Patents by Inventor Gerald L. Graf

Gerald L. Graf 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: 6481749
    Abstract: Automatic and simultaneous retraction of a pair of stabilizer legs for a backhoe loader machine 10 is beneficial for the operator when operation of the backhoe loader is complete. Instead of retracting the stabilizer legs by manually holding a pair of control switches continuously in a control position, the operator may simply push an auto-up switch with a single, “one-touch” contact. Once the auto-up switch has been activated by the “one-touch” contact, a timer relay is enabled. The timer relay acts independently of the auto-up switch to control the simultaneously retraction of the stabilizer legs without any further contact to the auto-up switch. When the timer relay is enabled, it sends a signal to activate the control switches for a preselected time. The activation of the control switches actuates a pair of solenoid valves which control the movement of the stabilizer legs from any one of a plurality of extended positions to a fully retracted position within the preselected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Kem D. Ahlers, Robert Q. Elliott, John E. Francis, Gerald L. Graf, Kenneth J. McGuire, Terry A. Moore
  • Publication number: 20020060450
    Abstract: Automatic and simultaneous retraction of a pair of stabilizer legs for a backhoe loader machine 10 is beneficial for the operator (not shown) when operation of the backhoe loader is complete. Instead of retracting the stabilizer legs by manually holding a pair of control switches continuously in a control position, the operator (not shown) may simply push an auto-up switch with a single, “one-touch” contact. Once the auto-up switch has been activated by the “one-touch” contact, a timer relay is enabled. The timer relay acts independently of the auto-up switch to control the simultaneously retraction of the stabilizer legs without any further contact to the auto-up switch. When the timer relay is enabled, it sends a signal to activate the control switches for a preselected time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: KEM D. AHLERS, ROBERT Q. ELLIOTT, JOHN E. FRANCIS, GERALD L. GRAF, KENNETH J. MCGUIRE, TERRY A. MOORE