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).
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Patent number: 11208163Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Publication number: 20210061378Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 9102370Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Publication number: 20140325998Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: Charles W. Jarvis, Jeff Nicholson, Ernie Freeman, Peitro Brattoli
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Publication number: 20130147263Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 7946661Abstract: 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 tType: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 7731307Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 7198333Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 6293631Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 7, 2000Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 6231136Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 6019443Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 2, 1998Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 5820230Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 5713644Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 1996Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 5553932Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 2, 1995Date of Patent: September 10, 1996Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 5451100Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 14, 1994Date of Patent: September 19, 1995Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: 5330260Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 9, 1992Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: D697342Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Cambro Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Jeff Nicholson, Ernie Freeman, Jeff Munson
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Patent number: D711433Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Inventor: Ernie Freeman
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Patent number: RE45491Abstract: 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 tType: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Inventor: Ernie Freeman