Patents by Inventor Keith W. Reichow
Keith W. Reichow 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: 6422800Abstract: The system is for use in a front loader assembly for refuse vehicles, which include two spaced fork members which are secured to a cross-member, which in turn are supported by lift arms which move the load supported on the forks into the refuse truck. The system includes flexure beams which are formed by cutout portions in a sensing portion of each fork. The flexure beams are located symmetrically about a centerline of a sensing section of each fork, and alternate between two different lengths, with the flexure beams of each length being in alignment. Three sets of long cutout portions and 3 sets of short cutout portions are included, in addition to a central pair of cutout portions on which the strain gauges are mounted. The sensing section of the fork is configured to provide the necessary stiffness with the plurality of flexure beams therein.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1998Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Inventors: Keith W. Reichow, Bill Zimmerman
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Patent number: 5861581Abstract: The equalizer hanger system includes a torque arm bracket which is secured to the vehicle frame and depends downwardly therefrom. The bracket includes means for receiving one end of a torque arm, the other end thereof being connected to an axle of the vehicle. A beam-type load cell for measuring the force of a vehicle load is bolted to the undersurface of the torque arm bracket, and an equalizer bracket is bolted to the lower surface of the load cell. A conventional equalizer member is mounted to the equalizer bracket, with the equalizer adapted to receive portions of the suspension system for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1996Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventors: Peter G. Evans, Keith W. Reichow
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Patent number: 5269388Abstract: A weighing bed (10) which includes a patient support assembly (12), an upper bed frame (14) and a lower bed frame (16). Linkage assemblies and actuators, powered by motors, provide movement capability for the bed (10). Mounted on both sides of the lower frame (16) are load cells (52, 53), each of which has connected thereto a U-shaped rigid bracket (72). First link member (84) connects one end (76) of bracket (72) to a foot portion of the upper bed frame (14), while second and third link members (90, 92) connect the other end (75) of the bracket (72) to a head end of the upper bed frame (14).Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1991Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventors: Keith W. Reichow, Robert L. Hildebrant, Richard A. Butler
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Patent number: 5190116Abstract: A transducer which includes a central portion (12) having two longitudinally extending parallel rigid beam members (14,16) and two transverse parallel flexure members (30,32) which extend between the two rigid beam members (14,16) at right angles thereto. The rigid beam members (14,16) include end element portions (18,20). Flexure joints (58,60) and mounting portions (62,64) are located longitudinally outboard of the flexure joints (58,60). The flexure members (30,32) each include two cutout portions (34,36,40,42) defining flexure points. Strain gauges (46,48,50,52) are placed in the vicinity of the cutout portions (34,36,40,42) and are electrically connected into a bridge to produce an electrical signal output indicative of the load on the vehicle. The transducer is mounted by means of a mounting element (79) which includes two opposing mounting pad portions (82,84) and an intermedicate center portion (86).Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1991Date of Patent: March 2, 1993Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventor: Keith W. Reichow
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Patent number: 5083624Abstract: A transducer which includes a central portion (12) having two longitudinally extending parallel rigid beam members (14,16) and two transverse parallel flexure members (30,32) which extend between the two rigid beam members (14,16) at right angles thereto. The rigid beam members (14,16) include end element portions (18,20). Flexure joints (58,60) and mounting portions (62,64) are located longitudinally outboard of the flexure joints (58,60). The flexure members (30,32) each include two cutout portions (34,36,40,42) defining flexure points. Strain gauges (46,48,50,52) are placed in the vicinity of the cutout portions (34,36,40,42) and are electrically connected into a bridge to produce an electrical signal output indicative of the load on the vehicle. The transducer is mounted by means of a mounting element (79) which includes two opposing mounting pad portions (82,84) and an intermediate center portion (86).Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1990Date of Patent: January 28, 1992Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventor: Keith W. Reichow
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Patent number: 4969529Abstract: An on-board system for measuring vehicle loads on dual axles with a suspension system having a front hanger, a rear hanger, an equalizer and an equalizer hanger. Attached to the equalizer, in one embodiment, are a plurality of strain gauges, arranged in two cut-out portions. The strain gauges are positioned so that the measured strain corresponds to the force of the vertical load on the equalizer. The output of the strain gauges is then applied to a conventional bridge circuit and from there to a conventional electronic circuit to provide a display which indicates the weight of the load on the dual wheels.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1989Date of Patent: November 13, 1990Inventor: Keith W. Reichow
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Patent number: 4884644Abstract: An on-board system for measuring vehicle loads on dual axles with a suspension system having a front hanger, a rear hanger, an equalizer and an equalizer hanger. Attached to the equalizer, in one embodiment, are a plurality of strain gauges, arranged in two cut-out portions. The strain gauges are positioned so that the measured strain corresponds to the force of the vertical load on the equalizer. The output of the strain gauges is then applied to a conventional bridge circuit and from there to a conventional electronic circuit to provide a display which indicates the weight of the load on the dual wheels.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1989Date of Patent: December 5, 1989Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventor: Keith W. Reichow
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Patent number: 4666003Abstract: A load cell for on-board weighing applications, including an elongated sheer force measuring beam (24) which includes mounting means (52,54,56) for securing the opposing longitudinal ends of the beam (24) to the frame (58) of the vehicle. The load is applied against the upper surface (32) of the beam (24) through a platform (20) or the like. The shear strains caused by the load are concentrated in an area near each end of the beam (24). The strain measuring means (30) are located in holes in the sides of the beam in the shear force areas and measure the shear strains on the beam, which in turn are representative of the weight of the load.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1985Date of Patent: May 19, 1987Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventor: Keith W. Reichow
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Patent number: 4581948Abstract: A load cell assembly which includes a deflectable load cell (11) having strain transducers which measure the downward deflection of the load cell (11) in response to a load. The load cell (11) includes grooves (31) in the lower surface thereof in the vicinity of each end thereof. A rocker pin (33) is positioned in each groove (31), the groove (31) being configured in such a manner that the pin (31) is captured therein, so that the pin (33) in the groove (31) acts in operation to restrain the load cell (11), but so that the pin (31) extends below the lower surface of the load cell (11). The pin (33) is generally barrel-shaped, having its greatest dimension at its center, so that the load cell (11) is supported on a small area (35) of the pin (33), generally about the centerline of the load cell (11).Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1984Date of Patent: April 15, 1986Assignee: World Wide Weighing, Inc.Inventor: Keith W. Reichow
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Patent number: 4102031Abstract: A load measuring system for a tandem-wheeled vehicle. The tandem axles of the vehicle engage opposite ends of two transversely spaced equalizing beams having their midpoints pivotally supporting the vehicle. Deflections of the equalizing beams and front axle, responsive to loading of the vehicle, are sensed by a load cell transducer mounted on each equalizing beam and on the front axle. An amplifying circuit receives the transducer outputs and drives a load indicator. The load indicator provides a visual indication of front and rear wheel axle loading with respect to a preset maximum load point.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1976Date of Patent: July 25, 1978Assignee: Structural Instrumentation, Inc.Inventors: Keith W. Reichow, David C. English, Jerry L. McCauley
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Patent number: 4042049Abstract: A load measuring system for a tandem-wheeled vehicle. The tandem axles of the vehicle engage opposite ends of two transversely spaced equalizing beams having their midpoints pivotally supporting the vehicle. Deflections of the equalizing beams and front axle, responsive to loading of the vehicle, are sensed by a load cell transducer mounted on each equalizing beam and on the front axle. An amplifying circuit receives the transducer outputs and drives a load indicator. The load indicator provides a visual indication of front and rear wheel axle loading with respect to a preset maximum load point.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1975Date of Patent: August 16, 1977Assignee: Structural Instrumentation, Inc.Inventors: Keith W. Reichow, David C. English, Jerry L. McCauley
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Patent number: D395020Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventors: Keith W. Reichow, Byron Mucke, Bill Zimmerman
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Patent number: D424650Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.Inventor: Keith W. Reichow