Patents by Inventor Donald C. Sassor

Donald C. Sassor 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: 6814161
    Abstract: A stakedown assembly for a horizontal directional drill that multiplies the travel of a hydraulic cylinder so that the drive head travels twice the distance of the hydraulic cylinder travel. A gear pinion is pivotally attached to a top end of the hydraulic cylinder. A first gear rack is fixedly attached to a tower, and a second gear rack is fixedly attached to a drive head. The gear pinion floats between the two gear racks, thus, producing multiplication when the hydraulic cylinder is actuated. This allows the use of a shorter hydraulic cylinder and results in a smaller overall stakedown assembly height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Draney, Donald C. Sassor, Jeffrey S. Volden
  • Patent number: 6276464
    Abstract: A coupling for quickly and easily attaching and detaching stakes from the drive head of a horizontal directional drill. The coupling includes an upper coupler member and a lower coupler member. The lower coupler member slides into the upper coupler member, and a pin in the upper coupler member rotates into opposed, horizontal slots in the lower coupler member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Draney, Donald C. Sassor, Jeffrey S. Volden
  • Patent number: 6257350
    Abstract: A multiple position stakedown assembly for a horizontal directional drill machine which installs stakes into the ground in a variety of different locations with a single drive head. The stakedown assembly includes a vertical tower that is rotatably mounted on a base plate. Locator ports for the stakes are provided in the base plate in a segmentally circular pattern around the tower. A drive head cantilevered from the top of the tower rotates with the tower to positions where it can install stakes through any of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Draney, Donald C. Sassor, Dmitry I. Spivak, Jeffrey S. Volden
  • Patent number: 4665830
    Abstract: A vehicle supporting guideway is presented, the guideway is comprised of upper horizontal stringers, lower horizontal stringers vertically oriented diagonal members affixed to the upper and lower horizontal stringers and horizontally oriented diagonal members are affixed between the lower horizontal stringers. These features present a guideway having an upwardly extending U-shape construction which can be supplied with wheel supporting channels, and upper support channels. The entire structure is reinforced by ribs which are generally within the horizontal stringers, and the entire guideway may be enclosed by a cover. Overlapping members join adjacent sections of the horizontal stringers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: J. Edward Anderson, Donald C. Sassor