Patents Examined by Raymond W Addie
  • Patent number: 11859395
    Abstract: A self-propelled power trowel for finishing a concrete surface is equipped with reversible rotors to allow an operator to reverse the direction of rotation of rotor blades. The trowel includes a rigid frame adapted for operation over a concrete surface, a pair of rotor assemblies having rotor blades tiltably connected to the rigid frame for frictionally contacting the concrete surface and supporting the rigid frame thereabove, a prime mover mounted to the rigid frame and operatively coupled to drive the rotor blades of the rotor assemblies in opposite rotational directions. Synchronous or hydraulic motors are configured for causing, responsive to manual controls, reversal of the direction of rotation of the rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Multiquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Erick M. Del Real, Larry Jake Chapple, Nathaniel Cody Bateman, Jeffrey Kevin Davis
  • Patent number: 11859353
    Abstract: According to one example, a screed assembly for a paver is disclosed. The screed assembly can include an end gate, a screed extender and a stowage apparatus. The screed extender can be selectively connected to the end gate via a first one or more quick attachment mechanisms. When connected, the screed extender can be configured to operably position the end gate relative to a main screed. The stowage apparatus can have a second one or more quick attachment mechanisms for selectively coupling the stowage apparatus to the end gate. The stowage apparatus can be movable from a first position for transportation of the paver where the end gate is coupled to the stowage apparatus and the end gate is positioned behind the main screed to a second position during operation of the paver where the end gate is decoupled from the stowage apparatus and the stowage apparatus is positioned adjacent the main screed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Toby A Frelich, Bee Vang
  • Patent number: 11858763
    Abstract: A vehicle leveler includes a first portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge; the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The vehicle leveler also includes a second portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge; the leading edge of the second portion is attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The second portion also includes an extension portion. The vehicle leveler also includes opposing side portions which extend the length of and contact the second portion and extension portion, the opposing side portions have a top surface which forms a walkway. A freestanding unitary vehicle wheel guide with a walkway is adjacent to the opposing side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Leum Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Leum, Eric Demerath
  • Patent number: 11860150
    Abstract: A method for evaluating damage-healing characteristics of paving asphalt based on energetics principle includes: obtaining a numerical integral AH of a stored pseudo strain energy required by asphalt to compensate damage-healing to loading times and obtaining local life compensation ?N of the asphalt benefiting from damage-healing characteristics; calculating an average stored pseudo strain energy QH of the asphalt according to the following formula: Q H = A H ? ? N ; and evaluating the asphalt damage-healing characteristics according to the average stored pseudo strain energy QH of the asphalt. This method is based on the evolution law of the average stored pseudo strain energy required to compensate the damage-healing to explore the damage-healing characteristics of asphalt. As a characteristic index of materials, this energy evaluation index has nothing to do with the damage state and the rest periods, but only depends on the strain load, which improves the testing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chao Wang, Guanyu Gong, Zhengyang Ren
  • Patent number: 11851837
    Abstract: A hydraulic power shovel includes a frame, a power cylinder, a hydraulic installation, and a control unit. The frame is configured to support a turret equipped with an arm terminated by a tool, such as a bucket having a tamping surface. The power cylinder is linked to the arm and is configured to press on the turret. The hydraulic installation includes an adjustable flow pump configured to supply the power cylinder via a slide valve and a hydraulic liquid tank. The control unit is linked to (i) a control member actuated by the operator and configured to generate a control signal, and (ii) a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to a pressure and temperature of hydraulic liquid in the power cylinder. A vapour pressure diagram of the hydraulic liquid is available in the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gilles Florean
  • Patent number: 11834796
    Abstract: A vehicle for patching road pavements comprising a frame, a container for holding the new paving material, a radiating plate, a rake, a paver for distributing and levelling a new paving material, a compactor and a support structure which comprises a movable part. The frame supports the support structure and the container which comprises an outlet for supplying the paver. The movable part bears the paver, the rake and the compactor and translates with respect to the frame in a first direction from a retracted position to an extracted position so that they operate on successive parts of the zone to be patched. The radiating plate is movable vertically beneath the frame and the rake is vertically movable with respect to the paver and the compactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BUNNI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Firas Bunni
  • Patent number: 11828029
    Abstract: A system for monitoring physical and/or environmental conditions during application of roadway marking tape. The system includes a data logging system that is operative to monitor one or more environmental parameters and geographical location during application of roadway marking tape. The data logging system generates a record of the parameters indexed to location. The record may be used to ensure application compliance and/or allow a user to alter one or more application parameters to ensure application compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Epic Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Arnold Wilkens, William Ricker
  • Patent number: 11829151
    Abstract: A construction-vehicle autonomous travel control device to correct a steering angle so as to direct to a target point set on a target track includes: an expected arrival point calculator to calculate an expected arrival point of a vehicle to arrive after a predetermined time based on a vehicle speed and a steering angle; and a corrected steering angle calculator to calculate a corrected steering angle so as to direct the expected arrival point to the target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAKAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Ryohei Endo, Shigeki Kushida
  • Patent number: 11828717
    Abstract: Provided is a method for evaluating and utilizing sonnenbrand basalt aggregate, including steps as follows: mixing a basalt aggregate defined as sonnenbrand basalt into an asphalt mixture; carrying out thermal aging experiments at different temperatures and durations to obtain a theoretical trigger time ti for the sonnenbrand phenomenon under a thermal aging temperature Ti; further calculating to obtain a theoretical thermal aging factor AF0 for the sonnenbrand phenomenon; statistically calculating a thermal aging factor AF for an actual construction to evaluate a performance of the basalt aggregate, if AF<AF0, the construction may be carried out normally, if AF?AF0, then shortening the transportation and waiting duration and/or lowering the factory temperature of the asphalt mix so that the thermal aging factor AF<AF0 during actual construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF HIGHWAY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
    Inventors: Mingliang Li, Jun Li, Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 11821152
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first information indicative of a first selection of a machine disposed at a worksite, wherein the first information is received from an electronic device disposed remote from the worksite. The method also includes receiving second information from the electronic device, wherein the second information is indicative of a second selection of a component of the machine. The method further includes determining, using at least one sensor, that an area surrounding the machine is free from unknown objects, and receiving third information indicative of a request to activate the component. The method also includes causing activation of the component based at least in part on the third information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Monica Repiscak, Terry Ray Stoe, Steven Paul Goutermont, Tobin Dale Rasmusson
  • Patent number: 11807997
    Abstract: A method includes performing, with a compacting machine, a first pass to compact a first portion of a work area to compact a first lane. A guidance system acquires position information representing the first compacted lane. A second pass is performed to compact a second portion of the work area adjacent the first portion. The guidance system acquires current position information of the machine representing current positioning of the machine during the second pass. Comparing the position information of the machine representing the first compacted lane with the current position information, determines whether the current positioning overlaps the first compacted lane a specified amount. When the second pass is determined to overlap the first compacted lane, in-compliance visual indicia is generated. When the second pass is determined to not overlap the first compacted lane with the specified amount, out of compliance visual indicia is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Nagel, David E. Gerding, Travis D. McClung
  • Patent number: 11795631
    Abstract: A linkage system for a screed extension includes a mounting plate that includes a mounting plate finger; an upper rail; a lower rail; a height adjustment shaft; a set of slide blocks that are disposed in a channel between the upper rail and the lower rail; a set of linkage arms; an angle of attack adjustment structure that holds the mounting plate finger at an angle; and a set of angle of attack adjustment screws. The height adjustment shaft is configured to adjust a position of the set of slide blocks within the channel and thereby adjust a height of a lower frame of the screed extension. The set of angle of attack adjustment screws are configured adjust the angle of the mounting plate finger and thereby adjust an angle of attack of the lower frame of the screed extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy L Wehrenberg, Toby Frelich, Brad W Green, Ryan Thiesse
  • Patent number: 11788240
    Abstract: A conveyor mold system for slip forming a concrete barrier has a concrete paving machine having a main frame having machine legs and machine tracks, an auger system for receiving concrete, a barrier paving mold having a hopper for receiving concrete from the auger system, a conveyor assembly main frame having a front roller and a rear roller, and a belt having a pattern with the belt positioned on the front roller and the rear roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Blake Driskell
  • Patent number: 11788299
    Abstract: A modular system including a surface-defining assembly having a plurality of panels. Each panel includes a plate portion, a first connector disposed towards and extending along a first side of the plate portion, and a second connector disposed towards and extending along a second side of the plate portion. The first and second connectors of adjacent panels are configured to engage one another to thereby engage the plurality of panels with one another in side-by-side relation such that the plate portions cooperate to define a continuous surface of the surface-defining assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Bonner
  • Patent number: 11788304
    Abstract: An apparatus for leveling a concrete screed having a frame and a screed head secured thereto includes a plurality of vertically adjustable leveling legs driven by a plurality of electrical actuators responsive to a command supplied by a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ligchine International Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Ligman, Gary Ligman
  • Patent number: 11781276
    Abstract: A barrier apparatus includes a barrier post mounted to a base and extending upwardly from the base. A brace of the barrier apparatus is configured to restrict relative movement between the barrier post and the base. The brace can be mounted to the base so that it extends upwardly and obliquely toward the barrier post. The brace can include block. A reinforcing tube can extend around the block. A mated connection to the front of the brace can include a first mating protrusion extending into a first mating hole, and a mated connection to the bottom of the brace can include a second mating protrusion extending into a second mating hole. The brace or another brace can extend into a rear corner positioned between the barrier post and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Barrier1 Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Michael John Lamore
  • Patent number: 11781278
    Abstract: An unbalance arrangement for a compactor roller of a soil compacter includes a first unbalance mass unit rotatable around an unbalance axis of rotation having a first center of mass eccentric with respect to the unbalance axis of rotation, a second unbalance mass unit rotatable around the unbalance axis of rotation having a second center of mass eccentric with respect to the unbalance axis of rotation, an unbalance drive for jointly driving the first unbalance mass unit and the second unbalance mass unit to rotate around the unbalance axis of rotation, and a phase position adjustment unit for adjusting a phase position of the first center of mass with respect to the second center of mass around the unbalance axis of rotation. The phase position adjustment unit includes a spur gear arrangement in the torque transmission path between the unbalance drive and the first unbalance mass unit or the second unbalance mass unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Wolfrum, Peter Jänner
  • Patent number: 11781273
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ground compaction apparatus for compacting a subsoil cover layer, with at least one compaction roller, a cover edge processing apparatus comprising an edge processing roller and having a cut material deflector, the cut material deflector being mounted on the cover edge processing apparatus with the aid of a mounting device, the mounting device being configured such that the relative position of the at least one material guide surface of the cut material deflector can be changed automatically with respect to the adjustable roller holding device of the cover edge processing apparatus. The present invention also relates to an asphalt roller having such a ground compaction apparatus and a method for operating such a ground compaction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Kreutz, Manfred Darscheid, Hendrik Stein
  • Patent number: 11772915
    Abstract: A vehicle leveler which includes a first portion with a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The leveler also includes a second portion with a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of the second portion is removably attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The second portion also includes an extension portion. The vehicle leveler has opposing side portions which have a top surface that forms a walkway. The vehicle leveler having a power unit and a hydraulic system that provides power and allows movement of the first portion and second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Leum Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Leum, Eric Demerath
  • Patent number: 11773555
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for compacting soil and granular materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, the soil compaction apparatuses include an arrangement of diametric expansion elements that, in their expanded state, form a larger compaction surface. In another embodiment, a compaction chamber can be provided with diametric restriction elements and a flow-through passage in the upper portion of the chamber exterior of a drive shaft. The diametric expansion or restriction elements can be fabricated from, for example, individual chains, cables, or wire rope, or a lattice of vertically and horizontally connected chains, cables, or wire rope. Embodiments of the soil compaction apparatus include, but are not limited to, closed-ended driving shafts, open-ended driving shafts, flow-through passages, no flow-through passages, removable rings for holding the diametric expansion/restriction elements, and any combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Geopier Foundation Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. White, Kord J. Wissmann