Patents by Inventor Ernie B. Mills

Ernie B. Mills 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: 11541800
    Abstract: A rotatable tailgate assembly is provided for installation on a dump bed. The tailgate assembly has support members attachable to the side of the dump bed. Each support member has at least one bearing adjacent at a free end extending rearwardly of the dump bed's rear opening. A tailgate has a cylindrical tailgate shaft with a first end rotatably received within the bearing of a first support member and a second end rotatably received within a bearing of a second support member. The tailgate has a closure portion extending radially away from the tailgate shaft. The closure portion engages the rear edges of the dump bed floor and sides to close off the dump bed opening when the tailgate assembly is in a closed rotational position. The tailgate assembly also comprises a rotation actuator operatively connected to the tailgate shaft for selective rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: The North American Coal Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Liffrig, Ernie B. Mills, David Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20210023974
    Abstract: A rotatable tailgate assembly is provided for installation on a dump bed. The tailgate assembly has support members attachable to the side of the dump bed. Each support member has at least one bearing adjacent at a free end extending rearwardly of the dump bed's rear opening. A tailgate has a cylindrical tailgate shaft with a first end rotatably received within the bearing of a first support member and a second end rotatably received within a bearing of a second support member. The tailgate has a closure portion extending radially away from the tailgate shaft. The closure portion engages the rear edges of the dump bed floor and sides to close off the dump bed opening when the tailgate assembly is in a closed rotational position. The tailgate assembly also comprises a rotation actuator operatively connected to the tailgate shaft for selective rotation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: David P. Liffrig, Ernie B. Mills, David Vaughn
  • Patent number: 10836295
    Abstract: A rotatable tailgate assembly is provided for installation on a dump bed. The tailgate assembly has support members attachable to the side of the dump bed. Each support member has at least one bearing adjacent at a free end extending rearwardly of the dump bed's rear opening. A tailgate has a cylindrical tailgate shaft with a first end rotatably received within the bearing of a first support member and a second end rotatably received within a bearing of a second support member. The tailgate has a closure portion extending radially away from the tailgate shaft. The closure portion engages the rear edges of the dump bed floor and sides to close off the dump bed opening when the tailgate assembly is in a closed rotational position. The tailgate assembly also comprises a rotation actuator operatively connected to the tailgate shaft for selective rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: The North American Coal Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Liffrig, Ernie B. Mills, David Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20190241112
    Abstract: A rotatable tailgate assembly is provided for installation on a dump bed. The tailgate assembly has support members attachable to the side of the dump bed. Each support member has at least one bearing adjacent at a free end extending rearwardly of the dump bed's rear opening. A tailgate has a cylindrical tailgate shaft with a first end rotatably received within the bearing of a first support member and a second end rotatably received within a bearing of a second support member. The tailgate has a closure portion extending radially away from the tailgate shaft. The closure portion engages the rear edges of the dump bed floor and sides to close off the dump bed opening when the tailgate assembly is in a closed rotational position. The tailgate assembly also comprises a rotation actuator operatively connected to the tailgate shaft for selective rotation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: David P. Liffrig, Ernie B. Mills, David Vaughn