Patents by Inventor Randy E. Schoepke

Randy E. Schoepke 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: 8807669
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of a vehicle, such as a landfill compactor, are disclosed. The apparatus may include a wheel having a rim from which radially extend a plurality of cleats or tips. A subset of tips may be provided circumferentially around a laterally inner edge of the wheel. A wheel guard may be mounted between adjacent pairs of tips of the subset. Each wheel guard may be welded to the rim and to the adjacent pairs of tips. Each wheel guard may be a unitary piece of metal, or could be provided in two or more segment so as to be adjustable and thus facilitate use on wheels of differing diameters, or with different tip spacing. The wheel guards and adjacent tips form a continuous barrier around the circumference of the wheel to prevent debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of the compactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
  • Patent number: 8496402
    Abstract: A compactor wheel tip for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a bottom wall having a wheel engaging surface, a top wall having a ground engaging surface, oppositely disposed front and rear walls having concave surfaces, and oppositely disposed side walls. The ground engaging surface of the top wall may be generally planar and have a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section, or the top wall may define a pair of shoulders each extending inwardly from one of the side walls, and a rib extending between the shoulders and having a depth that is less than the depth of shoulders. The ground engaging surface may further define a pair of exterior pockets disposed on opposite sides of the rib and extending downwardly between the rib and corresponding portions of the front and rear walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
  • Patent number: 8449218
    Abstract: A compactor wheel tip assembly for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a base with a tip attached thereto. A base engaging surface of the tip and a tip engaging surface of the base face and abut when the tip is attached to the base. The tip and base engaging surfaces may have corresponding geometries so that the tip may be attached the base in either a forward and rearward traction position or a side-slop traction position. The tip may include pocket walls having concave surfaces, and a ground engaging surface of a top wall that may be generally planar with a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section or may define a pair of shoulders, a rib extending between the shoulders, and exterior pockets disposed on either side of the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
  • Publication number: 20130025890
    Abstract: A compactor, compactor wheel and compactor wheel tip are disclosed. The shape of the tips substantially prevent refuse from packing in the round of the tips. More specifically, tips having relatively flat or constant side surfaces may lend themselves to adherence of moist or malleable refuse. However, by providing the plurality of surface facets and varying dimensions, angular dispositions and shapes of the surface facets, this ability of the refuse to pack in and around the tips is greatly reduced. Moreover, by providing the plurality of surface facets and side surfaces with the inclusion of shoulders and sharp edges therebetween, the ability of the tip to sever or otherwise destroy the refuse being compacted is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Randy E. Schoepke, Michael H. Hinrichsen
  • Publication number: 20120003041
    Abstract: A compactor wheel tip for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a bottom wall having a wheel engaging surface, a top wall having a ground engaging surface, oppositely disposed front and rear walls having concave surfaces, and oppositely disposed side walls. The ground engaging surface of the top wall may be generally planar and have a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section, or the top wall may define a pair of shoulders each extending inwardly from one of the side walls, and a rib extending between the shoulders and having a depth that is less than the depth of shoulders. The ground engaging surface may further define a pair of exterior pockets disposed on opposite sides of the rib and extending downwardly between the rib and corresponding portions of the front and rear walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
  • Publication number: 20120003042
    Abstract: A compactor wheel tip assembly for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a base with a tip attached thereto. A base engaging surface of the tip and a tip engaging surface of the base face and abut when the tip is attached to the base. The tip and base engaging surfaces may have corresponding geometries so that the tip may be attached the base in either a forward and rearward traction position or a side-slop traction position. The tip may include pocket walls having concave surfaces, and a ground engaging surface of a top wall that may be generally planar with a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section or may define a pair of shoulders, a rib extending between the shoulders, and exterior pockets disposed on either side of the rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
  • Publication number: 20110227398
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of a vehicle, such as a landfill compactor, are disclosed. The apparatus may include a wheel having a rim from which radially extend a plurality of cleats or tips. A subset of tips may be provided circumferentially around a laterally inner edge of the wheel. A wheel guard may be mounted between adjacent pairs of tips of the subset. Each wheel guard may be welded to the rim and to the adjacent pairs of tips. Each wheel guard may be a unitary piece of metal, or could be provided in two or more segment so as to be adjustable and thus facilitate use on wheels of differing diameters, or with different tip spacing. The wheel guards and adjacent tips form a continuous barrier around the circumference of the wheel to prevent debris from accessing and wrapping around the axles of the compactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC
    Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke
  • Patent number: D654513
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. McPhail, Michael Hans Hinrichsen, Randy E. Schoepke