Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Thomas C. McDonough
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Patent number: 5768892Abstract: An improved hydrostatic transmission which is compact, reliable and economical to manufacture, including a novel means for reducing the speed of the input to the transaxle using both hydraulics and mechanical gearing; an improved differential which is stronger and less complicated than prior art designs; a more effective and efficient means for braking the transaxle, an improved means for hydraulically bypassing the hydrostatic transmission and a unique check valve arrangement for maintaining oil pressure within the hydrostatic transmission.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray M. Hauser, Alan W. Johnson
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Patent number: 5768955Abstract: A heavy duty hydrostatic transmission having an input into a combined separable pump/motor driven through a shaft in the transmission housing and a "U" shaped double back space conserving gear reduction drive to the axle differential.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1997Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Agri-Fab, Inc.Inventor: Raymond Hauser
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Patent number: 5689955Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission including a fluid pump and fluid motor mounted within a transmission housing, and a brake connected to the motor shaft. The housing includes upper and lower sections. The brake includes rotor and stator plates, and a pin for urging the rotor and stator plates into frictional engagement. The upper and lower sections are joined along a split line and each has a mating half-round section, for positioning the pin.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1996Date of Patent: November 25, 1997Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray M. Hauser, Alan W. Johnson
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Patent number: 5628189Abstract: A hydrostatic drive apparatus for transferring power from a light duty vehicle engine to an output axle, including a charge pump for providing additional hydraulic fluid to a hydrostatic transmission in the apparatus, wherein the charge pump is mounted external to the housing of the drive apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1995Date of Patent: May 13, 1997Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray Hauser, Daryl Smothers, John Schreier
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Patent number: 5616092Abstract: An improved hydrostatic transmission which is compact, reliable and economical to manufacture, including a novel means for reducing the speed of the input to the transaxle using both hydraulics and mechanical gearing; an improved differential which is stronger and less complicated than prior art designs; a more effective and efficient means for braking the transaxle, an improved means for hydraulically bypassing the hydrostatic transmission and a unique check valve arrangement for maintaining oil pressure within the hydrostatic transmission.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1996Date of Patent: April 1, 1997Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray M. Hauser, Alan W. Johnson
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Patent number: 5613409Abstract: An axle driving apparatus is provided an includes a main casing, a cap plate coupled to the main casing along a first split line where the first split line is substantially disposed in a horizontal plane, and an axle cap coupled to the main casing along a second split line where the second split line is substantially disposed in a vertical plane. A center section is supported solely by the main casing and has connected thereto a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor where the center section is disposed offset from both the first split line and the second split line. A pump shaft is linked to the hydraulic pump and is supported by the main casing where the pump shaft has an axis disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane and parallel to and offset from the vertical plane. A motor shaft is linked to the hydraulic motor and has an axis parallel to and offset from the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the vertical plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1995Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventor: Ray Hauser
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Patent number: 5557931Abstract: Means for connecting auxiliary pumps and charge pumps to an axle driving apparatus to transfer power from a light duty vehicle engine to an output axle, wherein the charge and/or auxiliary pumps are mounted to the external housing for an integrated hydrostatic transmission or to the external housing for a hydrostatic transmission which is connected to separate axle mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1995Date of Patent: September 24, 1996Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited, Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray Hauser, Daryl Smothers, John Schreier
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Patent number: 5555727Abstract: Means for connecting auxiliary pumps and charge pumps to an axle driving apparatus to transfer power from a light duty vehicle engine to an output axle, wherein the charge and/or auxiliary pumps are mounted to the external housing for an integrated hydrostatic transmission or to the external housing for a hydrostatic transmission which is connected to separate axle mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1995Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignee: Hydro-GearInventors: Ray Hauser, Daryl Smothers, John Schreier
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Patent number: 5546752Abstract: A valve mechanism for use in a hydrostatic transmission including a closed porting system for hydraulic fluid and a sump is provided. The valve mechanism includes a valve body mounted to the hydrostatic transmission whereby the valve body is open to the closed porting system at one end thereof and open to the sump at the other end thereof. The valve body has a first open position whereby hydraulic fluid is pulled into the closed system from the sump when the pressure of the fluid in the closed system is below a first pressure, a second open position whereby hydraulic fluid exists the closed system to the sump when the pressure of the fluid is at a second pressure higher than the first pressure, and a closed position when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the closed system is at a third pressure higher than the second pressure.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1995Date of Patent: August 20, 1996Assignee: Hydro-Gear Ltd. PartnershipInventors: Todd Horton, Michael Bennett
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Patent number: 5501640Abstract: An improved hydrostatic transmission which is compact, reliable and economical to manufacture, including a novel means for reducing the speed of the input to the transaxle using both hydraulics and mechanical gearing; an improved differential which is stronger and less complicated than prior art designs; a more effective and efficient means for braking the transaxle, an improved means for hydraulically bypassing the hydrostatic transmission and a unique check valve arrangement for maintaining oil pressure within the hydrostatic transmission.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray M. Hauser, Alan W. Johnson
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Patent number: 5497623Abstract: An improved hydrostatic transmission which is compact, reliable and economical to manufacture, including a novel apparatus for reducing the speed of the input to the transaxle using both hydraulics and mechanical gearing; an improved differential which is stronger and less complicated than prior art designs; a more effective and efficient apparatus for braking the transaxle, an improved apparatus for hydraulically bypassing the hydrostatic transmission and a unique check valve arrangement for maintaining oil pressure within the hydrostatic transmission. Also, an apparatus is provided for diverting the hydraulic fluid to a sump by lifting a cylinder block from a running surface of the hydrostatic transmission to quickly drain the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1995Date of Patent: March 12, 1996Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray M. Hauser, Alan W. Johnson
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Patent number: 5423182Abstract: An improved hydrostatic transmission for use in a transaxle comprising a means for mechanically diverting hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic transmission to a sump to enable the vehicle to be moved with minimal resistance from the hydraulic fluid by unseating at least one of the hydraulic displacement units from its running surface to allow the fluid to drain quickly from the transmission to the sump, and an improved check valve mechanism on the center section of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1993Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipInventors: Ray M. Hauser, Alan W. Johnson
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Patent number: 5417422Abstract: A pinball game for creating an optical illusion in which a real pinball normally enters a saucer cup held on a stage during a first operating state, During a second operating state, the stage screens are closed and the pinball enters a lift mechanism held behind the stage. A false pinball is displayed in the saucer cup and is raised by the lift mechanism to create the illusion that the real pinball is floating in defiance of gravity. After the false pinball and the real pinball are in the loft area above the stage, the real pinball is guided to a ramp which returns the real pinball to the playfield.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1994Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Inventor: Bryan P. Hansen
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Patent number: 5417860Abstract: A liquid filter device for use with bottles holding wine or other liquids, for use in filtering cork or other sediments from the liquid while pouring the liquid out of the bottle, comprising a generally tubular body which may be inserted into the neck of a bottle, where the body has a top portion open to the internal volume of the filter device and a bottom portion sealed from the internal volume, openings formed in the body, a filter located on the inside of the body to cover such openings and means for strengthening said body being integrally formed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1993Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: Filtertek, Inc.Inventor: Ronald J. Kay
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Patent number: 5392670Abstract: A heavy duty hydrostatic transmission having an input into a combined separable pump/motor driven through a shaft in the transmission housing and a "U" shaped double back space conserving gear reduction drive to the axle differential.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1992Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Assignee: Agri-Fab, Inc.Inventor: Ray Hauser
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Patent number: 5390827Abstract: A container used for transporting dry bulk product which can be loaded and unloaded using a pneumatic mechanism and without need for tipping the container, comprising a plurality of hoppers and an external frame. A unique method of connecting the hoppers to the frame is disclosed using skirt rings at the ends of the frame and side panels secured to the hoppers and to the end pieces of the external frame and extending the length of the container to provide sufficient strength to the container.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1993Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Northbrook Rail CorporationInventors: John J. Toth, Richard McNealy
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Patent number: 5385465Abstract: An apparatus for thermoforming plastic sheet material which has a frame and complementary mold halves mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from one another. The apparatus has an indexing means which moves along a vertical path to pull the plastic material through the mold and a clamping means disposed between the mold halves which operates with the mold to clamp the plastic sheet around the edges of the forming tool of one mold half. The indexing means and clamping means operate to reduce sag of the plastic material and improve uniformity of the finished article. Operation of the apparatus is enhanced by the use of air pressure, vacuum and cooling during molding and release.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1992Date of Patent: January 31, 1995Inventors: Daniel Greiwe, Claude Powell, Greg Pranger
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Patent number: 5353967Abstract: A container used for transporting dry bulk product which can be loaded and unloaded using a pneumatic mechanism and without need for tipping the container, comprising a plurality of hoppers, an external frame, a unique method of connecting the hoppers to the frame using skirt rings at the ends of the frame and side sills, and internal stiffeners between the hoppers, all of which act to provide sufficient strength to the container.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1993Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Assignee: Northbrook Rail CorporationInventors: John J. Toth, Richard McNealy
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Patent number: D356875Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1993Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignee: Lectro Science, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Zelina, Jr.
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Patent number: D360090Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1993Date of Patent: July 11, 1995Assignee: Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp.Inventors: Robert Raebel, William Buescher, James Lauro