Patents by Inventor Michael R. Kotraba

Michael R. Kotraba 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: 5894096
    Abstract: The present invention involves a sampler designed to collect drill cuttings which are produced during drilling of a blast hole in open-pit mining operations. The present invention is designed to capture a theoretically accurate sample which will be assayed for the gold and silver it contains (and may be appropriate for other minerals as well). The present invention obtains a larger, more representative sample and has the ability to split the sample automatically to a reasonable lab delivery weight. The design of the invention provides for sampling through the drill deck of drill machines which are commonly used in open-pit mining operations. The design of the invention allows for sampling over the entire particle trajectory and is unaffected by changes in drilling equipment. The sampler comprises a pan which is tapered and receives drill cuttings produced from drilling a blast hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Kennecott Rawhide Mining Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Kotraba, Michael Kennedy, Jerry Minor, Keith Tom