Virtual brake system
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsJoseph G. Greenlee, Aleksander S. Wolfe, Jarred R. Callaway, Max A. Metcalf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake system for maintaining an angular position of a spindle assembly. A pump-powered motor drives rotation of a spindle on the machine. When no rotation is desired, the spindle will slow, then stop at a desired angular orientation. A rotational sensor will determine the clock position, and a controller compares that to a desired angular orientation. If an error tolerance is exceeded, the motor will rotate the spindle back to the desired orientation.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- monitoring a signal indicative of an orientation of a downhole tool, in which the downhole tool orientation is monitored using a rotational sensor at a spindle;
- selecting a desired downhole tool orientation;
- actuating rotation of a spindle configured to provide rotational force to the downhole tool;
- causing rotation of the spindle to cease when the signal indicates the downhole tool is within an error tolerance of the desired downhole tool orientation;
- actuating advancement of the downhole tool;
- while advancing the tool, monitoring the signal;
- and
- while advancing the tool, rotating the spindle to maintain the downhole tool within the error tolerance of the desired downhole tool orientation.
A method, comprising:
- rotating a drill string with a spindle and advancing the drill string with a carriage;
- selecting a desired orientation of the spindle, wherein the step of selecting the desired orientation of the spindle comprises:
- determining a desired drill string path;
- and
- planning steering steps having specific spindle orientations to maintain the drill string on the desired drill string path;
- stopping the spindle at the desired orientation;
- advancing the drill string without rotation;
- monitoring a clock position of the spindle;
- and
- rotating the spindle to the desired orientation when the difference between the clock position and the desired orientation exceeds an error tolerance.
A method for drilling a bore along a path, comprising:
- monitoring a clock position of a drill bit by monitoring a clock positions of a spindle configured to rotate the drill bit;
- advancing the drill bit with rotation to maintain a straight path;
- advancing the drill bit while maintaining the drill bit in a desired orientation to deviate from the straight path;
- and
- while advancing the drill bit to deviate from the straight path, rotating the drill bit when the difference between the clock position and the desired orientation exceeds an error tolerance.
A method, comprising:
- advancing a drill string with a horizontal directional drill, the horizontal directional drill comprising a spindle, a carriage and the drill string, the drill string extending from the spindle to a drill bit;
- operating the horizontal directional drill with at least one motor;
- monitoring a spindle position of the spindle with a rotational sensor;
- stopping the operation of the horizontal directional drill at a stopped position;
- storing the stopped position in a memory;
- monitoring an actual position of the horizontal directional drill while operation of the horizontal directional drill is stopped to determine whether the difference between the stopped position and the actual position exceeds an error tolerance;
- and
- operating motor when the difference between the stopped position and the actual position exceed the error tolerance to place the horizontal directional drill within the error tolerance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.