Patents by Inventor Daniel Harvard Kusler

Daniel Harvard Kusler 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: 11402053
    Abstract: A vehicle support structure, which in petroleum wellsite operations is commonly called a rig mat or a ground stabilizing mat, includes: a main body including an upper surface, an underside, a front end and a rear end, the main body defining a planar structuring with a thickness; a front pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the front end; a rear pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the rear end, the front pad and the rear pad each configured to be moveable between a supporting position protruding from the underside of the main body and a retracted position in plane or retracted from the underside; a front pad drive mechanism for the front pad, the front pad drive mechanism configured to drive the front pad to move between the supporting position and the retracted position and to move the front pad forward and backwards and side to side relative to the main body; and a rear pad drive mechanism for the rear pad, the rear pad drive mechanism configured to drive the rear pad to move
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Prostar Energy Technologies (USA) LLC
    Inventors: Daniel John Clarke, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler
  • Patent number: 11230886
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Prostar Energy Technologies (USA) LLC
    Inventors: Mark Charles Taggart, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler, Colin Reynold Knapp
  • Patent number: 10988994
    Abstract: For wellbore operations, a pipe handler moves pipe up to a rig floor. A pipe loader moves pipe from a presented position into alignment with well center. The pipe handler moves pipe up to a slanted presented position. The slanted presented position can be adjusted by manipulating the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Prostar Energy Technologies (USA) LLC
    Inventors: Jason Peter Clarke, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler, Mark Charles Taggart
  • Publication number: 20200332610
    Abstract: For wellbore operations, a pipe handler moves pipe up to a rig floor. A pipe loader moves pipe from a presented position into alignment with well center. The pipe handler moves pipe up to a slanted presented position. The slanted presented position can be adjusted by manipulating the drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Peter CLARKE, Douglas Andrew HUNTER, Daniel Harvard KUSLER, Mark Charles TAGGART
  • Publication number: 20200325730
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: MARK CHARLES TAGGART, DOUGLAS ANDREW HUNTER, DANIEL HARVARD KUSLER, COLIN REYNOLD KNAPP
  • Patent number: 10738545
    Abstract: For wellbore operations, a pipe handler moves pipe up to a rig floor. A pipe loader moves pipe from a presented position into alignment with well center. The pipe handler moves pipe up to a slanted presented position. The slanted presented position can be adjusted by manipulating the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Prostar Energy Technologies (USA) LLC
    Inventors: Jason Peter Clarke, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler, Mark Charles Taggart
  • Patent number: 10711523
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: PROSTAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES (USA) LLC
    Inventors: Mark Charles Taggart, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler, Colin Reynold Knapp
  • Patent number: 10329874
    Abstract: A safety valve handling apparatus for a well operation rig includes: a mounting structure for connection to the rig; a clamp for engaging a safety valve and configured to permit rotation of the safety valve within the clamp while the safety valve remains engaged by the clamp; and an arm connected between the mounting structure and the clamp, the arm being movable and adjustable to permit movement of the clamp relative to the mounting structure. The safety valve handling apparatus can be used for controlled safety valve handling on a well operation rig, even one oriented for a slanted operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: PROSTAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES (USA) LLC
    Inventors: Adam Wright, Daniel Harvard Kusler
  • Publication number: 20190003271
    Abstract: For wellbore operations, a pipe handler moves pipe up to a rig floor. A pipe loader moves pipe from a presented position into alignment with well center. The pipe handler moves pipe up to a slanted presented position. The slanted presented position can be adjusted by manipulating the drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Jason Peter CLARKE, Douglas Andrew HUNTER, Daniel Harvard KUSLER, Mark Charles TAGGART
  • Publication number: 20180363834
    Abstract: A vehicle support structure, which in petroleum wellsite operations is commonly called a rig mat or a ground stabilizing mat, includes: a main body including an upper surface, an underside, a front end and a rear end, the main body defining a planar structuring with a thickness; a front pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the front end; a rear pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the rear end, the front pad and the rear pad each configured to be moveable between a supporting position protruding from the underside of the main body and a retracted position in plane or retracted from the underside; a front pad drive mechanism for the front pad, the front pad drive mechanism configured to drive the front pad to move between the supporting position and the retracted position and to move the front pad forward and backwards and side to side relative to the main body; and a rear pad drive mechanism for the rear pad, the rear pad drive mechanism configured to drive the rear pad to move
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel John CLARKE, Douglas Andrew HUNTER, Daniel Harvard KUSLER
  • Publication number: 20180023346
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: MARK CHARLES TAGGART, DOUGLAS ANDREW HUNTER, DANIEL HARVARD KUSLER, COLIN REYNOLD KNAPP
  • Patent number: 9797196
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PROSTAR MANUFACTURING INC.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Taggart, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler, Colin Reynold Knapp
  • Publication number: 20170241234
    Abstract: A safety valve handling apparatus for a well operation rig includes: a mounting structure for connection to the rig; a clamp for engaging a safety valve and configured to permit rotation of the safety valve within the clamp while the safety valve remains engaged by the clamp; and an arm connected between the mounting structure and the clamp, the arm being movable and adjustable to permit movement of the clamp relative to the mounting structure. The safety valve handling apparatus can be used for controlled safety valve handling on a well operation rig, even one oriented for a slanted operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: PROSTAR MANUFACTURING INC.
    Inventors: Adam Wright, Daniel Harvard Kusler
  • Publication number: 20150259984
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Charles Taggart, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler, Colin Reynold Knapp