Patents by Inventor Mark R. Lawler

Mark R. Lawler 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).

  • Drilling tool storage device and method of changing a drilling tool
    Patent number: 9644436
    Abstract: A drilling tool changer apparatus for a drilling rig includes a drill tower pivotable between a drilling orientation and a change-out orientation, the drill tower supporting a drill string comprising a drill pipe coupled to a drilling tool. The drilling tool changer apparatus also includes a drilling tool storage device pivotally movable about a hinge axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. The drilling tool storage device includes a drilling tool storage cassette including a replacement drilling tool. The drilling tool storage device and the drill tower are pivotally alignable in a substantially co-planar manner when the drilling tool storage device is in the deployed position and the drill tower is in the change-out orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Ross L. Hoult, Samuel C. Taylor, Andrew Wright, Jason P. O'Brien, Mark R. Lawler, Kayne D. Taylor
  • DRILLING TOOL CHANGER APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20140083774
    Abstract: A drilling tool changer apparatus for a drilling rig includes a drill tower pivotable between a drilling orientation and a change-out orientation, the drill tower supporting a drill string comprising a drill pipe coupled to a drilling tool. The drilling tool changer apparatus also includes a drilling tool storage device pivotally movable about a hinge axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. The drilling tool storage device includes a drilling tool storage cassette including a replacement drilling tool. The drilling tool storage device and the drill tower are pivotally alignable in a substantially co-planar manner when the drilling tool storage device is in the deployed position and the drill tower is in the change-out orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Ross L. Hoult, Samuel C. Taylor, Andrew Wright, Jason P. O'Brien, Mark R. Lawler, Kayne D. Taylor