Patents by Inventor Keith William Littlely

Keith William Littlely 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: 11898404
    Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Boart Longyear Company
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Patent number: 10934786
    Abstract: A drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Publication number: 20200181990
    Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER L. DRENTH, KEITH WILLIAM LITTLELY
  • Patent number: 10570676
    Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Publication number: 20190301248
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER L. DRENTH, KEITH WILLIAM LITTLELY
  • Patent number: 10364618
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Publication number: 20180216420
    Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER L. DRENTH, KEITH WILLIAM LITTLELY
  • Publication number: 20180044998
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER L. DRENTH, KEITH WILLIAM LITTLELY
  • Patent number: 9850723
    Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Patent number: 9810029
    Abstract: Drill string components having a thread extending around a body that have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. A leading end of the thread includes a planar surface normal to the body that provides an abrupt transition to full thread depth to help reduce or eliminate cross-threading. When complementary male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Patent number: 8955620
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include a drill rod guide configured to align a first drill rod and a second drill rod. The drill rod guide includes a cylindrical section and a tapered or frusta-conical section. The cylindrical section is sized and configured to concentrically surround a first drill rod. The tapered or frusta-conical section is sized and configured to guide a second drill rod into the cylindrical section and into alignment with the first drill rod. The drill rod guide may include first and second guide members that form symmetrical halves of the drill rod guide. The first and second guide members may be connected to first and second jaws of the clamp. The guide may include a window configured to allow a user to visually confirm that the first and second drill rods are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith William Littlely, Andrew Frank Hay, Mathew C. Everett
  • Publication number: 20120273233
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Publication number: 20120168227
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include a drill rod guide configured to align a first drill rod and a second drill rod. The drill rod guide includes a cylindrical section and a tapered or frusta-conical section. The cylindrical section is sized and configured to concentrically surround a first drill rod. The tapered or frusta-conical section is sized and configured to guide a second drill rod into the cylindrical section and into alignment with the first drill rod. The drill rod guide may include first and second guide members that form symmetrical halves of the drill rod guide. The first and second guide members may be connected to first and second jaws of the clamp. The guide may include a window configured to allow a user to visually confirm that the first and second drill rods are aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Keith William Littlely, Andrew Frank Hay, Mathew C. Everett
  • Patent number: 8186925
    Abstract: An elongate item handling means comprising a base (11) adapted to be fixed to a fixture, an elongate member support (13) having a first axis, the elongate member support comprising an engagement means (19) adapted to engage an elongate item and support the elongate item such that it is parallel to the first axis and to move the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support, wherein the elongate member support is supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis whereby the elongate item when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position, the base being movable on the fixture between a first position located at a desired erect position of the elongate item and one or more positions clear of the first position, said elongate member support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith William Littlely
  • Patent number: 7849929
    Abstract: A drill rod spinner device includes a mount, a first base half having a first end and a second end in which the first base half at the first end is rotatably coupled to the mount and a first clamping roller operatively associated with the second end of the first base half. A second base half includes a first end and a second end in which the second base half at the first end is coupled to the mount. A second clamping roller is operatively associated with the second end of the second base half. A rotary actuator assembly is secured to the mount. A flexible belt is operatively associated with the rotary actuator assembly. An idler roller assembly maintains engagement between the flexible belt and the rotary actuator as the first base half is rotated relative to the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith William Littlely
  • Publication number: 20090277626
    Abstract: A drill rod spinner device includes a mount, a first base half having a first end and a second end in which the first base half at the first end is rotatably coupled to the mount and a first clamping roller operatively associated with the second end of the first base half. A second base half includes a first end and a second end in which the second base half at the first end is coupled to the mount. A second clamping roller is operatively associated with the second end of the second base half. A rotary actuator assembly is secured to the mount. A flexible belt is operatively associated with the rotary actuator assembly. An idler roller assembly maintains engagement between the flexible belt and the rotary actuator as the first base half is rotated relative to the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Keith William Littlely