Patents by Inventor Christof Kruse

Christof Kruse has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11236557
    Abstract: A core tube handling device can be used with exploratory drilling rigs. The device can include a slew arm mounted on the rig's mast and a pivot arm mounted on the slew arm. When the slew arm is adjacent to the mast, clamping devices on the pivot arm can grasp and hold a core tube from the drill string. The slew arm can pivot away from the mast and align the pivot arm with a tray that receives and holds the tubes. The pivot arm can pivot to a position proximate the tray and release the tube. The tray can be rotatable and translatable to facilitate transfer of the tube from the pivot arm to the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Thorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse, Trevor Zwar
  • Publication number: 20220025721
    Abstract: A high pressure injection flushing head includes a flushing body comprising an upper body portion, and a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion. The upper body portion and the lower body portion cooperate to define a bore. A shaft is rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore. A plurality of rotary elements are configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft relative to the flushing body. The flushing body comprises a lubrication system having a plurality of grease nipples, and a network of pathways in fluid communication with the grease nipples that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary bearings. The flushing head couples to an adapter via a flanged connection so that the flushing head can be adapted for use with a plurality of drill rod types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: MARKUS HARTUNG, CHRISTOF KRUSE
  • Publication number: 20210087894
    Abstract: A core tube handling device can be used with exploratory drilling rigs. The device can include a slew arm mounted on the rig's mast and a pivot arm mounted on the slew arm. When the slew arm is adjacent to the mast, clamping devices on the pivot arm can grasp and hold a core tube from the drill string. The slew arm can pivot away from the mast and align the pivot arm with a tray that receives and holds the tubes. The pivot arm can pivot to a position proximate the tray and release the tube. The tray can be rotatable and translatable to facilitate transfer of the tube from the pivot arm to the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Thorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse, Trevor Zwar
  • Patent number: 10947793
    Abstract: A core tube handling device can be used with exploratory drilling rigs. The device can include a slew arm mounted on the rig's mast and a pivot arm mounted on the slew arm. When the slew arm is adjacent to the mast, clamping devices on the pivot arm can grasp and hold a core tube from the drill string. The slew arm can pivot away from the mast and align the pivot arm with a tray that receives and holds the tubes. The pivot arm can pivot to a position proximate the tray and release the tube. The tray can be rotatable and translatable to facilitate transfer of the tube from the pivot arm to the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Thorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse, Trevor Zwar
  • Patent number: 10919726
    Abstract: A wireline system for use during drilling operations. The wireline system has a wireline assembly and a roller assembly. Both the wireline assembly and the roller assembly are positioned within a front portion of a drill rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Thorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse, Stefan Wrede, Rene Maennel
  • Publication number: 20200165884
    Abstract: A core tube handling device can be used with exploratory drilling rigs. The device can include a slew arm mounted on the rig's mast and a pivot arm mounted on the slew arm. When the slew arm is adjacent to the mast, clamping devices on the pivot arm can grasp and hold a core tube from the drill string. The slew arm can pivot away from the mast and align the pivot arm with a tray that receives and holds the tubes. The pivot arm can pivot to a position proximate the tray and release the tube. The tray can be rotatable and translatable to facilitate transfer of the tube from the pivot arm to the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: THORSEN UPMEIER, Christof Kruse, Trevor Zwar
  • Publication number: 20200024098
    Abstract: A wireline system for use during drilling operations. The wireline system has a wireline assembly and a roller assembly. Both the wireline assembly and the roller assembly are positioned within a front portion of a drill rig.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: THORSTEN UPMEIER, CHRISTOF KRUSE, STEFAN WREDE, RENE MAENNEL
  • Patent number: 10384907
    Abstract: A wireline system for use during drilling operations. The wireline system has a wireline assembly and a roller assembly. Both the wireline assembly and the roller assembly are positioned within a front portion of a drill rig. Described herein, in one aspect, is a wireline system for use on a drill rig. The drill rig can comprise a drilling system, and the drilling system can comprise a mast, a drill string, and a drill head configured to impart rotation to the drill string within a drilling formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Thorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse, Stefan Wrede, Rene Maennel
  • Publication number: 20170081144
    Abstract: A wireline system for use during drilling operations. The wireline system has a wireline assembly and a roller assembly. Both the wireline assembly and the roller assembly are positioned within a front portion of a drill rig. Described herein, in one aspect, is a wireline system for use on a drill rig. The drill rig can comprise a drilling sytem, and the drilling system can comprise a mast, a drill string, and a drill head configured to impart rotation to the drill string within a drilling formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Thorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse, Stefan Wrede, Rene Maennel
  • Patent number: 8556004
    Abstract: A conduit assembly for use in a drilling system that may include an upper section, an intermediate section and a lower section. The upper section may include a first seal. The first seal may include an opening that may be sized and configured to receive and form a seal with an inner drill string. The first seal may include one or more slits that may extend from an outer edge of the first seal to the opening of the first seal. The intermediate section may include an outlet for a flushing medium. The outlet may include a projection that may extend into a hollow interior of the intermediate section. The lower section may be sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of an outer drill string. The lower section may be sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from the intermediate section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Hartung, Christof Kruse
  • Patent number: 8408328
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes a first motor, a second motor, a pump operatively associated with the first motor, a first coupling valve operatively associated with the second motor, first parallel valves operatively associated with the second motor, and a first switching valve operatively associated with the first coupling valve and the first parallel valves. The first switching valve is configured to switch the first coupling valve between a first coupling state and a second coupling state opposite the first coupling state and to switch the first parallel valves between a first parallel state and a second parallel state opposite the first parallel state. While the first parallel valves are in the first parallel state a portion of the output of the first motor drives the second motor while the first parallel valves are in the second parallel state, the output of the pump drives the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Wrede, Christof Kruse
  • Publication number: 20120138368
    Abstract: A conduit assembly for use in a drilling system that may include an upper section, an intermediate section and a lower section. The upper section may include a first seal. The first seal may include an opening that may be sized and configured to receive and form a seal with an inner drill string. The first seal may include one or more slits that may extend from an outer edge of the first seal to the opening of the first seal. The intermediate section may include an outlet for a flushing medium. The outlet may include a projection that may extend into a hollow interior of the intermediate section. The lower section may be sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of an outer drill string. The lower section may be sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from the intermediate section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Markus Hartung, Christof Kruse
  • Patent number: 8172002
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes a first motor, a second motor, a pump operatively associated with the first motor, a first coupling valve operatively associated with the second motor, first parallel valves operatively associated with the second motor, and a first switching valve operatively associated with the first coupling valve and the first parallel valves. The first switching valve is configured to switch the first coupling valve between a first coupling state and a second coupling state opposite the first coupling state and to switch the first parallel valves between a first parallel state and a second parallel state opposite the first parallel state. While the first parallel valves are in the first parallel state a portion of the output of the first motor drives the second motor while the first parallel valves are in the second parallel state, the output of the pump drives the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Wrede, Christof Kruse
  • Patent number: 8118118
    Abstract: A modular base assembly for a rotary drill head includes a drive flange assembly having a tubular drive shaft configured to engage at least a lower drive interface. The modular base assembly also includes a gear housing supporting the drive flange assembly. Furthermore, the modular base assembly can also include a plurality of interchangeable gear pinions selectively coupled to the drive flange assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Christof Kruse, Stefan Wrede, Hans-Juergen Wahl
  • Patent number: 8113299
    Abstract: A jib assembly for use with a drill rig includes a jib boom having a first end and a second end. The jib boom is to rotate about the first end and the second end is configured to be coupled to a mast assembly mount. The jib assembly also includes an articulation assembly having at least one variable length link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the variable length link is offset from the jib boom and the second end is configured to be pivotingly coupled to the mast assembly mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Wrede, Christof Kruse
  • Publication number: 20110247880
    Abstract: An alignment assembly includes a shaft, a first gripper coupled to the shaft, and a second gripper coupled to the shaft. The first gripper includes a fixed gripper body and a first rotating gripper body rotatingly coupled to the fixed gripper body. The second gripper may include a second rotating gripper body and a third rotating gripper body. An axis pivot rotatingly couples the second rotating gripper body and the third rotating gripper body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Wrede, Thorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse
  • Patent number: 8028613
    Abstract: A valve system includes a load holding valve, a feed balancing valve, and a fast feed differential valve. The load holding valve may be in fluid communication with the load holding valve. The fast feed differential valve is configured to move between an engaged state and a disengaged state. In the engaged state the fast feed differential valve fluidly couples a ring side of a feed cylinder, the load holding valve, and a piston side of the feed cylinder to allow fluid to flow from the ring side to the piston side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Wrede, Christof Kruse
  • Patent number: 7997167
    Abstract: A system for clamping and breaking threaded tubular members includes a clamping device configured to grip a threaded tubular member. The clamping device further includes a housing and a base mount associated with the housing. A breaking device can be provided to grip and rotate a threaded tubular member, the breaking device further including a housing and a base mount associated with the housing in which the base mount of clamping device and the base mount of the breaking device are configured to be mounted independently to at least one support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Christof Kruse, Stefan Wrede
  • Publication number: 20110132664
    Abstract: A jib assembly for use with a drill rig includes a jib boom having a first end and a second end. The jib boom is to rotate about the first end and the second end is configured to be coupled to a mast assembly mount. The jib assembly also includes an articulation assembly having at least one variable length link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the variable length link is offset from the jib boom and the second end is configured to be pivotingly coupled to the mast assembly mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Wrede, Christof Kruse
  • Patent number: 7905299
    Abstract: A jib assembly for use with a drill rig includes a jib boom having a first end and a second end. The jib boom is to rotate about the first end and the second end is configured to be coupled to a mast assembly mount. The jib assembly also includes an articulation assembly having at least one variable length link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the variable length link is offset from the jib boom and the second end is configured to be pivotingly coupled to the mast assembly mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Wrede, Christof Kruse