Patents by Inventor Ronald D. Drake

Ronald D. Drake 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).

  • Method and means for processing oil sands while excavating
    Patent number: 7461901
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the separation of bitumen, such as by the Clark process or by a countercurrent de-sander, in an underground excavation machine, such as a tunnel boring machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: OSUM Oil Sands Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and means for processing oil sands while excavating
    Patent number: 7448692
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the separation of bitumen, such as by the Clark process or by a countercurrent de-sander, in an underground excavation machine, such as a tunnel boring machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: OSUM Oil Sands.Corp
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and means for processing oil sands while excavating
    Patent number: 7097255
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the separation of bitumen, such as by the Clark process or by a countercurrent de-sander, in an underground excavation machine, such as a tunnel boring machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and system for mining hydrocarbon-containing materials
    Patent number: 6929330
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and system for mining hydrocarbon-containing materials
    Patent number: 6869147
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and system for mining hydrocarbon-containing materials
    Publication number: 20040070257
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and means for processing oil sands while excavating
    Publication number: 20030160500
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the separation of bitumen, such as by the Clark process or by a countercurrent de-sander, in an underground excavation machine, such as a tunnel boring machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and system for mining hydrocarbon-containing materials
    Patent number: 6554368
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and system for mining hydrocarbon-containing materials
    Publication number: 20030038526
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Method and system for mining hydrocarbon-containing materials
    Publication number: 20020030398
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson