Patents by Inventor Edward Steffes

Edward Steffes 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).

  • Publication number: 20210347578
    Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a deck and an exciter assembly coupled to the deck. The apparatus also includes a motion sensor, a weight sensor, and a control system coupled to the exciter assembly, the motion sensor, and the weight sensor. The control system is configured to pause the rate of travel of the material across the deck for a weighing interval, to receive the signal from the weight sensor representative of a material weight on the deck during the weighing interval, to resume the rate of travel for a transporting interval, to receive a signal from the motion sensor representative of a material flow rate during the transporting interval, to determine a material mass flow rate based on the signals from the weight sensor and the motion sensor and the weighing and transporting intervals, and to vary the operation of the exciter assembly according to the material mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Oscar L. Mathis, JR., Edward Steffes, JR., Kerry Quinn
  • Publication number: 20070170207
    Abstract: A bin activator apparatus includes first and second motors, each motor having an eccentric weight coupled thereto. The activator apparatus also includes first and second phase angle sensors associated with the first and second motors for generating first and second position signals indicative of the positions of the eccentric weights, a controller responsive to the first and second position signals for measuring a real time phase angle between the eccentric weights, comparing the real time phase angle to a user-entered desired phase angle, and generating a phase angle error signal, and a frequency drive operably coupled to at least the first motor and responsive to the phase angle error signal for adjusting the speed of the first motor until the real phase angle is substantially equal to the desired phase angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Kraus, Edward Steffes, Rusty Knutson
  • Patent number: 6702102
    Abstract: An exciter mass assembly for vibratory processing equipment includes an exciter frame and at least one resilient member connecting the exciter frame to the vibratory processing equipment. A motor is supported by the exciter frame so that the exciter frame and motor define a frame center of gravity. The motor includes a rotating shaft defining a shaft center of gravity. The prime mover is positioned with respect to the exciter frame such that the shaft center of gravity is substantially coincident with the exciter mass center of gravity, thereby to minimize movement of the exciter mass assembly in unintended directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard B. Kraus, Edward Steffes, Jr., David A. Dawson
  • Publication number: 20030098220
    Abstract: An exciter mass assembly for vibratory processing equipment includes an exciter frame and at least one resilient member connecting the exciter frame to the vibratory processing equipment. A motor is supported by the exciter frame so that the exciter frame and motor define a frame center of gravity. The motor includes a rotating shaft defining a shaft center of gravity. The prime mover is positioned with respect to the exciter frame such that the shaft center of gravity is substantially coincident with the exciter mass center of gravity, thereby to minimize movement of the exciter mass assembly in unintended directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Richard B. Kraus, Edward Steffes, David A. Dawson
  • Patent number: 6112883
    Abstract: In order to provide the capability of distributing a material that is conveyed, a vibratory distribution conveyor includes a deck having a distribution edge. The distribution edge extends between an inlet end and an end remote therefrom and the deck is subjected to vibratory motion to cause material to be conveyed from the inlet end toward the end remote therefrom. With this arrangement, the declination of the deck is controlled about a longitudinal axis to control the distribution characteristics of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard B. Kraus, Edward Steffes, Jr., Claude T. Guenther-Hutchens, Dean C. Bichler
  • Patent number: RE38756
    Abstract: In order to provide the capability of distributing a material that is conveyed, a vibratory distribution conveyor includes a deck having a distribution edge. The distribution edge extends between an inlet end and an end remote therefrom and the deck is subjected to vibratory motion to cause material to be conveyed from the inlet end toward the end remote therefrom. With this arrangement, the declination of the deck is controlled about a longitudinal axis to control the distribution characteristics of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard B. Kraus, Edward Steffes, Jr., Claude T. Guenther-Hutchens, Dean C. Bichler