The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 22, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:
James R. Rankin, Pella, IA (US);
Richard K. Smith, Jr., Pella, IA (US);
Peter C. Rozendaal, Pella, IA (US);
Randy R. Runquist, Oskaloosa, IA (US);
Scott A. Rempe, Pella, IA (US);
Assignee:
Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 7/08 ; E21B 4/400 ; E21B 4/702 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 7/08 ; E21B 4/400 ; E21B 4/702 ;
Abstract
A steerable reamer and method for use in horizontal directional drilling. The reamer includes a carrier frame rotatably coupled to a reaming body, a carrier frame housing slidably coupled to the carrier frame, and an hydraulic cylinder for tilting the carrier frame relative to the carrier frame housing. The reamer may also include sondes for monitoring the position and orientation of the reamer during operation or a laser guidance system for automatically steering the reamer along a pilot bore.