Patents Assigned to Longyear TM, Inc.
  • ALIGNMENT ASSEMBLY, DRILLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    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
  • PIPE LIFTING AND HANDLING TOOL
    Publication number: 20110241366
    Abstract: A handling device useful for lifting and handling pipes includes as set of jaws for grasping a surface of the pipe. An upper jaw extends along an exterior pipe surface and a lower jaw extends along an interior pipe surface. A sidewall of the pipe is positioned within a gap between the upper and lower jaws. A handle attached to the set of jaws is used to angle the jaws relative to the side of the pipe, thereby causing the upper jaw to contact the exterior pipe surface, and the lower jaw to contact the interior pipe surface. A mechanical advantage is created that selectively secures the jaws to the pipe and allows handling of the device while maintaining control of the pipe. The upper and lower jaws may be at fixed orientations relative to each other, and the handling device may have few or no moving parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hamblin, Trevor Lyndon Light
  • Valve system for drilling systems
    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
  • Reamer with polycrystalline diamond compact inserts
    Patent number: 8025107
    Abstract: Reamers for use in core-sample drilling include PDC inserts. Such reamers with PDC inserts may be used to maintain borehole diameters, reduce deviation, and/or stabilize drill strings used in core sample drilling. The PDC inserts may be of different sizes and shapes and may be arranged around the reamers in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian S. Drivdahl, Erik M. Gaugh, Michael D. Rupp
  • Open-faced rod spinner
    Patent number: 8006590
    Abstract: An open-faced rod-spinning device configured for making and/or breaking joints between threaded drill rods. The rod-spinning device may include a drive gear with an open face. The drive gear may also be coupled to a plurality of drive pins. The rod-spinning device may include a carriage assembly including an open face for receiving and rotating about a drill rod. The carriage assembly may include a plurality of gripping lobes configured to be engaged and rotated by the drive pins about pivot pins. The drive gear may be configured to rotate relative to the carriage assembly to cause the drive pins to engage and rotate the gripping lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Lyndon Light, Emil Kolev, Michael Andreas Kontou
  • Helical drilling apparatus, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 8006783
    Abstract: A down-the-hole assembly includes a housing having a central axis and a mechanical gear box positioned within the housing. The mechanical gear box is coupled to the housing such that rotation of the housing at a first rotational rate provides a rotary input to the mechanical gear box. A rotary cutting bit is coupled to the mechanical gear box. The mechanical gear box is configured to rotate said rotary cutting bit at a second rotational rate in response to that rotary input from the housing. The second rotational rate is greater than the first rotational rate. The mechanical gear box is also further configured to cause the rotary cutting bit to orbit about the central axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Rupp, Christopher L. Drenth
  • Sonic drill head
    Patent number: 8006782
    Abstract: A drill head assembly includes a shaft having a shaft axis, an oscillator assembly operatively associated with the shaft, the oscillator assembly having at least one eccentrically weighted rotor configured to rotate about a pivot point to generate an oscillating vibratory force, wherein an oscillation centerline is defined transverse to the shaft axis and including the pivot point. The drill head assembly also includes a lower bearing coupled to the shaft on a first side of the oscillation centerline and an upper bearing coupled to the shaft on a second side of the oscillation centerline, the second side being opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian S. Drivdahl, Robert Eugene Able, Todd A. Nevenner, Kenneth Carl Altrichter
  • CORE BARREL ASSEMBLIES WITH BRAKING DEVICES
    Publication number: 20110198131
    Abstract: A braking device for drilling operations in a borehole includes a brake retainer having a plurality of brake connector openings defined therein, a body member having a tapered surface having a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, at least one brake element positioned at least partially between the brake retainer and the body member and in communication with the tapered surface and at least one of the brake connector openings, and a bias member configured to exert a biasing force on the body member to move the body member toward the brake retainer to move the brake element from contact with the first diameter of the tapered surface toward contact with the second diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Drenth
  • METHODS OF BRAKING CORE BARREL ASSEMBLIES
    Publication number: 20110198127
    Abstract: A braking device for drilling operations in a borehole includes a brake retainer having a plurality of brake connector openings defined therein, a body member having a tapered surface having a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, at least one brake element positioned at least partially between the brake retainer and the body member and in communication with the tapered surface and at least one of the brake connector openings, and a bias member configured to exert a biasing force on the body member to move the body member toward the brake retainer to move the brake element from contact with the first diameter of the tapered surface toward contact with the second diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Drenth
  • Clamping and breaking device
    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
  • Pneumatic drifter with replaceable foot pieces
    Patent number: 7997351
    Abstract: Pneumatic drifters containing a drifter cylinder with removable feet and associated methods for using the pneumatic drifters are described. The removable feet are connected to feet pad of a drifter cylinder with multiple fasteners. The mating surfaces of the feet and the feet pad are provided with complimentary features that limit the shearing forces on the fasteners during operation of the drifter rock drill. The removable feet can be replaced quickly and easily without have to replace the entire drifter cylinder, thereby saving time and reducing costs. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: William James Murray
  • Methods and apparatus for joint disassembly
    Patent number: 7997166
    Abstract: A joint tool includes a first wrench assembly configured to be placed in gripping contact with a rod, a second wrench assembly including jaws configured to grip and rotate a rod when the second wrench assembly is rotated in a first direction and to rotate relative to the rod when moved in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction, and a drive assembly mounted to the first wrench assembly and coupled to the second wrench assembly, the drive assembly being configured to rotate the rod in the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Armand Lauzon, Rejean Leonel Plante, David Robert Ritter
  • Sonic drill bit for core sampling
    Patent number: 7984773
    Abstract: A drill bit for core sampling includes a body having a central axis and first end having a tapered outer surface and a radius transverse to the central axis, and an insert having a cutting surface on the first end oriented at an axial angle relative to the radius to move material displaced during drilling away from the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Oothoudt
  • Drilling systems including fiber-containing diamond-impregnated cutting tools
    Patent number: 7975785
    Abstract: Diamond-impregnated cutting tools including fibers and drilling systems incorporating such tools are described. The cutting tools contain a diamond-impregnated cutting portion that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The fibers may be used to both control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may also weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion. Using the fibers allows the cutting tools to last longer and make them safer and more economical because they need to be replaced less often.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian S. Drivdahl, Michael D. Rupp
  • SONIC DRILL BITS AND SONIC DRILLING SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20110162892
    Abstract: A drill bit for core sampling includes a body having a central axis and first end having a tapered outer surface and a radius transverse to the central axis, and an insert having a cutting surface on the first end oriented at an axial angle relative to the radius to move material displaced during drilling away from the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Oothoudt
  • Braking devices for use in drilling operations
    Patent number: 7967085
    Abstract: A braking device for drilling operations in a borehole includes a brake retainer having a plurality of brake connector openings defined therein, a body member having a tapered surface having a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, at least one brake element positioned at least partially between the brake retainer and the body member and in communication with the tapered surface and at least one of the brake connector openings, and a bias member configured to exert a biasing force on the body member to move the body member toward the brake retainer to move the brake element from contact with the first diameter of the tapered surface toward contact with the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Drenth
  • Core barrel latch body with axial grooves
    Patent number: D643443
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Drenth
  • Core barrel assembly with tapered design
    Patent number: D643859
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Drenth
  • Core barrel head assembly with axial groove
    Patent number: D644668
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Drenth
  • Core lifter
    Patent number: D644673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Hongyan Zhang