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:
May. 09, 2017
Filed:
Aug. 12, 2013
Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment Llc, South Milwaukee, WI (US);
Ross L. Hoult, Eight Mile Plains, AU;
Samuel C. Taylor, Bungendore, AU;
Andrew Wright, Newcastle, AU;
Jason P. O'Brien, Orange, AU;
Mark R. Lawler, Largs, AU;
Kayne D. Taylor, Bungendore, AU;
Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Denison, TX (US);
Abstract
A drilling tool changer apparatus for a drilling rig includes a drill tower pivotable between a drilling orientation and a change-out orientation, the drill tower supporting a drill string comprising a drill pipe coupled to a drilling tool. The drilling tool changer apparatus also includes a drilling tool storage device pivotally movable about a hinge axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. The drilling tool storage device includes a drilling tool storage cassette including a replacement drilling tool. The drilling tool storage device and the drill tower are pivotally alignable in a substantially co-planar manner when the drilling tool storage device is in the deployed position and the drill tower is in the change-out orientation.