Patents Examined by Saúl J. Rodríguez
  • Patent number: 8167527
    Abstract: An agricultural auger wagon includes a horizontal floor auger and a forward lift auger for delivering grain to a transport vehicle. The lift auger is a folding auger which includes a fixed lower auger section and an upper auger section mounted above the lower auger section in use. The upper auger section is moved by an hydraulic cylinder between the upright delivery position for delivering the contents of the wagon to an adjacent transport vehicle, such as a truck, and a folded transport position. The folding upper auger section has a retractable delivery hood. In the use or delivery position, the upper and lower left auger sections are aligned for delivering product. During the movement of the upper auger section to the delivery position, the delivery hood is moved by linkage to the distal upper end of the upper auger section for maximum height and reach in delivering grain to an adjacent vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon E. Kinzenbaw
  • Patent number: 8025472
    Abstract: Particulate filling devices and methods are disclosed that use a loading system generally including a loading cart, a drive system, and a line assembly. The drive system generally includes a motor, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a spool, a plurality of cable partitions, and a controller. Each line assembly generally includes cable sections, swivel connectors, one or more spring blocks and a weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Catalyst Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Fry
  • Patent number: 8021098
    Abstract: A portable raise climbing system is provided that comprises a starter box for interfacing with an existing raise climb track, a raise climber that is deployed by the system onto the existing track for normal raise excavation operations, and a transporter. The transporter is configured to carry the raise climber from site to site by interfacing with moving equipment. The moving equipment preferably includes a front hydraulic quick connect/disconnect lift system, e.g. front-end loader, forklift, plough, scooptram, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: J.S. Redpath Limited
    Inventor: Randy E. Grenon
  • Patent number: 8011871
    Abstract: Reels of material are transported by being disposed on a first transport carriage which is, in turn, disposed on a second transport carriage. The second transport carriage travels between a reel storage area, that has a plurality of storage spaces, and a reel changer of a web-processing machine. The second transport carriage, together with the first transport carriage and the reel of material that is deposited on the first transport carriage then travels to an offload or unload position of the reel changer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erwin Paul Josef Lehrieder, Josef Herbert Olbort
  • Patent number: 8007220
    Abstract: A wheelchair lifting bay comprising base means, a lifting platform, lifting means and pivot means, in which the lifting platform is connected to the base means by the pivot means, in which the lifting platform comprises a bottom wall and a back wall, in which the pivot means is disposed rearward of said back wall and is spaced apart from it, in which the lifting means is mounted between the base means and the lifting platform forward of the pivot means, and in which the lifting means rotates the lifting platform about the pivot means in use such that the back wall follows a circumferential path about the pivot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventors: David Vandyke, Philip Wickens, Stephen Campbell
  • Patent number: 8002320
    Abstract: A tongs for manually grasping items has two elongate tong arms pivotally joined together with a pair of magnet members. The arms pivot between an open position when the magnet members are joined together and a closed position when the magnet members are separated. A user can easily break the connection of the magnet members and separate the two arms, making it easier to store and clean the tongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Elliott Bowser
  • Patent number: 8002322
    Abstract: A multi-use snow tool is described, which includes a snow fluke and a snow picket that may be combined to function as a snow shovel, or may be used independent of each other as climbing anchors. As one example, the multi-use snow tool includes a snow fluke including a blade body having a base end and a nose end opposite the base end; a snow picket having an elongate shaft including at least a first flange; and a lip assembly located at the base end of the blade body and cooperating with the blade body to define at least a first channel that is adapted to mate with the first flange to detachably couple the snow picket to the snow fluke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Cascade Alpine, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Rathmell, Benjamin Bliesner
  • Patent number: 7997633
    Abstract: Elevating a handle of the lifter tool creates a clamping force between a bottom support plate and a top clamping plate operatively attached to the handle, allowing a worker to transfer, simultaneously, a number of stacked pavers, or similar block-like objects, quickly, efficiently and safely. A push-off plate facilitates unloading of the pavers from the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Philip J. Bahler
  • Patent number: 7997213
    Abstract: A modular cradle for reinforcing, transporting, and stacking cargo containers used in the transportation and storage of bulk cargo in the oil and gas industry so as to allow compliance with construction and shipping standards adopted by the oil and gas industry is disclosed. The cargo cradle is comprised of a rectangular frame for holding and supporting a cargo container. The cradle has attached lifting lugs positioned within the interior of the cargo cradle for attachment of lifting cables. The lifting lugs are positioned so as to allow cradles to be stacked one upon the other. The container cradles interlock when stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: R3G, LLC
    Inventors: Garett P. Gauthier, Robert L. Gauthier, Sr., Robert J. Roger, Robert L. Gauthier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8000835
    Abstract: An apparatus, program product, and related methods for gravity stabilizing a suspended load are provided. The apparatus includes an center of gravity stabilized automated adjusting load bar in communication with a mobile cart which allows an operator to enable automated stabilization of a load. The adjusting load bar includes redundant first and second control and drive systems. A third control system can both monitor sensed data and the movement commands of first and second control systems, and can monitor the resulting physical movements. If a movement command and the resulting movement does not match or if there is an out of tolerance mismatch between movement commands of the first and the second control systems, the third control system can automatically detect this condition and shift into an emergency stop condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Friz, Mark R. Bates
  • Patent number: 7993089
    Abstract: A system for extracting mail items in a mail processing system includes at least one pocket for containing at least one mail item and an extraction device. The pocket has a bottom area and two lateral walls, wherein each lateral wall has at least one opening. The pocket further includes a release mechanism at the bottom area configured to place the bottom area in an open state and a closed state. The extraction device is configured to engage the lateral walls of the pocket so that contact elements of the extraction device extend through the lateral walls and urge the at least one mail item away from inner surfaces of the lateral walls. The extraction device is further configured to cause the at least one mail item to pass through the bottom area when in the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Enenkel, Klaus Koenig
  • Patent number: 7988215
    Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes a robotic arm, an end effector movably connected thereto and provided with a movable end effector element driven by an actuator, and a force sensor arranged between the robotic arm and the end effector. The actuator is formed by a hydraulic cylinder. The robotic arm is provided with a hydraulic line connected to said hydraulic cylinder of the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft-und Raumfahrt E.V.
    Inventor: Ulrich Seibold
  • Patent number: 7980805
    Abstract: An ejector blade adapted to be combined with an ejector truck or trailer body. In one embodiment, the blade comprises fluidly actuated vibrators for loosening material that has become adhered to the ejector blade. In another embodiment, the blade is heated to help prevent material from being frozen to the blade. In yet another embodiment, the blade comprises a plurality of low friction guides to aid the blade in moving through the receptacle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: James Holmes, Peter Prillinger
  • Patent number: 7980611
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus includes a base plate with a two-pronged portion, a holding plate arranged above the base plate, a driving portion provided therebetween, a holding portion formed by a tip end of the two-pronged portion and a tip end of the holding plate, and a guide portion provided at the tip end of the two-pronged portion for guiding a part of the substrate. The driving portion includes an urging means for always urging a basal end side of the holding plate upward, an electric magnetic portion for drawing the holding plate toward the base plate, and a bearing portion arranged at on the tip end side of the base plate. The guide portion has a guide groove which comes into contact with a part of a periphery of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Hideharu Zenpo, Hideo Yamamoto, Toshiyuki Harada, Yoshihiro Kusama, Katsuya Okumura
  • Patent number: 7980609
    Abstract: An improvement to elongate tools for engaging objects from remote distances includes a connection between the rod on which the engagement elements are provided and the handle of the that allows for the orientation of the rod with respect to the handle to occupy at least two pre-selected fixed positions which are angular positions approximately 90 degrees from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ontel Products Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok Khubani
  • Patent number: 7976262
    Abstract: This invention relates to a FOUP opener in which a FOUP is placed and the FOUP door of the FOUP can be detached so as to allow access to the interior of the FOUP. The FOUP opener includes a port door having an attaching/detaching mechanism for attaching and detaching the FOUP door and a holding mechanism for holding the FOUP door to be detached, and a port door moving unit for moving said port door holding the FOUP door so as that the FOUP is opened. The port door has a main structure in which said attaching/detaching mechanism is arranged and a surface panel to cover said main structure. The surface panel is detachable from said main structure at a front side of the FOUP opener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hirata Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7972104
    Abstract: A lower buffer 6 is placed under a traveling rail for an overhead traveling vehicle 16, and a side buffer 8 is provided on a side of the traveling rail. The overhead traveling vehicle 16 has a hoisting frame 30, and a lateral feeding unit 24 for laterally feeding the hoisting frame 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shiwaku, Takashi Nakao
  • Patent number: 7971917
    Abstract: The apparatus for an automated drill pipe casing stabbing arm includes a telescopic tube assembly, a movable roller bracket assembly, a movable arm assembly, a mounting assembly, an apparatus actuator, and a PLC portable remote control device. An actuator mechanism positions the gripping arm assembly and the roller bracket assemble relative to one another in order to capture and grip the casing therebetween to support and grip the casing on the circumference thereof from opposing diametric sides. The automated stabbing arm is installed on a rig's mast or derrick. In a working position, the apparatus is oriented horizontally to provide radial support and guidance to the casing. A rig worker on the rig floor controls the apparatus by the portable remote control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Yaogen Ge
  • Patent number: 7971916
    Abstract: A tool module associated with an end-effector for a robot arm that includes both linear and rotational locking mechanisms providing movement in five degrees of freedom. The tool module includes an integrated locking assembly that includes a linear locking mechanism and a rotary locking mechanism that are simultaneously locked and unlocked. The linear locking mechanism locks to a rod and the rotary locking mechanism locks and unlocks a shaft that is rigidly coupled to a swing arm. An opposite end of the swing arm includes another linear locking mechanism that locks and unlocks a shaft supporting a vacuum cup at an opposite end. The vacuum cup is mounted to a ball joint on the shaft that allows the vacuum cup to pivot. By locking and unlocking the locking mechanisms of the tool module, the end-effector can be readily configured to grasp and hold various parts of different dimensions and shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yhu-Tin Lin, James W. Wells, Roland J. Menassa
  • Patent number: 7967352
    Abstract: A spreader bar end cap for use in a spreader bar assembly. The spreader bar end cap may include a flange having a first side and a second side, the second side including a groove adapted for receiving an end of a spreader pipe, wherein the groove extends outward from the flange to capture the end of the spreader pipe; a shackle connection part extending from the flange first side and adapted for attachment to a lifting mechanism; and an insertion part comprising a distal end extending from the flange second side and comprising a shoulder on the distal end, the shoulder being adapted for abutment with an inside diameter of the spreader pipe. Alternatively, the groove may recesses into the flange to capture the end of the spreader pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Tandemloc, Inc.
    Inventor: John Michael Di Martino