Patents by Inventor Theodore B. Houck

Theodore B. Houck 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: 4353580
    Abstract: An apparatus for removably attaching a pipe to a vessel wall having a short tubular body with the inner end adapted to be attached to a vessel wall to provide communication with an opening in the vessel, the outer end of the body having external threads and an integral reduced internal diameter portion of slightly larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the pipe to be received and a semi-circular cross-sectioned gasket receiving recess in the outer end, a circular flange having an opening therethrough of internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the pipe to be attached and having internal threads dimensioned to engage the body threads and providing a planar gasket engaging surface, and a toroidal gasket dimensioned to be received on the pipe and within the semi-circular groove of the tubular body, the end of the pipe to be secured being positioned within the body and flange whereby when the flange is threadably advanced onto the body the gasket is forced into sealed engag
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck
  • Patent number: 4024924
    Abstract: An improved portable drilling rig for drilling deep boreholes in the earth, in which the table or working floor of the rig, on which the rotary table and draw works are supported, is on a separate framework supported on and attached to a structural frame or base, for the drilling rig. The floor structure is broken down into a plurality of parts for ease in transportation, each of which have independent columns and cross-bracing. The central portion of the floor which supports the rotary table, and which must support the full weight of the drill pipe, has special heavy columns which are supported on a structural base in substantially the same position as the base connection of the mast, when in a raised position. Therefore, weight can be transferred from the rotary table to the crown block and vice versa, and the weight is still applied to the base frame in substantially the same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck
  • Patent number: 4009544
    Abstract: An improved portable drilling rig for drilling deep boreholes in the earth, in which the mast is rotatable to a horizontal position at a small distance above the ground. The mast is of rectangular construction, with four corner columns, and four support legs. While the mast is supported in a vertical position with four shoes, it rotates about the two back supports.The mast is supported on two longitudinal stiffening members, of a U shape in cross-section. When the mast is lowered to a horizontal position, the front supporting columns drop below the top surface of the U shaped stiffening members and rest on the shallow bottom of the space between the two arms of the U. This puts the bottom of the mast within a foot or two above the ground, so that workmen may find it convenient to do work on the mast itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck
  • Patent number: 4004470
    Abstract: This abstract describes the power compound portion of a bore hole drilling system, which is designed for drilling medium depths of wells, and is designed for portability so that each part of the system can be broken down into subassembly units which are of less than a selected total weight. Thus, the entire system can be transported by helicopters capable of carrying said selected weight. The power compound comprises a self-contained engine manifold to which can be coupled two engines through corresponding gear transmissions to two input shafts. The transmission system in the manifold comprises drive means for driving a pump from each engine through a clutch, at a selected lower speed. It also comprises drive means for coupling the two engine shafts to provide combined power outputs to a shaft which drives the draw works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck
  • Patent number: 3945107
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a drilling mast system which is adapted to be assembled section by section in a vertical position, as distinguished from the conventional method of raising a drilling mast by assemblying the mast in a horizontal position on the ground and then lifting the mast into a vertical position. The mast is made of a base section and a plurality of upper sections, each one adapted to be mounted on top of the one below it and fastened thereto. After the base section has been assembled on the foundation, the succeeding sections are assembled on the ground or are lifted in pieces and assembled in place on top of the previous section by means of a floating gin pole. The gin pole is supported inside of the mast by means of a plurality of basket cables.The sections of the mast are made of rectangular horizontal cross section. The floating gin pole extends above the top of the topmost assembled section, and can tilt to the outside of the mast, so as to lift section parts outside the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: Parker Drilling Company
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck
  • Patent number: 3933059
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a deep bore hole drilling machine which is designed for portability so that each part of the system can be broken down into subassembly units which are of less than 4,000 pounds total weight. Thus, the entire drilling system can be transported by helicopters which are capable of carrying a total weight of 4,000 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Assignee: Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck