Patents by Inventor Donald L. Schaffner

Donald L. Schaffner 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: 4083611
    Abstract: A master link assembly in a continuous flexible track assembly for a crawler tractor comprises two laterally spaced apart (left and right) parallel master links and each master link comprises two overlapping half-links held in alignment by a pin extending into registering pin holes in the half-links. The overlapping half-links are mechanically secured together in fixed relationship by track shoe capscrews which extend through holes in a master link track shoe which overlies both half-links and screw into tapped capscrew holes in the half-links. Besides aligning the overlapping half-links, each pin also serves as a safety connection in case the capscrews break and also enables removal of the capscrews and replacement of the track shoe without breaking the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: Fiat-Allis Construction Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Schaffner, James L. Miller
  • Patent number: 3980351
    Abstract: A track idler recoil assembly is mounted on a crawler tractor for resiliently resisting longitudinal movement of a yoke-mounted track idler caused by track deflection. The assembly comprises a spring housing, open at one end and closed at the other, rigidly secured to the tractor track frame; a coiled compression type recoil spring within the spring housing; and means, including a pushrod and a hydraulic ram, to transmit force between the track idler yoke and the spring and to enable installation and removal of the spring in uncompressed condition. The pushrod is detachably connected to the idler yoke and extends through a hole in a rigid portion of the track frame. The hydraulic ram is located between the pushrod and the spring and is slideably supported in a tubular spring restraining member which is mounted on the spring housing and movable axially into the open end thereof to fixed position to hold the spring in a precompressed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1976
    Assignee: Fiat-Allis Construction Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Bobby J. Orr, Donald L. Schaffner, Bill A. Danner