Patents by Inventor Randy Runquist

Randy Runquist 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: 10124509
    Abstract: A cutting tooth system includes a plurality of substrates, each having a base for attaching to the cutting wheel, and an outer surface opposite the base. A plurality of tooth pockets are integrally formed in the substrate, each tooth pocket having a tooth receiving aperture extending through the outer surface and into the substrate. A cutting tooth has a pocket engagement portion configured for being received in a mounting pocket. The pocket engagement portion defines a pocket engagement length and a shank defining a shank diameter. A cutter portion extends from the pocket engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Randy Runquist, Keith Allen Hoelting
  • Publication number: 20160263774
    Abstract: A cutting tooth system includes a plurality of substrates, each having a base for attaching to the cutting wheel, and an outer surface opposite the base. A plurality of tooth pockets are integrally formed in the substrate, each tooth pocket having a tooth receiving aperture extending through the outer surface and into the substrate. A cutting tooth has a pocket engagement portion configured for being received in a mounting pocket. The pocket engagement portion defines a pocket engagement length and a shank defining a shank diameter. A cutter portion extends from the pocket engagement portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Randy RUNQUIST, Keith Allen HOELTING
  • Publication number: 20070272444
    Abstract: A drill rod assembly including inner and outer drill rods. The drill rod assembly further including flow passages that are in fluid communication with an annular fluid flow path defined between the inner and outer drill rods. The passages preventing blockage of a drill string fluid flow path when a number of drill rod assemblies are interconnected to form a drill string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robin Carlson, Randy Runquist, Tod Michael, Shawn Moyer
  • Patent number: 6659202
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for directional drilling utilizing a fluid hammer. The fluid hammer is coupled to a bent steering member which, in turn, is coupled to a drill string. The bent steering member includes means for rotating the fluid hammer independently of the bent steering member. The means for rotating may be a mud motor or a dual drive, pipe-in-pipe mechanism. The fluid hammer may be directed by rotating the drill string and bent steering member to point the fluid hammer in a desired direction. The bent steering member may include a sonde for monitoring its orientation. Fluid pressure capable of activating the fluid hammer is conveyed to the fluid hammer by means of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Randy Runquist, Mark Van Houwelingen
  • Patent number: 6491115
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for automatically limiting the thrust force applied to a drill string during an underground boring process, in order to prevent the deformation or collapse to the drill rods due to reaching the yield point of the rods. One or more drill string characteristics that have an impact on the yield point of the drill string, or portions of the drill string, are determined. The yield point of the drill string or portion is computed, where the yield point is computed as a function of the drill string characteristics. The thrust force imparted to the drill string is adjusted in response to the computed yield point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark Van Houwelingen, Randy Runquist, Brian J. Bischel, Mark R. Stelter, Gregg A. Austin
  • Publication number: 20020084109
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for directional drilling utilizing a fluid hammer. The fluid hammer is coupled to a bent steering member which, in turn, is coupled to a drill string. The bent steering member includes means for rotating the fluid hammer independently of the bent steering member. The means for rotating may be a mud motor or a dual drive, pipe-in-pipe mechanism. The fluid hammer may be directed by rotating the drill string and bent steering member to point the fluid hammer in a desired direction. The bent steering member may include a sonde for monitoring its orientation. Fluid pressure capable of activating the fluid hammer is conveyed to the fluid hammer by means of the drill string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Randy Runquist, Mark Van Houwelingen
  • Patent number: 6357537
    Abstract: A horizontal drilling machine for directionally drilling a drill string into the ground. The drill string includes a plurality of elongated members threaded together in an end-to-end relationship. The drilling machine includes a track, a rotational driver mounted on the track, and a thrust mechanism for propelling the rotational driver along the track. The rotational driver is used to rotate the drill string in forward and reverse directions about a longitudinal axis of the drill string. The drill string is rotated in the forward direction to thread the elongated members together, and rotated in the reverse direction to unthread the elongated members from one another. The drilling machine also includes a reverse torque limiter that prevents the rotational driver from applying a reverse torque to the drill string that exceeds a reverse torque limit. The reverse torque limit is less than a maximum reverse torque that can be generated by the rotational driver when the reverse torque limiter is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Randy Runquist, Mark Van Houwelingen
  • Publication number: 20010022238
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for automatically limiting the thrust force applied to a drill string during an underground boring process, in order to prevent the deformation or collapse to the drill rods due to reaching the yield point of the rods. One or more drill string characteristics that have an impact on the yield point of the drill string, or portions of the drill string, are determined. The yield point of the drill string or portion is computed, where the yield point is computed as a function of the drill string characteristics. The thrust force imparted to the drill string is adjusted in response to the computed yield point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Mark Van Houwelingen, Randy Runquist, Brian J. Bischel, Mark R. Stelter, Gregg A. Austin