Patents by Inventor Gareth Robert Sheppard

Gareth Robert Sheppard 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: 10697246
    Abstract: A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: MASTER DRILLING SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kleuters, Daniel Coenraad Pretorius, Barend Jacobus Jordaan, Louis Germishuys, Nicolaas Bodenstein Goodwin, Gareth Robert Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20180010392
    Abstract: A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Masters Sinkers (PTY) Ltd.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kleuters, Daniel Coenraad Pretorius, Barend Jacobus Jordaan, Louis Germishuys, Nicolaas Bodenstein Goodwin, Gareth Robert Sheppard