Patents by Inventor Loran R. Balvanz

Loran R. Balvanz 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: 11654438
    Abstract: A hammer tip for releasable integration with a hammer, used in a size reducing machine. The hammer tip is separated into a production block with a top working edge and a spacer block. The production block and spacer block utilize a saddle back attachment to the hammer. The production block is further supported with a lock ledge integration to the spacer block. The spacer block further includes a pair of wings extending outwardly from the left and right sides, and forwardly from the front side, of the spacer block to form additional cutting edges. The wings provide for additional sizing of the material being ground and help move (or push or carry) more material through the grates of the size reducing machine in the same amount of time as compared to spacer blocks without wings. This increased throughput improves efficiency of the size reducing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Bellota Agrisolutions and Tools USA, LLC
    Inventor: Loran R. Balvanz
  • Patent number: 11555768
    Abstract: The present invention is a device to provide a lab consistent accelerated wear test on an agriculture or industrial ground working tool. The circular media bin is filled to a proper level with an abrasive media. The sample tool is moved in a circular path though the abrasive media. A library of consistent accelerated wear test data is accumulated with the device. This library is correlated with industrial ground working tool usage in field conditions. This provides a math model that predicts tool wear and facilitates virtual tool design optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Balvanz Land, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Vaughn L. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20210001346
    Abstract: A hammer tip for releasable integration with a hammer, used in a size reducing machine. The hammer tip is separated into a production block with a top working edge and a spacer block. The production block and spacer block utilize a saddle back attachment to the hammer. The production block is further supported with a lock ledge integration to the spacer block. The spacer block further includes a pair of wings extending outwardly from the left and right sides, and forwardly from the front side, of the spacer block to form additional cutting edges. The wings provide for additional sizing of the material being ground and help move (or push or carry) more material through the grates of the size reducing machine in the same amount of time as compared to spacer blocks without wings. This increased throughput improves efficiency of the size reducing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Loran R. Balvanz
  • Patent number: 10780441
    Abstract: A hammer tip for releasable integration with a hammer, used in a size reducing machine. The hammer tip is separated into a production block with a top working edge and a spacer block. The production block and spacer block utilize a saddle back attachment to the hammer. The production block is further supported with a lock ledge integration to the spacer block. The production block with a single top working edge reduces maintenance cost, reduces downtime and improves machine throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BELLOTA AGRISOLUTIONS AND TOOLS USA, LLC
    Inventor: Loran R. Balvanz
  • Patent number: 10314221
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to agricultural tillage equipment and, more specifically, to a vertical tillage sweep providing low surface disturbance. The sweep comprises a wing structure with a downward and generally vertical fin, and having specific wear coating placed on the various wear surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Balvanz Land, LLC
    Inventor: Loran R. Balvanz
  • Publication number: 20170238454
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to agricultural tillage equipment and, more specifically, to a vertical tillage sweep providing low surface disturbance. The sweep comprises a wing structure with a downward and generally vertical fin, and having specific wear coating placed on the various wear surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Loran R. BALVANZ
  • Publication number: 20160377520
    Abstract: The present invention is a device to provide a lab consistent accelerated wear test on an agriculture or industrial ground working tool. The circular media bin is filled to a proper level with an abrasive media. The sample tool is moved in a circular path though the abrasive media. A library of consistent accelerated wear test data is accumulated with the device. This library is correlated with industrial ground working tool usage in field conditions. This provides a math model that predicts tool wear and facilitates virtual tool design optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Vaughn L. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20160157409
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a wear coating to the back side of a wear part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul R. Gray
  • Publication number: 20150328641
    Abstract: A hammer tip for releasable integration with a hammer, used in a size reducing machine. The hammer tip is separated into a production block with a top working edge and a spacer block. The production block and spacer block utilize a saddle back attachment to the hammer. The production block is further supported with a lock ledge integration to the spacer block. The production block with a single top working edge reduces maintenance cost, reduces downtime and improves machine throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Loran R. Balvanz
  • Patent number: 9090041
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a wear coating to the back side of a wear part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul R. Gray
  • Publication number: 20130252023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a wear coating to the back side of a wear part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: U.S. MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Loran R. BALVANZ, Paul R. Gray
  • Publication number: 20040238666
    Abstract: A hammer and hammer tip combination is provided for use with a size reducing machine, and comprises a hammer body having a nose extending up to and defining a lower edge of a debris path; a protective pocket located behind the nose relative to the debris path; and a hammer tip releaseably secured to the hammer body and located behind the protective pocket relative to the debris path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Paul R. Gray, Loran R. Balvanz
  • Patent number: 6494394
    Abstract: A face plate is provided for releasable attachment between a hammer and a hammer tip of a size reducing machine. The face plate provides a buffer between the hammer and the hammer tip. The hammer has a body with a forward facing hammer face that aligns with the back of the face plate. The front of the face plate aligns with the back of the hammer tip. The hammer, hammer tip, and face plate contain aligned bolt holes for receipt of a securement bolt that releasably secures the hammer, face plate, and hammer tip. The face plate includes a center section raised above opposing ledges designed for mated alignment with a recessed center section of the back of the hammer tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: U.S. Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul R. Gray
  • Patent number: 6464157
    Abstract: The invention comprises a rotor and hammer assembly comprising a drive shaft allowing for rotating the rotor and hammer assembly. End plates are secured to the drive shaft, and a rotor casing is secured to the end plates. The rotor casing has an outside surface, to which a hammer is removably secured. The outer surface of the rotor casing includes slots, having a first and second slot section with a raised center portion therebetween. The hammer has a substantially flat base with a centrally located notch, such that the hammer base and the slot matingly align. The hammer is further secured to the outer surface of the rotor casing with threaded bolts. The hammer includes a front face with a raised center section and recessed comers that matingly align with the hammer tip, and is further secured with threaded bolt and nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: U.S. Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul R. Gray
  • Patent number: 6419173
    Abstract: A hammer comprising a hammer body. The hammer body comprises a rotor forming portion with a trailing and a leading edge and is capable of securement to a rotor, a tip support section capable of extending into a debris path, and a production pocket extending from the leading edge of the rotor portion also capable of extending into the debris path. The hammer also comprises a hammer tip secured to the tip section of the hammer body and at least partially shielded from the debris path by the production pocket of the hammer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: US Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul R. Gray
  • Patent number: 6311910
    Abstract: A hammer and rotor assembly for a size reducing machine. The rotor of the assembly comprises a drive shaft for rotating the assembly. The drive shaft includes a drive end and an outboard end, wherein the drive end secures to the drive motor of the size reducing machine. End plates secure the drive end and outboard ends of the drive shaft, and a center support also secures to the drive shaft. A rotor casing is secured to the end plates and the center support. The assembly includes a plurality of hammers having a hammer body with a rotor forming portion capable of securement to the rotor casing, a tip support portion extending into the debris path from the rotor forming portion of the hammer body. The hammer body also includes a production pocket. A rotatable hammer tip with a working edge and a protected edge is secured to the tip support section of the hammer body such that the hammer tip is at least partially shielded from the debris path by the production pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul R. Gray
  • Publication number: 20010006199
    Abstract: A hammer comprising a hammer body. The hammer body comprises a rotor forming portion with a trailing and a leading edge and is capable of securement to a rotor, a tip support section capable of extending into a debris path, and a production pocket extending from the leading edge of the rotor portion also capable of extending into the debris path. The hammer also comprises a hammer tip secured to the tip section of the hammer body and at least partially shielded from the debris path by the production pocket of the hammer body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: LORAN R. BALVANZ, PAUL R. GRAY
  • Patent number: 6142400
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for use with size reducing machines having a drive motor comprising a central shaft with a drive end for securement to the drive motor and an opposing outboard end. The rotor assembly also comprises a webbing engaged with the central shaft for supporting the rotor assembly, a rotor casing substantially seals the webbing, and a plurality of sockets secure to a plurality of casing throughbores. The webbing comprises a drive end plate secured to the central shaft with a bushing, an outboard end plate secured to the central shaft with a bushing, and a plurality of web support sockets aligned in two transversely aligned rows. The web socket plates each comprise two socket receiver channels for alignment with the sockets. Finally, a plurality of hammers releasably secure to the plurality of sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: US Manufacturing
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul Gray
  • Patent number: 6079649
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for use with size reducing machines having a drive motor comprising a central shaft with a drive end for securement to the drive motor and an opposing outboard end. The rotor assembly also comprises a webbing engaged with the central shaft for supporting the rotor assembly, a rotor casing substantially seals the webbing, and a plurality of sockets secure to a plurality of casing throughbores. The webbing comprises a drive end plate secured to the central shaft with a bushing, an outboard end plate secured to the central shaft with a bushing, and a plurality of web socket supports aligned in two transversely aligned rows. The web socket plates each comprise two socket receiver channels for alignment with the sockets. Finally, a plurality of hammers releasably secure to the plurality of sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: US Manufacturing
    Inventors: Loran R. Balvanz, Paul R. Gray