Patents Examined by Janine M Kreck
  • Patent number: 11859354
    Abstract: A retractable breaker bar is distanced from a cutting head by actuation of a hydraulic ram in a system for grinding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Asphalt Zipper, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Douglas Dibb, J. Tron Haroldsen
  • Patent number: 11852016
    Abstract: Mining apparatuses, systems and methods related to the use of a rocket engine's plume and a collection manifold to efficiently displace, collect, process and store frozen volatiles embedded within or below a surface is disclosed. The plume contacts and churns up the surface. The frozen volatiles are displaced and/or evaporated within a closed environment under a collection manifold. The collection manifold has related components for addressing these frozen or gaseous volatiles downstream. Various apparatuses and subsystems are also disclosed including a rover, processing plants, collection manifold, and vapor manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Kuhns
  • Patent number: 11851832
    Abstract: A machine service set position control system is used on a machine that includes a frame, traction devices connected to the frame, a power source connected to the traction devices and configured to rotate the traction devices, a drum chamber connected to the frame, a milling drum rotatably supported within the drum chamber and configured to engage with a ground surface, and a rotor drive train connected to the milling drum and configured to rotate the milling drum to mill the ground surface, the rotor drive train including a gearbox. The service set position control system is programmed to determine a position of at least the rotor drive train and selectively operate a rotor drive train actuator connected to the rotor drive train based on the determined position to move the machine into a machine service set position allowing easy access for a technician to perform service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Daniel Reed, Brian Joe Schlenker, Paul J Koenen
  • Patent number: 11846188
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for rotary clearing in a stripping tooth holder of a mining machine and a rotary clearing device in a stripping tooth holder implementing the method. The rotary clearing device includes a reciprocating impact power box (2), a stripping tooth holder (3), a rotary clearer supporting mechanism (4) and a rotary clearer (5), where the rotary clearer (5) includes a shifter (6) and a clearing drive roller (7), the reciprocating impact power box (2) includes a reciprocating impact power box power member (8), the reciprocating impact power box power member (8) supports and drives the stripping tooth holder (3), the rotary clearer supporting mechanism (4) is arranged on the reciprocating impact power box (2) or on the stripping tooth holder (3), a rear end of the stripping tooth holder (3) is connected to the reciprocating impact power box power member (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Suhua Liu
  • Patent number: 11846076
    Abstract: A self-propelled milling machine has a machine frame 4 supported by running gears 6A, 6B, a working device 5 provided on the machine frame 4 for working the ground, and a conveyor device 12 for removing material. The conveyor device 12 has a boom 13 which is mounted on the machine frame 4 so as to pivot about an axis of rotation X which is perpendicular to the machine frame. The pivoting apparatus 16 for the boom 13 is characterised by at least one mechanism 16A, 16B having a plurality of mechanism links and the joints A, B, C, D connecting them and at least one linear drive 17A, 17B for driving at least one of the mechanism links. The mechanism may be designed as a planar four-link pivot joint mechanism 16A, 16B, the machine frame 4 forming a mechanism link of the pivot joint mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventors: Winfried von Schönebeck, Sascha Schwippert
  • Patent number: 11845622
    Abstract: A milling machine may include a frame supported by a traction device, a milling drum for milling a surface and supported on the frame, and a conveyor for receiving milled material from the milling drum and conveying the milled material upward to a release point. The milling machine may include a sensor configured for monitoring loading of a truck by the milling machine and a controller in communication with the sensor to coordinate with the sensor and recognize when the truck is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Carr, Eric S. Engelmann, Keng Yew Anthony Low, Jacob Simmer, Conwell K. Rife, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11837373
    Abstract: A power generator system includes one or more heat transfer members configured to contact: a heat source in a hazardous waste repository of a directional drillhole that stores nuclear waste in one or more nuclear waste canisters, and a heat sink in the hazardous waste repository; and one or more thermoelectric generators thermally coupled to the one or more heat transfer members and configured to generate electric power based on a temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Deep Isolation, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Muller
  • Patent number: 11834949
    Abstract: A collaborative erosion-control method of releasing-splitting-supporting based on coal mass pressure relief and roof pre-splitting provided by the disclosure includes the following steps: step 1, driving into a coal seam to release pressure; step 2, low roof pre-splitting during driving process; step 3, supporting of roadway surrounding rock and support reinforcement; step 4, floor destressing of the roadway; step 5, high roof pre-splitting before mining; step 6, destressing and supporting of the advanced roadway surrounding rock during the mining process of the working face. The collaborative erosion-control method of releasing-splitting-supporting based on coal mass pressure relief and roof pre-splitting, and to carry out local pressure relief, roof pre-splitting and reinforcement support construction in the whole cycle of the coal working face in a progressive manner, so as to achieve the prevention and control of rock burst in the working face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Weiyao Guo, Lexin Chen, Yan Tan, Yunliang Tan, Tongbin Zhao
  • Patent number: 11834798
    Abstract: A system for transferring torque from a driveshaft to a milling drum mountable on the driveshaft. The system includes a first coupler removably coupled to the driveshaft to co-rotate with the driveshaft. The first coupler defines an engagement surface. Also, the system includes a second coupler removably coupled to the milling drum. The second coupler defines a mating surface engageable with the engagement surface of the first coupler to engage the second coupler to the first coupler and transfer torque from the driveshaft to the milling drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Bernard Johnson, Craig Thomas Hedstrom, Ryan Steve Hutar
  • Patent number: 11837375
    Abstract: Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a neutron flux of a first isotope in a subterranean formation; calculating, based at least in part on the determined neutron flux of the first isotope, a predicted production rate of a second isotope in the subterranean formation; calculating a first ratio of the predicted production rate of the second isotope relative to a theoretical production rate of a stable form of the second isotope; measuring respective concentrations of the second isotope and the stable form of the second isotope in a subterranean water sample; calculating a second ratio of the measured concentration of the second isotope relative to the measured concentration of the stable form of the second isotope; and based on a comparison of the first and second ratios, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Deep Isolation, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A Muller, John Linus Grimsich
  • Patent number: 11834951
    Abstract: A method of this disclosure directionally drills at least one well extending from ground surface to an interior of an underground mine located below ground, the well being at an oblique angle relative to vertical; blends or mixes together a hazardous material, like lead, zinc, arsenic, and cadmium with cement including a plasticizer; pumps or flows the mixture into the well, wherein the mixture flows toward a lower end of the mine and hardens in place. The method allows for the permanent placement of contaminated mixtures like chat into mines or shafts or depositories, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, CERCLA and Superfund laws and complies with rules for the permanent closing of these structures with contaminated material and contaminated substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Leo Byford
  • Patent number: 11821313
    Abstract: A washerless cutting tool assembly includes a cutting tool holder and a rotatable cutting tool at least partially disposed within the cutting tool holder. The cutting tool holder includes an alignment feature in the form of a protrusion at an axial forward end and a groove at an axial rearward end of the head portion of the rotatable cutting tool. The groove is capable of receiving the protrusion of the cutting tool holder to align the central, longitudinal axis of rotatable cutting tool with the central, longitudinal axis of the cutting tool holder. The cutting tool assembly further includes a limited rotated feature in the form of a braking ring disposed within an annular groove and a retainer ring disposed over the braking ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventors: Brandon J. Kenno, James R. Geyer
  • Patent number: 11821153
    Abstract: A propelled milling machine includes a cutting rotor that receives power from an internal combustion engine via a rotor drivetrain. To adjust the speed of the cutting rotor, the rotor drivetrain includes a rotor drivetrain transmission operatively associated with a rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit. To regulate temperature of the lubricant, a heat exchanger circuit is associated with the rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit and includes a rotor drivetrain lubricant heat exchanger and a rotor drivetrain lubricant pump assembly. The quantity of lubricant directed to the heat exchanger is regulated based on one or more sensed operating parameters associated with the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11821314
    Abstract: An underground mining method for unexploited coal in a boundary open-pit mine is provided. A shaft construction platform is arranged at one rock step to two rock steps above a coal seam. Intermediate bridges are built starting from a pit bottom. Mining area clay is laid on a working slope where no intermediate bridge is built and on a side slope with an outcrop of the coal seam as a sealing layer to seal the slopes. Auxiliary vertical shafts and main inclined shafts are dug. The pit bottom is dug downward to form a digging space on a side close to the working slope between two adjacent ones of the intermediate bridges, and clay is filled into the digging space to form an artificial water barrier layer. A roadway communicating the main inclined shafts and the auxiliary vertical shafts is constructed, and a coal seam stope face is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY, XINJIANG TIANCHI ENERGY CO., LTD., CHINA ENERGY GROUP XINJIANG ENERGY COMPANY LTD
    Inventors: Shuzhao Chen, Fuming Liu, Bo Chang
  • Patent number: 11813772
    Abstract: A concrete cutting machine, for wet and dry dual-use cutting, includes a saw blade, which is configured to cut concrete, a motor, which is configured to drive the saw blade to rotate about a first axis, and a bottom plate, which is configured to support the motor and the saw blade. The bottom plate is formed with a first cutting space for the saw blade to pass through. The concrete cutting machine further includes a sliding plate assembly, which is at least partially disposed in the first cutting space, to form a second cutting space smaller than the first cutting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bun Hiong Chua, Monteverde Richard, Ran Lan, Hua Zhang, Meixiong Lai
  • Patent number: 11801539
    Abstract: Self-loading systems and methods for disposal of waste materials in a deep underground formation may include at least one wellbore that runs from the Earth's surface to the deep underground formations, wellbore viscous fluid within that at least one wellbore, and at least one waste capsule, wherein the at least one waste capsules houses some waste and is configured to fall within both the at least one wellbore and the wellbore viscous fluid. The systems and methods may also include at least one human-made cavern located in the deep underground formation and connected to the at least one wellbore, wherein the at least one human-made cavern may be configured to receive the at least one waste capsule. The systems and methods may also include a counter for counting waste capsules and/or a robot for dropping waste capsules into a wellhead leading to the at least one wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Henry Crichlow, Gary Schneider
  • Patent number: 11802481
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a disk cutter (18) comprising a cutter body, a plurality of tool holders (24) and a plurality of cutting elements (22) mounted to the tool holders. The tool holders and cutting elements are provided in at least one set about the cutter body, each set comprising two or more tool holders and two or more cutting elements arranged in a p re-determined sequence of configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Element Six (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Shuo Lu
  • Patent number: 11795647
    Abstract: An installation arrangement with a barge and a jack-up rig which floats in a first position on the sea and has a hull which is slotted vertically from the surface of the sea and has a slot width which is greater than that of the barge so that the barge can move into a slot, wherein the jack-up rig has supporting legs which can move to and from along a height relative to the hull and can be set down on the seabed. The hull and the barge can be lifted along the support legs. The slot extends along the entire longitudinal extent of the barge over the entire height of the hull, and securing means are arranged on the barge and on the slot and said securing means interact and secure the barge in the raised position in a fixed position on the jack-up rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Tractebel Overdick GmbH
    Inventor: Klaas Oltmann
  • Patent number: 11795633
    Abstract: A method for milling off traffic areas with a milling drum of a milling machine includes: obtaining and storing target profile data of a desired target profile of a surface of the traffic area in target condition, wherein target values for a locally desired milling depth are assigned to position data in a stationary coordinate system independent of the milling machine; determining the current position of the milling drum in the coordinate system and detecting a current milling depth; during the milling operation, controlling the milling depth as a function of the target value assigned to the current position of the milling drum and the currently detected milling depth; updating the target profile data in the current position of the milling drum on the worked traffic area by the currently actually milled milling depth; and storing the updated target profile data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Matthias Fritz
  • Patent number: 11795632
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for monitoring a milling machine having a milling rotor and a rotor chamber surrounding the milling rotor includes propelling the milling machine in a direction of travel, positioning a door of the rotor chamber at a first position with an actuator, and receiving a signal indicative of a condition of the actuator for positioning the door of the rotor chamber. The method further includes determining that the door has encountered material based on the signal and opening the door of the chamber in response to determining that the door has encountered material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob M. Saari, Nicholas Argenziano