Patents by Inventor Norman Wellings
Norman Wellings 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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Publication number: 20240083471Abstract: A thread box assembly includes a framing body coupled with a moveable arm of a thread box system that positions rails of a track. The framing body includes external framing walls with an upward facing open side. The framing body includes framing supporting walls between the external walls. Supporting walls may couple the framing walls with each other. The assembly includes a closing body that can be removably coupled with the framing body. The closing body includes opposing elongated bars and opposing internal coupling walls. The elongated bars are oriented perpendicular to the coupling walls. The closing body is fastened to the framing body to define and surround a central opening of the thread box assembly through which the rails extend during installation or replacement of the track without the closing body moving relative to the framing body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Michael VanderLinden, Mark Bachman, Norman Wellings
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Publication number: 20240084517Abstract: A clamp assembly may include a housing that can be positionable alongside an elongated body, one or more clamps that can be pivotally couplable with the housing, and an actuator that may pivot the one or more clamps relative to the housing. The clamps may selectively engage the elongated body to thereby restrict movement of the elongated body relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Michael VanderLinden, Mark Bachman, Norman Wellings
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Publication number: 20230303135Abstract: An assembly is provided that may include a platform that may be coupled with a vehicle. The platform may rotate from a first platform position to a second platform position relative to a chassis of the vehicle. The assembly may include an extendable ramp coupled to the platform and configured to extend relative to the platform from a first ramp position to a second ramp position. This ramp may be positioned in the second platform position to allow a second vehicle to be driven up the ramp and onto the first vehicle, with the ramp then moved to the first platform position to allow the first vehicle to carry the second vehicle to another location. The ramp can be moved to the first platform position to the second platform position to allow the second vehicle to disembark from the first vehicle and travel separately from the first vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Michael VanderLinden, Norman Wellings, Mark Bachman
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Publication number: 20230249351Abstract: A fastener system and method includes a controller having one or more processors that obtain image information associated with a tie plate. The tie plate includes one or more holes, and each hole is configured to receive a fastener. A fastener driving unit drives the fastener into at least one of the one or more holes. The controller controls movement of the fastener driving unit to move the fastener driving unit to a location corresponding to the at least one hole, and the controller controls movement of the fastener driving unit to drive the fastener into the at least one hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick, Mark Bachman, Michael VanderLinden, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Norman Wellings, Eric Kuiper, Dan Derosia, Julio Payan, James Maki, Matthew Orvedahl, Ozan Emsun, Mark David
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Publication number: 20230220632Abstract: A rail tie handling system is provided that includes at least one chassis that either has self-propulsion or can be coupled to a vehicle having a propulsion system, or both. The handling system includes a conveyor segment, a bundler segment, and an unloader segment. The conveyor can receive rail ties and to provide them upon demand or request. The bundler can receive rail ties from the conveyor, to bundle the rail ties into a bundle, and to provide the bundle upon demand or request. The unloader can receive the bundle from the bundler and can unload that bundle from the handling system upon demand or request. The system includes a controller that can determine when and/or where to unload the bundle from the unloader.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Michael VanderLinden, Mark Bachman, Norman Wellings
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Publication number: 20230174121Abstract: A system is provided that includes a self-propelled platform that can traverse a first rail of a first vehicle and a first rail of a second vehicle, the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle separated in spaced relation. The self-propelled platform has a wheel assembly that can engage the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle. The wheel assembly may include at least one guide extending away from the self-propelled platform and having a size and shape to engage a first rail of the first vehicle or the first rail of the second vehicle while a portion of the self-propelled platform remains on the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle, to guide the wheel assembly onto the first rail of the first vehicle or the first rail of the second vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Michael VanderLinden, Mark Bachman, Norman Wellings
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Publication number: 20220361475Abstract: A system may include an imaging device to obtain image data from a field of view outside of a vehicle. A controller may analyze the image data and identify one or more vegetation features of a target vegetation within the field of view. The vegetation features may be a type, a quantity, a distance, and/or a size of vegetation. A directed energy system may direct one or more directed energy beams toward the target vegetation responsive to the controller identifying the one or more vegetation features. A method may include analyzing image data from a field of view adjacent to a vehicle and determining one or more vegetation features of target vegetation within the field of view to be removed. The method may include directing a directed energy beam(s) onto the target vegetation. The directed energy beam(s) may be controlled based in part on the one or more vegetation features.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Mark Bachman, Michael VanderLinden, Norman Wellings, Mark Kraeling
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Publication number: 20220241975Abstract: A control system includes a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks, with the sub-tasks having one or more capability requirements. The task manager selects and assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to a first robotic machine that has a first set of capabilities and operates according to a first mode of operation. The task manager selects and assigns a second sequence of sub-tasks to a second robotic machine that has a second set of capabilities and operates according to a second mode of operation. The task manager selects the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and the first mode of operation of the first robotic machine, and selects the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities and the second mode of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick, Mark Bachman, Michael VanderLinden, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Norman Wellings
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Publication number: 20220061304Abstract: A vehicle system with spray control is provided. The vehicle system includes a vehicle platform for a vehicle, a dispenser configured to dispense a composition onto at least a portion of an environmental feature adjacent to the vehicle, and a controller configured to operate one or more of the vehicle, the vehicle platform, or the dispenser based at least in part on environmental information.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Mark Bachman, Michael VanderLinden, Norman Wellings, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling
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Patent number: 6571693Abstract: A vehicle recycling system includes an hold-down mechanism, a crane having an engine puller, a component disassembly station, a feed press, and a material press, all of which are housed within a building. A vehicle is placed onto a hold-down table where it is held in place by the hold-down mechanism while the engine and other valuable components are removed using the crane. Components not requiring further processing are placed into bins. Components requiring further disassembly are fed to the component disassembly where they are further disassembled and placed in bins. Once the high value components are removed, the crane loads the vehicle onto the feed press. The feed press then moves the vehicle onto the material press where it is compressed by the press. The back wall of the press is then raised so the crushed vehicle can be removed.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Al-JonInventors: James A. Kaldenberg, Norman Wellings