Patents by Inventor Gary T. Oatman

Gary T. Oatman 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: 5273388
    Abstract: A lifting device for down hole tubulars is used with an earth drilling machine of the type having a boom for moving a down hole tubular from a horizontal position at an intermediate level to a raised position aligned with a drilling axis, and a tubular holding device for holding a down hole tubular horizontally at a lower level, beneath the intermediate level. The lifting device includes first and second spaced, parallel tracks oriented to extend substantially from the lower level substantially to the upper level and first and second dolleys, each guided for movement along a respective one of the tracks and configured to retain the down hole tubular. The dolleys are moved between the lower and intermediate levels by an actuator which is connected to both of the dolleys by a mechanical linkage which includes tension members. This mechanical linkage positively synchronizes movement of the dolleys along the tracks to maintain the tubular horizontal as it is moved between the lower and intermediate levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: W-N Apache Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde A. Willis, Gary T. Oatman
  • Patent number: 5259723
    Abstract: A feeding device for down hole tubulars includes a frame which defines a support surface. First and second stops are arranged to reciprocate in stop guides between an upper position, in which the stops interrupt movement of a tubular, and a lower position in which the stops allow movement of the tubular. The stop guides are moveable relative to one another to adjust the separation between the stops as appropriate for tubulars of different diameters. A tilting actuator arm cycles the stops between upper and lower positions to control the feeding of tubulars along the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: W-N Apache Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde A. Willis, Gary T. Oatman