Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert L. Harrington
  • Patent number: 6032886
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for a rock crusher has an insert installed in the thread form of a bowl support and a locking ring. A bowl is threadably installed in the bowl support and lock ring assembly and is movable toward and away from a cone assembly. The insert is of a material that differs from that of the bowl and bowl support. The lock ring is movable to frictionally lock the thread forms of the bowl and bowl support against each other. The inserts prevent the galling and deformation of the thread forms previously experienced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Johnson Crushers International
    Inventors: Daniel C. Drinkwater, Roger M. Clark, Gerald E. Parker, David F. Peaks, Gary Heeszel, Randy Orre
  • Patent number: 6029353
    Abstract: A multi-void structural member is alterable to form separate yet integral strut members extending from the original member. The defined voids are joined by webs which are removed from any or all of the defined voids to form the integral strut members of a desired configuration. The defined voids may be joined to others or separated to an individual extending strut. The multi-void member or any of the integral strut members formed therefrom are formed to a desired configuration by conventional methods to provide an integral structural member of a desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Anodizing, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael H. Cowan
  • Patent number: 6022082
    Abstract: A traction device for vehicle wheels has an expandable and contractible member mounted next to the vehicle wheel. The traction device has a tire with extending studs that is expandable by air pressure to increase the diameter of the tire. The tire is contracted by releasing the pressurized air within. The tire is expanded to a diameter just larger than the vehicle wheels so that the studs will engage the roadway to provide traction. The tire may be inflated manually from a pressurized air source and deflated manually. A pressure source and control valves may be provided to control the inflation and deflation of the tire remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Traction on Demand LLC
    Inventor: John M. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6009609
    Abstract: A drive line conversion process that utilizes the same drive and driven components for a full time all-wheel drive as a selectable two-wheel/four-wheel drive. A coupler or clutch ring which connects a drive member to a driven member is retained in position to maintain full time engagement with the drive and driven member. A retainer is provided to secure the clutch ring in full time engagement with both the drive and driven member. This reduces engineering and production costs by using the same drive train for both drive applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry L. Hanno
  • Patent number: 6007295
    Abstract: A stick placement apparatus for a stacking machine that transfers sticks from a stick conveyor to a stacking mechanism. Transfer units are mounted to a movable carriage that is mounted strategic to the stick conveyor. The transfer unit has telescoping tubes to facilitate ease of installation and removal. Elastomeric tips are removably mounted to arms of the transfer unit. The tips being resilient will return to their original shape if bent or otherwise deformed. A cam mechanism elevates the tips of the transfer unit to engage and transfer sticks from the stick conveyor to a pan of the stacking mechanism. The tips are provided in varying lengths and are color coded to distinguish the different lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman E. Sears, Clayton C. Martin
  • Patent number: 6003423
    Abstract: A saw chain for a chain saw has an identifying code stamped into one of its links for ease of selecting replacement chain. The link with the identifying code is provided with distinguishing characteristics for ease of selecting that link. The stamped code on the link provides the specification of the saw chain required for replacement. The link may have a different shape and/or colored to distinguish that link from other similar links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Pascal A. Gerard
  • Patent number: 5996305
    Abstract: A machine and process for assembling flanges to a web to produce an I-beam. The machine has conveyors for conveying each flange and a separate conveyor system for conveying the web. The web is rigidly held to prevent lateral movement as the flanges and web are assembled. The conveyance mechanism for the webs is adjustable upwardly and downwardly to accommodate changes in the flange dimension and web thickness. The conveyance mechanism for the web is mounted on inclined ramps. Movement of the conveyance mechanism in one direction elevates the conveyance mechanism and movement in the other direction lowers the conveyance mechanism. The flanges as conveyed are sensed and relatively adjusted to assure alignment of the leading ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Corvallis Tool Co.
    Inventors: John C. Holbert, Steven L. Hering
  • Patent number: 5992030
    Abstract: A gun sight enhancement applied to the sights of a gun to aid in the visual alignment of the sights on a target. Contrasting color dots are applied to the front and rear sights of the gun. The contrasting colors between the front and rear sights enhances the visual aligning of the sights on target. A kit is provided with at least three paint colors; yellow, orange and green. The paint is a tough durable coating that remains resilient to expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of the sights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Robert J. Mann
  • Patent number: 5992281
    Abstract: An apparatus for scarfing edge portions of a veneer sheet to produce a joint suited for joining the veneer sheets in an edge to edge relation. A conveyor system aligns, conveys and flattens the sheet. The sheet as it is being conveyed is engaged by tapered anvils that deflect edge portions of the sheet at an angle to the plane of the flattened sheet. One anvil on one side deflects one edge portion upward and the anvil on the opposite side deflects the opposite edge portion downward. The resiliency of the sheet maintains the deflect edge portion against the anvil. The sheet is conveyed through scarfing saws which generate a bevel on each of the deflected side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Corvallis Tool Co.
    Inventor: John C. Holbert
  • Patent number: 5987786
    Abstract: A guide bar mounting arrangement for a tree harvester. The tail end of the guide bar is provided with a center slot and pin receiving slot at each side thereof. A sliding block has a center boss and pins permanently or removably mounted therein at the sides of the boss and the combination is slidably mounted in a fixture or base member fixedly secured to the harvester adjacent a drive sprocket. The guide bar is fitted to the sliding block center slot receiving a center boss of the sliding block and the pin receiving slots engaging the pins of the sliding block. A saw chain is entrained around the guide bar and drive sprocket and the sliding block moved relative to the sprocket to tension the saw chain. The sliding block is forced against the base member to clamp the bar in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane M. Gibson, Christopher David Seigneur
  • Patent number: 5986243
    Abstract: A personal outdoor heating system that includes an electric cover that is powered by a power pack that has re-chargeable batteries. The electric cover has a defined footprint or wiring layout that is within the central portion of the cover. The footprint is selected to provide a desired comfort zone for a user(s). The power pack has a single receptacle to input power to the power pack to recharge the batteries and for output of power to the cover. Power to the cover is selectable between a high setting and a normal setting. A control module of the power pack has a recharging circuit for charging the batteries and a power circuit for supplying power to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Thermo Gear, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin F. Campf
  • Patent number: 5984301
    Abstract: A positioning conveyor is incorporated in a conveyor system for adjusting the position of a sheet on the conveyor system. The positioning conveyor has two belt type conveyor sections that are independently movable transverse to the feed path and are utilized to adjust the position of the sheet. The sheet is scanned by a scanner and the data is input to a computer. A vacuum zone on each section provides spaced apart gripping points to establish a pivot axis to correct for skew. The computer controls the coordinated movement of the sections to pivot and side shift the sheet to a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Carruthers Equipment Co.
    Inventors: John C. Holbert, Forrest Stauss
  • Patent number: 5967277
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism for a vehicle drive train wherein a drive member and driven member are inter-engaged by pawls. In the preferred embodiment the driven member surrounds the drive member in concentric relationship and provides facing surfaces that are configured to receive pairs of pawls or pawl portions selectively extended from the drive member surface to the driven member surface. A control member is mounted on the drive member with limited rotation relative to the rotation of the drive member. The control member includes a cam slot and the pawls are provided with laterally extended cam follower tabs that extend into the cam slots. The control member is provided with a rotationally retarding means whereby whichever direction the drive member rotates, the control member is shifted to the trailing position within the range of permitted rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Walter
  • Patent number: 5950939
    Abstract: A cone crusher for rock that has a rotatable wedge plate that rotatably supports a cone for crushing rock. The wedge plate has bores for receiving sized weights for balancing the rotating assembly. The bores place the weights out of the travel path of the crushed material and are not subject to wear or abrasion during operation of the crusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Johnson Crushers International
    Inventors: Daniel C. Drinkwater, Roger M. Clark, Gerald E. Parker, David F. Peaks
  • Patent number: 5951129
    Abstract: A tool-box. An upper and lower module are provided wherein the upper module extends laterally beyond the lower module so as to form an overhanging portion in the upper module. The overhanging portion includes apertures adapted to pass the shanks of elongate tools and retain handle portions thereof, thereby securing the tools while permitting the shanks to hang outside of both modules. The upper module includes a door adapted to swing upwardly, out of the way of the user, to an open position. The door includes hinged side portions that are adapted to swing upwardly, out of the way of the user when the door is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Brad A. Stein
  • Patent number: 5947395
    Abstract: A machine for reducing materials such as logs, limbs, stumps and the like into small particles. A hold down and infeed roller in combination with a conveyor feeds the materials into a rotating rotor. The rotor has cutters mounted on its periphery and is rotated in a direction to produce an upward cutting action. The rotor partially reduces the materials into smaller particles. An anvil in combination with the rotor further reduces the particles into the desired size. A grate dictates the size of the materials to be discharged from the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Peterson Pacific Corp.
    Inventors: Arnold N. Peterson, Larry A. Sprague
  • Patent number: 5927455
    Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning pawl-type clutch having a driving member mounted for power rotation, a driven member mounted for rotation adjacent the driving member, with each of the driving and driven members having pawl engaging shoulders, and a plurality of rigid pawls interposed between the driving and driven members. A control element is mounted for shifting movement between the driving and driven members to control the position of the pawls which are yieldably biased toward positions of engagement extending between the driving and driven members to produce driving engagement therebetween. The control element is shiftable to various positions to permit driving and overrunning in one direction or driving and overrunning in the opposite direction dependent upon the direction of rotation of the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Warn Industries
    Inventors: Evan R. Baker, Thomas F. Dunlap, Christopher J. Walter
  • Patent number: 5918653
    Abstract: An adjustable support for a conveyor has paired cylinders pivotally attached to the frame of the conveyor. The frame supports the mechanism for transporting a lumber product. Each pair of cylinders is mounted in a crossed configuration which provides rigid support for the frame. The controlled extension and retraction of the rods of the cylinders provides for elevating the frame, lowering the frame, side shifting of the frame as well as longitudinal tilt and lateral skewing of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: U. S. Natural Resources
    Inventor: Michael P. Knerr
  • Patent number: 5908080
    Abstract: A hub locking system for a part-time four-wheel drive vehicle including a wheel hub, drive axle, and clutch meaner and an automatic actuator remotely operable by an operator to induce movement of the clutch member axially inwardly and a biasing means acting against the clutch member opposing operation of the automatic actuator to urge movement of the clutch member outwardly. A manual override allows manual operation when the automatic actuator is not actuated and includes a first member mounted for shifting axially inwardly and outwardly in the system and when shifted inwardly urges the clutch member against the force of the biasing means. A second member is mounted contiguous the first member and is manually rotatable. A ramp shaped cam is interposed between the first and second members and when the second member is rotated, it directly urges the first member to shift axially to actuate the clutch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon A. Bigley, Jeffrey E. Paulson, Ronald E. Began
  • Patent number: RE36216
    Abstract: An automatic brake for vehicle winch that is automatically applied when the applied torque of the drive motor ceases and automatically released upon application of motor torque. The brake features brake pad segments that move radially outward against the interior of the drum to affect braking and retract radially inward to affect releasing of the brake. The pads have tapered ends that mate with opposed frusto-conical shoes. The brake utilizes rotation of a cam rotatable with respect to a cam follower in one direction to force one shoe toward the other to force the pads radially outward to engage the interior surface of the drum. Rotation of the cam with respect to the cam follower in the opposite direction releases the braking action. A wave spring is incorporated to eliminate chatter as the brake is applied and released. The configuration of the brake components provides a conductive path for the dissipation of heat generated by the braking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Telford