Patents Examined by Glenn F Myers
  • Patent number: 10640288
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for managing dry bulk material efficiently at a well site or other location are provided. Present embodiments are directed to a rotary clamshell gate actuation system and method, where the gate is separate from the one or more actuators used to open/close the gate. The disclosed system may include a portable bulk material container with a clamshell gate for easily dispensing material from the container. The system also includes a support structure equipped with one or more rotary actuators used to actuate the clamshell gate of the container between a closed and open position when the container is positioned on the support structure. The disclosed clamshell gate actuation system is easy to operate, low cost to manufacture, and reliable even when the portable container is not precisely aligned on the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Chapman Lucas, Calvin L. Stegemoeller, Austin Carl Schaffner, Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tori H. Miller, Thomas W. Hawkins, Glenn Ray Fowler
  • Patent number: 10632472
    Abstract: A machine and a method for transporting a liner into a grinding mill body wherein the machine includes a housing for insertion through an opening of the grinding mill body. The housing has a first end, a second end and a conduit in communication with the first end and the second end, and a conveying device for conveying the liner along the conduit between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jeff Belke, Rory Soutar-Dawson
  • Patent number: 10633887
    Abstract: A bollard setting and installation system for efficiently installing a bollard wall without any restrictions relating to proximity to water or flood plains. The bollard setting and installation system generally includes a setting frame which is positioned on a ground surface. A plurality of bollards is positioned on the setting frame in a desired spacing and orientation to form a bollard wall. A vehicle having a vehicle arm connected to a lifting frame is positioned such that the bollards are secured to the lifting frame by clamps in the desired spacing and orientation. The vehicle may then move the lifting frame to position the lower ends of the bollards in an opening in the ground surface. Concrete may be poured to encapsulate the lower ends of the bollards. The lifting frame may then be removed, with the bollard wall being free-standing in the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TGR Construction, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Fisher, Gregory L. Schafer
  • Patent number: 10625988
    Abstract: The present invention teaches an apparatus and method used in connection with a forklift truck for quickly and easily nesting and un-nesting bulk seed boxes. A box inverter apparatus includes first and second rotary clamp pads, each clamp pad having a box engaging surface and an opposing rear surface. The first and second rotary clamp pads are positioned such that the box engaging surfaces thereof face one another in a spaced apart relationship. First and second spindle and bearing assemblies are associated with and extend radially outwardly from the opposing rear surfaces of the first and second rotary clamp pads, respectively. Each of the spindle and bearing assemblies has a first end attached to the rear surface of the rotary clamp pad and a second end attached to a frame such that each spindle and bearing assembly permits rotation of the rotary clamp pad relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: McDowell and Dellinger, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Dale Dellinger, Shawn Brian McDowell
  • Patent number: 10625949
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus comprises a rod-shaped member that comprises a magnetic material, a cover, made of a nonmagnetic material, that covers the rod-shaped member, a first terminal member configured to allow insertion of one end portion of the rod-shaped member, a second terminal member configured to allow insertion of the other end portion of the rod-shaped member, and a driving device, connected to the first terminal member, that rotates the rod-shaped member about a central axis of the rod-shaped member, in which the rod-shaped member and the first terminal member are fixed to each other, the cover and the first terminal member are fixed to each other, the rod-shaped member and the second terminal member are not fixed to each other, and the cover and the second terminal member are fixed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Beppu, Yoichi Okawa
  • Patent number: 10617048
    Abstract: A component supplier of the present disclosure includes a magazine that stores pallets, a table that is provided in front of the magazine and is provided with a standby tables in multiple tiers in an up-and-down direction, a first lift that moves the table up and down, and a pallet supplier that is provided in front of the table and that includes a supply table which holds at least one of the pallets at a component supply position where the component is supplied. The table has a first placing and withdrawing unit that places and withdraws the pallet between the magazine and the standby tables and a second lift that moves the first placing and withdrawing unit up and down. The pallet supplier has a second placing and withdrawing unit that places and withdraws the pallet between the standby tables and the supply table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Syozo Kadota, Hiroshi Matsumura, Katsuhiko Itoh, Makoto Nakashima, Tadashi Endo, Hiroyuki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10612130
    Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus having a small installation area is provided. A lifting plate is arranges inside a vacuum chamber, and a substrate holding device is arranged on the lifting plate to be able to be lifted up and down. An upper side processing device and a lower side processing device are provided in a processing region located beside a lifting region where the lifting plate moves up and down. An upper side moving device and a lower side moving device make the substrate holding device pass through the processing region, and a transfer device transfers the substrate holding device between the upper side moving device or the lower side moving device and the lifting plate. Because vacuum processing can be performed on the upper side and the lower side, the installation area of the vacuum processing apparatus is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Minami, Takayuki Suzuki, Kazuhiro Musha, Hirotoshi Nakao, Seiichi Satou
  • Patent number: 10614925
    Abstract: A modular portable cask transfer (MPCT) facility is capable of transferring a canister containing spent nuclear fuel materials from or to a transportation cask respectively to or from a storage overpack. A transfer cask is utilized for the transfer. Telescoping legs enable movement of the transfer cask independent of the canister, which is moved using a hoist. Due to its modular configuration, the MPCT facility can be assembled, disassembled, and moved from one nuclear power plant to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: NAC INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: George C. Carver, Vadim Z. Shtylman, Jay G. Wellwood, Michael Yaksh, Suresh Babu, Sing Gee Lin
  • Patent number: 10604343
    Abstract: Bins or other storage units contained within a three-dimensional grid structure are arranged in cells, each of which has multiple storage units surrounding a central void or space on different sides thereof. This void space is slightly larger than each storage unit, enabling the unit to be pulled into the void by mechanical means, and allowing access to the bins on all sides of the void. The storage units are stacked within the three-dimensional grid structure, which can be built or expanded to a predetermined footprint. The aligned voids of stacked cells create vertical shafts spanning between upper and lower tracks of the grid structure on which robotic retrieval vehicles can horizontally travel to and from any given shaft. The robotic retrieval vehicles can directly access any storage unit via the vertical shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Attabotics Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Gravelle, Robert Guy Cowley, Anthony Brian Woolf
  • Patent number: 10597241
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for palletizing cargo on a rack for shipment are provided. The system generally includes a tiered rack having a base tier, a support framework extending from the base tier, and a second tier adjustably attached to the support framework. The system may further include a plurality of lower frame support members positioned longitudinally across the bottom of the base tier, and a plurality of pneumatically actuated rollers spaced to cooperatively engage the plurality of lower frame support members, the rollers being selectively extendable from a plurality of raised tracks positioned longitudinally along a floor of the railcar, where the rollers are configured to pneumatically extend past an upper surface of the track when actuated and allow for linear motion thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: American Refrigerated Express, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Campbell, Art Shoener
  • Patent number: 10589959
    Abstract: A driven reel trolley includes a carriage having a lower carriage section formed from opposing longitudinal members and transverse connecting members extending between and connecting the opposing longitudinal members. A pair of opposing support beams extend upwardly from the lower carriage. Each beam has a shaft support opening at about the top thereof for accommodating an associated shaft. A pair of non-driven wheels is mounted to the lower carriage section on opposing transverse sides of the lower carriage section and a pair of drive wheels is mounted to the lower carriage section, on opposing transverse sides of the lower carriage section, spaced from the non-driven wheels. A pair of drive trains operably connects the shaft and a respective one of the drive wheels. Each drive train includes a transmission and each transmission is operably engageable with and disengageable from the shaft and its respective drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Cerro Wire LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth LeVey
  • Patent number: 10580672
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing workpieces, such as semiconductor workpieces are provided. One example embodiment is directed to a processing system for processing a plurality of workpieces. The plasma processing system can include a loadlock chamber. The loadlock chamber can include a workpiece column configured to support a plurality of workpieces in a stacked arrangement. The system can further include at least two process chambers. The at least two process chambers can have at least two processing stations. Each processing station can have a workpiece support for supporting a workpiece during processing in the process chamber. The system further includes a transfer chamber in process flow communication with the loadlock chamber and the process chamber. The transfer chamber includes a rotary robot. The rotary robot can be configured to transfer a plurality of workpieces from the stacked arrangement in the loadlock chamber to the at least two processing stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC., BEIJING E-TOWN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY, CO., LTD
    Inventors: Michael Yang, Ryan Pakulski
  • Patent number: 10576848
    Abstract: A storage enclosure for a vehicle includes a seatback, an outboard member, a ceiling, and a tray. The tray includes a base with at least one wall extending upward from the base. The tray is selectively operable to transfer cargo between a passenger area and a cargo area. The tray is selectively operable to define the storage enclosure in the cargo area that is at least partially defined by the seatback, the outboard member, and the ceiling. The seatback is in a substantially vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 10577198
    Abstract: A portable drive-over conveyor for unloading particulate material from trucks features a towable trailer supporting a conveyor system having two stages, each transferring the unloaded material in opposite directions along a length of the trailer so as to progressively elevate the particulate material to a suitable height above the ground for discharging from the portable drive-over conveyor. A first stage of the conveyor system transfers the material in one direction from an inlet of the conveyor system to a transfer discharge, whereat the unloaded material is transferred to the second stage transferring the material in an opposite direction to a discharge of the overall conveyor system which is located at a higher elevation than the transfer discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hi-Crush Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Friesen
  • Patent number: 10562431
    Abstract: A loading ramp assembly comprises a ramp body, a pivot bar, a first clamp and a second clamp. The ramp body includes a detent. The pivot bar includes a bore that receives the detent. The first clamp is disposed on the first side of the pivot bar and the second clamp is disposed on the second side of the pivot bar. The proximal end of the ramp body is rotatably connected to the pivot bar at a position on the pivot bar between the first clamp and the second clamp. The ramp body is rotatable on the pivot bar from a loading position to a stowed position and is also inwardly and outwardly slidable on the pivot bar. The first clamp and second clamp can assume a loosened configuration and a clamped configuration. In the loosened configuration the pivot bar is rotatably positionable such that the bore can assume a selected angular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Etrailer Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Perotti, Thomas Bross
  • Patent number: 10538359
    Abstract: A mobile waste storage device is disclosed. The mobile waste storage device includes a storage body and a pair of cover sections. The storage body includes a waste receiving space and a plurality of body fastener receiving passageways. The pair of cover sections is flexibly attached to the storage body and is extendable over each other when covering the waste receiving space. Each cover section includes a cover fastener receiving passageway extending through an end thereof and positioned to correspond with another cover fastener receiving passageway extending through an opposite cover section and one of the plurality of body fastener receiving passageways when the pair of cover sections overlap to cover the waste receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: New Heights LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Jay Beiler
  • Patent number: 10532689
    Abstract: A method of providing a ramp system, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of ramp members that are adapted to be coupled to a rigid portion of a trailer, wherein a first of the ramp members extends from the rigid portion of the trailer to a flat surface of an automotive vehicle that is attached to the trailer for pulling said trailer, wherein the second ramp member extends from the rigid member to a flat surface of the trailer, an incline exists from where the second member touches the flat surface of the trailer to where the first member touches the flat surface of the automotive vehicle; permitting the first ramp member to pivot from the flat surface of the automotive vehicle to a more vertical first orientation; and permitting the first ramp member to lock in the more vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Ray Bonham, III
  • Patent number: 10532774
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting an object for placement in a vehicle cargo area is provided. The apparatus comprises a liftgate for opening and closing relative to the vehicle cargo area including dual hoists for lifting an object in a balanced manner. The dual hoists may be stowed in a compartment in the liftgate, such as in individual pockets covered by a door formed by a liftgate trim panel. The actuator forming part of the hoist may also be covered by the liftgate trim panel, and thus hidden from view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony Richard Walser
  • Patent number: 10526180
    Abstract: A side shifter configured for use on a lift truck with an actuator of the side shifter embedded in and almost completely surrounded by the weight bearing components of the side shifter, particularly the fork base top bar and back carriage top bar. This arrangement provides additional protection to the actuator. Embedding the actuator in the weight bearing components of the side shifter also provides for a larger unobstructed view through the middle side shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rightline Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim D. Hamlik, Joel D. Hamlik
  • Patent number: 10529609
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods to store and transfer objects, and more particularly to workpiece stocker configurations such as stocker for semiconductor wafers, reticles or carrier boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Brooks Automation (Germany) GmbH
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock