Patents by Inventor Gregg Alan Austin

Gregg Alan Austin 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).

  • Pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus
    Patent number: 6814164
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus including a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, and a drive head is disclosed herein. The drive head includes a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe. The drive member is aligned along a drive axis. The drilling apparatus includes a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis. The drilling apparatus also includes a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head. The pipe transfer member defines a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe. The pipe transfer member is movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located under to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located under the drive axis of the drive head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew Arlen Mills, Gregg Alan Austin, Steven C. Erickson
  • Pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus
    Publication number: 20040007388
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus including a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, and a drive head is disclosed herein. The drive head includes a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe. The drive member is aligned along a drive axis. The drilling apparatus includes a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis. The drilling apparatus also includes a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head. The pipe transfer member defines a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe. The pipe transfer member is movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located under to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located under the drive axis of the drive head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Matthew Arlen Mills, Gregg Alan Austin, Steven C. Erickson
  • Pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus
    Patent number: 6533046
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus including a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, and a drive head is disclosed herein. The drive head includes a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe. The drive member is aligned along a drive axis. The drilling apparatus includes a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis. The drilling apparatus also includes a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head. The pipe transfer member defines a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe. The pipe transfer member is movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located under the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew Arlen Mills, Gregg Alan Austin, Steven C. Erickson
  • Pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus
    Publication number: 20020079137
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drilling apparatus including a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, and a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe. The drive member is aligned along a drive axis. The drilling apparatus includes a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis. The drilling apparatus also includes a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head. The pipe transfer member defines a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe. The pipe transfer member is movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew Arlen Mills, Gregg Alan Austin, Steven C. Erickson
  • Pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus
    Patent number: 6332502
    Abstract: A magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, and a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe. The drive member is aligned along a drive axis. The drilling apparatus includes a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis. The drilling apparatus also includes a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head. The pipe transfer member defines a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe. The pipe transfer member is movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew Arlen Mills, Gregg Alan Austin, Steven C. Erickson