Patents by Inventor Dennis L. Trusty

Dennis L. Trusty 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: 5660334
    Abstract: An electrostatic spray system has a high voltage section where an electric charge is applied to a liquid and the high voltage section is isolated from a lower potential section, such as a frame. The spray system has components on the high voltage section that communicate for operating functions with other components on the low voltage section, such as a liquid level sensor that controls flow into a liquid reservoir or valves on the high voltage section controlled from the low voltage section. Radio controls are provided for the components so there are no physical links for the operation of the components that can provide current leakage paths back to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Dennis L. Trusty, C. Ricky Heard
  • Patent number: 5636799
    Abstract: An electrostatic spray system has a support for a liquid container, and the high voltage components mounted through isolators for providing electrical insulation relative to a low voltage or grounded support. The liquid container is connected to a pump that provides the liquid under pressure, after an electric charge is applied to the liquid on the exterior of the liquid container. The liquid container has an open top, and a sprinkler head adds liquid to the liquid container. The sprinkler head is mounted on the low voltage support, but all high voltage components are electrically isolated from low voltage components to insure there is little current leakage back to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Dennis L. Trusty, Oryn B. Wagner, Patrick Kuhn
  • Patent number: 5631802
    Abstract: A guard ring for controlling size of a sprinkler column of liquid streams from a sprinkler head in an electrostatic spraying system is connected through a large resistor to ground. This provides an interaction between the liquid sprinkler column and the ring which tends to constrict the size of the column of sprinkled liquid and reduce the likelihood of the column spreading out and engaging sides of a receptacle used for receiving the liquid. The ring does not require power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventor: Dennis L. Trusty
  • Patent number: 5000385
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved breakaway apparatus for a mobile sprayer having at least one spray boom extending outwardly therefrom. The breakaway apparatus has a main plate pivotally mounted to a frame on the vehicle, and coupled by a pivotal link to the spray boom arm with a spring mounted between the main plate and the frame to urge the spray boom arm outwardly from the frame. A shock absorber is pivotally mounted to the frame and to the main plate to absorb loads placed on the spray boom arm when it is pivoted rearwardly relative to the vehicle. A generally lateral stop surface and a cushioned stop are provided on opposed portions of the frame and the main plate, and are aligned to engage when the spray boom arm is pivoted relative to the frame in a forward direction while the spray boom arm is extended for spraying. Preferably, two boom arms are provided which extend in opposite directions, with each spray boom arm having a generally independent breakaway apparatus therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Dennis L. Trusty, Knute K. Brock, William D. Long