公开(公告)号：US20240301787A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-12

申请号：US18649045

申请日：2024-04-29

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Dmitry Feldman ,  Benjamin John Medeiros

IPC: E21B47/06 ,  E21B47/017

CPC classification number: E21B47/06 ,  E21B47/017 ,  Y10T29/49002

Abstract: Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.

公开(公告)号：US12012844B2

公开(公告)日：2024-06-18

申请号：US18120078

申请日：2023-03-10

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Kenneth J. Theimer

IPC: E21B47/017 ,  E21B17/00 ,  E21B47/01 ,  E21B47/013 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04

CPC classification number: E21B47/01 ,  E21B17/003 ,  E21B47/013 ,  E21B47/017 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/046

Abstract: A housing defines a through passage along its length and is configured to support a group of electrical isolators surrounding the through passage to form an electrically isolating break in a drill string such that each isolator of the group of isolators is subject to no more than a compressive force responsive to extension and retraction of the drill string. The housing defines a housing cavity to receive an electronics package having a signal port and is configured for electrical connection of the signal port across the electrically isolating break. A housing lid can cooperate with a main housing body to define elongated slots for purposes of enhancing the emanation of a locating signal. A housing arrangement can support electrical connections from an electronics package to bridge an electrically isolating gap.

公开(公告)号：US20240102344A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-28

申请号：US18533189

申请日：2023-12-08

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Scott Phillips ,  Benjamin J. Medeiros

IPC: E21B7/04 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B44/00 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/09 ,  E21B47/125 ,  E21B47/13 ,  H02J1/00 ,  H02J50/80

CPC classification number: E21B7/046 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B44/005 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/09 ,  E21B47/125 ,  E21B47/13 ,  H02J1/00 ,  H02J50/80 ,  E21B47/01

Abstract: A transmitter is powered by a regulated battery voltage and is installable in one of a plurality of different housings, each housing is characterized by a different design and each can form part of an inground tool for performing an inground operation in which a drill string extends from a drill rig to the inground tool. An antenna driver drives an antenna based on the regulated voltage to emanate an electromagnetic signal for remote reception. A controller limits power consumption from the regulated voltage so as not to exceed a power consumption threshold, irrespective of installation of the transmitter in any one of the housings when the transmitter would otherwise exhibit a different power consumption for each housing design. A corresponding method is described. Features relating to power consumption threshold modification based on temperature as well as mechanical shock and vibration are described.

公开(公告)号：US11820498B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US17176864

申请日：2021-02-16

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Mark Marvin ,  John E. Mercer ,  Derek Vetter

IPC: B64C27/57 ,  B64C27/56 ,  B64C27/00

CPC classification number: B64C27/57 ,  B64C27/006 ,  B64C27/56

Abstract: An emergency collective actuator includes an actuator motor to produce an actuation force and an actuator linkage that directly engages a friction control lever that is pivotally supported on the collective stick of a helicopter to apply the actuation force directly to the friction control lever such that the actuation force initially disengages the friction control and then reduces the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position. The actuator can include a clutch that slips to allow the pilot to overcome the actuation force and that slips responsive to an engagement of the friction control by the pilot, but otherwise the clutch co-rotates with the motor shaft to bias the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position.

公开(公告)号：US11814950B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-14

申请号：US17501438

申请日：2021-10-14

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Timothy Shaw ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Craig Caswell

IPC: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04 ,  G01S19/49 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G01B3/12

CPC classification number: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/046 ,  G01B3/12 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G01S19/49

Abstract: A planning tool plans movement of a boring tool for an underground drilling operation. The planning tool includes one or more wheels for rolling on a surface of the ground along a path responsive to movement by an operator to characterize the surface contour and to generate guidance for the boring tool to reach a target position. Planning can additionally be based on waypoints. The planning tool can be rolled unidirectionally or bidirectionally to characterize the surface contour. Bidirectional movement cancels accelerometer fixed bias. Path stitching is used to plan around obstacles. The planning tool can facilitate tracker placement. The planning tool can collect noise information for frequency selection purposes. A described technique maximizes linear drilling in an underground plan. Compensation and/or warnings are provided for unsteady, fast and slow movement of the planning tool while measuring the surface contour.

公开(公告)号：US11802900B2

公开(公告)日：2023-10-31

申请号：US17728980

申请日：2022-04-26

Applicant: Merlin Technology Inc.

Inventor： Loc Viet Lam ,  Albert W. Chau

IPC: G01R29/26 ,  G01V3/15

CPC classification number: G01R29/26 ,  G01V3/15

Abstract: A portable device is described for use with a system in which a transmitter signal is transmitted by a transmitter from within the ground during an operational procedure. The portable device is configured for measuring electromagnetic noise. An extension leg is removably attachable to the portable device and supports a measurement wheel at a distal end such that the electromagnetic noise is measured on a measurement path along which the measurement wheel is rolled for use in selecting a transmission frequency for the transmitter signal.

公开(公告)号：US20230250693A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-10

申请号：US18134542

申请日：2023-04-13

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Bruce Kolpack ,  David Bahr ,  Thomas J. Hall ,  Benjamin J. Medeiros

IPC: E21B7/04 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/06 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B44/00

CPC classification number: E21B7/046 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/06 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B44/00

Abstract: An apparatus and method are used in conjunction with a system for performing horizontal directional drilling, the system including a drill string extending from a drill rig to a boring tool such that the boring tool is steerable based on a roll orientation. The system also includes an arrangement for generating steering commands for guiding the boring tool to a target position. Responsive at least in part to the steering commands, a display is configured to selectively indicate each of a rotate command, a push command and a spin command. A steering indicator is described which indicates a current roll orientation of the boring tool. A 3-D grid can be animated and centered on either a steering or target indicator. Rounding of a steering command ratio can limit the display of target roll orientations to only those that a given boring tool transmitter is capable of sensing and indicating.

公开(公告)号：US11598200B2

公开(公告)日：2023-03-07

申请号：US17749138

申请日：2022-05-20

Applicant: Merlin Technology Inc.

Inventor： Albert W. Chau ,  Dmitry Feldman ,  Benjamin John Medeiros

IPC: E21B47/01 ,  E21B47/06 ,  E21B47/017

Abstract: Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.

公开(公告)号：US20220403735A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-22

申请号：US17843838

申请日：2022-06-17

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Craig A. Caswell ,  Scott D. Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/04

Abstract: A transmitter for an inground operation includes an antenna and a sensor section for generating sensor data. An antenna driver selectively drives the antenna to emit a locating signal such that the locating signal carries the sensor data. A processor controls the antenna driver to transmit the locating signal during a normal mode and to enter a sleep state that disables at least the sensor section and the antenna driver such that the locating signal is not transmitted responsive to detecting that the transmitter is inactive. The processor can enter a snooze mode from the normal mode by disabling the antenna driver so that the locating signal is not transmitted, without disabling the sensor section, and the snooze mode requires less power than the normal mode but more power than the sleep state.

公开(公告)号：US20220252654A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-11

申请号：US17728980

申请日：2022-04-26

Applicant: Merlin Technology Inc.

Inventor： Loc Viet Lam ,  Albert W. Chau

IPC: G01R29/26 ,  G01V3/15

Abstract: A portable device and associated method are described for use with a system in which a locating signal is transmitted from within the ground during an operational procedure. The locating signal includes a transmission frequency that is selectable from a group of discrete transmission frequencies in a frequency range and the region includes electromagnetic noise that can vary. The portable device includes a receiver having a bandwidth that includes the transmission frequency range and is operable for measuring the electromagnetic noise in the transmission frequency range to establish a frequency content of the electromagnetic noise for use in selecting one of the discrete transmission frequencies that is subsequently transmitted as the locating signal during the operational procedure. The locating signal can be transmitted from a boring tool, a pullback arrangement or an inground cable. A predicted maximum operational depth for a transmitter can be determined prior to the operational procedure.