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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7658240 | Methods and apparatus for forming hole in ground An apparatus for forming a hole in ground (10) includes a mounting plate (60) mounted to a loader (80). A probe (11) is coupled with the mounting plate (60). Two arms (32) extend radially outward from a vertical axis and fro... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7416258 | Methods of using a laser to spall and drill holes in rocks Apparatus and methods of using lasers are provided for spalling and drilling holes into rocks. A rock removal process is provided that utilizes a combination of laser-induced thermal stress and laser induced superheated steam explosions just below the surface of the... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7404453 | Method and apparatus for forming square holes for posts A tool for expanding a hole having a vertical axis in the earth has at least one set of two opposed compactor units constrained to separate and retract in a direction at a right angle to the axis of the hole, and a drive mechanism coupled to the set of compactor uni... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7353888 | Tension/collar/reamer assemblies and methods The present invention provides drilling assembles and methods that are especially useful for a bottom hole drilling assembly for drilling/reaming/or other operations related to drilling a borehole through an earth formation. In one embodiment, the drilling assembly ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7347257 | Aparatus for spooled tubing operations A spooled tubing unit is provided which permits simultaneous translation and rotation of continuous tubing to drill or conduct other downhole operations in a borehole in subterranean formations. ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7347283 | Using a rotating inner member to drive a tool in a hollow outer member A rotating inner member is used to drive a downhole tool housed within the hollow outer member of a dual-member drill string. The downhole tool preferably will be adapted to receive rotational energy from the inner member. In a preferred embodiment, the downhole too... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7347282 | Steerable soil penetration system A steerable soil penetration system having a steerable penetration head, which compacts and does not cut away the surrounding soil and which is connected to an elongate flexible tubing such that the orientation of the penetration head can be varied relative to the t... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7334637 | Assembly and method for determining thermal properties of a formation and forming a liner A method comprises heating a formation adjacent a selected depth level within a wellbore extending into the formation, forming a temporary liner in the wellbore, measuring a first temperature of the formation at the selected depth level at a first time after heating... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7325344 | Ground-mounted impact insertion and extraction apparatus An apparatus for impact insertion in and extraction from the ground includes a core with an upper section adapted for mounting a device, such as a sign, and a lower section with a pointed lower end. A reduced-diameter guide shaft extends between the upper and lower ... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7326009 | Edge-carrying drill body having an internal chip-removal channel An edge-carrying drill body intended for deep hole drilling, is rotatable around a central geometric axis and comprises a through-channel arranged for internal chip evacuation. The channel mouths in front and rear ends of the drill body. A front channel mouth is bri... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7320371 | Method and device for producing pretensioned anchorings A method and device for boring, particularly percussion boring or rotary percussion boring, a hole in soil or rock material and for forming an anchoring. A borehole is formed by inserting a drill bit, and a casing tube is placed inside the borehole during the boring... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7320565 | Edge-carrying drill, method for the manufacture of the drill, and drilling tool comprising such a drill In a first aspect, the invention relates to an edge-carrying drill body (1) of the type that is intended for deep hole drilling, and which is rotatable around a geometric axis (C) as well as comprises a through channel (2) arranged for internal chip ev... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7321228 | Detection of metal disturbance in a magnetic tracking system A method for tracking an object includes producing energy fields at a plurality of different frequencies in a vicinity of the object, and receiving signals that are generated at a location of the object at the different frequencies in response to the energy fields. ... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7308949 | Concrete drill A concrete drill for drilling concrete or the like by a diamond bit (5) attached to a front end of a bit drive shaft (4) projected forward from a main body (1) by driving to rotate the bit drive shaft (4) by a drive source (2) cont... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7284428 | Sensor housing for use in a storage vessel A detection apparatus for use in a vessel for measuring a fluid includes a tubular connected to a housing containing sensors, wherein the housing includes a top, a bottom, and a hole disposed in the top of the housing. The housing containing sensors includes an oute... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7273113 | Reversible penetrating machine with a differential air distributing mechanism The invention represents a new design of a reversible penetrating machine (90) with a pneumatically controlled differential air distributing mechanism. This design eliminates the springs, the rear anvil assembly, and several other components found in the prior machi... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7264048 | Slot cavity A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone and forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore proximate to the subterranean zone. The slot ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7240745 | Drill bit lubrication apparatus and method A lubricating nutating single cone drill bit 10 is disclosed. Bit 10 includes a bit shank 12 with an axially skewed bore 18 rotatably retaining a cutter body 22. A plurality of cutter elements (46, 48) are affixed to the cut... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7226246 | Apparatus and method for building support piers from one or successive lifts formed in a soil matrix An apparatus and method for forming a support pier having a single or multiple compacted aggregate lifts in a soil matrix, wherein the apparatus includes a vertical, hollow tube with a bulbous leading end or head element that is forced into the soil matrix. The holl... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7221136 | Sondes for locating underground pipes and conduits A sonde includes an elongate flexible ferromagnetic core and a coil surrounds an intermediate segment of the core. A housing surrounds and supports the coil. An electronic drive circuit is mounted in the housing for supplying the coil with an electric signal that wi... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7216724 | Coupling for dual member pipe A coupling assembly to interconnect an inner member and an outer member of a dual member drill string in torque transmitting engagement is disclosed. The coupling assembly is adapted to transmit torque input from both members to a downhole tool. In one embodiment, t... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7213644 | Cavity positioning tool and method In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method is provided for preventing formation of sludge in a subsurface cavity having particulate laden fluid disposed therein. The method includes positioning a downhole device having a fluid agitator into ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7207749 | Method and apparatus for installing underground pipe A method and apparatus employing an axially elongated ground piercing tool for forming an in-ground tunnel under a surface structure with forward axial movement of the tool in the ground under the structure with a pipe carried by the tool for depositing in the tunne... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7201302 | Driver blade with auxiliary combustion chamber for combustion powered fastener-driving tool A driver blade for use in a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool includes an elongate tubular body having a combustion end and a driving end, the combustion end being configured for attachment to a piston, and the driving end having a substantially solid cross-s... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7195079 | Directional reaming system A horizontal directional drilling system is used to drive operation of a guidable reamer assembly connected to a drill string. The guidable reamer assembly preferably has a cutting member with a central longitudinal axis and a support member also having a central lo... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7191829 | Gripper assembly for downhole tools A gripper assembly for anchoring a tool within a downhole passage and for possibly assisting movement of the tool within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7188687 | Downhole filter A downhole filter comprises a tubular member having a wall defining a plurality of openings. The openings have an outer width less than an inner width. The parts of the opening defining the smaller width are defined by radially outer parts of the openings, such that... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7188688 | Down-hole tool filter and method for protecting such tools from fluid entrained debris An improved apparatus for filtering down-hole drilling fluids, insertable at any point in the drill string, i.e.: tool joints or within instrument subs. The filter element is a disk insertable between the two threadably connected ends of any two lengths of the drill... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7182151 | Apparatus and method for horizontal drilling An apparatus and method for horizontally drilling for detecting subsurface features and avoiding such features during closed-loop control of an underground drilling machine. A horizontal drilling system includes a base machine capable of propelling a drill pipe rota... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7174681 | Concrete from stake system with self-sealing plug Method and apparatus for securing a building foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane. The method includes the steps of positioning one end of a concrete form stake in a mating structure of a plug, penetrating the moisture barrier membrane with a tip ... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7172035 | Sonde housing and method of manufacture A sonde (transmitter) housing having a one-piece design for improved housing rigidity. The housing includes a mechanically-adjustable mounting configuration adaptable to a variety of sonde applications. A method of making the sonde housing in a one-piece design and ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7174201 | Position sensing system with integral location pad and position display Apparatus for performing a medical procedure on a tissue within a body of a subject includes a wireless tag which is fixed to the tissue and includes a first sensor coil. A second sensor coil is fixed to a medical device for use in performing the procedure. An integ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7165634 | Method and apparatus for cementing drill strings in place for one pass drilling and completion of oil and gas wells The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are des... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7156189 | Self mountable and extractable ultrasonic/sonic anchor Self drilling anchors and related methods and apparatus. In one embodiment an apparatus comprises a drill bit, a hammer mechanism for hammering the drill bit in a first direction and in a second direction, and a selection mechanism for controlling whether, at a give... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7156181 | Puller-thruster downhole tool A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of the gripper p... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7150331 | System and method for tracking and communicating with a boring tool A system for determining the location of and communicating with a downhole tool assembly. A tracker assembly comprises a vertical transmitting antenna, a plurality of receiving antennas, and a processor. The downhole tool assembly has a beacon assembly comprising a ... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7147068 | Methods and apparatus for cementing drill strings in place for one pass drilling and completion of oil and gas wells The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are des... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7134513 | Drive mechanism for boring machine An auger boring machine includes a track having an initial end and a terminal end, and the track is provided with a rack. The boring machine also includes a sled that is mounted on the track and adapted to be moved between the initial end and the terminal end of the... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7093673 | Drilling device Method of introducing instruments/measuring equipment/tools into formations (9) in the earth's crust or other solid materials, such as ice, by means of a drilling device (1), material being liberated by, for example, rotation of a drill bit (2),... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7093671 | Pneumatic rock-boring device and method for starting such a device The invention relates to a method for horizontal ground-boring, in particular for rock-boring, by a rotating and hammering driven ground-boring device, whereby the device is alternately or simultaneously supplied with compressed air and drilling medium and the compr... | 08/22/2006 |