Patents Assigned to The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
  • 3D asset inspection
    Patent number: 11067388
    Abstract: Systems and methods for physical asset inspection are provided. According to one embodiment, a probe is positioned to multiple data capture positions with reference to a physical asset. For each position: odometry data is obtained from an encoder and/or an IMU; a 2D image is captured by a camera; a 3D sensor data frame is captured by a 3D sensor, having a view plane overlapping that of the camera; the odometry data, the 2D image and the 3D sensor data frame are linked and associated with a physical point in real-world space based on the odometry data; and switching between 2D and 3D views within the collected data is facilitated by forming a set of points containing both 2D and 3D data by performing UV mapping based on a known positioning of the camera relative to the 3D sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Christopher McAleenan, Matthew T. Wicke
  • Offloading vacuum tank
    Patent number: 11059682
    Abstract: An offloading vacuum system. The system has a tank to capture debris from an excavation site. The debris is pulled into the tank due to a blower pulling air into an attached hose. An internal conveyor within the tank conveys material to an offloading hub. The offloading hub has a ground-facing door which opens to deposit debris into an external conveyor. The external conveyor, when deployed, can move debris from below the tank to a dump container with a wall greater than a height of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Cody L. Sewell
  • Insert for use with dual-member pipe joint
    Patent number: 11053747
    Abstract: An insert for installation on an inner pipe member of a dual-pipe member assembly. The insert is interposed between an external shoulder formed on the inner pipe member and an internal shoulder formed in an outer pipe member. Shoulder-to-shoulder impacts between pipe members results in wear to the insert, rather than to either pipe member. The insert has the shape of an unclosed loop and is positioned within an endless external groove formed in the inner pipe member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr.
  • Torque-dependent oscillation of a dual-pipe inner pipe section
    Patent number: 11053756
    Abstract: A method for building a dual-member drill string comprising an inner drill string and an outer drill string. Inner pipe sections are connected using non-threaded connections, while outer pipe sections are connected using threaded connections. A new inner pipe section is rotated in a first direction until the inner pipe section applies torque to the existing inner pipe string. If the magnitude of the torque applied to the inner pipe string exceeds a pre-determined threshold value, the inner pipe section is automatically rotated in an opposite second direction. The inner pipe section rotates between opposite directions, once torque is sensed in each direction, until the inner pipe section is coupled to the inner pipe string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Aleksander S. Wolfe, Kyle D. James
  • Drill string rotation brake
    Patent number: 11041342
    Abstract: A rotation brake for stopping rotation of a spindle assembly on a horizontal directional drill. The rotation brake comprises a brake lock that is actuated by a cylinder and spring to interact with a non-rotating brake cap and a rotating pinion, thereby stopping rotation of the pinion. The brake lock is removed from the pinion by applying pressurized fluid to a cylinder such that a cylinder rod moves the brake lock out of a cavity between the brake cap and the pinion. Upon removing fluid pressure from the cylinder, a compressed spring moves the brake lock back to into the cavity, preventing rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Max A. Metcalf, Philip J. Wosmek, Harry Bendure, Rick E. Barrett
  • Dual member pipe joint for a dual member drill string
    Patent number: 11015392
    Abstract: A dual member drill string having a plurality of dual member drill string sections for use in horizontal directional drilling operations. Each drill string section having an outer member and an inner member that is rotatable independently of the outer member. The outer member has a pin end and a box end. The inner member has a pin end disposed within the pin end of the outer member and a box end disposed within the box end of the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Cody L. Sewell
  • Dual-member pipe assembly
    Patent number: 11002076
    Abstract: A pipe assembly used in horizontal directional drilling operations. The pipe assembly has an outer member, an inner member, and first removable collar. The inner member has a polygonal outer profile of uniform shape along its length and is partially contained within the outer member. The first removable collar is supported on the inner member within the outer member and limits relative axial movement of the inner member and the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Joseph G. Greenlee
  • Centrifugal fan
    Patent number: 10975879
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan is formed from an impeller installed within a casing. The impeller is formed from two plates that are interconnected by a plurality of blades. A duct extends through each blade. At each of its ends, the duct opens at one of the plates. Air enters the fan from through a central opening formed in one of the plates, moves to a medial zone between the plates, and exits the fan at the medial zone's unwalled periphery. Air also crosses the fan by way of the ducts formed within each blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler J. Stanley, Blaine S. Talbot, Matthew L. Lemmons, Thomas Howard Mertz
  • Lead pipe spudding prior to extraction or remediation
    Patent number: 10969053
    Abstract: A method for enlarging a crushed section of a ductile pipe. A wire rope having a bead or plurality of beads attached to the rope is placed in a ductile pipe. When a series of beads is used, each of the beads is sequentially larger. The wire rope is pulled through the crushed section, and the ductile pipe conforms to the larger diameter of the beads. The crushed section of pipe may be expanded so that a larger wire rope suitable for pipe extraction may be passed through. Alternatively, the pipe may be reformed and expanded to near or greater than its original size. The pipe may then be coated or a smaller slip-lined pipe may be placed within the original pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Crane, Steven W. Wentworth, Mark D. Randa
  • Apparatus for securing a tire to a wheel
    Patent number: 10953691
    Abstract: A beadlock to secure a tire to a wheel. The beadlock comprises a first grip element and a second grip element. The first grip element is welded to the outer rim of a wheel. A bead of the tire is positioned over the first grip element. The second grip element has a plurality of rib elements angularly spaced around its periphery. The second grip element is secured to the first grip element such that the ribs grip the bead to hold it in place and secure the tire to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Buck, Blaine S. Talbot, Jodi Vinyard
  • Cruise control on a work machine
    Patent number: 10941541
    Abstract: A cruise control system for work machines. The system comprises one or more levers for controlling the velocity of the work machine and one or more magnet assemblies. The magnet assemblies comprise means of overcoming the neutral bias of a control lever so that the velocity of the work machine may be maintained without manual input from the operator. The magnets may act directly upon a control lever or a surface adjacent a control lever. Additional controls may be employed to set a maximum cruising speed for the work machine when cruise control is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant D. Kukuk, Christopher Trimble
  • Reversible pneumatic pipe ramming tool
    Patent number: 10927602
    Abstract: A reversible pipe ramming tool used in horizontal pipe replacement operations. The tool is powered by a pneumatic hose attached to a rear end of the tool. The tool has forward and rearward fluid paths, which can either communicate with one another or stand in isolation. Fluid flow along the forward fluid path, when it is maintained in isolation from the reverse fluid path, causes the tool to move in a forward direction. Fluid flow along the forward fluid path, when it is maintained in communication with the reverse fluid path, causes the tool to move in a rearward direction. The tool is switched between forward and reverse by flowing fluid through a pilot fluid path in fluid communication with a valve. Movement of a shuttle within the valve selectively isolates the forward fluid path from the reverse fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Mark D. Randa, Kelvin C Aus
  • Extraction of ductile pipe
    Patent number: 10883628
    Abstract: A pipe extraction machine can be used to remove a buried pipe from the ground. The machine has a carriage with jaws that grip the buried pipe. While gripped, the carriage moves relative to a support structure to pull the pipe out of the ground. Jaws are actuated by rotating clamp plates and maintained in opposition by static horizontal grooves. The jaws remain opposed and aligned during rotation of the clamp plates. A pipe shear may remove the pipe one piece at a time. A pipe puller can be used at the back end of the pipe being removed to simultaneously install a new pipe along the same path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Mark D. Randa
  • Drilling fluid system
    Patent number: 10883324
    Abstract: A control system for an offboard fluid supply system. The fluid supply system has mud supply pump which may be controlled by a local control system disposed at the fluid supply system. The mud supply pump may also be controlled by a remote control system disposed on a drilling rig. The mud supply pump provides fluid through a conduit to a drill string on the drilling rig. The local control system and the remote control system are paired such that only one of each is connected at one time. While paired, information from both the fluid supply system and drilling rig may be displayed by either control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil H. Taylor, III, Carlo Salas, Jacob Harman, Brant D. Kukuk, Brian McRae
  • Airborne locator of an underground object
    Patent number: 10877176
    Abstract: A system for tracking a below-ground transmitter from an aerial receiver. The receiver has an antenna assembly, a processor, and a propulsion system. The antenna assembly detects the magnetic field from an underground transmitter and generates an antenna signal. The processor is programmed to receive the antenna signal and generate a command signal, which moves the receiver to a position above the transmitter. Once in the desired position, which may be a reference plane at a fixed elevation, the antenna assembly measures the magnetic field to determine the location of the drill bit along borepath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. Cole, Brian K. Bailey, Larry G. Morse
  • Horizontal directional drill pipe drive connection with locking feature
    Patent number: 10851599
    Abstract: A spindle assembly for connecting a drill string to a rotational drive for use in a horizontal directional drilling operation. The assembly comprises a saver sub attached to the rotational drive, and a drive chuck for connection to the drill string. The drive chuck and saver sub form a torque-transmitting connection by engaging through a seat in the saver sub and an engagement point on the drive chuck. Dowel pins may be used to rotationally lock and provide the engagement between the saver sub and the drive chuck. A collar may thread to the saver sub and cause an interference fit by engaging the drive chuck at a shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Floyd R. Gunsaulis, Max A. Metcalf
  • Mobile vacuum system
    Patent number: 10844574
    Abstract: A system for controlling pressure to a vacuum tank. The system comprises a conduit disposed between the vacuum tank and a blower. The conduit has a sealable connection disposed along its length between two sections that are geometrically conforming. The connection may be conical and threadless. Tilting the vacuum tank relative to the blower causes the connection to separate, allowing pressure within the vacuum tank to equalize with atmospheric pressure. Filters may be provided on each side of the connection for removing particulates from air evacuated from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Bural, Levi J. Krutzfeldt, L. Shane Ingram, Vernon T. Stellman
  • Display screen with graphical user interface
    Patent number: D914706
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley S. Marshall, Brent W. Perteet
  • Trail cutter
    Patent number: D921703
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Willoughby
  • Microtrencher blade
    Patent number: D925628
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody L. Sewell, Michael C. Walgren