Patents by Inventor Kris D. Zimmermann

Kris D. Zimmermann 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 gripping assembly with power screw actuator and method of gripping pipe on a rig
    Patent number: 7854265
    Abstract: A pipe gripping assembly having a quill, an actuator and a drive assembly mounts to a top drive of a drilling rig. The quill is connected to a mandrel in the drive assembly. The drive assembly has a tapered mandrel and a set of slips that move along the taper into and out of engagement with the pipe. The actuator is connected to both the quill and a portion of the drive assembly. The actuator includes a motor and at least two sleeves that are threaded together. One sleeve has a spline on its outside diameter that mates to the motor and a gear. Power applied to the motor causes the actuator to move slips in the drive assembly into an engagement position that grips the pipe for lifting and rotating the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Tesco Corporation
    Inventor: Kris D. Zimmermann
  • Power Screw Actuator for Pipe Gripper
    Publication number: 20090321086
    Abstract: A pipe gripping assembly having a quill, an actuator and a drive assembly mounts to a top drive of a drilling rig. The quill is connected to a mandrel in the drive assembly. The drive assembly has a tapered mandrel and a set of slips that move along the taper into and out of engagement with the pipe. The actuator is connected to both the quill and a portion of the drive assembly. The actuator includes a motor and at least two sleeves that are threaded together. One sleeve has a spline on its outside diameter that mates to the motor and a gear. Power applied to the motor causes the actuator to move slips in the drive assembly into an engagement position that grips the pipe for lifting and rotating the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Tesco Corporation (US)
    Inventor: Kris D. Zimmermann