Patents by Inventor Gary L. Vander Stel

Gary L. Vander Stel 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: 8911282
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, a table rotatable on the base, and a plurality of arms extending above the table's top surface and extending laterally for supporting differently sized cylindrical objects above the top surface. An adjustment mechanism simultaneously adjusts the arms rotationally, such that the ends of the arms can be automatically adjusted to support any one of the differently sized objects without further change. A controller is programmed to automatically control the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a center gear connected to planetary gears on each of the arms, and a center shaft that extends upwardly through a tubular drive shaft, the center shaft being movable between a lowered position where the arms are locked to the table and a raised position where the center gear is fixed to the base such that the arms adjust position when the table is rotated by its drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Progressive Surface, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary E. Mulder, Gary L. Vander Stel
  • Publication number: 20120156966
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, a table rotatable on the base, and a plurality of arms extending above the table's top surface and extending laterally for supporting differently sized cylindrical objects above the top surface. An adjustment mechanism simultaneously adjusts the arms rotationally, such that the ends of the arms can be automatically adjusted to support any one of the differently sized objects without further change. A controller is programmed to automatically control the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a center gear connected to planetary gears on each of the arms, and a center shaft that extends upwardly through a tubular drive shaft, the center shaft being movable between a lowered position where the arms are locked to the table and a raised position where the center gear is fixed to the base such that the arms adjust position when the table is rotated by its drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Gary E. Mulder, Gary L. Vander Stel
  • Patent number: 5408737
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for stabilizing a work piece of ring configuration on a base. The apparatus has a first ring fixed to the base and frictionally positioned within the work piece. A second ring has a portion within the other end of the work piece and a portion covering the other end of the work piece. A plurality of hold downs are connected to a base via hydraulic cylinders and are positioned about the work piece and have arms with rollers attached thereto. In response to actuation of the cylinders, the rollers are automatically swung into position over the second ring and the rollers forcibly urge the second ring and work piece in a direction toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Desmond Mailey, Jose J. Rodriguez, Jerry P. Fregoe, Curtis L. Stevens, Frank M. Dettmers, Sr., Glenn L. Brown, Gary L. Kitzer, James G. Miller, Martin J. Hilbrands, Gary L. Vander Stel