witch JT3020 All Terrain features all terrain technology, one of the Ditch Witch organization's many patented innovations designed to simplify the horizontal direct drilling (HDD) process

The Ditch Witch JT3020 All Terrain features all terrain technology, one of the Ditch Witch organization's many patented innovations designed to simplify the horizontal direct drilling (HDD) process. One of the company's breakthrough innovations was the slant-faced drill bit, which revolutionized the industry by enabling HDD operators to steer the drill head. All Terrain technology improves upon the steering process with a patented dual-drive pipe system, which enables the JT3020 All Terrain to drill and steer at the same time. This is an advantage over single-rod systems, which are not capable of steering as well, if at all, in consolidated soils. The inner pipe of the JT3020 All Terrain's two-pipe drill string continuously turns the drill bit at 150 to 400 RPM, depending on the soil, resulting in exceptionally efficient boring.

The JT3020 All Terrain is so named because it can steer, drill and backream up to 650 feet in all types of soils, including solid rock, and also because it can be firmly secured on most surfaces thanks to a hydraulic, heavy-duty anchor system. The JT3020 All Terrain also features an industry-exclusive double-pivot drill frame that allows steep entry angles without raising the tracks off the ground, for maximum stability while drilling.
During drilling, the HDD operator keeps track of the drilling head's location with the help of an electronic beacon. A unique feature of the JT3020 All Terrain beacon is the relatively short length of its beacon, which enables it to be positioned in a steel housing just behind the drilling head. This design enables Ditch Witch JT3020 All Terrain beacons to show actual steering corrections during drilling, which makes it easier to guide the drilling head.

Because the JT3020 All Terrain transfers power to the bit mechanically, as opposed to the mud motor utilized by other HDD systems, it requires relatively little drilling fluid and therefore reduces jobsite cleanup time and expense. The All Terrain system is the most efficient method of transferring power to the cutting head.

Other standard features of the JT3020 All Terrain include cruise control for pilot boring and backreaming, which improves productivity by reducing operator fatigue; a patented pipe-loading system that features hydraulically powered shuttle grippers, hydraulic pipe row selection, and single pipe-loading; and low-maintenance, open-top vise wrenches that are angled toward the operator to provide an excellent view of the tool joint.

Ditch Witch www.ditchwitch.com

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