Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Other

Randy Ray Runquist

Mark Van Houwelingen

James Richard Rankin

Steven W Wentworth

Robert F Crane

Michael David Langenfeld

Keith Allen Hoelting

Robin W Carlson

Richard K Smith, Jr

Mark D Randa

Scott Alan Rempe

Hans Kelpe

Keith Leon Roozeboom

Gregg Alan Austin

Brian John Bischel

Mark Robert Stelter

Tod Michael

Clint A Weinberg

Peter C Rozendaal

John P Maher

Christopher R Fontana

Rene&prime; Marcel Albert

Chris Fontana

Ren&eacute;Marcel Albert

James Akers Woods

Mark VanHouwelingen

Shawn Moyer

ReneMarcel Albert

Underground drilling operation often requires connecting a drill tool (e.g., drill bit, backreamer, etc.) to a drill string. It is desirable to connect the drill tools to a drill string in a manner that facilitates quick and easy assembly and disassembly. Low torque coupling, commonly referred to as 'torque-less' connection, can provide such functionality. The useful life and strength of such connections can be improved upon. The present disclosure provides a low torque coupling with improved strength and durability.

Tapered thread configuration with improved durability

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.

Cutting tooth system

A drilling apparatus including a rotary cutting tool having a proximal end and a distal end and further defining a rotary axis generally extending between the proximal and distal ends. The rotary cutting tool includes a proximally directed face located between the proximal and distal ends that face mainly in a proximal direction. The rotary cutting tool also includes an angled mounting face that extends between the proximally directed face and the proximal end. The angled mounting face is angled relative to the proximally directed face and the rotary axis where one of a mounting aperture and a mounting protrusion are provided at the proximally directed face. The one of the mounting aperture and the mounting protrusion have a mounting depth that extends generally in the direction of the rotary axis. The distal end includes a feature that is configured for at least one of cutting and grinding.

Drilling tool and apparatus

Bits configured for drilling rock that are of the type that includes a plurality of teeth supported in pockets that are on a cutting face that is driven to rotate. The pockets are configured to allow the teeth to passively rotate while in the pockets. The present disclosure provides a bit having hardfacing around the pockets and related methods.

Hard facing configuration for a drilling tool

The present disclosure provides a back reamer roller cone that is configured so that the bearings assemblies therein can be relatively easily removed and replaced. Methods of replacing the bearing assemblies in a back reamer are also provided.

Hole opener bearing arrangement

A drilling apparatus is adapted for connection to a drill string such that the drill string rotates the drilling apparatus in a rotational cutting motion. The drilling apparatus includes a sonde housing having a distal end and a proximal end. The sonde housing includes a top platform positioned adjacent the distal end of the sonde housing and further includes a tongue positioned on the top platform. The drilling apparatus further includes a rotary cutting tool mounted to the distal end of the sonde housing.

Underground drilling apparatus

Rear connection inter-face for a reducing element of a material reducing machine

A drill head for an apparatus for horizontal directional drilling. The drill head includes a device for detecting angular orientation, a holder for the device for detecting angular orientation, the device for detecting angular orientation being disposed therein, a hammer driven by a liquid and a drill bit. The holder, the hammer and the drill bit are connected head to tail along a longitudinal axis of a drill string with the holder at a proximate end of the drill head and the drill bit at a distal end of the drill head.

Apparatus for directional boring under mixed conditions

A method and system for controlling a horizontal directional drilling machine having a boring tool. A rate of rotation and a rate of thrust are selected by an operator. Controls allow an automatic boring operation mode to be initiated to maintain the selected rate of rotation and thrust without further input from the operator. Periodically, when the rotation and thrust are interrupted, such as to modify the drill string, the automatic boring operation mode is interrupted. The automatic boring operation mode may be resumed without requiring the operator to select the rate of rotation and rate of thrust. The rate of rotation is resumed before the rate of thrust to reduce drill string shock loads and increase drilling performance.

Underground boring machine and method for controlling underground boring

Various embodiments are directed to a method of switching horizontal directional drilling procedures during bore path turning. Such methods can include identifying a hierarchal arrangement of a plurality of different boring procedures utilizing different boring techniques, the hierarchy arrangement representing boring procedures of increasing ability to bore through harder soil while changing a trajectory of a boring tool. Such methods can further include boring a first leg of a curved bore path using a boring tool connected to a drill rig by a drill string, the first leg being bored using a first boring procedure of the plurality of different boring procedures. Such methods can further include monitoring a plurality of boring parameters during boring of the first leg, the plurality of boring parameters comprising: torsional pressure of the drill string, rotational travel of the drill string, hydraulic pressure, and axial displacement. Such methods can further include switching from boring the first leg of the curved bore path using the first boring procedure to boring a second leg using a second boring procedure of the plurality of boring procedures, the switch based on one or more of the boring parameters deviating past a threshold.

Devices and methods for dynamic boring procedure reconfiguration

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.

Dual rod drill pipe with improved flow path method and apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, IA, United States of America

Randy Ray Runquist