Patents by Inventor Barry L. Ziegenfus

Barry L. Ziegenfus has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5001987
    Abstract: A lightweight car-on-track system having a pair of spaced-apart rails and an associated rotatable drive tube with a captive carrier movable along the rails and having a drive wheel in driving engagement with the rotatable drive tube. The drive wheel is spring-loaded against the rotatable drive tube and the capture of the carrier to the rails results in a controlled drive force achieved regardless of the weight of the carrier or of a load supported thereon. The system is made up of a selected number of modular units, each having adjustably mounted frame members supporting opposite ends of a rail section and a drive tube section. Adjustable mounting of frame members to an alignment plate assures alignment between rail and drive tube sections when assembling the system. A transfer device is utilized for transferring a carrier from the end of one track section to the spaced-apart end of another track section with the transfer device being oscillatable about a pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Heico Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Ziegenfus, Russell H. Scheel
  • Patent number: 4922831
    Abstract: A lightweight car-on-track system having a pair of spaced-apart rails and an associated rotatable drive tube with a captive carrier movable along the rails and having a drive wheel in driving engagement with the rotatable drive tube. The drive wheel is spring-loaded against the rotatable drive tube and the capture of the carrier to the rails results in a controlled drive force achieved regardless of the weight of the carrier or of a load supported thereon. The system is made up of a selected number of modular units, each having adjustably mounted frame members supporting opposite ends of a rail section and a drive tube section. Adjustable mounting of frame members to an alignment plate assures alignment between rail and drive tube sections when assembling the system. A transfer device is utilized for transferring a carrier from the end of one track section to the spaced-apart end of another track section with the transfer device being oscillatable about a pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Heico Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Ziegenfus, Russell H. Scheel
  • Patent number: 4648325
    Abstract: A linear drive unit having a carriage reciprocal along a path of travel and having a plurality of pairs of angularly adjustable drive wheels engaging opposite sides of a rotatable drive tube whereby rotation of the drive tube imparts linear motion to the carriage. The angle of the drive wheels is controlled by a remotely-operable air motor mounted directly on the carriage. A plurality of cams provide controlled acceleration and deceleration of the carriage adjacent the ends of its path of travel. A selectively operable inching control is remotely operable to provide for a reduced speed of travel of the linear drive unit. The linear drive unit is easily associated with the mass to be moved, such as a travelling hoist, and the forces generated by opposed drive wheels compressively engaging the drive tube are self-contained within the carriage. Additional control cams can be provided along the path of travel, if additional stopping locations are desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Heico Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley K. Gutekunst, Russell H. Scheel, Barry L. Ziegenfus
  • Patent number: 4593623
    Abstract: A carrier system having a carrier movable along a path as defined by a trackway and driven from a rotatable drive tube by means of one or more drive wheels which can be adjustably angularly related relative to the drive tube for determining the direction and speed of carrier travel. The carrier has a multi-function accumulation rod operable in both accumulation of carriers as well as at a stop station along the path of travel. The accumulation rod is movable to control the angular position of the drive wheel to achieve stopping of the carrier at the stop station as well as to cause accumulation of one carrier behind another. The accumulation rod is operable in either direction of travel of the carrier to affect accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Heico Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley K. Gutekunst, Russell H. Scheel, Barry L. Ziegenfus
  • Patent number: 4429636
    Abstract: A driverless vehicle turntable includes a table pivotably mounted for movement about a vertical axis. The table has tracks and a drive tube as well as drive wheels. An arcuate drive tube assembly is arranged for frictional contact with the drive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: SI Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry L. Ziegenfus
  • Patent number: 4428300
    Abstract: A precision stop assembly is provided for causing a driverless vehicle to stop at a predetermined location with an accuracy .+-.0.005 inches in three planes. The assembly includes structure for slowing a vehicle down and then elevating the vehicle so that its support wheels lose contact with tracks while simultaneously guiding the vehicle to a precise orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: SI Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Ziegenfus, Russell Scheel
  • Patent number: 4338864
    Abstract: A monorail driverless vehicle for use on an assembly line includes a vertically disposed frame having a drive wheel on the upper end of the frame and biased downwardly for contact with a drive shaft. Aligned support wheels on the frame are adapted for contact with a track therebelow. A fixture may be mounted on either side face of the vehicle for removably supporting the workpiece to be worked on by persons or apparatus along the assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: SI Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry L. Ziegenfus
  • Patent number: 4132174
    Abstract: A shuttle vehicle reciprocates between sets of tracks for driverless vehicles. The linear movement of the shuttle vehicle causes a turntable on the shuttle vehicle to rotate. The turntable is adapted to support a driverless vehicle to be transported from one set of tracks to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Assignee: S I Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Ziegenfus, Russell H. Scheel
  • Patent number: 4077327
    Abstract: A vehicle turntable having a set of tracks and a drive tube are mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. A belt and pulley arrangement is provided for rotating the drive tube about its longitudinal axis in all rotative positions of the turntable while using rotation of an adjacent drive tube thereby eliminating the need for a separate independent motor on the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: SI Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Ziegenfus, Richard Jocsak