Patents by Inventor Leonard E. Speers

Leonard E. Speers 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: 8162565
    Abstract: A material anti-segregation device is for a paving vehicle including a tractor, a screed for forming a mat of paving material on a base surface, and an auger. The anti-segregation device includes a plurality of flexible, elongated barrier members each coupled with the tractor and collectively defining a curtain. The curtain is configured to generally retain paving material between the curtain and the screed. A plurality of couplers are each configured to connect at least a portion of a separate one of the barrier members with the tractor. Each coupler alternatively disconnects the barrier member or portion from the tractor when tension in the connected member exceeds a predetermined value so as to prevent damage to the tractor. As each barrier member is connected with either a portion or component of the tractor, the predetermined tension value is less than a failure limit of the tractor portion or component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Leonard E. Speers, Terrence M. Toohig
  • Publication number: 20090245937
    Abstract: A material anti-segregation device is for a paving vehicle including a tractor, a screed for forming a mat of paving material on a base surface, and an auger. The anti-segregation device includes a plurality of flexible, elongated barrier members each coupled with the tractor and collectively defining a curtain. The curtain is configured to generally retain paving material between the curtain and the screed. A plurality of couplers are each configured to connect at least a portion of a separate one of the barrier members with the tractor. Each coupler alternatively disconnects the barrier member or portion from the tractor when tension in the connected member exceeds a predetermined value so as to prevent damage to the tractor. As each barrier member is connected with either a portion or component of the tractor, the predetermined tension value is less than a failure limit of the tractor portion or component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Leonard E. Speers, Terrence M. Toohig
  • Patent number: 6688450
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly is for use with a vehicle having a wheel pivotable about an axis and an actuator configured to pivot the wheel. The conveyor assembly includes a carriage connectable with the vehicle and having a wheel pivotable about an axis, a swing axis and a first bearing surface about the swing axis. A carriage steering actuator pivots the carriage wheel about its axis in one direction when the vehicle actuator pivots the vehicle wheel about its axis in an opposing direction. A conveyor connected with the carriage has a second bearing surface engaged about the first bearing surface. Further, a swing actuator rotates the conveyor about the swing axis such that the second bearing surface linearly displaces along a first arcuate path as an actuator end displaces along a second arcuate path, configured such that the bearing surface displacement is greater than the actuator end displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Blaw-Knox Construction Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard E. Speers, William R. Schwelitz, Robert W. Begley, Terry K. Olson, Ben J. Huisman, Jason P. Wiese, Shane Kruse
  • Publication number: 20030010600
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly is for use with a vehicle having a wheel pivotable about an axis and an actuator configured to pivot the wheel. The conveyor assembly includes a carriage connectable with the vehicle and having a wheel pivotable about an axis, a swing axis and a first bearing surface about the swing axis. A carriage steering actuator pivots the carriage wheel about its axis in one direction when the vehicle actuator pivots the vehicle wheel about its axis in an opposing direction. A conveyor connected with the carriage has a second bearing surface engaged about the first bearing surface. Further, a swing actuator rotates the conveyor about the swing axis such that the second bearing surface linearly displaces along a first arcuate path as an actuator end displaces along a second arcuate path, configured such that the bearing surface displacement is greater than the actuator end displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: BLAW-KNOX CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leonard E. Speers, William R. Schwelitz, Robert W. Begley, Terry K. Olson, Ben J. Huisman, Jason P. Wiese, Shane Kruse
  • Patent number: 6386352
    Abstract: A swing conveyor assembly for use with a base vehicle including a first material conveyor having a discharge location. The swing conveyor assembly comprises a platform supported by a wheel assembly, a linkage assembly adapted to be interconnected between the platform and the base vehicle and a second material conveyor. The linkage assembly is configured to permit free vertical movement over a given range of the platform and wheel assembly relative to the base vehicle. The second material conveyor has a receiving location and is rotatably connected to the platform about a vertical rotation axis. The rotation axis extends through the receiving location and the discharge location when the platform is connected to the base vehicle such that receiving location remains aligned with the discharge location as the second material conveyor is rotated relative to the first material conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Blaw-Knox Construction Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Baker, William R. Schwelitz, Leonard E. Speers
  • Patent number: 6152649
    Abstract: A pneumatic fumes collection system for an auger-type distributing device that spreads hot asphalt behind a mobile paver includes a rotatable auger shaft extending horizontally above a surface being paved and laterally to a longitudinal centerline axis of the paver. The shaft includes a plurality of auger flights spaced therealong, and can be raised and lowered to a plurality of elevations above the surface being paved. A fumes intake inlet is positioned above, and in a fixed spacial relation to, the auger shaft, whereby the fumes inlet raises and lowers simultaneously with the auger shaft, resulting in an a more uniform fumes collection over a plurality of auger flight elevations. A fumes exhaust fan and exhaust stack are positioned on the paver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Blaw-Know Construction Equipment Corp.
    Inventors: Craig L. Snyder, Leland J. Warren, Leonard E. Speers, Thomas A. Roth, Larry Craig
  • Patent number: 5507591
    Abstract: A power crown adjustment apparatus for an asphalt screed includes first and second screed subassemblies movable with respect to each other, power apparatus for moving the subassemblies with respect to each other to alter the crown and control apparatus for automatically preventing the first and second screed subassemblies from moving beyond the predetermined range of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Scott F. Lyons, David L. Lindecamp, Leonard E. Speers
  • Patent number: 4522160
    Abstract: Fan-shroud structure and mounting which compensates for relative movement between an engine and radiator to prevent contact between a rotating fan and the shroud structure. In one embodiment of the invention, a one-piece fiberglass shroud is provided having a generally rectangular end portion which is integral with and merges into an opposed annular venturi portion. The rectangular end portion is secured to a bulbous seal which accommodates the relative movement between the engine and radiator to prevent damage to the shroud. In an alternate embodiment, a one-piece fiberglass venturi shroud is provided having a rounded convergent end section, a throat section and a divergent end section. A box-like outer shroud having an opening therein receives the convergent end section and a bulbous seal is fitted around the opening in the outer shroud for engagement with the throat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: Leonard E. Speers, John D. Inhofer, Philip D. Redenbarger
  • Patent number: 4452559
    Abstract: An attachment assembly for adjustably securing the control arm and bellcrank arm of an anti-rollback linkage for material handling buckets. The anti-rollback control arm includes a generally flat planar arm portion and a position adjusting shaft with the longitudinal axis of the position adjusting shaft being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm portion. The bellcrank arm is generally U-shaped in cross-section and includes openings through side wall flanges for receiving an end portion of the position adjusting shaft. The shaft end portion is adjustably secured to the bellcrank arm by a U-bolt fastener which extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the position adjusting shaft and which is attached to the bellcrank arm. The position adjusting shaft end portion includes spaced apart knurled peripheral band areas which are separated by at least one smooth peripheral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: J.I. Case Company
    Inventors: Leonard E. Speers, Philip D. Redenbarger