Patents by Inventor Randy E. Schoepke
Randy E. Schoepke 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: 8807669Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of a vehicle, such as a landfill compactor, are disclosed. The apparatus may include a wheel having a rim from which radially extend a plurality of cleats or tips. A subset of tips may be provided circumferentially around a laterally inner edge of the wheel. A wheel guard may be mounted between adjacent pairs of tips of the subset. Each wheel guard may be welded to the rim and to the adjacent pairs of tips. Each wheel guard may be a unitary piece of metal, or could be provided in two or more segment so as to be adjustable and thus facilitate use on wheels of differing diameters, or with different tip spacing. The wheel guards and adjacent tips form a continuous barrier around the circumference of the wheel to prevent debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of the compactor.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
-
Patent number: 8496402Abstract: A compactor wheel tip for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a bottom wall having a wheel engaging surface, a top wall having a ground engaging surface, oppositely disposed front and rear walls having concave surfaces, and oppositely disposed side walls. The ground engaging surface of the top wall may be generally planar and have a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section, or the top wall may define a pair of shoulders each extending inwardly from one of the side walls, and a rib extending between the shoulders and having a depth that is less than the depth of shoulders. The ground engaging surface may further define a pair of exterior pockets disposed on opposite sides of the rib and extending downwardly between the rib and corresponding portions of the front and rear walls.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
-
Patent number: 8449218Abstract: A compactor wheel tip assembly for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a base with a tip attached thereto. A base engaging surface of the tip and a tip engaging surface of the base face and abut when the tip is attached to the base. The tip and base engaging surfaces may have corresponding geometries so that the tip may be attached the base in either a forward and rearward traction position or a side-slop traction position. The tip may include pocket walls having concave surfaces, and a ground engaging surface of a top wall that may be generally planar with a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section or may define a pair of shoulders, a rib extending between the shoulders, and exterior pockets disposed on either side of the rib.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
-
Publication number: 20130025890Abstract: A compactor, compactor wheel and compactor wheel tip are disclosed. The shape of the tips substantially prevent refuse from packing in the round of the tips. More specifically, tips having relatively flat or constant side surfaces may lend themselves to adherence of moist or malleable refuse. However, by providing the plurality of surface facets and varying dimensions, angular dispositions and shapes of the surface facets, this ability of the refuse to pack in and around the tips is greatly reduced. Moreover, by providing the plurality of surface facets and side surfaces with the inclusion of shoulders and sharp edges therebetween, the ability of the tip to sever or otherwise destroy the refuse being compacted is improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.Inventors: Randy E. Schoepke, Michael H. Hinrichsen
-
Publication number: 20120003041Abstract: A compactor wheel tip for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a bottom wall having a wheel engaging surface, a top wall having a ground engaging surface, oppositely disposed front and rear walls having concave surfaces, and oppositely disposed side walls. The ground engaging surface of the top wall may be generally planar and have a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section, or the top wall may define a pair of shoulders each extending inwardly from one of the side walls, and a rib extending between the shoulders and having a depth that is less than the depth of shoulders. The ground engaging surface may further define a pair of exterior pockets disposed on opposite sides of the rib and extending downwardly between the rib and corresponding portions of the front and rear walls.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
-
Publication number: 20120003042Abstract: A compactor wheel tip assembly for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a base with a tip attached thereto. A base engaging surface of the tip and a tip engaging surface of the base face and abut when the tip is attached to the base. The tip and base engaging surfaces may have corresponding geometries so that the tip may be attached the base in either a forward and rearward traction position or a side-slop traction position. The tip may include pocket walls having concave surfaces, and a ground engaging surface of a top wall that may be generally planar with a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section or may define a pair of shoulders, a rib extending between the shoulders, and exterior pockets disposed on either side of the rib.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
-
Publication number: 20110227398Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of a vehicle, such as a landfill compactor, are disclosed. The apparatus may include a wheel having a rim from which radially extend a plurality of cleats or tips. A subset of tips may be provided circumferentially around a laterally inner edge of the wheel. A wheel guard may be mounted between adjacent pairs of tips of the subset. Each wheel guard may be welded to the rim and to the adjacent pairs of tips. Each wheel guard may be a unitary piece of metal, or could be provided in two or more segment so as to be adjustable and thus facilitate use on wheels of differing diameters, or with different tip spacing. The wheel guards and adjacent tips form a continuous barrier around the circumference of the wheel to prevent debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of the compactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INCInventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
-
Patent number: D654513Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke