Patents by Inventor Robert E. Able

Robert E. Able 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: 8739902
    Abstract: A drilling system for boring into ground includes a bottom hole assembly having a rotatable casing shoe, an independently rotatable driveshaft disposed within the casing shoe, and a bearing housing interdisposed between the driveshaft and the casing shoe to control a distance between a centerline of the driveshaft and a centerline of the casing shoe. The driveshaft includes a bit disposed at a distal end thereof, extending beyond the casing shoe distal end. The driveshaft centerline and the casing shoe centerline are substantially parallel and radially offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Dura Drilling, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Able
  • Patent number: 8668029
    Abstract: A head assembly includes a body, a spearhead operatively associated with the body and configured to translate axially relative to the body, and at least one latch operatively associated with the spearhead and the body. The latch is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the body in response to axial translation of the spearhead relative to the body. In an extended position, the latch covers more than 25% of the circumference of the body adjacent the latches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Able, Thomas J. Oothoudt
  • Publication number: 20140041942
    Abstract: A drilling system for boring into ground includes a bottom hole assembly having a rotatable casing shoe, an independently rotatable driveshaft disposed within the casing shoe, and a bearing housing interdisposed between the driveshaft and the casing shoe to control a distance between a centerline of the driveshaft and a centerline of the casing shoe. The driveshaft includes a bit disposed at a distal end thereof, extending beyond the casing shoe distal end. The driveshaft centerline and the casing shoe centerline are substantially parallel and radially offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventor: Robert E. Able
  • Publication number: 20130056280
    Abstract: A head assembly includes a body, a spearhead operatively associated with the body and configured to translate axially relative to the body, and at least one latch operatively associated with the spearhead and the body. The latch is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the body in response to axial translation of the spearhead relative to the body. In an extended position, the latch covers more than 25% of the circumference of the body adjacent the latches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Able, Thomas J. Oothoudt
  • Patent number: 8261857
    Abstract: A head assembly includes a body, a spearhead operatively associated with the body and configured to translate axially relative to the body, and at least one latch operatively associated with the spearhead and the body. The latch is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the body in response to axial translation of the spearhead relative to the body. In an extended position, the latch covers more than 25% of the circumference of the body adjacent the latches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Able, Thomas J. Oothoudt
  • Patent number: 7896108
    Abstract: A dual string drilling system for drilling a well bore in an earth formation, having a rotatable, tubular outer drill string and an upper rotatable, tubular inner drill string. An elongate tubular drill bit is mounted to a distal end of the outer drill string. The tubular drill bit having an interior passageway having a longitudinal axis which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer drill string. The drill bit is further provided with a cutaway portion extending through a wall of the tubular outer drill string. A lower rotatable inner drill string is coupled to the upper rotatable tubular inner drill string and is disposed within the interior passageway of the drill bit. A second drill bit is mounted to the distal of the lower inner drill string and is sized to extend beyond the drill bit mounted to the outer drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventors: Robert E. Able, Charles C. Able
  • Publication number: 20090283329
    Abstract: A head assembly includes a body, a spearhead operatively associated with the body and configured to translate axially relative to the body, and at least one latch operatively associated with the spearhead and the body. The latch is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the body in response to axial translation of the spearhead relative to the body. In an extended position, the latch covers more than 25% of the circumference of the body adjacent the latches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Able, Thomas J. Oothoudt
  • Publication number: 20090223719
    Abstract: A dual string drilling system for drilling a well bore in an earth formation, having a rotatable, tubular outer drill string and an upper rotatable, tubular inner drill string. An elongate tubular drill bit is mounted to a distal end of the outer drill string. The tubular drill bit having an interior passageway having a longitudinal axis which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer drill string. The drill bit is further provided with a cutaway portion extending through a wall of the tubular outer drill string. A lower rotatable inner drill string is coupled to the upper rotatable tubular inner drill string and is disposed within the interior passageway of the drill bit. A second drill bit is mounted to the distal of the lower inner drill string and is sized to extend beyond the drill bit mounted to the outer drill string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Robert E. Able, Charles C. Able
  • Patent number: 6371205
    Abstract: The grouting apparatus includes a tubular body, an outer end closure removably mounted to the outer end of the tubular body and a nozzle mounted to the inner end of the tubular body to form a container for grouting material. The tubular body has a landing shoulder seatable on a drill string landing shoulder. The closure includes an overshot coupling member and a head having an inlet passage opening to the tubular body. A piston and a sleeve are axially movable in the tubular body to force the grouting material out of the container, the sleeve blocking flow through the piston as the piston moves inwardly, but after abutting against the nozzle, opening a bypass channel from outwardly of the piston, through the piston and to the nozzle tube. Upon the sleeve moving inwardly relative to the piston, the fluid outwardly of the container may be pumped through the container to mix with the grouting material that was dispensed into the container prior to the container being inserted into the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Boart Longyear International Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Joseph Langan, Robert E. Able
  • Patent number: 6109373
    Abstract: The overshot apparatus includes a head subassembly coupleable to the overshot coupling device of an inner tube assembly, a jar subassembly having an outer swivel end portion for having a wire line attached thereto and a tubular member and a cable subassembly having an axially elongated cable, an axial outer cable mount mounted to the tubular member with the cable extended therethrough and into the tubular member and providing a jar head, and an axial inner cable mount providing a jar member mounting the cable to the head subassembly and having the jar head delivering hammering blows thereto. The cable is of a rigidity for being movable into the tubular member to permit the jar head moving delivering a hammering blow to the jar member and a spread apart position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Boart Longyear International Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Able
  • Patent number: 6089335
    Abstract: The drilling apparatus includes a wire line core barrel inner tube assembly movable to a drill string bit end to have its landing ring seat on the drill string landing shoulder and its latches latchingly retain the assembly adjacent the bit end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Boart Longyear International Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Able