Patents by Inventor Michael Heitkamp

Michael Heitkamp 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: 7544037
    Abstract: A pallet clamping device is mounted between forks of a material handling vehicle. The device clamps to a stringer of a pallet using a pair of horizontally moveable jaws. The jaws are resiliently forced toward one another for clamping a stringer so that a clamped pallet will not move off the forks. The jaws are mounted for pivoting and sliding motion relative to mounting pins which, together with links coupling the jaws to a base of the device, tighten jaw closure if a pallet moves away from the forks. The pivoting and sliding motion of the jaws helps align the jaws with pallets not perfectly aligned with the vehicle. Depression of a foot pedal moves the jaws from a closed position to a latched open position for receiving a pallet stringer. The jaws can also be moved to an unlatched open position for receiving a greater width center stringer. Upon release of the operating device from the unlatched open position, the jaws move toward their closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Forrest A. Haverfield, Patrick A. Soder, Douglas W. Meyers, Michael A. Heitkamp
  • Publication number: 20070014654
    Abstract: A pallet clamping device is mounted between forks of a material handling vehicle. The device clamps to a stringer of a pallet using a pair of horizontally moveable jaws. The jaws are resiliently forced toward one another for clamping a stringer so that a clamped pallet will not move off the forks. The jaws are mounted for pivoting and sliding motion relative to mounting pins which, together with links coupling the jaws to a base of the device, tighten jaw closure if a pallet moves away from the forks. The pivoting and sliding motion of the jaws helps align the jaws with pallets not perfectly aligned with the vehicle. Depression of a foot pedal moves the jaws from a closed position to a latched open position for receiving a pallet stringer. The jaws can also be moved to an unlatched open position for receiving a greater width center stringer. Upon release of the operating device from the unlatched open position, the jaws move toward their closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Forrest Haverfield, Patrick Soder, Douglas Meyers, Michael Heitkamp
  • Publication number: 20030087422
    Abstract: Pure bacterial cultures for the production of formylphosphonic acid (FPA) by the oxidation of hydroxymethylphosphonic acid (HMPA) are provided. The cultures can be used to bioremediate HMPA contaminated wastewater or soil, or can be used to produce biogenic FPA for subsequent use. The production of glyphosate from biogenic FPA is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Monsanto Technology LLC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Heitkamp, B. Mason Hughes, Shekhar Viswanath
  • Patent number: 6045700
    Abstract: A method for reducing the toxicity, bioaccumulation and concentration of chemicals in surface water sediments and water using a retrievable organic carbon scavenger is disclosed. The scavenger is comprised of a porous polymeric material, optionally containing an adsorbent such as activated carbon, and may exist in the form of beads, sheets, fibers, netting or other similar forms. The material is placed in contact with the sediment, toxic compounds are absorbed from the sediment, and may be retrieved for regeneration or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Solutia Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Heitkamp, Richard A. Kimerle
  • Patent number: 5980738
    Abstract: Porous biosupports for the support of microorganisms which are used in the biotreatment of an aqueous waste stream comprising a polymeric material and, optionally, fiber reinforcement, adsorbent material and/or inorganic filler wherein the biosupport has a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water and pores of sufficient diameter to enable microorganisms to readily colonize within the pores, a process for preparing same, and processes for biodegrading an aqueous waste stream containing organic contaminants utilizing the porous biosupports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Monsanta Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Heitkamp, George C. Stow
  • Patent number: 5540840
    Abstract: A method for treatment of a liquid waste stream having an undesirably high COD and comprising water and a concentration of organic nitrogen compounds of at least about 300 mg/l total kjedahl nitrogen is disclosed. According to the method, the liquid waste stream is oxygenated to produce an oxygenated liquid containing water, dissolved oxygen and the organic nitrogen compounds and the oxygenated liquid is passed through a fluidized bed reactor containing a fluidized bed of particulate solids supporting microorganisms capable of biodegrading the organic nitrogen compounds, thereby to subject the organic nitrogen compounds in the oxygenated liquid to aerobic microbial degradation and to produce an effluent containing water, ammonia and carbon dioxide, and the fluidized bed reactor contents and the effluent is maintained at a pH in the range of from about 6 to about 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Heitkamp, M. Joan Brackin, Daniel E. Steinmeyer
  • Patent number: 5288635
    Abstract: A process is provided for the degradation of N-phosphonomethylglycine. A mixed culture of microorganisms (ATCC 55050) is attached to an inert, immobile support, and then contacted with an aqueous solution of N-phosphonomethylglycine for a sufficient time to degrade the N-phosphonomethylglycine. One of the microorganisms in the mixed culture was identified as Moraxella anatipestifer (ATCC 55051).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: William J. Adams, Laurence E. Hallas, Michael A. Heitkamp