Patents by Inventor J. Kevin Wilda

J. Kevin Wilda 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).

  • System and method for automatically controlling a pipe handling system for a horizontal boring machine
    Patent number: 6550547
    Abstract: An automatic pipe handling system for automatically transporting pipe sections to and from a horizontal boring machine. The system comprises a pipe handling assembly, a pipe lubrication assembly, a makeup/breakout assembly, and an automatic control system. The pipe handling assembly stores pipe sections and transports the pipe sections to and from the drill string of a boring machine. As the pipe handling assembly transports a pipe section, the pipe lubrication assembly lubricates the appropriate pipe joints. The makeup/breakout assembly secures the drill string and pipe joints so that pipe sections can be added to or removed from the drill string. A programmed controller automatically operates the pipe handling system and its components by synchronizing the operations of the pipe handling system. The controller sequences and times the operation of each aspect of the pipe handling system during both the boring operation and the backreaming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Payne, Cody L. Sewell, Kelvin P. Self, J. Kevin Wilda, David A. Rorabaugh
  • System and method for automatically controlling a pipe handling system for a horizontal boring machine
    Patent number: 6179065
    Abstract: An automatic pipe handling system for automatically transporting pipe sections to and from a horizontal boring machine. The system comprises a pipe handling assembly, a pipe lubrication assembly, a makeup/breakout assembly, and an automatic control system. The pipe handling assembly stores pipe sections and transports the pipe sections to and from the drill string of a boring machine. As the pipe handling assembly transports a pipe section, the pipe lubrication assembly lubricates the appropriate pipe joints. The makeup/breakout assembly secures the drill string and pipe joints so that pipe sections can be added to or removed from the drill string. A programmed controller automatically operates the pipe handling system and its components by synchronizing the operations of the pipe handling system. The controller sequences and times the operation of each aspect of the pipe handling system during both the boring operation and the backreaming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Payne, Cody L. Sewell, Kelvin P. Self, J. Kevin Wilda, David A. Rorabaugh