Patents by Inventor Gerald A. Stangl
Gerald A. Stangl 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).
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Patent number: 8191653Abstract: A tracking receiver system is used to track the progress of a downhole tool along a subsurface path having a desired grade. The tracking receiver system is adapted to detect a reference line originating from a reference line receiver and to determine the position of the downhole tool along a desired subsurface path relative to the reference line. In an alternative embodiment the tracking receiver system may comprise a global positioning satellite system to provide information used to determine the position of the downhole tool relative to the desired subsurface path.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Floyd R. Gunsaulis, Brian K. Bailey, Scott B. Cole, Kelvin P. Self, Gerald A. Stangl
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Publication number: 20110147082Abstract: A tracking receiver system is used to track the progress of a downhole tool along a subsurface path having a desired grade. The tracking receiver system is adapted to detect a reference line originating from a reference line receiver and to determine the position of the downhole tool along a desired subsurface path relative to the reference line. In an alternative embodiment the tracking receiver system may comprise a global positioning satellite system to provide information used to determine the position of the downhole tool relative to the desired subsurface path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Floyd R. Gunsaulis, Brian K. Bailey, Scott B. Cole, Kelvin P. Self, Gerald A. Stangl
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Patent number: 7896107Abstract: A tracking receiver system is used to track the progress of a downhole tool along a subsurface path having a desired grade. The tracking receiver system is adapted to detect a reference line originating from a reference line receiver and to determine the position of the downhole tool along a desired subsurface path relative to the reference line. In an alternative embodiment the tracking receiver system may comprise a global positioning satellite system to provide information used to determine the position of the downhole tool relative to the desired subsurface path.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Floyd R. Gunsaulis, Brian K. Bailey, Scott B. Cole, Kelvin P. Self, Gerald A. Stangl
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Patent number: 7654340Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling system is used to drive operation of a guidable reamer assembly connected to a drill string. The guidable reamer assembly preferably has a cutting member with a central longitudinal axis and a support member also having a central longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the cutting member and the support member are collinear when the reamer assembly is in the non-steering position and laterally displaced when in the steering position. The assembly and method of this invention provide for increased control of reaming operations and product pipe placement.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Kelvin P. Self, Floyd R. Gunsaulis, H. Stanley Mullins, Gerald A. Stangl, David R. Payne
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Publication number: 20090192715Abstract: A tracking receiver system is used to track the progress of a downhole tool along a subsurface path having a desired grade. The tracking receiver system is adapted to detect a reference line originating from a reference line receiver and to determine the position of the downhole tool along a desired subsurface path relative to the reference line. In an alternative embodiment the tracking receiver system may comprise a global positioning satellite system to provide information used to determine the position of the downhole tool relative to the desired subsurface path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Floyd R. Gunsaulis, Brian K. Bailey, Scott B. Cole, Kelvin P. Self, Gerald A. Stangl
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Patent number: 7510029Abstract: A tracking receiver system is used to track the progress of a downhole tool along a subsurface path having a desired grade. The tracking receiver system is adapted to detect a reference line originating from a reference line receiver and to determine the position of the downhole tool along a desired subsurface path relative to the reference line. In an alternative embodiment the tracking receiver system may comprise a global positioning satellite system to provide information used to determine the position of the downhole tool relative to the desired subsurface path.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2006Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Floyd R. Gunsaulis, Brian K. Bailey, Scott B. Cole, Kelvin P. Self, Gerald A. Stangl
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Patent number: 7373993Abstract: A system for monitoring the position and orientation of a downhole tool assembly having multiple beacons. In a preferred embodiment the first and second beacons are supported by the downhole tool assembly. Both beacons are adapted to transmit signals that are indicative of the orientation and position of the downhole tool assembly. A receiving assembly detects the signals transmitted from the first and second beacons. The receiving assembly transmits the detected signals to a processor that processes the signals to produce a composite of the relative positions and orientations of the receiving assembly and the downhole tool assembly. The composite of the relative positions of the receiving assembly and the downhole tool assembly are communicated to the operator using a display. The orientations of the first and second beacons are also communicated to the operator using the display.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Kelvin P. Self, Gerald A. Stangl
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Publication number: 20070187148Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling system is used to drive operation of a guidable reamer assembly connected to a drill string. The guidable reamer assembly preferably has a cutting member with a central longitudinal axis and a support member also having a central longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the cutting member and the support member are collinear when the reamer assembly is in the non-steering position and laterally displaced when in the steering position. The assembly and method of this invention provide for increased control of reaming operations and product pipe placement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Kelvin Self, Floyd Gunsaulis, H. Mullins, Gerald Stangl, David Payne
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Patent number: 7195079Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling system is used to drive operation of a guidable reamer assembly connected to a drill string. The guidable reamer assembly preferably has a cutting member with a central longitudinal axis and a support member also having a central longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the cutting member and the support member are collinear when the reamer assembly is in the non-steering position and laterally displaced when in the steering position. The assembly and method of this invention provide for increased control of reaming operations and product pipe placement.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Kelvin P. Self, Floyd R. Gunsaulis, H. Stanley Mullins, Gerald A. Stangl, David R. Payne
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Publication number: 20070044536Abstract: A tracking receiver system is used to track the progress of a downhole tool along a subsurface path having a desired grade. The tracking receiver system is adapted to detect a reference line originating from a reference line receiver and to determine the position of the downhole tool along a desired subsurface path relative to the reference line. In an alternative embodiment the tracking receiver system may comprise a global positioning satellite system to provide information used to determine the position of the downhole tool relative to the desired subsurface path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Floyd Gunsaulis, Brian Bailey, Scott Cole, Kelvin Self, Gerald Stangl
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Publication number: 20070012483Abstract: A system for monitoring the position and orientation of a downhole tool assembly having multiple beacons. In a preferred embodiment the first and second beacons are supported by the downhole tool assembly. Both beacons are adapted to transmit signals that are indicative of the orientation and position of the downhole tool assembly. A receiving assembly detects the signals transmitted from the first and second beacons. The receiving assembly transmits the detected signals to a processor that processes the signals to produce a composite of the relative positions and orientations of the receiving assembly and the downhole tool assembly. The composite of the relative positions of the receiving assembly and the downhole tool assembly are communicated to the operator using a display. The orientations of the first and second beacons are also communicated to the operator using the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Kelvin Self, Gerald Stangl
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Patent number: 7111693Abstract: A system for monitoring the position and orientation of a downhole tool assembly having multiple beacons. In a preferred embodiment the first and second beacons are supported by the downhole tool assembly. Both beacons are adapted to transmit signals that are indicative of the orientation and position of the downhole tool assembly. A receiving assembly detects the signals transmitted from the first and second beacons. The receiving assembly transmits the detected signals to a processor that processes the signals to produce a composite of the relative positions and orientations of the receiving assembly and the downhole tool assembly. The composite of the relative positions of the receiving assembly and the downhole tool assembly are communicated to the operator using a display. The orientations of the first and second beacons are also communicated to the operator using the display.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Kelvin P. Self, Gerald A. Stangl
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Publication number: 20040188142Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling system is used to drive operation of a guidable reamer assembly connected to a drill string. The guidable reamer assembly preferably has a cutting member with a central longitudinal axis and a support member also having a central longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the cutting member and the support member are collinear when the reamer assembly is in the non-steering position and laterally displaced when in the steering position. The assembly and method of this invention provide for increased control of reaming operations and product pipe placement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Kelvin P. Self, Floyd R. Gunsaulis, H. Stanley Mullins, Gerald A. Stangl, David R. Payne
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Publication number: 20040028476Abstract: A system and method for automatically drilling and backreaming a horizontal borehole underground. The system includes a horizontal drilling machine and a machine control system for operating the drilling machine. The machine control system has sensors and control circuits for monitoring and automatically controlling the functions of the drilling machine. The machine control system manages the power consumption of the drilling machine, the fluid dispensed during drilling and backreaming, the lengthening and shortening of the drill string, the tracking and recording of progress along a selected bore path, and the guiding of the downhole tool along the selected bore path. In a drilling operation the method involves identifying a selected bore path and automatically guiding the downhole tool along the selected bore path. In a backreaming operation the method involves connecting a backreamer and a utility line to the drill string and automatically pulling the utility line back through the borehole.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: David R. Payne, Gerald A. Stangl, Norman E. Stevens, Michael F. Gard
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Patent number: 4907658Abstract: A percussive mole boring device with a location transmitter is disclosed. The transmitter is located in a forward end of a drilling assembly attached to a mole to accurately transmit the location of a boring element or cutting surface to surface detector. The transmitter is surrounded on each end by isolator means which protect the transmitter from damage due to shock created by the percussive device, e.g., a hammer driven by compressed air. In one embodiment the transmitter is located beneath a single window transparent to the transmission frequency, and the cutting surface of the bore is angled. Therefore, the travel direction of the mole can be controlled by rotating the cutting surface to a desired inclination and terminating rotation during forward motion for a short period. The mole travels in a straight path during ordinary travel due to rotation. In a second embodiment, the transmitter is located beneath three equiangularly displacent windows to create a continuous field for detection.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1988Date of Patent: March 13, 1990Assignee: Gas Research InstituteInventors: Gerald A. Stangl, Douglas W. Lee, Dirk A. Wilson
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Patent number: 4834193Abstract: An earth boring apparatus has a pneumatically operated earth boring tool, a flexible conduit or drill pipe connected to the tool and to a source of pneumatic fluid. The tool has an earth boring member and a reciprocally movable hammer positioned in the tool to apply a percussive force. A valve assembly in the flexible conduit or drill pipe substantially adjacent to the tool between the tool and the source of pneumatic fluid controls the flow of pneumatic fluid to the tool. The valve assembly has a pneumatic pressure-operated valve which is operable in response to the pressure of pneumatic fluid in the flexible conduit or drill pipe to be opened to permit flow of pneumatic fluid to the tool at a predetermined operating pressure to transmit an initial pulse of pneumatic fluid to initiate operation of the hammer. The valve is kept open at a lower pressure than that required to open it.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1987Date of Patent: May 30, 1989Assignee: Gas Research InstituteInventors: Curtis E. Leitko, Jr., Michael R. Wasson, Douglas W. Lee, Gerald A. Stangl