Patents by Inventor Howard Reay
Howard Reay 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).
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Publication number: 20210222392Abstract: An excavator coupler including a front jaw for receiving a first attachment pin of an accessory and a rear pin receiving area for receiving a second attachment pin of the accessory, a first closure mechanism for the rear pin receiving area, the first closure mechanism including an actuator and a movable second pin engaging surface for selectively securing the second attachment pin in the rear pin receiving area and for pulling the first attachment pin into the front jaw of the coupler, a second closure member for the front jaw for selectively retaining the front attachment pin in the front jaw, and a front latch control component for selectively controlling the second closure member between an open state and a closed state wherein the actuator includes a release member for selectively engaging a release arm on the front latch control component to activate or deactivate the front latch control component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2019Publication date: July 22, 2021Applicant: Miller UK LimitedInventors: Keith MILLER, Gary MILLER, Gavin URWIN, Chris BRADLEY, Chris LEWIS, Howard REAY
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Publication number: 20210123211Abstract: A coupler control system (10) for coupler on an excavator arm (14) of an excavator (12), the coupler comprising a hydraulic actuator (60), the excavator comprising a solenoid valve (20) for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator (60), the excavator arm (14) comprising a boom arm (36) and a stick (40), both operated by separate hydraulic actuators, and a bucket actuator (44) for rotating an accessory relative to the stick (40), the coupler control system (10) comprising a controller linked to the solenoid valve (20) for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator (60), a status indicator (22), a coupler control switch (24) for locating in the cab of the excavator and a pressure sensor (28) for connecting to the hydraulic system for at least one of the hydraulic actuators for the boom arm, the stick or the bucket actuator, wherein the coupler control switch and the status indicator are connected to the controller, the pressure sensor is arranged to sense when the hydraulic fluidType: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: Miller UK LimitedInventors: Keith MILLER, Gary MILLER, Gavin URWIN, Howard REAY, Stephen VERLANDER
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Publication number: 20140212846Abstract: An excavator (10) has a quick coupler (24) coupled to the distal end (22) of its excavator arm (12). The quick coupler (24) can be operated from the cab (14) of the excavator (10), and is connected to a warning control system (48) or an instructional device (102). The warning control system (48) is connected to a coupler control circuit (46), which controls the coupler (24) and the system or circuit acquires information on the coupler's status. A control system activation warning circuit is then arranged to be responsible for issuing warning signals (53, 54) to personnel located external of the cab when the coupler control circuit (46) is activated into an accessory coupling procedure mode, or an accessory decoupling procedure mode. To do this, the warning circuit (48) is coupled to an audio and/or visual alarm (50, 52) for directing the warnings (53, 54) to the personnel, including bystanders. The instructional device, however, instructs the operator as to how to use the coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2011Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: MILLER INTERNATIONAL LTD.Inventors: Gary Miller, Howard Reay
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Patent number: 8448357Abstract: Couplers for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator. Couplers having a first side for attaching the coupler to the excavator arm and a second side onto which the accessory will be coupled. The coupler includes a latch for selectively securing and releasing an attachment pin of the accessory in a jaw, groove, hook or slot in the second side of the coupler. The coupler is fully controllable from within the cab of the excavator and it allows improved security in the securement of the accessory to the coupler, i.e. preventing accidental decouplings, but while still allowing intentional decoupling operations to be carried out without undue burden.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2012Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Miller UK LimitedInventors: Gary Miller, Ronald Keith Miller, Gary Pendleton, Howard Reay, Paul Grant
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Publication number: 20120291316Abstract: Couplers for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator. Couplers having a first side for attaching the coupler to the excavator arm and a second side onto which the accessory will be coupled. The coupler includes a latch for selectively securing and releasing an attachment pin of the accessory in a jaw, groove, hook or slot in the second side of the coupler. The coupler is fully controllable from within the cab of the excavator and it allows improved security in the securement of the accessory to the coupler, i.e. preventing accidental decouplings, but while still allowing intentional decoupling operations to be carried out without undue burden.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Miller UK LimitedInventors: Gary Miller, Ronald Keith Miller, Gary Pendleton, Howard Reay, Paul Grant
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Publication number: 20120230760Abstract: A coupler includes first and second attachment pin jaws. A first latching mechanism is associated with the first jaw. The first latching mechanism has an arm connected to and extending away from a latching member. A second latching mechanism is associated with the jaw. The first and second latching mechanisms are adapted to latch the first and second attachment pins of an accessory in or on the first jaw and the second jaw, respectively. The second latching mechanism is powered for movement between a latching position and a non-latching position. The first latching mechanism is operatively connected to, or connectable with, the second latching mechanism to allow it to selectively operate the first latching mechanism between latching and non-latching positions by means of a groove or flange or finger on the second latching mechanism. A magnet is provided to ensure a correct disengagement of the first latch latching mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: MILLER INTERNATIONAL LTD.Inventors: Howard Reay, Gary Miller, Ronald Keith Miller
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Patent number: 8256148Abstract: Couplers for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator. Couplers having a first side for attaching the coupler to the excavator arm and a second side onto which the accessory will be coupled. The coupler includes a latch for selectively securing and releasing an attachment pin of the accessory in a jaw, groove, hook or slot in the second side of the coupler. The coupler is fully controllable from within the cab of the excavator and it allows improved security in the securement of the accessory to the coupler, i.e. preventing accidental decouplings, but while still allowing intentional decoupling operations to be carried out without undue burden.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Miller UK LimitedInventors: Gary Miller, Ronald Keith Miller, Gary Pendleton, Howard Reay, Paul Grant
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Patent number: 8112914Abstract: A coupler comprising two jaws and a latch for each jaw, one of the latches being powered for movement between a latching position and a non-latching position, and being associated with a blocking mechanism that is remotely movable between a blocking position and non blocking position, and the other latch being independent of the blocking mechanism, but being also remotely moveable between a latching position and a non-latching position, wherein the powered latch, in its non-latching position, can maintain both the blocking mechanism in its non blocking position and the other latch in its non-latching position, irrespective of the orientation of the coupler.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Miller International, Ltd.Inventors: Gary Miller, Howard Reay
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Publication number: 20110232070Abstract: Couplers for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator. Couplers having a first side for attaching the coupler to the excavator arm and a second side onto which the accessory will be coupled. The coupler includes a latch for selectively securing and releasing an attachment pin of the accessory in a jaw, groove, hook or slot in the second side of the coupler. The coupler is fully controllable from within the cab of the excavator and it allows improved security in the securement of the accessory to the coupler, i.e. preventing accidental decouplings, but while still allowing intentional decoupling operations to be carried out without undue burden.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Miller UK LimitedInventors: Gary Miller, Ronald Keith Miller, Gary Pendleton, Howard Reay, Paul Grant
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Patent number: 7984576Abstract: Couplers for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator. Couplers having a first side for attaching the coupler to the excavator arm and a second side onto which the accessory will be coupled. The coupler includes a latch for selectively securing and releasing an attachment pin of the accessory in a jaw, groove, hook or slot in the second side of the coupler. The coupler is fully controllable from within the cab of the excavator and it allows improved security in the securement of the accessory to the coupler, i.e. preventing accidental decouplings, but while still allowing intentional decoupling operations to be carried out without undue burden.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Miller UK LimitedInventors: Gary Miller, Ronald Keith Miller, Gary Pendleton, Howard Reay, Paul Grant
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Publication number: 20100192425Abstract: A coupler comprising two jaws and a latch for each jaw, one of the latches being powered for movement between a latching position and a non-latching position, and being associated with a blocking mechanism that is remotely movable between a blocking position and non blocking position, and the other latch being independent of the blocking mechanism, but being also remotely moveable between a latching position and a non-latching position, wherein the powered latch, in its non-latching position, can maintain both the blocking mechanism in its non blocking position and the other latch in its non-latching position, irrespective of the orientation of the coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: MILLER INTERNATIONAL LTD.Inventors: Gary Miller, Howard Reay
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Publication number: 20100107456Abstract: Couplers for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator. Couplers having a first side for attaching the coupler to the excavator arm and a second side onto which the accessory will be coupled. The coupler includes a latch for selectively securing and releasing an attachment pin of the accessory in a jaw, groove, hook or slot in the second side of the coupler. The coupler is fully controllable from within the cab of the excavator and it allows improved security in the securement of the accessory to the coupler, i.e. preventing accidental decouplings, but while still allowing intentional decoupling operations to be carried out without undue burden.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2007Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Gary Miller, Ronald Keith Miller, Gary Pendleton, Howard Reay, Paul Grant
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Publication number: 20070157492Abstract: An excavator coupler that is either attached to, or for attachment to, an excavator arm of a digger for connecting an attachment, such as a bucket, to the excavator arm of the digger, the attachment having at least one bucket or coupler pin, wherein the coupler comprises a jaw for engaging that pin, the jaw comprising an interior space for the pin, and lips that partially occlude the interior space so as to provide a profile for the jaw that has a widened interior relative to either the gap between the lips or the opening of the jaw, if narrower, one lip being provided on an upper wall of the jaw and the other lip being provided on a lower wall of the jaw.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Inventors: Ronald Miller, Gary Miller, Gary Pendleton, Howard Reay