Patent · US Active

Drilling tool storage device and method of changing a drilling tool

US9644436B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by

6References

18Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC · US

Inventors

Ross L. Hoult · Saxby, AU
Samuel C. Taylor · Bungendore, AU
Andrew William Wright · Fremont, US
Jason P. O'Brien · Orange, AU
Mark R. Lawler · Maitland, AU
Kayne D. Taylor · Bungendore, AU

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 12, 2013
Grant date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 14, 2035

Classification

Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
CPC primaryE21B19/20
WIPO fieldCivil engineering
WIPO sectorOther fields

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.