Patents by Inventor Philip R. Lane
Philip R. Lane 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: 10012041Abstract: An apparatus and method automatically tally drill string rods for use with a drilling machine. The machine comprises a rack and a rotary drive configured for longitudinal displacement between first and second longitudinal positions. A sensor system is configured to monitor the machine to detect a clamping force applied to rotationally immobilize the drill string and to detect a break-out torque generated by the rotary drive, detect a first longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat the break-out torque is generated, and detect a second longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive. A controller is configured to prevent release of the clamping force until the make-up torque is detected, and automatically enable release of the clamping force after the make-up torque is detected and, concordantly, to update a drill rod tally only when the first and second longitudinal positions are different.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Vermeer CorporationInventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Patent number: 9926744Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Publication number: 20170321503Abstract: An apparatus and method automatically tally drill string rods for use with a drilling machine. The machine comprises a rack and a rotary drive configured for longitudinal displacement between first and second longitudinal positions. A sensor system is configured to monitor the machine to detect a clamping force applied to rotationally immobilize the drill string and to detect a break-out torque generated by the rotary drive, detect a first longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat the break-out torque is generated, and detect a second longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive. A controller is configured to prevent release of the clamping force until the make-up torque is detected, and automatically enable release of the clamping force after the make-up torque is detected and, concordantly, to update a drill rod tally only when the first and second longitudinal positions are different.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Patent number: 9719314Abstract: An apparatus and method automatically tally drill string rods for use with a drilling machine. The machine comprises a rack and a rotary drive configured for longitudinal displacement between first and second longitudinal positions. A sensor system is configured to monitor the machine to detect a clamping force applied to rotationally immobilize the drill string and to detect a break-out torque generated by the rotary drive, detect a first longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat the break-out torque is generated, and detect a second longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive. A controller is configured to prevent release of the clamping force until the make-up torque is detected, and automatically enable release of the clamping force after the make-up torque is detected and, concordantly, to update a drill rod tally only when the first and second longitudinal positions are different.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: VERMEER CORPORATIONInventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Publication number: 20160002989Abstract: An apparatus and method automatically tally drill string rods for use with a drilling machine. The machine comprises a rack and a rotary drive configured for longitudinal displacement between first and second longitudinal positions. A sensor system is configured to monitor the machine to detect a clamping force applied to rotationally immobilize the drill string and to detect a break-out torque generated by the rotary drive, detect a first longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat the break-out torque is generated, and detect a second longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive. A controller is configured to prevent release of the clamping force until the make-up torque is detected, and automatically enable release of the clamping force after the make-up torque is detected and, concordantly, to update a drill rod tally only when the first and second longitudinal positions are different.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Publication number: 20140353034Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Patent number: 8807241Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Publication number: 20130319766Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Vermeer CorporationInventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Patent number: 8499855Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Patent number: 8136612Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention concern HDD in an automatic drilling mode. Such embodiments can include maintaining a constant output parameter while performing a drilling operation using an HDD rig (20) having a thrust pump, generating hydraulic fluid pressure measurements from one or more pumps of the HDD rig, comparing the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements to a variable pressure limit, calculating a derivative value using the measured hydraulic fluid pressure measurements, comparing the derivative value to a derivative threshold, decreasing the variable pressure limit when the derivative value exceeds the derivative threshold, wherein the amount that the variable pressure limit is decreased is based on one or more of the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements, and reducing output of the thrust pump when the comparison of the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements to the variable pressure limit indicates that one or more of the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements exceed the variable pressure limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Vermeer CorporationInventors: Robin W. Carlson, Philip R. Lane
-
Patent number: 7954558Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses for controlling pump power draw from an engine in horizontal directional drilling.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Philip R. Lane, Douglas Peirce
-
Publication number: 20100139982Abstract: An horizontal directional drilling (HDD) system having dynamically scalable control settings is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: Robin W. Carlson, Philip R. Lane
-
Publication number: 20100133009Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention concern HDD in an automatic drilling mode. Such embodiments can include maintaining a constant output parameter while performing a drilling operation using an HDD rig (20) having a thrust pump, generating hydraulic fluid pressure measurements from one or more pumps of the HDD rig, comparing the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements to a variable pressure limit, calculating a derivative value using the measured hydraulic fluid pressure measurements, comparing the derivative value to a derivative threshold, decreasing the variable pressure limit when the derivative value exceeds the derivative threshold, wherein the amount that the variable pressure limit is decreased is based on one or more of the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements, and reducing output of the thrust pump when the comparison of the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements to the variable pressure limit indicates that one or more of the hydraulic fluid pressure measurements exceed the variable pressure limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Inventors: Robin W. Carlson, Philip R. Lane
-
Publication number: 20090205868Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventor: Philip R. Lane
-
Publication number: 20090095527Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses for controlling pump power draw from an engine in horizontal directional drilling.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventors: Philip R. Lane, Douglas Peirce
-
Publication number: 20090095526Abstract: This disclosure concerns methods and apparatuses for managing drill rods in horizontal direction drilling, among other things.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventors: Philip R. Lane, Scott A. Johnson, Douglas Peirce