Patents by Inventor Travis W. Woodson
Travis W. Woodson 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).
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Publication number: 20230193701Abstract: A system for connecting a drill bit and pipe puller to a drill string. The system includes a downhole tool having an internal cavity and a through-hole in its wall. A coupler may be slidingly received in the cavity and connected using one or more fasteners which interconnect a groove in the coupler to the wall of the downhole tool. Fasteners used may be screws or bolts interconnecting the wall of the tool with radial holes in the coupler. Alternatively, bolts may interconnect the wall with a circumferential groove on the coupler. A drill bit may be threaded into the coupler. The coupler allows drill bits and other tools to be connected and disconnected from a downhole tool without unthreading the drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, JR., Travis W. Woodson, Joseph G. Greenlee
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Patent number: 11578540Abstract: A system for connecting a drill bit and pipe puller to a drill string. The system includes a downhole tool having an internal cavity and a through-hole in its wall. A coupler may be slidingly received in the cavity and connected using one or more fasteners which interconnect a groove in the coupler to the wall of the downhole tool. Fasteners used may be screws or bolts interconnecting the wall of the tool with radial holes in the coupler. Alternatively, bolts may interconnect the wall with a circumferential groove on the coupler. A drill bit may be threaded into the coupler. The coupler allows drill bits and other tools to be connected and disconnected from a downhole tool without unthreading the drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Travis W. Woodson, Joseph G. Greenlee
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Publication number: 20220120145Abstract: A system for connecting a drill bit and pipe puller to a drill string. The system includes a downhole tool having an internal cavity and a through-hole in its wall. A coupler may be slidingly received in the cavity and connected using one or more fasteners which interconnect a groove in the coupler to the wall of the downhole tool. Fasteners used may be screws or bolts interconnecting the wall of the tool with radial holes in the coupler. Alternatively, bolts may interconnect the wall with a circumferential groove on the coupler. A drill bit may be threaded into the coupler. The coupler allows drill bits and other tools to be connected and disconnected from a downhole tool without unthreading the drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, JR., Travis W. Woodson, Joseph G. Greenlee
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Patent number: 11208851Abstract: A system for connecting a drill bit and pipe puller to a drill string. The system includes a downhole tool having an internal cavity and a through-hole in its wall. A coupler may be slidingly received in the cavity and connected using one or more fasteners which interconnect a groove in the coupler to the wall of the downhole tool. Fasteners used may be screws or bolts interconnecting the wall of the tool with radial holes in the coupler. Alternatively, bolts may interconnect the wall with a circumferential groove on the coupler. A drill bit may be threaded into the coupler. The coupler allows drill bits and other tools to be connected and disconnected from a downhole tool without unthreading the drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Travis W. Woodson, Joseph G. Greenlee
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Publication number: 20200040668Abstract: A system for connecting a drill bit and pipe puller to a drill string. The system includes a downhole tool having an internal cavity and a through-hole in its wall. A coupler may be slidingly received in the cavity and connected using one or more fasteners which interconnect a groove in the coupler to the wall of the downhole tool. Fasteners used may be screws or bolts interconnecting the wall of the tool with radial holes in the coupler. Alternatively, bolts may interconnect the wall with a circumferential groove on the coupler. A drill bit may be threaded into the coupler. The coupler allows drill bits and other tools to be connected and disconnected from a downhole tool without unthreading the drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, JR., Travis W. Woodson, Joseph G. Greenlee
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Patent number: 10538969Abstract: A stacked-plate system for a backreamer. The backreamer has a set of plates disposed about a central shaft for providing fluid for use in reaming operations. A distributor plate forms a cavity within a plate assembly for receiving fluid from the central shaft through radial fluid ports. Fluid from the cavity is then expelled through nozzles that overlay the cavity in a separate plate. The direction of fluid flow at the nozzles is axial, rather than toward the sidewall of the enlarged bore.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Travis W. Woodson, Chapman P. Hancock
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Publication number: 20180313159Abstract: A stacked-plate system for a backreamer. The backreamer has a set of plates disposed about a central shaft for providing fluid for use in reaming operations. A distributor plate forms a cavity within a plate assembly for receiving fluid from the central shaft through radial fluid ports. Fluid from the cavity is then expelled through nozzles that overlay the cavity in a separate plate. The direction of fluid flow at the nozzles is axial, rather than toward the sidewall of the enlarged bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, JR., Travis W. Woodson, Chapman P. Hancock
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Patent number: 10036205Abstract: A stacked-plate system for a backreamer. The backreamer has a set of plates disposed about a central shaft for providing fluid for use in reaming operations. A distributor plate forms a cavity within a plate assembly for receiving fluid from the central shaft through radial fluid ports. Fluid from the cavity is then expelled through nozzles that overlay the cavity in a separate plate. The direction of fluid flow at the nozzles is axial, rather than toward the sidewall of the enlarged bore.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Travis W. Woodson, Chapman P. Hancock
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Publication number: 20170211337Abstract: A drill string with a bit at one end is used to dig an underground borehole. When the drill string exits the borehole at a surface exit point, a pullback adapter is used to interconnect the bit with an above-ground utility line. A drilling rig retracts the drill string from the borehole. As the drill string is pulled back through the borehole, the trailing utility line follows along its underground path. As the utility line is pulled through the borehole, the connector biases the utility line to the center of the borehole. Such biasing reduces the risk of ensnaring of the connector and utility line by the borehole walls during the pulling process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventor: Travis W. Woodson
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Patent number: 9611695Abstract: A downhole tool assembly for use in directional drilling operations. The assembly has a housing, a chuck, a cutting tool, a hub, and an elongate drive member. The housing has a spindle for supporting the hub and chuck for rotation thereon. The chuck is connected to the hub and has a non-circular interior surface and a box for supporting a cutting tool for rotation with the chuck. The elongate drive member is disposed within the housing, the hub, and the chuck. The drive member is operatively connected to the inner member of a dual-member drill string for rotation independently of the housing. The drive member has a non-circular external surface corresponding to the non-circular interior surface of the chuck. The pin end of the drive is slidably receivable in connector free torque-transmitting engagement with the interior surface of the chuck to drive rotation of the cutting tool, chuck, and hub independently of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, Jr., Travis W. Woodson, Curtis Johnson
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Publication number: 20160356091Abstract: A stacked-plate system for a backreamer. The backreamer has a set of plates disposed about a central shaft for providing fluid for use in reaming operations. A distributor plate forms a cavity within a plate assembly for receiving fluid from the central shaft through radial fluid ports. Fluid from the cavity is then expelled through nozzles that overlay the cavity in a separate plate. The direction of fluid flow at the nozzles is axial, rather than toward the sidewall of the enlarged bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, JR., Travis W. Woodson, Chapman P. Hancock
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Publication number: 20140305709Abstract: A downhole tool assembly for use in directional drilling operations. The assembly has a housing, a chuck, a cutting tool, a hub, and an elongate drive member. The housing has a spindle for supporting the hub and chuck for rotation thereon. The chuck is connected to the hub and has a non-circular interior surface and a box for supporting a cutting tool for rotation with the chuck. The elongate drive member is disposed within the housing, the hub, and the chuck. The drive member is operatively connected to the inner member of a dual-member drill string for rotation independently of the housing. The drive member has a non-circular external surface corresponding to the non-circular interior surface of the chuck. The pin end of the drive is slidably receivable in connector free torque-transmitting engagement with the interior surface of the chuck to drive rotation of the cutting tool, chuck, and hub independently of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Greg L. Slaughter, JR., Travis W. Woodson, Curtis Johnson
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Publication number: 20130014992Abstract: A downhole tool for a dual member drill string for detecting information and sending a signal containing that information up a wireline. The tool comprises a beacon supported on a housing for collection of orientation information. The wireline is located within a drill stem in the housing. The beacon communicates a signal to the wireline using a slip ring or a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from the beacon. The downhole tool may have a steering feature such as a deflection shoe for changing the path of the downhole tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Richard F. Sharp, Travis W. Woodson, Floyd R. Gunsaulis