Patents by Inventor Eric Steinhart

Eric Steinhart 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: 7467670
    Abstract: Mechanical stops are utilized on a rod transfer mechanism, with the stops being offset vertically from one another, to index the rod transfer mechanism of an HDD machine under the appropriate column of a drill rod storage magazine. The stops engage a moveable block which is moved by the operator using a block position selector device. The stops are arranged such that each stop corresponds to a respective column of the magazine. Accordingly, the rod transfer mechanism moves transversely away from the longitudinal axis of the drill string until the selected stop engages the block. The block position selector device is preferably located at the HDD machine operator's station. A cable slidably received within a jacket is employed between the position selector and the block to raise and lower the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Louis Carl Hartke, Eric Steinhart
  • Publication number: 20080066964
    Abstract: Mechanical stops are utilized on a rod transfer mechanism, with the stops being offset vertically from one another, to index the rod transfer mechanism of an HDD machine under the appropriate column of a drill rod storage magazine. The stops engage a moveable block which is moved by the operator using a block position selector device. The stops are arranged such that each stop corresponds to a respective column of the magazine. Accordingly, the rod transfer mechanism moves transversely away from the longitudinal axis of the drill string until the selected stop engages the block. The block position selector device is preferably located at the HDD machine operator's station. A cable slidably received within a jacket is employed between the position selector and the block to raise and lower the block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Louis Carl Hartke, Eric Steinhart