Patents by Inventor David J. Schaefer

David J. Schaefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8869711
    Abstract: A rail car cover system that includes a rail car, a first cover section, a first cover movement mechanism and a cover control system. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover movement mechanism is operably attached to the first cover section. The first cover movement mechanism is capable of moving the first cover section between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The cover control system includes a first control component and a second control component. The first control component is mounted with respect to the rail car. The first control component is in communication with the first cover movement mechanism. The second control component is provided proximate to where it is desired to operate the rail car cover system. The second control component is capable of communicating with the first control component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Strategic Rail Systems Company
    Inventors: Jerry R. Dimmer, David J. Schaefer, Troy Knouse, Steven J. Knight
  • Patent number: 8826827
    Abstract: A rail car cover system including a rail car and a first cover section. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover section includes a first corner hinge assembly, a second corner hinge assembly and a first cover material. The first corner hinge assembly is pivotally mounted to the rail car. The second corner hinge assembly is pivotally mounted to the rail car. At least a portion of the second corner hinge assembly is slidable away from the first corner hinge assembly. The first cover material is operably attached to the first corner hinge assembly and the second corner hinge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Strategic Rail Systems Company
    Inventors: Jerry R. Dimmer, David J. Schaefer, Troy Knouse, Steven J. Knight, Nathan P. Dimmer, Kevin J. Kleinsasser
  • Patent number: 8141498
    Abstract: A rail car extension system including a first main rail section, a second main rail section and a plurality of bow structures. The first main rail section is mounted with respect to an upper surface of the first side wall. The first main rail section includes a first upper rail portion and a first lower rail portion that extends from the first upper rail portion. The second main rail section is mounted with respect to an upper surface of the second side wall. The second main rail section includes a second upper rail portion and a second lower rail portion that extends from the second upper rail portion. The plurality of bow structures are each attached to and extend between the first main rail section and the second main rail section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Derrick K. Barr, Christopher J. McCallum, David J. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7967363
    Abstract: A rail car cover system including a rail car, a first cover section and a second cover section. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover section includes a first corner hinge assembly, a first intermediate hinge assembly and a first cover material. The first corner hinge assembly is attached to the first cover material. The first intermediate hinge assembly is slidable with respect to the first cover material. The second cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The second cover section includes a second corner hinge assembly, a second intermediate hinge assembly and a second cover material. The second corner hinge assembly is attached to the second cover material. The second intermediate hinge assembly is slidable with respect to the second cover material. The first cover section and the second cover section are both movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Shorma Company
    Inventors: David J. Schaefer, Nathan P. Dimmer, Steven J. Knight, Jerry R. Dimmer, Michael P. Krajewski, Kevin J. Kleinsasser, Carla K. Ewald
  • Patent number: 7940677
    Abstract: A system for managing one or more service level agreements associated with a switched metro Ethernet network is disclosed and manages one or more service level agreements associated with a switched metro Ethernet network. The system also includes a service level agreement (SLA) management reporting system (MRS) and a performance engine (PE) data filter coupled to the SLA-MRS. Further, the system includes one or more network elements connected to the PE data filter, wherein the SLA-MRS is configured to receive performance data from the PE data filter and at least partially based on the performance data validate one or more customer claims regarding an SLA violation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Bruce A. Schine, Gerald P. Agnew, Christopher Kallaos, Sujay Kumar Mereddy, Paul A. Tomalenas, Steven P. Smith, David J. Schaefers
  • Publication number: 20110030575
    Abstract: A rail car cover system including a rail car, a first cover section and a second cover section. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover section includes a first corner hinge assembly, a first intermediate hinge assembly and a first cover material. The first corner hinge assembly is attached to the first cover material. The first intermediate hinge assembly is slidable with respect to the first cover material. The second cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The second cover section includes a second corner hinge assembly, a second intermediate hinge assembly and a second cover material. The second corner hinge assembly is attached to the second cover material. The second intermediate hinge assembly is slidable with respect to the second cover material. The first cover section and the second cover section are both movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: SHUR COMPANY
    Inventors: David J. Schaefer, Nathan P. Dimmer, Steven J. Knight, Jerry R. Dimmer, Michael P. Krajewski, Kevin J. Kleinsasser, Carla K. Ewald
  • Patent number: 7823515
    Abstract: A rail car cover system including a rail car, a first cover section and a second cover section. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover section includes a first hinge mechanism and a first cover material. The second cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The second cover section includes a second hinge mechanism and a second cover material. The first cover section and the second cover section are both movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. When in the closed configuration, the first cover section and the second cover section substantially cover the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Shur Company
    Inventors: David J. Schaefer, Nathan P. Dimmer, Steven J. Knight, Jerry R. Dimmer, Michael P. Krajewski, Kevin J. Kleinsasser, Carla K. Ewald
  • Publication number: 20100037798
    Abstract: A rail car cover system including a rail car, a first cover section and a second cover section. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover section includes a first hinge mechanism and a first cover material. The second cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The second cover section includes a second hinge mechanism and a second cover material. The first cover section and the second cover section are both movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. When in the closed configuration, the first cover section and the second cover section substantially cover the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: SHUR COMPANY
    Inventors: David J. Schaefer, Nathan P. Dimmer, Steven J. Knight, Jerry R. Dimmer, Michael P. Krajewski, Kevin J. Kleinsasser, Carla K. Ewald
  • Publication number: 20080304412
    Abstract: A system for managing one or more service level agreements associated with a switched metro Ethernet network is disclosed and manages one or more service level agreements associated with a switched metro Ethernet network. The system also includes a service level agreement (SLA) management reporting system (MRS) and a performance engine (PE) data filter coupled to the SLA-MRS. Further, the system includes one or more network elements connected to the PE data filter, wherein the SLA-MRS is configured to receive performance data from the PE data filter and at least partially based on the performance data validate one or more customer claims regarding an SLA violation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, LP
    Inventors: Bruce A. Schine, Gerald P. Agnew, Christopher Kallaos, Sujay Kumar Mereddy, Paul A. Tomalenas, Steven P. Smith, David J. Schaefers
  • Patent number: 6336560
    Abstract: A grizzly screen apparatus has a screen of grizzly bars having first ends mounted in a transverse end member and second ends placed in a slotted comb member having alternating shallow and deep bed slots. The screen is rotatable about a transverse axis whereby the second ends of secondary grizzly bars in the deep bed slots are lowered relative to the second ends of grizzly bars in the shallow bed slots, resulting in simultaneous steepening of the screen and an increase of the interbar distance, to remove obstructing oversize objects from the screen. Each grizzly bar has a transverse lock bar at the first end which retains the grizzly bar within an aperture in the transverse end member without bolts or other fasteners. Obstructions on the grizzly screen may be cleared without the use of manually operated tools, and if desired, may be cleared by remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6098811
    Abstract: A grizzly screen apparatus has a screen of grizzly bars having first ends mounted in a transverse end member and second ends placed in a slotted comb member having alternating shallow and deep bed slots. The screen is rotatable about a transverse axis whereby the second ends of secondary grizzly bars in the deep bed slots are lowered relative to the second ends of grizzly bars in the shallow bed slots, resulting in simultaneous steepening of the screen and an increase of the interbar distance, to remove obstructing oversize objects from the screen. Each grizzly bar has a transverse lock bar at the first end which retains the grizzly bar within an aperture in the transverse end member without bolts or other fasteners. Obstructions on the grizzly screen may be cleared without the use of manually operated tools, and if desired, may be cleared by remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Schaefer