Patents by Inventor Earl T. Leverentz

Earl T. Leverentz 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: 4265181
    Abstract: A rolling bearing type traction wheel and hub assembly which is especially adapted to ride upon either flat (i.e. horizontal) or laterally sloping surfaces such as trolley trackways and/or the opposite side flanges of supporting I-beams or the like; the axis of wheel rotation being in any case canted relative to the support surface. The wheel assembly comprises a generally cylindrical shaped inner bearing race/hub member which is fixed to an external support and is encircled by a rotatable outer race/wheel member, with rolling bearings enclosed therebetween. The wheel and hub parts are formed of sheet material and are so shaped as to novelly facilitate initial assembly thereof. When the device is operating under load the parts automatically float into self-aligning operational relationship and are retained in proper operative relationship without need of any auxiliary retention device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Schreyer, Earl T. Leverentz, Thomas R. Nusz, Reuben P. Benton
  • Patent number: 4236456
    Abstract: A rolling trolley device adapted to ride upon opposite side flanges of a support beam; said trolley device comprising a generally V-shaped load supporting yoke bar of one-piece formation carrying at the opposite legs thereof a pair of generally tubular-shaped trolley wheel support housings; wheel support members extending from said housings at opposite sides of the legs of said bar; and support beam engaging wheels mounted upon said support members; said housings being keyed to said yoke bar legs in positionally adjustable relation thereon to adapt said device to operate efficiently on a large variety of support beam sizes and flange width and slope configurations. The trolley wheels are carried by said housings so as to rotate about axes which slope away from and into acute angle intersections with the planes of the trolley wheel contact/support surfaces; thereby directionally balancing out the thrust load and reaction load forces to provide an improved wheel tracking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Schreyer, Earl T. Leverentz, Thomas R. Nusz
  • Patent number: 4042213
    Abstract: In a multiple-reeved electric hoist of the type employing either a load cable winding drum or a load chain lift wheel, and wherein the dead end of the cable (or chain) carries a part of the load and is attached to the hoist frame; an improved overload sensing and responsive power shut-off and overload impact distributing device associated with the dead-end of the load lift cable (or chain) for deenergizing the hoist motor and protecting the hoist parts and its supporting structure against damage whenever an overload is applied to the hoist lift cable (or chain).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Schreyer, Earl T. Leverentz, Thomas R. Nusz