Patents by Inventor Ralph Whitley

Ralph Whitley 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).

  • Publication number: 20170045132
    Abstract: A gearbox housing assembly includes a base plate, a metal inner gearbox housing coupled to the base plate and a polymer outer gearbox housing on the base plate and surrounding the inner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventor: Ralph Whitley
  • Patent number: 9551412
    Abstract: A gearbox housing assembly includes a base plate, a metal inner gearbox housing coupled to the base plate and a polymer outer gearbox housing on the base plate and surrounding the inner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: JD Components, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph Whitley
  • Patent number: 9371731
    Abstract: A highwall mining equipment extraction and retrieval apparatus and method is disclosed. It includes remotely operable hydraulic cylinders fixed to the mining head and stabilizing arms which brace the mining platform against the face of a mine. Wire ropes extend from hydraulic cylinders, through channels in the pushbeams, through lockable blocks fixed to the mining platform, and onto storage spools. The hydraulic cylinders operate from an extended to a retracted position. When a mine collapse occurs, an operator can remotely actuate the lockable blocks and the hydraulic cylinders, thereby locking the wire rope to the platform and pulling the mining head and pushbeams towards the platform. If the obstruction remains, the locking blocks can be unlocked, the hydraulic cylinders extended from the retracted position, the excess wire rope pulled from the mine, and the process can then be repeated until the equipment is free from the obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Highwall Mining Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Whitley, Dave Bundy
  • Patent number: 9039056
    Abstract: A clamp for a tensile implement and method of clamping a tensile implement is disclosed. The clamp is portable and adaptable to different sizes of tensile implements. The clamp includes a cavity defined by side surfaces of a pair of blocks which are attached to a top surface of a grip base. A pair of mated reciprocal wedges, selected based on size of the tensile implement from a plurality of pairs of wedges, fits and slides within the cavity in order to grip the tensile implement. Each one of the wedges has a planar surface for sliding and a semi-cylindrical void which forms a cylindrical void through which the tensile implement passes when fully clamped around the tensile implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Highwall Mining Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph Whitley
  • Publication number: 20150001911
    Abstract: A highwall mining equipment extraction and retrieval apparatus and method is disclosed. It includes remotely operable hydraulic cylinders fixed to the mining head and stabilizing arms which brace the mining platform against the face of a mine. Wire ropes extend from hydraulic cylinders, through channels in the pushbeams, through lockable blocks fixed to the mining platform, and onto storage spools. The hydraulic cylinders operate from an extended to a retracted position. When a mine collapse occurs, an operator can remotely actuate the lockable blocks and the hydraulic cylinders, thereby locking the wire rope to the platform and pulling the mining head and pushbeams towards the platform. If the obstruction remains, the locking blocks can be unlocked, the hydraulic cylinders extended from the retracted position, the excess wire rope pulled from the mine, and the process can then be repeated until the equipment is free from the obstruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Ralph Whitley, Dave Bundy
  • Patent number: 8857916
    Abstract: A highwall mining equipment extraction and retrieval apparatus and method is disclosed. It includes remotely operable hydraulic cylinders fixed to the mining head and stabilizing arms which brace the mining platform against the face of a mine. Wire ropes extend from hydraulic cylinders, through channels in the pushbeams, through lockable blocks fixed to the mining platform, and onto storage spools. The hydraulic cylinders operate from an extended to a retracted position. When a mine collapse occurs, an operator can remotely actuate the lockable blocks and the hydraulic cylinders, thereby locking the wire rope to the platform and pulling the mining head and pushbeams towards the platform. If the obstruction remains, the locking blocks can be unlocked, the hydraulic cylinders extended from the retracted position, the excess wire rope pulled from the mine, and the process can then be repeated until the equipment is free from the obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Highwall Mining Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Whitley, Dave Bundy
  • Publication number: 20140259542
    Abstract: A clamp for a tensile implement and method of clamping a tensile implement is disclosed. The clamp is portable and adaptable to different sizes of tensile implements. The clamp includes a cavity defined by side surfaces of a pair of blocks which are attached to a top surface of a grip base. A pair of mated reciprocal wedges, selected based on size of the tensile implement from a plurality of pairs of wedges, fits and slides within the cavity in order to grip the tensile implement. Each one of the wedges has a planar surface for sliding and a semi-cylindrical void which forms a cylindrical void through which the tensile implement passes when fully clamped around the tensile implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Highwall Mining Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph Whitley
  • Publication number: 20060237602
    Abstract: A one-piece conveyor flange adapter designed for hollow bore, direct drive configurations. A dual flange casting has two opposite flanges machined and bored to attach between a mounting plate on an electric motor speed reducer housing and a similar mounting plate on a conveyor drive frame. The adapter has a large central axial opening between the two parallel plates, through which a rotating drive shaft extends. The adapter is bolted in place between the speed reducer housing and the conveyor drive frame. The flange adapter has a base mounted on the speed reducer. The outer cruciform flange mounts directly on the conveyor frame with two or four bolt connections. The conveyor drive shaft fits through the opening and connects to gears inside the reducer. Alternatively, the reducer has an output shaft that extends through the opening and directly connects to the conveyor drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Ralph Whitley, Gene Dickey, Philip Green, Dan O'Donell, Eric Ayers, Larry Vollmar