Patent US3773188A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3773188A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gripper for a drill rod handling apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-03-20
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-03-20
Abstract
Abstract An improved gripper insures that the addition or removal of individual drill rods from the drill column of an earth boring machine will be carried out in a safe and expedient manner. A drill rod handling apparatus including an arm means is positioned to move individual drill rods into and out of the uppermost position in the drill column of the drilling system. An improved gripper is connected to the arm means and adapted to grasp and retain an individual drill rod as it is being moved into and out of the drill column. The gripper includes a fixed gripping means connected to the arm means for receiving the drill rod and a slidable gripping means slidable relatively to the fixed gripping means for cooperating with the fixed gripping means to retain the drill rod. The slidable gripping means includes a tapered surface for contacting the drill rod and the taper angle of the tapered surface is within the range of 7.5* to 45*.
Inventors
- 👤 T Arrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:39
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/16; E21B19/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A drill rod handling apparatus for an earth boring machine wherein the earth boring machine includes drilling means for supplying drilling forces to a drill column and said drill column includes individual drill rods connected together end to end to form said drill column, comprising: arm means for moving an individual drill rod into and out of line with the drill column; fixed gripping means connected to said arm means for receiving said drill rod; slidable gripping means, slidable relative to said fixed gripping means, for cooperating with said fixed gripping means to retain said drill rod, said slidable gripping means including a tapered surface for contacting said drill rod; and force means connected to said slidable gripping means for selectively sliding said slidable gripping means into contact with said drill rod and forcing said tapered surface into contact with said drill rod to grip and retain said drill rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A drill rod handling apparatus for an earth boring machine wherein the earth boring machine includes drilling means for supplying drilling forces to a drill column and said drill column includes individual drill rods connected together end to end to form said drill column, comprising: arm means for moving an individual drill rod into and out of line with the drill column; fixed gripping means connected to said arm means for receiving said drill rod; slidable gripping means, slidable relative to said fixed gripping means, for cooperating with said fixed gripping means to retain said drill rod, said slidable gripping means including a tapered surface for contacting said drill rod; and force means connected to said slidable gripping means for selectively sliding said slidable gripping means into contact with said drill rod and forcing said tapered surface into contact with said drill rod to grip and retain said drill rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said force means is a thrust cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tapered surface has a taper angle in the range of from 7.5* to 45*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tapered surface has a taper angle in the range of from 7.5* to 30*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tapered surface has a taper angle in the range of from 7.5* to 20*.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fixed gripping means includes a curved surface for contacting said drill rod on a portion of at least one quadrant of the surface of said drill rod and said slidable gripping means includes a surface for contacting said drill rod on a portion of one of the other quadrants of the surface of said drill rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A gripper for a drill rod handling apparatus that will grip and retain a drill rod thereby removably connecting the drill rod to an arm of the drill rod handling apparatus, comprising: fixed means for receiving the drill rod; slidable means slidable relative to said fixed means for selectively retaining said drill rod, said slidable means including a tapered surface for contacting said drill rod; and force means connected to said slidable gripping means for selectively sliding said slidable gripping means into contact with said drill rod and forcing said tapered surface into contact with said drill rod to grip and retain said drill rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
A gripper for a drill rod handling apparatus that will grip and retain a drill rod thereby removably connecting the drill rod to an arm of the drill rod handling apparatus, comprising: fixed means for receiving the drill rod; slidable means slidable relative to said fixed means for selectively retaining said drill rod, said slidable means including a tapered surface for contacting said drill rod; and force means connected to said slidable gripping means for selectively sliding said slidable gripping means into contact with said drill rod and forcing said tapered surface into contact with said drill rod to grip and retain said drill rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The gripper of claim 7 wherein said force means is a thrust cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gripper of claim 8 wherein said tapered surface has a taper angle in the range of from 7.5* to 45*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gripper of claim 8 wherein said tapered surface has a taper angle in the range of from 7.5* to 30*.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gripper of claim 8 wherein said tapered surface has a taper angle in the range of from 7.5* to 20*.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The gripper of claim 8 wherein said fixed means includes a curved surface for contacting said drill rod on a portion of at least one quadrant of the surface of said drill rod and said slidable means includes a surface for contacting said drill rod on a portion of one of the other quadrants of the surface of said drill rod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |