US 12,270,265 B2
Mechanical disconnect for rotation drive
David L. Horst, Ashland, OH (US); BJ Burky, Burbank, OH (US); Tim Casey, Wooster, OH (US); Richard B. Gentry, Jeromesville, OH (US); Stuart Riggenbach, Wooster, OH (US); and Aaron Edward Traxler, Columbia Station, OH (US)
Assigned to The Charles Machine Works, Inc., Perry, OK (US)
Filed by The Charles Machine Works, Inc., Perry, OK (US)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/404,395.
Application 18/404,395 is a division of application No. 17/838,402, filed on Jun. 13, 2022, granted, now 11,898,405.
Application 17/838,402 is a continuation of application No. 16/738,027, filed on Jan. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,359,444, issued on Jun. 14, 2022.
Application 16/738,027 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/853,156, filed on Dec. 22, 2017, granted, now 10,563,458, issued on Feb. 18, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/438,134, filed on Dec. 22, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0151112 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 19/16 (2006.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); E21B 7/28 (2006.01); E21B 19/08 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 19/16 (2013.01) [E21B 7/046 (2013.01); E21B 7/28 (2013.01); E21B 19/08 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A horizontal directional drilling system, comprising:
a drill string having multiple segments;
a drilling machine comprising:
a carriage supported on a drill frame and movable relative to the drill frame;
a motor supported on the carriage having an output member configured to connect with and selectively drive rotation of the drill string, wherein the motor is operable in a first mode and a second mode;
wherein the first mode is characterized by the motor applying torque to the drill string through the output member;
wherein the second mode is characterized by the motor being disabled from applying rotational torque to the drill string; and
wherein the system is configured to:
provide thrust with the carriage and rotate the drill string with the output member when the motor is in the first mode; and
provide thrust with the carriage but not rotate the drill string with the output member when the motor is in the second mode; and
wherein the drill string is configured for simultaneous connection to the drilling machine and a second drilling machine, and to receive thrust from the second drilling machine and the drilling machine when the drilling machine is in the first mode.