Patents by Inventor Bradley E. Mitchell

Bradley E. Mitchell 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).

  • Publication number: 20120255779
    Abstract: A system and method of making up and breaking out a dual-member drill string. The system comprises a spindle, a spindle carriage and a drive frame. The drive frame provides thrust to the spindle, while the spindle carriage provides rotation. The spindle has an outer spindle and an inner spindle, and is adapted to connect to a pipe section having an outer pipe section and an inner pipe section. Inner joints are geometrically shaped, while outer joints are threaded. When making up dual member drill string, the spindle is advanced, with the outer spindle rotating, and the inner spindle rotating in alternating directions, or “dithering.” A float sensor and a processor are used in tandem to cooperatively couple the inner spindle with the inner pipe sections and the outer spindle with the outer pipe sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Mitchell, Geoff D. Koch
  • Publication number: 20110278065
    Abstract: A system and method of making up and breaking out a dual-member drill string. The system comprises a spindle, a spindle carriage and a drive frame. The drive frame provides thrust to the spindle, while the spindle carriage provides rotation. The spindle has an outer spindle and an inner spindle, and is adapted to connect to a pipe section having an outer pipe section and an inner pipe section. Inner joints are geometrically shaped, while outer joints are threaded. When making up dual member drill string, the spindle is advanced, with the outer spindle rotating, and the inner spindle rotating in alternating directions, or “dithering.” A float sensor and a processor are used in tandem to cooperatively couple the inner spindle with the inner pipe sections and the outer spindle with the outer pipe sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Mitchell, Geoff D. Koch
  • Patent number: 7987924
    Abstract: A system and method of making up and breaking out a dual-member drill string. The system comprises a spindle, a spindle carriage and a drive frame. The drive frame provides thrust to the spindle, while the spindle carriage provides rotation. The spindle has an outer spindle and an inner spindle, and is adapted to connect to a pipe section having an outer pipe section and an inner pipe section. Inner joints are geometrically shaped, while outer joints are threaded. When making up dual member drill string, the spindle is advanced, with the outer spindle rotating, and the inner spindle rotating in alternating directions, or “dithering.” A float sensor and a processor are used in tandem to cooperatively couple the inner spindle with the inner pipe sections and the outer spindle with the outer pipe sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Mitchell, Geoff D. Koch
  • Publication number: 20100307824
    Abstract: A system and method of making up and breaking out a dual-member drill string. The system comprises a spindle, a spindle carriage and a drive frame. The drive frame provides thrust to the spindle, while the spindle carriage provides rotation. The spindle has an outer spindle and an inner spindle, and is adapted to connect to a pipe section having an outer pipe section and an inner pipe section. Inner joints are geometrically shaped, while outer joints are threaded. When making up dual member drill string, the spindle is advanced, with the outer spindle rotating, and the inner spindle rotating in alternating directions, or “dithering.” A float sensor and a processor are used in tandem to cooperatively couple the inner spindle with the inner pipe sections and the outer spindle with the outer pipe sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Mitchell, Geoff D. Koch
  • Patent number: 7628226
    Abstract: A system and method of making up and breaking out a dual-member drill string. The system comprises a spindle, a spindle carriage and a drive frame. The drive frame provides thrust to the spindle, while the spindle carriage provides rotation. The spindle has an outer spindle and an inner spindle, and is adapted to connect to a pipe section having an outer pipe section and an inner pipe section. Inner joints are geometrically shaped, while outer joints are threaded. When making up dual, member drill string, the spindle is advanced, with the outer spindle rotating, and the inner spindle rotating in alternating directions, or “dithering.” A float sensor and a processor are used in tandem to cooperatively couple the inner spindle with the inner pipe sections and the outer spindle with the outer pipe sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Mitchell, Geoff D. Koch
  • Publication number: 20080185185
    Abstract: A system and method of making up and breaking out a dual-member drill string. The system comprises a spindle, a spindle carriage and a drive frame. The drive frame provides thrust to the spindle, while the spindle carriage provides rotation. The spindle has an outer spindle and an inner spindle, and is adapted to connect to a pipe section having an outer pipe section and an inner pipe section. Inner joints are geometrically shaped, while outer joints are threaded. When making up dual, member drill string, the spindle is advanced, with the outer spindle rotating, and the inner spindle rotating in alternating directions, or “dithering.” A float sensor and a processor are used in tandem to cooperatively couple the inner spindle with the inner pipe sections and the outer spindle with the outer pipe sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: The Charies Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Mitchell, Geoff D. Koch
  • Patent number: 6295740
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power-movement tape measure that has a tape wound on a spool rotatably mounted on a housing shaft. An electric motor having a worm gear affixed to its output slat is engaged in the external toothing of the spool. This motor is provided for driving the tape at a controlled speed both out of the housing and retracting the tape back into the housing. A switch energizes and selects the direction of the motor. The switch may be of constant speed or speed controlling type. The worm gear and spool toothing drive reduction mechanism also serves as resistance to unwanted tape movement, since a force applied to move the tape and spool imparts only a small vector of this force in a direction to spin the worm gear and motor. A rechargeable or a disposable battery may be contained in a housing battery receptacle for powering the motor. A flexible strap, that slides on part of the outer diameter of the tape, may be included to prevent the tape from uncoiling from the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Bradley E. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5684466
    Abstract: An electrical strike sensing system for providing an alarm if the underground boring equipment encounters a potentially hazardous condition. The system senses current carried through the equipment, as well as the voltage between the equipment and a reference. The measured current is converted to a percentage of a reference current, and the voltage is converted to a percentage of a reference voltage. The current and voltage percentages are added, and if the sum exceeds 100%, the alarms are activated. The current and voltage percentages, as well as the date and time of the strike, are stored in a nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Work, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Keating, Joel B. Edwards, Bradley E. Mitchell, Kelvin P. Self