Patents by Inventor Nathan Weckerly

Nathan Weckerly 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).

  • Coupling between a steerable wheel and a housing in a vehicle wheel unit
    Patent number: 12472770
    Abstract: A wheel unit for a vehicle includes a main housing configured to be coupled to a chassis of the vehicle, the main housing including first and second control arms. A transmission housing includes a body having first and second protrusions extending from the body, the first protrusion partially defining a first cavity that receives a portion of the first control arm, and the second protrusion partially defining a second cavity that receives a portion of the second control arm. A first pin is coupled between the first protrusion of the transmission housing and the first control arm of the main housing. A second pin is coupled between the second protrusion of the transmission housing and the second control arm of the main housing, the first and second pins defining a steering axis. The transmission housing is pivotably coupled to the main housing about the steering axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC
    Inventors: Jianjun Han, Nathan Weckerly
  • COUPLING BETWEEN A STEERABLE WHEEL AND A HOUSING IN A VEHICLE WHEEL UNIT
    Publication number: 20230382160
    Abstract: A wheel unit for a vehicle includes a main housing configured to be coupled to a chassis of the vehicle, the main housing including first and second control arms. A transmission housing includes a body having first and second protrusions extending from the body, the first protrusion partially defining a first cavity that receives a portion of the first control arm, and the second protrusion partially defining a second cavity that receives a portion of the second control arm. A first pin is coupled between the first protrusion of the transmission housing and the first control arm of the main housing. A second pin is coupled between the second protrusion of the transmission housing and the second control arm of the main housing, the first and second pins defining a steering axis. The transmission housing is pivotably coupled to the main housing about the steering axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Jianjun Han, Nathan Weckerly