Patents Examined by R. B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6988864
    Abstract: A refuse receptacle lifter is disclosed which is movable between a retracted and a dumping position for lifting and inverting refuse receptacles of the type including spaced apart upper and lower engagement surfaces. The lifter may include an actuator with a rotary output shaft, a lift arm attached to the rotary output shaft, an upper engagement member carried at least in part by the lift arm, a first actuator arm pivotally mounted to the lift arm and a second actuator arm pivotally mounted to the base. The actuator arms are attached to an extension assembly that carries a lower engagement member. Upon rotation of the output shaft, the upper engagement member is moved between a lower retracted position and a raised position and the lower engagement member is moved between a retracted position and an extended position, for lifting and inverting a refuse receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Perkins Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ramiro Arrez, Carlos Arrez
  • Patent number: 6758647
    Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing wafers are provided suitable for a semiconductor manufacturing system and a method thereof capable of shortening the processing period composed of a series of processes applied to objects to be processed, mainly carry out processes and conveyance peace by peace, and which can manufacture even various kings of products. The system is provided with a plurality of processing units each having therein a conveying mechanism, and is provided therein with a conveyer device for conveying the objects to be processed to the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsunori Kaji, Yoichi Uchimaki, Yuko Egawa
  • Patent number: 6733243
    Abstract: An interbay transportation system includes bays in which process equipment are provided, stockers provided for the individual bays, and a vehicle traveling through the stockers for transporting a semi-processed product from one of the stockers to another. Timing to start transportation is determined according to the operation status of the process equipment and the number of semi-processed products in the stocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Ryoden Semiconductor System Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoji Ogata, Hirofumi Ohtsuka, Taichi Yanaru
  • Patent number: 6669039
    Abstract: A control system for a loading crane provided with a control site, the control system consisting of a control site for a crane operator, a directional control valve positioned external to the control site and arranged to control a hydraulic system of the crane to provide different operations of the crane, and a mechanical rod-driven control lever system influencing actuator spindles of the directional control valve for the control of the directional control valve from the control site of the crane. To provide an efficient control system, the directional control valve is arranged at the sides of the control site in such a way that the actuator spindles are in a substantially horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Loglift Oy AB
    Inventors: Arto Moilanen, Asko Repo, Jorma Renvall
  • Patent number: 6669038
    Abstract: A self-propelled crane provides a possibility to lift the heavy and large-size loads and includes a mobile unit as a base unit, which carries a pivoting platform, a traverse, a boom, the bottom of which is by the hinge connected to the platform and the upper end of a boom is attached to a luffing arm. The upper end of the boom has the first hoist cable roller and another end of the luffing arm has the second hoist cable roller. The first hoist cable is connected to a crane hook mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: David Zingerman
  • Patent number: 6644486
    Abstract: A system which can both be adapted to existing single point lift mechanisms, and constrain a hoisted load in all six degrees of freedom, includes a suspension point, an assembly, a lateral tension lines member, and a control system. The assembly includes first and second platforms connected by a plurality of control cables which can precisely control the position, velocity, and force of a hoisted element in six degrees of freedom. The position or tension of the control lines can be controlled either manually, automatically by computer, or in various combinations of manual and automatic control. Advantages associated with the system include not only the ability to control the position, velocity, and force of the attached load, tool, and/or equipment in six degrees of freedom using position and tension feedback, but its ready adaptation to existing single point lift mechanisms and relatively light weight, and its flexibility, ease, and precision of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Adam Stephan Jacoff, Roger Vernon Bostelman, James Sacra Albus
  • Patent number: 6634450
    Abstract: During occurrence of slippage at drive wheels, a traction controller calculates a feedforward term of a desired drive engine torque as a sum of an accelerating resistance torque and a running resistance torque determined immediately before the occurrence of slippage. The traction controller calculates a feedback term of the desired drive torque as a function of a slip error from a desired value and determines a target engine torque in response to the feedforward and feedback terms and a speed ratio established in a transmission. The traction controller alters an engine torque modifier in the form of a throttle arranged upstream of an accelerator controlled throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukumura, Hitoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 6631816
    Abstract: Drums each having an independent drive source is installed on a trolley and each of the drums has a lifting rope which is wound around it and has an unwound end locked on a suspension piece, which will suppress any need to design the lifting rope in longer length and the drums in larger size. Sun gears, carriers and planetary gears disposed in each of the drums as well as internal teeth in each of the drums so as to be integrally rotated with the drum constitute a speed reducing mechanism for transmitting rotation of a drive source to each of the drums, will enable the entire hoist to be compact in size. Unwound length of the lifting rope from each drum is adjusted to control posture of the suspension piece and load in adequate state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Miyazawa, Hiroshi Asano, Kunio Noui
  • Patent number: 6461096
    Abstract: A tilt bed for a truck or a trailer, the tilt bed being able of carrying loads and providing its own ramp. The tilt bed comprises a frame, and a deck mounted on and supported by the frame, the deck having a front portion and a rear portion. The deck has rollers connected to the front portion, and the frame has tracks mounted at an angle, the tracks for guiding the deck rollers. The trailer bed further comprises a hydraulic cylinder that has a first end connected to the frame and a second end connected to the trailer bed. The hydraulic cylinder has a piston and a cylinder. As the piston moves from an extended state into a retracted state, it causes the trailer bed to move in a rearward position. At the same time, the tracks force the deck rollers in an upward motion and cause the trailer bed to tilt. Finally, the hydraulic cylinder remains parallel to the trailer deck at all times. This orientation is accomplished because the trailer deck and the hydraulic cylinder tilt around a common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Trail King Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Mentele, Bernard VanWassenhove
  • Patent number: 6439407
    Abstract: A system which can both be adapted to existing single point lift mechanisms, and constrain a hoisted load in all six degrees of freedom, includes a suspension point, an assembly, a lateral tension lines member, and a control system. The assembly includes first and second platforms connected by a plurality of control cables which can precisely control the position, velocity, and force of a hoisted element in six degrees of freedom. The position or tension of the control lines can be controlled either manually, automatically by computer, or in various combinations of manual and automatic control. Advantages associated with the system include not only the ability to control the position, velocity, and force of the attached load, tool, and/or equipment in six degrees of freedom using position and tension feedback, but its ready adaptation to existing single point lift mechanisms and relatively light weight, and its flexibility, ease, and precision of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Adam Stephan Jacoff, Roger Vernon Bostelman, James Sacra Albus
  • Patent number: 6422799
    Abstract: A overhead transport system with load-bearing members, in particular transverse bars for attachment of loads, includes running rails which extend in at least two horizontal planes in spaced-apart, parallel disposition, and at least one crane which travels in an upper one of the planes transversely to the running rails for transfer of the load-bearing members from one running rail to another running rail. In order to provide the overhead transport system in a cost-efficient manner with two production or treatment planes while yet saving time as far as transfer of the load-bearing members is concerned, the transfer of the load-bearing members in a lower one of the planes is realized by at least one self-propelled transfer vehicle which travels transversely to the running rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Birkigt, Gerhard Kroll
  • Patent number: 6343703
    Abstract: In the anti-two block device, a non-contact measuring device detects in one form or another the distance between a boom nose and a load-bearing member supported thereby. If the distance detected is less than a predetermined threshold value, the device triggers a warning or other operation to assist an operator in preventing anti-two blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Grove U.S. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jon E. Fleagle, Dennis W. Eckstine, William W. Banks, Francis R. Eyler
  • Patent number: 6330951
    Abstract: An improved method of lifting a load includes supporting a load on a first section of an extendible lift assembly, the first section being surrounded by a second section, a hydraulic cylinder being operatively coupled to the first section so as to be capable of lifting the first section, and the first and second sections being supported on and vertically extendible with respect to a base. Then, while the load is supported on the first section, the hydraulic cylinder is extended to extend the first section relative to the second section and the base, thereby lifting the load to a first height. Then, the first section is secured to the second section so as to at least substantially prevent downward movement of the first section relative to the second section. The cylinder is then retracted and operatively coupled to the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: J&R Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger L. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6250485
    Abstract: A mobile aerial apparatus includes a lower boom and an upper boom and pivotally mounted to a pedestal. A lift cylinder pivots the lower boom. An articulated assembly includes a common pivot support secured to the articulated ends of the booms on a common axis. A link unit has a common pivot member on said common pivot axis. An upper boom cylinder unit has a cylinder pivotally connected on the common pivot axis and a piston rod connected to an upper boom connector of the link unit. A lower boom cylinder unit has a cylinder pivotally connected on the common pivot axis and a piston rod connected to a lower boom connector of said link unit. The connections to the link unit form a triangular assembly with the pivot axis being parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Terex Telelect
    Inventor: James A. Olson
  • Patent number: 6234332
    Abstract: A transverse trolley 11 is transversally movable on a crane girder. A driver is provided for the transverse trolley 11. A pair of sheave blocks 14, 15 which is movable relative to a transverse trolley 11 are disposed on both (right and left) sides of a transverse trolley 11. Drivers are provided for the sheave blocks. Detectors 31 through 38 are provided which detect the displacement and velocity of the transverse trolley 11, the sway displacement and velocity of a hoisted load-piece 23 on both (right and left) sides and the displacement and velocity of the two sheave blocks 14, 15. A notch is disposed on an operation controlling panel of the transverse trolley 11 for setting a trolley transverse velocity by an operator. A transverse notch-driving control quantity detector 40 is provided which outputs signals indicative of notch-driving control quantity (a trolley transverse velocity set value) which is set by operating the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadaaki Monzen, Susumu Kouno, Takashi Toyohara, Yoshiaki Okubo, Noriaki Miyata
  • Patent number: 6202868
    Abstract: A vertical lift hoist and winch is taught which can be used, for example, for suspending wild game animals for the purpose of field dressing. The assembly is collapsible without any disassembly of major parts, to be able to fold up into a convenient carrying position, or to be capable of storage in a normal automobile truck, Jeep or station wagon compartment or a truck tool box. The winch lift assembly permits convenient storage and ease of set-up, where all pieces are held together as one. The pulley's are recessed in the upper boom which allows a tight closure in the collapsed position which is an advantage over other types of lifts. Nothing hangs down below the boom, thereby eliminating any cable tangles or interference when setting up or storing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: David N. Murray
  • Patent number: 6182844
    Abstract: A transverse trolley 11 is transversally movable on a crane girder. A driver is provided for the transverse trolley 11. A pair of sheave blocks 14, 15 which is movable relative to a transverse trolley 11 are disposed on both (right and left) sides of a transverse trolley 11. Drivers are provided for the sheave blocks. Detectors 31 through 38 are provided which detect the displacement and velocity of the transverse trolley 11, the sway displacement and velocity of a hoisted load-piece 23 on both (right and left) sides and the displacement and velocity of the two sheave blocks 14, 15. A notch is disposed on an operation controlling panel of the transverse trolley 11 for setting a trolley transverse velocity by an operator. A transverse notch-driving control quantity detector 40 is provided which outputs signals indicative of notch-driving control quantity (a trolley transverse velocity set value) which is set by operating the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadaaki Monzen, Susumu Kouno, Takashi Toyohara, Yoshiaki Okubo, Noriaki Miyata
  • Patent number: 6135301
    Abstract: A transverse trolley (11) is transversally movable on a crane girder. A driver is provided for the transverse trolley (11). A pair of sheave blocks (14, 15) which is movable relative to a transverse trolley (11) are disposed on both (right and left) sides of a transverse trolley (11). Drivers are provided for the sheave blocks. Detectors (31 through 38) are provided which detect the displacement and velocity of the transverse trolley (11), the sway displacement and velocity of a hoisted load-piece (23) on both (right and left) sides and the displacement and velocity of the two sheave blocks (14, 15). A notch is disposed on an operation controlling panel of the transverse trolley (11) for setting a trolley transverse velocity by an operator. A transverse notch-driving control quantity detector (40) is provided which outputs signals indicative of notch-driving control quantity (a trolley transverse velocity set value) which is set by operating the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadaaki Monzen, Susumu Kouno, Takashi Toyohara, Yoshiaki Okubo, Noriaki Miyata
  • Patent number: 5971178
    Abstract: A hoist is constructed for powered drive by an impact tool. The hoist includes tension means for applying a force in tension to a load. Gear means are operatively associated with the tension means for producing a tension force in the tension means. The gear means include a gear element which provides a positive hold of the produced tension force when the gear means are not being driven. Impact fitting means are connected to the gear element for enabling the gear means to be power driven by an impact tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Bruce E. Ratcliff
    Inventors: Bruce E. Ratcliff, Ralph A. Ratcliff
  • Patent number: 5941547
    Abstract: A manually propelled wheelchair (10) powered by the chair occupant. Hand power levers (11,12) are pivoted on each side of the chair frame (15). Drive cables (25) connect each lever to a wheel pulley (20) which in turn acts through one-way clutches to propel the wheels (16, 17) during the power stroke as the lever pulls the drive cable. The clutches permit free wheeling of the chair except during the application of drive power. Recoil springs (46) rewind the cable on the pulley during the lever's return stroke. The point of cable attachment (19) to the lever is changed by rotating the lever handle (21) to change the ratio of lever movement to wheel movement. Moving the attachment point below the pivot point reverses the direction of the power and the return strokes. Directional control is obtained by differential application of power to the wheels and by selective wheel braking. For single hand operation, a single axle is used for both wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Carl F. Drake