Patents by Inventor Ernie Freeman

Ernie Freeman 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: 11208163
    Abstract: A final drive seal guard for a track-type tractor including a base component adapted to be stationarily fixed to the tractor and to surround a portion of a spindle housing of the final drive, a sprocket component adapted to be carried on and surround a portion of a sprocket hub of the final drive that rotates about an axis, and an intermediate component adapted to be bolted over the exterior of one of said base and sprocket components and surround portions of both of said base and sprocket components, the intermediate component and another of said base or sprocket components being mutually arranged to form a radially extending sealing gap at a potential path of debris into the guard at a location free of a relatively long axial gap upstream in said potential path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Publication number: 20210061378
    Abstract: A final drive seal guard for a track-type tractor comprising a base component adapted to be stationarily fixed to the tractor and to surround a portion of a spindle housing of the final drive, a sprocket component adapted to be carried on and surround a portion of a sprocket hub of the final drive that rotates about an axis, and an intermediate component adapted to be bolted over the exterior of one of said base and sprocket components and surround portions of both of said base and sprocket components, the intermediate component and another of said base or sprocket components being mutually arranged to form a radially extending sealing gap at a potential path of debris into the guard at a location free of a relatively long axial gap upstream in said potential path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 9102370
    Abstract: A track pad for a crawler, especially operating in a landfill, having a generally rectangular base plate with holes for attachment to a track chain link, the base plate having front, rear and side edges, a high rise grouser on the base plate, the grouser projecting from the base plate a distance substantially greater than conventional grousers, the grouser having a central portion with the general configuration of a plate with an edge distal from the base plate, the central portion being generally laterally centered on the base plate, the grouser being devoid of areas projecting significantly from the base plate adjacent the side edges of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Publication number: 20140325998
    Abstract: An improved refrigeration and heating system comprising a thermochemical device, and a mobile service cart. The thermochemical device is capable of refrigerating or cooling the ambient air due to an internal chemical process. This same chemical process also produces a significant amount of heat as a by-product which, if left alone, would normally be vented or released in to the atmosphere and become lost. However because the theremochemical device is disposed at the center of the cart, the heat which is generated by the cooling process is retained and utilized to provide a separate heating area within the cart. This allows the current system to operate as a closed loop, meaning that the cart and thermochemical device work in conjunction to form a self-sustaining hot and cold storage area with very little maintenance or input from a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Charles W. Jarvis, Jeff Nicholson, Ernie Freeman, Peitro Brattoli
  • Publication number: 20130147263
    Abstract: A track pad for a crawler, especially operating in a landfill, having a generally rectangular base plate with holes for attachment to a track chain link, the base plate having front, rear and side edges, a high rise grouser on the base plate, the grouser projecting from the base plate a distance substantially greater than conventional grousers, the grouser having a central portion with the general configuration of a plate with an edge distal from the base plate, the central portion being generally laterally centered on the base plate, the grouser being devoid of areas projecting significantly from the base plate adjacent the side edges of the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 7946661
    Abstract: A guard for a crawler type land vehicles having a frame, a final drive on each side of the frame, the final drive including a spindle housing with a flange bolted to the frame and a sprocket hub rotationally supported on the spindle housing, a track sprocket on the sprocket hub, the spindle housing and hub establishing a small gap to form a mechanical shield to protect a rotational seal within the space enclosed by the spindle housing and sprocket hub, the guard being adapted to be assembled radially outward of the mechanical shield, the guard having a circular shell member for bolting to an inside face of the sprocket hub and extending axially in one piece across substantially all of the distance between the spindle flange and the sprocket hub, the guard shell having an internal circumferential groove, a circular radial flange for mounting in the space between the spindle flange and the sprocket hub, the guard shell being diametrally split whereby it can be radially assembled around the spindle flange with t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 7731307
    Abstract: A guard for the axle seal of a wheeled tractor being an annular steel structure that bridges the plane of the seal between a spindle and final drive including a pair of axially spaced flanges having circular outer peripheries, at least one of the outer peripheries of the flanges being sized to produce a narrow gap seal with a circular interior surface of a wheel rim, a hub extending axially between the flanges and spaced radially inward of said flange outer peripheries, the flanges, hub and interior wheel surface defining an annular space adapted to trap debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 7198333
    Abstract: A cleat for compacting refuse at a landfill by use on the wheels of a compactor or on the shoes of a crawler-type tractor. The cleat has a prismatic modified Z or S configuration that affords superior compaction performance by increasing traction and thereby reducing churning of already compacted material. The flanges of the cleat create traction pockets on opposite sides so that the cleat is effective in either direction of the compactor or tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 6293631
    Abstract: A guard for off road vehicles to protect the final drive area from debris which otherwise causes destructive abrasion and seal failure and particularly suited for the final drive of a track chain sprocket on a crawler. The guard encloses the space surrounding the final drive spindle housing and seal between the housing and a hub on which the sprocket is mounted. The guard can be safely installed on existing machines without disassembly of major parts of the final drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 6231136
    Abstract: A guard for off road vehicles to protect the final drive area from debris which otherwise causes destructive abrasion and seal failure and particularly suited for the final drive of a track chain sprocket on a crawler. The guard encloses the space surrounding the final drive spindle housing and seal between the housing and a hub on which the sprocket is mounted. The guard can be safely installed on existing machines without disassembly of major parts of the final drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 6019443
    Abstract: In a track-driven tractor, stationary cutter blades are fixed to a chassis of the tractor and cooperating rotating cutter blades are fixed to a sprocket hub of the tractor. The cutting blades are operable to cut refuse entrained between the sprocket and the chassis, which tends to wrap around the associated hub, so as to avoid the build-up of refuse on the hub which otherwise can lead to unnecessary wear of the sprocket, the hub, and an assembly forming a seal between the hub and the chassis, as well as unnecessary fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 5820230
    Abstract: Several embodiments of yieldable cutter blades are disclosed for use on a land vehicle to reduce the tendency of debris from being entrained and wrapped on rotary parts and their supports such as on wheels and axles or drive sprocket hubs and associated support housings. The blades yield in response to an excessive cutting force which could potentially damage support bearings for the rotary part in extraordinary conditions. In the various embodiments, a yieldable blade is retained in its operating position by a set of bolts of predetermined strength. When an excessive cutting force occurs, the bolts break away and permit the blade to yield away from its operative cutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 5713644
    Abstract: In a track-driven tractor, stationary cutter blades are fixed to a chassis of the tractor and cooperating rotating cutter blades are fixed to a sprocket hub of the tractor. The cutting blades are operable to cut refuse entrained between the sprocket and the chassis, which tends to wrap around the associated hub, so as to avoid the build-up of refuse on the hub which otherwise can lead to unnecessary wear of the sprocket, the hub, and an assembly forming a seal between the hub and the chassis, as well as unnecessary fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 5553932
    Abstract: In a refuse compactor, a set of cutter blades, one on each wheel and one fixed relative to the wheel's associated axle operable to cut refuse entrained by the wheel and tending to be wrapped around the associated axle so as to avoid the build-up of refuse on the axle which otherwise can lead to unnecessary wear of the wheel and drive train as well as unnecessary fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 5451100
    Abstract: In a refuse compactor, a set of cutter blades, one on each wheel and one fixed relative to the wheel's associated axle operable to cut refuse entrained by the wheel and tending to be wrapped around the associated axle so as to avoid the build-up of refuse on the axle which otherwise can lead to unnecessary wear of the wheel and drive train as well as unnecessary fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 5330260
    Abstract: In a refuse compactor, a set of cutter blades, one on each wheel and one fixed relative to the wheel's associated axle operable to cut refuse entrained by the wheel and tending to be wrapped around the associated axle so as to avoid the build-up of refuse on the axle which otherwise can lead to unnecessary wear of the wheel and drive train as well as unnecessary fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: D697342
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Cambro Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Jeff Nicholson, Ernie Freeman, Jeff Munson
  • Patent number: D711433
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: RE45491
    Abstract: A guard for a crawler type land vehicles having a frame, a final drive on each side of the frame, the final drive including a spindle housing with a flange bolted to the frame and a sprocket hub rotationally supported on the spindle housing, a track sprocket on the sprocket hub, the spindle housing and hub establishing a small gap to form a mechanical shield to protect a rotational seal within the space enclosed by the spindle housing and sprocket hub, the guard being adapted to be assembled radially outward of the mechanical shield, the guard having a circular shell member for bolting to an inside face of the sprocket hub and extending axially in one piece across substantially all of the distance between the spindle flange and the sprocket hub, the guard shell having an internal circumferential groove, a circular radial flange for mounting in the space between the spindle flange and the sprocket hub, the guard shell being diametrally split whereby it can be radially assembled around the spindle flange with t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman