# US 11,078,731 B2 · Pipe storage box > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,731 B2 - Document ID: US11078731B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/516,575 - Filed: 2019-07-19 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-24 - Assignees: The Charles Machine Works, Inc. - Applicants: The Charles Machine Works, Inc. - Inventors: Max Allen Metcalf; Rick G. Porter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078731B2 ## CPC - E21B 19/14: Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole (E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence) - E21B 7/02: Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport {with their own drive}, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting - E21B 19/15: Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A pipe handling device and method for use with a horizontal directional drilling system. The pipe handling device stores sections of drill pipe in individual columns within a magazine. The magazine is constructed so that it can be mounted to a boring machine in a pin-up or pin-down orientation. A plurality of signal elements are attached to the magazine and each extend at least partially within a footprint of each column. The signal elements may move from a first position, indicating the column is full of pipe sections, to a second position, indicating the column is not full of pipe sections. A proximity sensor assembly detects movement of the individual signal elements and signals a processor accordingly. These signals indicate whether or not a given column is full of pipe sections. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a magazine supported on a frame and having structure forming a plurality of interior columns; and a sensor assembly supported offboard of the magazine, in which the sensor assembly comprises a plurality of sensors having a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of interior columns, the sensor assembly comprising: a sensor housing that supports the plurality of sensors; and a post supporting the sensor housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 in which the longitudinal axes of the sensor housing and the post are orthogonal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, in which the post has a telescoping structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, in which the magazine has upper and lower ends, and in which the sensor housing is positioned adjacent the upper end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 in which each of the plurality of sensors are aligned with a center of a corresponding column. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 in which the plurality of sensors are aligned in a row. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 in which the sensor housing has a rectangular shape and extends wholly within a footprint of the magazine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a processor in communication with the sensor assembly; in which the magazine is configured to house a plurality of pipe sections within the plurality of interior columns; and in which the sensor assembly is configured to send a signal to the processor in response to the presence of a pipe section within an interior column. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 in which the sensor assembly is movable relative to the magazine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a horizontal boring machine having one or more platform surfaces upon which the magazine and sensor assembly are supported. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, in which the magazine is removably supportable on the frame; and in which the sensor assembly is pivotally supported on the frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 in which the post has a telescoping structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A horizontal boring machine, comprising: the system of claim 1, in which the frame has a first end and a second end; and a carriage supported on the frame and movable between the first end of the frame and the second end of the frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The horizontal boring machine of claim 13 in which the sensor assembly is attached to the first end of the frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The horizontal boring machine of claim 13 in which the sensor assembly is pivotable relative to the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The horizontal boring machine of claim 13 in which the post is releasably attached to the first end of the frame. ### Claim 17 A system, comprising: a magazine supported on a frame and having structure forming a plurality of interior columns; and a sensor assembly supported offboard of the magazine, in which the sensor assembly comprises a plurality of sensors having a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of interior columns; and in which each of the plurality of sensors are aligned with a center of a corresponding column. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, in which the magazine is removably supportable on the frame; and in which the sensor assembly is pivotally supported on the frame. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: a magazine supported on a frame and having structure forming a plurality of interior columns; and a sensor assembly supported offboard of the magazine, in which the sensor assembly comprises a plurality of sensors having a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of interior columns; and in which the plurality of sensors are aligned in a row and supported on a sensor housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, in which the magazine is removably supportable on the frame; and in which the sensor assembly is pivotally supported on the frame.