Patents Examined by Jonathan Snelting
  • Patent number: 11254499
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis and defining a refuse compartment, an electric energy system, and a lift assembly. The lift assembly includes a pair of lift arms pivotally coupled to the body assembly, a pair of forks pivotally coupled to the pair of lift arms, a lift arm actuator positioned to facilitate pivoting the pair of lift arms relative to the body assembly, and a fork actuator extending between the pair of lift arms and the pair of forks. The fork actuator is positioned to facilitate pivoting the pair of forks relative to the pair of lift arms. The lift arm actuator and the fork actuator are powered by the electric energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua D. Rocholl, Derek A. Wente, John T. Kellander, Cody D. Clifton, Vincent Hoover, Zachary L. Klein, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Skylar A. Wachter, Andrew Kotloski, Wallace Buege, Caleb Binder, Martin J. Schimke
  • Patent number: 11254498
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a battery, a vehicle body, an electric power take-off system, and a lifting system. The chassis supports a plurality of wheels. The battery is supported by the chassis and is configured to provide electrical power to a first motor. Rotation of the first motor selectively drives at least one of the plurality of wheels. The vehicle body is supported by the chassis and defines a receptacle for storing refuse. The electric power take-off system is coupled to the vehicle body and includes a second motor configured to convert electrical power received from the battery into hydraulic power. The electric power take-off system is positioned within the receptacle. The lifting system is coupled to the vehicle body and is movable relative to the receptacle using hydraulic power from the electric power take-off system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Jerrod Kappers, Vince Schad, Robert S. Messina, Christopher K. Yakes, Vincent Hoover, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Zachary L. Klein, John Beck, Brendan Chan, Skylar A. Wachter, Nader Nasr, Chad K. Smith, Logan Gary, Derek A. Wente, Shawn Naglik, Mike J. Bolton, Jacob Wallin, Quincy Wittman, Christopher J. Rukas, Dylan Hess, Jason Rice, Zhenyi Wei, Bashar Amin, Catherine Linsmeier, Joshua D. Rocholl, Dale Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11240948
    Abstract: A magazine (200) is described for portion-wise receiving individualized bulk electronic components (298). The magazine (200) comprises (a) a receiving structure (110) which comprises multiple closable receiving cavities (112, 112a), which are arranged along a longitudinal axis (100a) of the receiving structure (110); (b) a cover structure (120) which is arranged at an upper side of the receiving structure (110), displaceable along the longitudinal axis (100a), so that in a closed position of the cover structure (120) all receiving cavities (112, 112a) are covered and in one opening position of multiple opening positions at least one receiving cavity (112) is free; and (c) a closure foil (225) which encompasses the cover structure (120) along the longitudinal axis (100a) in the form of a closed tape, wherein at least a part of the closure foil (225) is releasably connected to the receiving structure (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Rossmann, Stefan Seitz, Norbert Heilmann, Johannes Justinger, Stefan Magg, Stefan Geiger
  • Patent number: 11230215
    Abstract: A tiltable trailer that can assume a high, or road, position, and a low loading position in which the trailer is tilted with respect to the ground. The trailer includes wheels; a chassis mounted on an axle that pivots with respect to the wheels; an actuator for actuating the pivoting of the axle relative to the wheels to vary the position of the chassis with respect to the ground, the actuator including a flexible element secured to the axle and a tensioner attached to the chassis for adjusting tension of the flexible element; and a lock for locking the trailer in the high position, which is separate from the actuator. The lock includes a sliding locking bar, a first end of which is secured to the axle and a second end of which cooperates with a locking mechanism, mounted on the chassis, when the trailer is in the high position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: COCHET
    Inventor: Ludovic Cochet
  • Patent number: 11220200
    Abstract: The present technology provides a cargo adapter that can be inserted into a passenger compartment of a mixed-use vehicle that can be anchored to existing anchor points in the vehicle. The cargo adapter can then receive, secure, and support a cargo locker in a way that safely secures the cargo and avoids wear on the interior surfaces of the passenger compartment. The present technology further provides a system for transporting a cargo locker to a vehicle and inserting the cargo adapter and cargo locker into the vehicle quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Rajat Basu, Vincent Falzon, Jordan Hart, Miles Kodama
  • Patent number: 11220134
    Abstract: A modular tire lifting assembly includes a yoke that has a pair of arms which are spaced apart from each other such that t a vehicle tire can be positioned between the pair of arms. The yoke is comprised of a plurality of modular sections such that the yoke can be disassembled for storage in a vehicle. A first handle and a second handle are provided and either can be removably attachable to the yoke. Either the first handle or the second handle angles upwardly from the yoke when removably attached to the yoke thereby facilitating the yoke to lift the vehicle tire when either the first handle or the second handle is urged downwardly. Additionally, the second handle has a length that is less than a length of the first handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventors: Ronald Hall, Anthony Willis
  • Patent number: 11208024
    Abstract: A bulk material tender includes a mobile frame, a hopper, and a discharge system. The mobile frame has a left side and a right side. The hopper is disposed on the mobile frame. The discharge system is configured to discharge particulate matter from the hopper. The discharge system includes a discharge auger, a deploying actuator, and a positioning actuator. The discharge auger presents a proximal end and a distal end. The deploying actuator is configured to selectively emplace the discharge auger in a stowed orientation and a deployed orientation, wherein the distal end is adjacent to the hopper in the stowed orientation. The positioning actuator configured to selectively emplace the discharge auger along the left side and the right side of the mobile frame. Once emplaced, the discharge auger discharges particulate material from the hopper toward a target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Heartland Agriculture, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Young
  • Patent number: 11208298
    Abstract: A side lift spreader main beam (22) comprises a vertical carrier plate (58) having a first vertical height (H1) and being made of steel plate having a first thickness (T1); a C-beam (60) comprising a first horizontal flange (64) and a second horizontal flange (66) interconnected by a vertical web portion (68), the C-beam (60) having a second vertical height (H2) lower than the first vertical height (H1) and being made of steel plate having a second thickness (T2) thinner than the first thickness (T1), wherein the C-beam (60) defines, together with the carrier plate (58), a closed channel beam with a first flange (74) of the carrier plate (58) extending vertically from the closed channel beam; and an inclined support plate (62) welded to the carrier plate, and to an outer face of the first flange (64) of the C-beam (60) at a distance from the carrier plate (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Erik Förander, Örjan Karlsson
  • Patent number: 11208262
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle includes a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating a relative positioning of a first arm of the grabber and a second arm of the grabber, and a controller having one or more control elements for selecting a target positioning of a first arm of the grabber and a second arm of the grabber. The first arm and the second arm automatically move to the target positioning in response to a signal received by an onboard computing device of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: David G. Lewis, Stanley L. Maroney, Chad R. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 11198384
    Abstract: A pallet for supporting a container includes a base, plurality of supports secured with the base, first platform rotatably supported on the base, and second platform pivotably coupled to the first platform and adapted to support the container. At least one pallet linkage arrangement couples the second platform and the first platform, and at least one pallet actuator pivots the second platform between container transport and dump positions. A carrier includes a prime mover, trailer, plurality of ground engaging members, at least one carrier actuator adapted to move at least a portion of the trailer between lowered and raised support positions relative to at least a portion of the plurality of ground engaging members. At least a portion of the trailer is sized to be received between the plurality of supports secured with the base of the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: Noah K. Buerkett, Danny W. Boettcher, Clint M. Summers
  • Patent number: 11192712
    Abstract: Methods for handling bulk material in a manner that reduces dust, noise, and emissions are provided. The presently disclosed techniques use portable containers to transfer bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender inlet. The containers may be carried to the location on the transportation unit, where a hoisting mechanism is used to remove the container from the transportation unit and place it in a desired location. When bulk material is needed at the blender inlet, the hoisting mechanism may position the container of bulk material onto an elevated support structure. Once on the support structure, the container may be opened to release bulk material to a gravity feed outlet, which routes the bulk material from the container directly into the blender inlet. The disclosed containerized bulk material transfer system and method allows for reduced dust, noise, and emissions on location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Chapman Lucas, Wesley John Warren, Calvin L. Stegemoeller, Austin Carl Schaffner
  • Patent number: 11180068
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a vehicle having a cargo area and a cab area is provided, wherein the cargo area may include a conveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly may include a conveyor assembly section and a pivotable conveyor assembly section. The conveyor assembly section includes at least one conveyor shelf panel which includes a support surface. The pivotable conveyor assembly section may include a bracket that supports a pivotable conveyor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Shyft Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Eichstedt, Spencer O. South, Glen R. Helmuth
  • Patent number: 11180066
    Abstract: The invention relates to a push-off device, in particular for agricultural cargo. The push-off device includes a loading space, which comprises a loading floor, two laterally adjoining sidewalls and a push-off wall. The push-off device further includes a first hydraulic cylinder arrangement, which comprises one first hydraulic cylinder piston that is movable in a first hydraulic cylinder tube and a second hydraulic cylinder arrangement, which comprises one second hydraulic cylinder piston that is movable in a second hydraulic cylinder tube. The push-off wall is mounted to be displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the loading space on the second hydraulic cylinder tube and by operation of the first hydraulic cylinder arrangement is displaceable relative to the sliding floor, which is displaceable by operation of the second hydraulic cylinder arrangement relative to the loading floor of the loading space. The invention moreover relates to a push-off vehicle comprising a sliding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: FLIEGL AGRARTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Josef Fliegl, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11173825
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of tractive elements coupled to the chassis, and a lift assembly including a carriage, a grabber arm selectively repositionable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, a track configured to be coupled to a chassis of the refuse vehicle, and a roller assembly slidably coupling the carriage to the track. In the engaged position, the grabber arm is configured to couple a refuse container to the carriage. The track defines a track groove extending at least partway along a length of the track. The roller assembly includes a base coupled to the carriage, a shaft coupled to the base and extending outward from the base, a roller extending at least partially into the track groove, the roller defining first a central aperture that receives the shaft, and a bushing that rotatably couples the roller to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D. Nelson, John Kuphal
  • Patent number: 11173682
    Abstract: A refuse truck body having a main compartment and at least one side compartment includes shields to close a rear opening of the compartments. A respective pushing device is provided for discharging refuse from each compartment. In a closed position, the shield is latched to the truck body by a locking device that selectively locks and unlocks each shield against its opening. A sequencing system is operatively connected between a lock for the packing unit and the actuator for closing and latching the shields, which prevents unlocking and raising the packing unit before the shields are closed and latched to the truck body. A sequencing system is operatively connected between the pushing device for a compartment and the actuator for closing and latching the shields, which prevents operation of the pushing device to discharge refuse from the compartment unless the shield for that compartment is unlatched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tom W. Musso, Charles S. Musso, Jr., Thomas Lee Price, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11161718
    Abstract: Jack units attach skates to an object to be moved. Each jack unit has a tongue that slidably engages a coupling slot affixed to the object, and can be operated to raise or lower the tongue; when raised, the object is supported on the skates and can be rolled to a new location. A crane can attach to lift eyes on the jack units to allow the system to be lifted with the skates attached to the object, avoiding the risk to operators of positioning the skates under the object while it is suspended. Rotation-limiting structures can be selectively employed to block rotation of the trailing skates to facilitate steering when rolling the object supported by the system. The coupling slots can be provided in coupling elements which can attach directly to the object or which can be employed to form a freestanding frame to which the object is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Larry R. DeBattiste
  • Patent number: 11152241
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus disclosed herein is capable of communicating with an external control apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a container placing portion configured to place thereon a transport container accommodating a product substrate therein; a dummy substrate accommodating unit configured to accommodate dummy substrates therein; a transport chamber provided with a transport mechanism configured to transport the product substrate and the dummy substrates; a processing chamber configured to process the product substrate and the dummy substrates transported thereto by the transport mechanism; and a controller configured to determine whether or not a number of unusable dummy substrates among the dummy substrates accommodated in the dummy substrate accommodating unit is equal to or greater than a set value, and notify the external control device of a warning when it is determined that the number of dummy substrates is equal to or greater than the set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Rintaro Takao, Hiromichi Fujii, Yoshihide Kagihara
  • Patent number: 11136187
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a battery, a vehicle body, an electric power take-off system, a lifting system, and a disconnect. The chassis supports a plurality of wheels. The battery is supported by the chassis and is configured to provide electrical power to a first motor. Rotation of the first motor selectively drives at least one of the plurality of wheels. The vehicle body is supported by the chassis and defines a receptacle for storing refuse. The electric power take-off system is coupled to the vehicle body and includes a second motor configured to convert electrical power received from the battery into hydraulic power. The lifting system is coupled to the vehicle body and is movable relative to the receptacle using hydraulic power from the electric power take-off system. The disconnect is positioned between the battery and the electric power take-off and is configured to selectively decouple the electric power take-off system from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Jerrod Kappers, Vince Schad, Robert S. Messina, Christopher K. Yakes, Vincent Hoover, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Zachary L. Klein, John Beck, Brendan Chan, Skylar A. Wachter, Nader Nasr, Chad K. Smith, Logan Gary, Derek A. Wente, Shawn Naglik, Mike J. Bolton, Jacob Wallin, Quincy Wittman, Christopher J. Rukas, Dylan Hess, Jason Rice, Zhenyi Wei, Bashar Amin, Catherine Linsmeier, Joshua D. Rocholl, Dale Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11130435
    Abstract: Lift assemblies and methods of operating same. A lift assembly for a vehicle includes at least one support member having a longitudinal axis lying on a plane and which is configured for attachment to the vehicle. A mast having a proximal end, a distal end, and a mast axis is pivotably coupled with the at least one support member at the mast proximal end. At least one gear arrangement is coupled between the at least one support member and the mast proximal end. The mast is pivotable relative to the at least one support member about an axis parallel with the plane through an angular displacement greater than 90 degrees. A boom is pivotably coupled with the mast proximate the mast distal end, and a first lift line is coupled with the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Ralph L. Leonard
  • Patent number: 11122779
    Abstract: An egg grasp device is provided. Such a device includes a body and a plurality of elongated members extending from the body. The elongated members are interlaced to form a sheath capable of retaining an egg. The sheath has a distal end and a proximal end at which the elongated members are operably engaged with the body. The elongated members cooperate to define an opening at the distal end through which an egg is received when the elongated members engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the sheath. Associated systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC
    Inventor: William Dongwook Suh