Patents Examined by Nile C. Byers
  • Patent number: 4290585
    Abstract: A barrier for highway traffic of the type designed to bring a vehicle to standstill and avoid contact with a roadside hazard, e.g. a post, abutment or pylon, comprises an array of upstanding posts adapted to cushion the impact and increasing in number and height in the direction of travel of the vehicle toward the barrier to impose increasing resistance to traveling. The posts each comprise an upper and a lower section or portion in the form of tubes of which the lower tube is set into the ground while the upper tube is composed of thin sheet metal lined with or filled by a cushioning material such as a foamed synthetic resin. The two tubes or sections of each post are interconnected by a cast iron link which is designed to shear at ground level in part dissipating the kinetic energy of the vehicle. The upper tubes of the array are interconnected by chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Arbed S.A.
    Inventor: Ernest Glaesener
  • Patent number: 4290713
    Abstract: Expansion and cast-in retainer dam for sealing pavement joints against intrusion of water, dirt, etc., into the joint space, said dams utilizing a pair of rolled steel frames on opposite sides of the joint and a continuous elastomer strip spanning the joint and interlocked along its opposite edges in slotted openings in the frames by a bead of triangular cross-section on each edge of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: The D. S. Brown Company
    Inventors: Delmont D. Brown, Michael C. Rizza
  • Patent number: 4290712
    Abstract: A post made of one piece of molded polymeric material having a vertically upwardly extending elongated post means portion for supporting apparatus mounted thereon; a driving head means portion connected to and mounted below the lower end of the post means portion for application of force thereto without application of force to the upper end of the post means portion for forcibly driving the post apparatus into the ground; stabilizing flange means portions mounted on the driving head means portion below the lower end of the post means portion for stabilizing and supporting the post apparatus in a vertical attitude after being forcibly driven into the ground; and a ground penetrating shaft means portion connected to and mounted below the stabilizing means portion for initial penetration of the ground during forcible driving of the post apparatus into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Inventor: Norman J. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4289419
    Abstract: An inertial barrier system for attenuating the energy of errant vehicles. The system includes module means defining a frangible container having a generally inverted U-shaped configuration with an opened and enlarged upper portion and a closed lower portion. The upper and lower container portions receive a continuous mass of dispersible energy-attenuating material, and maintain the center of gravity of the mass above the lower portion of the container. This lower portion also defines a central void of substantial volume, for receiving a portion of the dispersible mass during the initial impact of the module means by an errant vehicle. Cover means are provided to close the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce O. Young, Wan Seegmiller
  • Patent number: 4289421
    Abstract: An assembly for paving concrete roads and other similar areas is disclosed having a width adjustable screed attached to a lightweight frame structure and utilizing mechanical vibrators in conjunction with a crown-shape finishing pan to produce a finished concrete road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Inventors: William P. Sampey, Larry A. Sampey, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4289420
    Abstract: A wooden mat assembly is disclosed for construction of temporary roadway surfacing, such as can be used to form a roadway or assembled to form a flat platform surface where wheeled or tracked vehicles can be turned around. The wooden mat assembly is formed from interlocking mats, each mat being formed from a plurality of layers or boards, each layer being formed from boards parallel to each other and perpendicular to boards forming the adjacent layer, the layers being fastened together at points of intersection by screw shank nails or other fastening means. The assembled roadway or turn-around has particular utility at or near oil well drilling sites, building construction sites, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Inventors: Marvin L. Davis, Edd C. Davis, Albert R. Green
  • Patent number: 4289422
    Abstract: The invention concerns an impact compactor comprising a noncircular roller, draft arms positioned on both sides of the roller, axle means supported about the draft arms and on which the roller is mounted for rotation, a draw bar pivotally connected to the draft arms for towing the roller, and a gear and pinion linkage between the roller and the draft arms. Outer gears may be fast with each side of the roller. Each draft arm may support a stub shaft on which a pinion is mounted to mesh with the outer gear and to co-operate with a ratchet mounted on the draft arm. A buffering device can be provided between the draft arms and the draw bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Fowler Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Pieter B. De Klerk, Andries G. Velthuysen
  • Patent number: 4288881
    Abstract: A bridge laying apparatus of the type having a vehicle and at least two bridge sections which are transportable thereon in a superimposed position and are joinable into a bridge for spanning an obstacle by devices carried by the vehicle. The bridge includes plural tracks connected to one another via crossbeams and the device is arranged and guided between the bridge tracks and includes a launching girder that is partially embedded within a laying beam and supported by roller pairs arranged on both sides of the launching girder, a respective one of the rollers of these roller pairs serving for guiding and supporting the bridge on the laying beam and the other roller of the roller pairs serving for guiding and supporting the launching girder in the bridge. A guide arm is articulated to the vehicle and the laying beam is held thereon by rollers which enable longitudinal displacement of the laying beam on the guide arm. The guide arm is shiftable about a horizontal axis by way of a hydraulic cylinder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Mahncke, Hans Weigele, Dieter Hotz
  • Patent number: 4286410
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for weather-sealing an elongated joint formed between a first member and a second member when said members are disposed at a predetermined relative position. The assembly includes an elongated piece having elongated interconnected first and second sections extending angularly relative to one another. The piece is removably carried by an elongated bracket fixedly secured to a side of one of the members defining the joint. The bracket is provided with an inner wall section, an outer wall section in spaced substantially face-to-face relation with the inner wall section, and a bridge section interconnecting a pair of corresponding elongated edges of the wall sections. The wall and bridge sections coact to form an elongated pocket having a first opening at one end. Corresponding second elongated edge portions of the inner and outer wall sections are disposed in spaced relation and define an elongated second opening having an end terminating at the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert Hahn
  • Patent number: 4286477
    Abstract: A steplessly adjustable hydrostatic-mechanical composite transmission in which an input shaft is connected to one shaft of a multishaft summing transmission and to one unit of a hydrostatic transmission whose two units are connected in a hydraulic circuit. One of the hydrostatic units is of the variable displacement type while the other is of the constant displacement type and can be connected by selective actuation of respective clutches to two other input elements of the multishaft planetary summing transmission. The latter has, in accordance with the invention, two output members, each of which is connected to a respective input shaft of an after transmission which can be of the planetary or fixed gear pair type. The latter transmission can also be used to effect reversing of the output shaft which is driven thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Meyerle, Otto Anton, Friedrich Ehrlinger
  • Patent number: 4285612
    Abstract: A roadway joint wherein a gap between two generally parallel concrete walls of the roadway structure is bridged by a joint assembly having resilient characteristics is reinforced by a protective shoulder structure which will avoid abrasion, wear and destruction due to traffic of the concrete shoulders of the walls forming the joint by forming the adjacent edges of the shoulders from silica-epoxy mortar which is cured into suitable sockets formed in the concrete shoulders of the adjacent walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Dinamyk Pesquisa E. Desenvolvimento Tecnologico S/C Ltda. Tecnologia de Solucoes
    Inventor: Pier L. Betti
  • Patent number: 4284365
    Abstract: This invention describes a reflective lane marker for roads which is mounted so that the upper surface of the marker is flush with the road surface. It is so arranged as to reflect light from headlights back in the same general direction from which it comes and which can operate when covered with a film of water. Because it is flush with the road surface, snowplowing can be used without harm to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Hall & Myers
    Inventor: Jacob Rabinow
  • Patent number: 4284366
    Abstract: A premium paving unit of elastomeric binder material and friction aggregate formed by a molding method which results in an ideal distribution of the aggregate in the binder wherein the aggregate is exposed at a wear face of the unit, has a preferential orientation with the wear face, and is substantially uniformly distributed throughout the remainder of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: The Johnson Rubber Company
    Inventor: Dennis M. Lucik
  • Patent number: 4282620
    Abstract: A sealing body member for attaching into an edge beam having upwardly extending arms, wherein at least one of the upwardly extending arms and the adjacent sealing body have respective mirror image longitudinal recesses, and a dowel part for inserting into the recesses, where the sealing body has a longitudinal cut above the recesses and approximately adjacent the upper edge of the upwardly extending wall to permit the sealing body upper part to be folded for inserting the dowel part from above into the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Inventor: Alfred Hartkorn
  • Patent number: 4282619
    Abstract: A low cost, factory fabricated, force distributing bridge truss assembly is disclosed which includes respective, interconnected, converging pairs of carrier truss structures designed to be composited to an overlying concrete bridge deck such that the latter serves as a top chord diaphragm for absorbing live load-induced compression and bending forces. The carrier truss structures are fabricated using only two standard shapes of plasma arc cut steel angles (normally 6".times.6" for truss webs and 8".times.8" for truss chords) welded directly together without the need for special order steel or supplemental gusset plates. The preferred deck for use with the truss assembly hereof is a concrete structure having a lowermost, spanning metallic plate substrate composited (by means of upstanding studs) to a concrete layer thereon. This assembly may be applied to the carrier truss structure in either precast, sectionalized form or field cast in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Havens Steel Company
    Inventor: Craig E. Rooney
  • Patent number: 4282621
    Abstract: A device is provided for releasably securing a parked vehicle to an adjacent structure. The device is provided with a first member hingedly mounted for movement between an operative mode and an inoperative mode. When the first member is in an operative mode the distal end thereof will releasably engage a portion of the parked vehicle and retain same in a desired position relative to the adjacent structure. When the first member is in an inoperative mode, it assumes a vehicle-release position. The first member is provided with means for moving same from the inoperative mode to the operative mode. A further means is provided for automatically locking the first member in an operative mode. The further means includes a means for effecting controlled unlocking of the first member whereby the latter will automatically return to its inoperative mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Anthony, Charles A. Portz
  • Patent number: 4281944
    Abstract: An adjustable support for varying the height of a manhole cover after a street surface has been resurfaced is presented including vertically disposed posts in a downward position on each end of each adjustable section. These posts provide the location for bolts connecting adjacent ends of two adjustable sections so that the entire structure permits the units to be expanded and contracted to fit a plurality of different diameters of manholes. Also an upwardly extending radially outwardly positioned projection on the outer surface of the base member of the adjustable section ensures a more stable engagement of the base member of the adjustable section with the manhole housing on which it is adapted to rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Inventor: Harold M. Bowman
  • Patent number: 4281945
    Abstract: Roller assemblies for refuse crushers or the like are provided wherein a roller element having axial end faces and a cylindrical surface carrying refuse crushing means is provided. Structure for supporting the roller element includes a pair of end faces, each of which is situated in opposed, spaced relation to a corresponding one of the axial end faces of the roller element. Crushing apparatus is provided on the opposed end faces of the roller element and support structure which crush refuse which might enter the space between the roller element and the support end faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Inventor: Matti S. Sinkkonen
  • Patent number: 4280243
    Abstract: Improvement in a bulk loading facility having a fixed deck having a vertical column as a part thereof and a drop way hinged to the deck so that it can be raised or lowered for loading, the improvement comprising the drop way having a handrail assembly including a handrail and a post for the handrail, the handrail and the post hinged to each other, the post hinged to the drop way, the handrail hinged to the column, and a four-bar mechanism consisting of the drop way, the handrail, the post and a portion of the column between the handrail and the drop way, the four-bar mechanism constructed so that the sum of the lengths of the column portion and the top rail is greater than the sum of the lengths of the drop way and the post, whereby the drop way has an overcenter action during raising thereof which assists in maintaining the drop way in its raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Inventor: Richard Durrant
  • Patent number: 4279050
    Abstract: A dockboard having movable cross-traffic legs associated therewith, and a latch mechanism which automatically engages and holds the cross-traffic legs in a retracted position when the dockboard is being actively utilized for loading or unloading a truck. The latch mechanism is automatically unlatched following removal of the truck bed from beneath the ramp so that the legs are returned to their active position for supporting the ramp flush with the dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald E. Abbott