Patents Examined by Gary S. Hartmann
  • Patent number: 11772723
    Abstract: A paving machine including a modular frame, a plurality of swing legs pivotable relative to the frame, a jacking column secured to each swing leg, a crawler track, a slew gear drive, and angular position transducers for measuring an angular position between the swing leg and the modular frame, and an angular position of the crawler track relative to the jacking column. Feedback from the transducers facilitates maintaining position of the crawler track. The jacking column can include telescoping outer and inner tubes, a vertically oriented hydraulic actuator including a cylinder and a piston operable within the outer and inner tubes, and spaced apart axial bearings coupled to the outer tube and/or the inner tube. The slew gear drive can be secured between the inner tube and a yoke and capable of steering the crawler track under load without lifting the crawler track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GUNTERT & ZIMMERMAN CONST. DIV., INC.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Guntert, Jr., Gerald L. Dahlinger, Richard Wood Francis
  • Patent number: 11773550
    Abstract: A rotational deck which is used for an emergency vehicle return apparatus in a section of a median strip of a road, includes a pair of angle decks configured to be folded up to serve as the median strip in a normal state, and be unfolded down by hydraulic cylinders toward a surface of the road to serve as a vehicle pass in an event of emergency, and a front block part coupled, by a link unit, to a lower portion of each angle deck. The front block part includes a front block having a shape to reduce a shock from a collision, one or more front block frames configured to provide rigidity by supporting a rear surface of the front block, and a bottom frame configured to support the front block and a lower portion of the front block frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: DIGITAL & SECURITY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won Woo Lee, Seung Ryul Lee
  • Patent number: 11767649
    Abstract: A traffic control marker having a base with a bottom surface suitable for attachment to a road surface using mechanical fasteners and/or adhesive. A top surface of the base includes rounded edges, and a bottom surface with an inset groove pattern. A flexible outer tube is engaged over an inner tube, where both tubes have a circular cross-sectional configuration. The telescoping tubes are captured within a clamping assembly that is securely and mechanically engaged within a support cavity formed in the base. The base with the support cavity enables enhanced attachment to the road surface, as well as improved drainage through the traffic control marker. The interconnection of the base, tubes and clamping assembly enables the tubes to breakaway from the base after numerous vehicle impacts, and to resist removal of the base from the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FLEXSTAKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert K Hughes, Jr., Marcos Omar Barbian, Agacinki Stanly Titus
  • Patent number: 11765990
    Abstract: A soil-working device for the agricultural preparation of earth, in particular for the planar cutting of earth, including a main body and cutting elements arranged on the latter, the main body having a carrier face and a sliding face, cutting elements being arranged on the carrier face, and earth being able to slide off over the sliding face. To avoid smearing over a soil when working same, the sliding face adjoins the carrier face at an angle so that the distance of the sliding face from the earth increases away from the carrier face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: BOEHLERIT GMBH & CO.KG.
    Inventors: Walter Bärnthaler, Hannes Burböck
  • Patent number: 11761158
    Abstract: A pavement joint sealing system that meters out an appropriate amount of sealant over potentially varying speeds and especially with potentially varying joint dimensions. Given the joint dimensions, the system is able to determine and enforce an effective ratio between the applicator speed and the sealant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Pasquale J Baldi
  • Patent number: 11761177
    Abstract: A retainer includes a drive portion defining a drive portion outer diameter, and a lug receiving portion with a skirt defining a lug receiving slot that extends partially through the lug receiving portion, forming a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a catch surface connecting the first sidewall to the second sidewall. The skirt also defines a skirt outer diameter that is greater than the drive portion outer diameter. Also, the drive portion has a hook tab that extends from the drive portion and that is spaced away from the skirt a minimum distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Grant Jura, Eric T. Sinn, Douglas C. Serrurier, Corey Michael Wells
  • Patent number: 11753778
    Abstract: An adjustable paving machine includes a first frame portion having a plurality of walls, and a variably expandable portion having a plurality of walls and being operably coupled to the first frame portion. The adjustable paving machine also includes at least one brush affixed to at least one of the first frame portion or the variably expandable portion. The first frame portion and the variably expandable portion together form a containment basin configure to confine a paving material deposited into the containment basin. The variably expandable portion is configured to laterally move relative to the first frame portion to change a width of the containment basin. The at least one brush is disposed inside of the containment basin and configured to spread the paving material on a paving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Idaho Asphalt Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Ray Olsen, Huachun Zhai, Devin Glenn Crighton
  • Patent number: 11751496
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a plurality of ground-engaging tools configured to modify a surface configuration of an agricultural field and a hydraulically-controlled subsystem configured to modify an operating angle of the plurality of ground-engaging tools. The agricultural implement also includes a sensor coupled to the hydraulically-controlled subsystem configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a current operating angle of the plurality of ground-engaging tools. The agricultural implement also includes an implement control system configured to receive the sensor signals from the sensor to determine the current operating angle of the plurality of ground-engaging tools, and, upon determining the current operating angle is to be changed to a new operating angle, generate control signals for the hydraulically-controlled subsystem to modify the operating angle of the plurality of ground-engaging tools from the current operating angle to the new operating angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Adam D. Sporrer, Shawn J. Becker, Lucas B. Larsen, Ricky B. Theilen
  • Patent number: 11751494
    Abstract: A method for ploughing a ground (120) using a plough device (100). A rotatable first plate-like cutting element (102) having a circumferential first cutting edge (103) is arranged on a support structure (101) and is designed such that when the support structure (101) is moved on the ground (120) along a ploughing direction (110), a side region (202) of a soil ridge (201) of the ground (120) is being cut by a first cutting region (104) of the first cutting edge (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Huber Soil Solution GmbH
    Inventor: Franz-Ferdinand Huber
  • Patent number: 11746506
    Abstract: A system for use in securing bits against rotation in a motor grader may include a bit, with the bit having a shank. The shank may include a locking portion. The system may include an adapter board including a hole configured to receive the shank of the bit. The system may also include an anti-rotation plate configured to engage the locking portion of the shank of the bit such that the anti-rotation plate constrains the bit against rotation with respect to the adapter board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Parzynski, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 11739484
    Abstract: A snow shovel structure of a snow plow robot. The snow shovel structure includes a housing where a snow shovel mechanism is. The snow shovel mechanism extends outside the housing and includes a first motor fixed on a top of the housing. The first motor is fixedly connected with a telescopic rod through an output shaft. A second motor is further provided on a top portion of an inner chamber of the housing, and a horizontal plate is fixedly arranged on a side wall of the inner chamber of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Dibi (Chongqing) Intelligent Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongduan Song, Hong Long, Fang Hu, Jiangyu Wu, Ziqiang Jiang, Junfeng Lai
  • Patent number: 11739543
    Abstract: A concrete smoothing assembly having a plurality of blades extending radially from a central hub. The central hub is attachable to a rotating power tool to effectively rotate the blades about a vertical axis. The blades are angled at an offset angle with respect to a horizontal axis, each with a lower working edge adapted to sweep imperfections from a surface of partially dried concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventors: John M. Ashton, Sarah A. Noet
  • Patent number: 11739485
    Abstract: An ice elimination device for removing ice from a surface, which may be pulled or driven over a surface. The ice elimination device includes an ice elimination section that includes an applicator capable of distributing a flow of steam, hot water or both, a squeegee element capable to scrape liquid off of a surface, and one or more vacuum elements positioned to suction off liquid scraped by said squeegee. The ice elimination may include a surface drying section that includes a heater to apply heat to a portion of the surface and then utilizes a plurality of fans to generate an air flow that engages the heated portion of said surface. The combination of the heat and the fan evaporates all or most of any moisture on the surface after the squeegee and vacuum have collected and removed the melted ice, condensed steam, and/or applied hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Noland
  • Patent number: 11730078
    Abstract: A row unit for a work vehicle includes a row unit frame with a closer frame. The closer frame defines a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The closer frame is supported for rotational movement about a substantially vertical steering axis to vary a turning angle between the longitudinal axis the vehicle longitudinal axis. The row unit includes a closer implement assembly with first and second closer implements and a walking beam construction. The first and second closer implements are attached to opposite areas of the walking beam construction. The walking beam construction is rotationally attached to the closer frame to support rotation of the closer implement assembly about the transverse axis. The first and second closer implements are configured to move ground material into a ground opening from opposites sides as the work vehicle moves across the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark E. Barker, Cole L. Murray, Grant J. Wonderlich, Michael E. Frasier, Nathan A. Mariman
  • Patent number: 11732427
    Abstract: A holder (1) for fixing a cylindrical spray can (2). The holder (1) comprises a holding unit (3) for fixing the spray can (2) with a first mechanical interface (4) for connecting a GNSS receiver (5) or prism to the holding unit (3). The holding unit (3) is adapted to hold the spray can (2) such that the GNSS receiver (5) or prism and the spray can (2) are arranged coaxially to each other. The holding unit (3) comprises a second mechanical interface (6) for releasably connecting the holder (1) to a frame (7) of a surveying cart (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Swozi AG
    Inventors: Mario Hutter, Peter James Roberts
  • Patent number: 11716918
    Abstract: A system for adjusting the lateral positioning of wheel assemblies of agricultural implements includes a toolbar extending in a lateral direction and having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The system also includes a rail coupled to the toolbar and extending in the lateral direction along a length of the toolbar. Additionally, the system includes a wheel assembly configured to be removably coupled to the toolbar such that the rail is positioned between the toolbar and a portion of the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly includes engagement structure configured to engage the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the toolbar, with the engagement between the rail and the engagement structure being configured to prevent rotation of the wheel assembly about the toolbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: João Augusto Bello de Carvalho, Monte Lee DeKam, Arun Santosh Seetamsetti, Austin Joseph McLuckie
  • Patent number: 11718979
    Abstract: A blank for fabricating a wear member for a ground-engaging tool includes a one-piece block having a boss channel and a lock bore each formed therein. The one-piece block includes a peripheral edge that projects upon lateral sides and a front end of the one-piece block, the peripheral edge originating and terminating at a back end of the block, to form a continuous welding interface that is partially perimetric of the one-piece block, for welding to a body of a wear member. The blank can be used to fabricate a variety of different wear members including shrouds, tooth tips, edge protectors, or others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip John Kunz, Adam M. Dean
  • Patent number: 11716924
    Abstract: A closing wheel frame assembly comprising a closing wheel frame, a closing wheel assembly, and a lever arm adjustment assembly. A retaining pin secures a lever arm in a desired position to set an angle or orientation of the closing wheel assembly relative to the frame, seed furrow (trench or trough), or soil surface. Operation of the lever arm changes the angle or orientation of the closing wheel assembly relative to the frame, seed furrow (trench or trough), or soil surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Ronald Steve Martin
  • Patent number: 11702820
    Abstract: A retainer sleeve includes an at least partially annular body defining an axis of rotation, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The body may also have a radially inner annular surface defining a radially inner aperture, and a first anti-rotation feature extending radially inwardly from the radially inner annular surface including a sloping ledge having a locking surface that faces at least partially in the circumferential direction and along a direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation, forming an oblique angle with the direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Serrurier, Eric T. Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Corey Michael Wells
  • Patent number: 11702805
    Abstract: Surrogates for roadside objects, such as concrete curbs, can be used for vehicle testing. A surrogate for a concrete curb can substantially be similar in size and/or shape as the concrete curb that the surrogate is mimicking. The surrogate can be configured to exhibit substantially the same characteristics as their actual counterpart concrete curb when sensed by one or more vehicle sensors (e.g., cameras, radar sensors, and/or LIDAR sensors). Such surrogates can be used to test automated vehicles, one or more vehicle sensors, a vehicle sensor system, and/or one or more vehicle system (e.g., a road departure mitigation system). The surrogates can be configured to withstand being impacted by a test vehicle without being damaged and without damaging the test vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Trustees of Indiana University
    Inventors: Rini Sherony, Stanley Yung-Ping Chien, Seeta Ram Pandey, Wensen Niu, Yaobin Chen