Oppositely Swinging Patents (Class 298/33)
  • Patent number: 8075062
    Abstract: A monolithic dual-purpose trailer for transporting cargo includes a frame including two longitudinally extending side rails and a central reinforcing member in the form of an engineered truss is located between the two side rails. Wheels are mounted to the frame. A deck including a load bearing surface with a grate is formed on the frame. Hoppers are positioned below the grate. The frame is formed as one solid welded unit. The deck has a portion formed of flat aluminum. A perimeter frame rail is located around the deck. The trailer can transport multiple types of loads and does not have to be converted from one mode to another and additionally has reduced longitudinal flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Randall Hicks
  • Patent number: 7306291
    Abstract: A monolithic dual-purpose trailer for transporting cargo includes a frame including two longitudinally extending side rails and a central reinforcing member in the form of an engineered truss is located between the two side rails. Wheels are mounted to the frame. A deck including a load bearing surface with a grate is formed on the frame. Hoppers are positioned below the grate. The frame is formed as one solid welded unit. The deck has a portion formed of flat aluminum. A perimeter frame rail is located around the deck. The trailer can transport multiple types of loads and does not have to be converted from one mode to another and additionally has reduced longitudinal flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Randall Hicks
  • Patent number: 6920288
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method for automatically detecting and provisioning new optical connections in a network element (NE). The detection of the optical connections is generally accomplished via optical scans, and in particular, an optical spectral analysis type scan, which may be conducted at specific times and at specific points within the NE in order to determine an association corresponding to a new connection through the NE. The automatic detecting in provisioning method of the invention may generally be implemented on connections in end terminals (ET), as well as connections in optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) NEs. As such, embodiments of the invention allow for automatic detection and provisioning of optical circuit packs in an optical line system (OLS) based upon optical scans configured to detect the presence of valid incoming client signals through the NE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Adleman, Peter L. Bartman, Heribert J. Blach, Janet M. Greenberg, Mile Radovanovic, David A. Sadler, Mary Socratous, Scott D. Young
  • Patent number: 6749268
    Abstract: A pneumatic closing apparatus suitable for metering grain or other material gravity discharged by twin pendulum hopper doors from a hopper trailer. The closing apparatus includes a bidirectional pneumatic cylinder that operates a linkage assembly controlling the doors and a torsion spring which damps the pneumatic cylinder so that it is possible to meter the grain or other material. The torsion spring also resisting opening of the pendulum doors if the pneumatic cylinder loses pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventors: Michael E. Wheeler, Derek L. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 5997099
    Abstract: A hopper (10, 120) for use with flowable material (12) such as particulate, aggregate, sand, salt, gravel, top soil or the like includes at least one pivotal gate (14) attached to a frame (18) of the hopper (10, 120). Advantageously, the gate (14) swings toward an open position in response to the weight of the material (12) in the hopper (10, 120) to allow the material (12) to flow out of the hopper (10, 120). Additionally, the gate (14) automatically returns toward the closed position by gravity due to the position of the pivot axis of the hinge (16) connecting the gate (14) to the frame (18) relative to the center of gravity of the gate (14). Furthermore, a latch (58) and other features of the hopper (10, 120) control the movement of the gate (14) to regulate the flow of the material (12) from the hopper (10, 120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: P. Michael Collins
  • Patent number: 5437499
    Abstract: A dump truck having a dump body with a central longitudinally extending conveyor and elongated internal panels moveable between upright storage positions next to the opposed parallel side walls of the truck body and inclined hopper positions extending downwardly and laterally inwardly between the side walls and the bottom of the dump body and toward the central conveyor. An external, longitudinally extending handle bar on each side of the dump body, is connected to the respective panel by a bank of longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, connecting rods for moving the panel between its storage and hopper positions. With the panels in their storage positions, the handle bars and connecting rods are pivotal upwardly together to upright storage positions against the outside of the dump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Air-Flo Mfg. Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Tom W. Musso