Patents by Inventor Richard W. Gilman

Richard W. Gilman 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: 9884722
    Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back towards a correct travel path are provided. The apparatus and method both utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for directing or steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. In this manner, the tilting of the idler roller is not mechanically coupled to the downstream shifting of the roller end portion allowing the belt tracking apparatus herein to be bi-directional for use with conveyor belts that may be run in opposite travel directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Patent number: 9845198
    Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back towards a correct travel path are provided. The apparatus and method both utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for directing or steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. In this manner, the tilting of the idler roller is not mechanically coupled to the downstream shifting of the roller end portion allowing the belt tracking apparatus herein to be bi-directional for use with conveyor belts that may be run in opposite travel directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Patent number: 9586765
    Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner is provided having a removable cleaner assembly that may be easily connected and disconnected from an elongate support member. The cleaner assembly includes one or more scraper blades mounted to an angle bar, an interface between the blades and the angle bar, and an interface between the blades and the support member. The blades have bodies that cover or surround the interfaces and reduce the likelihood of debris entering the interfaces and binding the blades to the angle bar and/or the support member. The cleaner further includes a securing mechanism with a pair of clamps for clamping the angle bar against seats of the elongate support. The clamps cause the angle bar to hold a base portion of the blades against the support member which permits the blade base portions to transmit loading from the conveyor belt directly to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Marcus L. Krosschell, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Publication number: 20160264358
    Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back towards a correct travel path are provided. The apparatus and method both utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for directing or steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. In this manner, the tilting of the idler roller is not mechanically coupled to the downstream shifting of the roller end portion allowing the belt tracking apparatus herein to be bi-directional for use with conveyor belts that may be run in opposite travel directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Patent number: 9346622
    Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back towards a correct travel path are provided. The apparatus and method both utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for directing or steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. In this manner, the tilting of the idler roller is not mechanically coupled to the downstream shifting of the roller end portion allowing the belt tracking apparatus herein to be bi-directional for use with conveyor belts that may be run in opposite travel directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Publication number: 20150360880
    Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner is provided having a removable cleaner assembly that may be easily connected and disconnected from an elongate support member. The cleaner assembly includes one or more scraper blades mounted to an angle bar, an interface between the blades and the angle bar, and an interface between the blades and the support member. The blades have bodies that cover or surround the interfaces and reduce the likelihood of debris entering the interfaces and binding the blades to the angle bar and/or the support member. The cleaner further includes a securing mechanism with a pair of clamps for clamping the angle bar against seats of the elongate support. The clamps cause the angle bar to hold a base portion of the blades against the support member which permits the blade base portions to transmit loading from the conveyor belt directly to the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus L. Krosschell, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Patent number: 9085419
    Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that has an insertion device for ease in installing an elongate cartridge assembly carrying belt cleaner assemblies onto an elongate support extending across a conveyor belt in an operative position thereon. In one form, an elongate lever handle pivotally connected to the elongate cartridge assembly can be used to generate a leveraged insertion force, preferably by an operator that does not need to reach into the operating envelope of the conveyor system, e.g. beyond tensioning mechanisms or under the belt. The handle and the cartridge assembly can have an over-center locking mechanism therebetween for providing the operator tactile feedback as to when pivoting of the lever handle has caused the cartridge assembly to be shifted to its operative position on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Gregory Lee Westphall, Richard W. Gilman
  • Publication number: 20140283358
    Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that has an insertion device for ease in installing an elongate cartridge assembly carrying belt cleaner assemblies onto an elongate support extending across a conveyor belt in an operative position thereon. In one form, an elongate lever handle pivotally connected to the elongate cartridge assembly can be used to generate a leveraged insertion force, preferably by an operator that does not need to reach into the operating envelope of the conveyor system, e.g. beyond tensioning mechanisms or under the belt. The handle and the cartridge assembly can have an over-center locking mechanism therebetween for providing the operator tactile feedback as to when pivoting of the lever handle has caused the cartridge assembly to be shifted to its operative position on the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Gregory Lee Westphall, Richard W. Gilman
  • Patent number: 8757360
    Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that has an insertion device for ease in installing an elongate cartridge assembly carrying belt cleaner assemblies onto an elongate support extending across a conveyor belt in an operative position thereon. In one form, an elongate lever handle pivotally connected to the elongate cartridge assembly can be used to generate a leveraged insertion force, preferably by an operator that does not need to reach into the operating envelope of the conveyor system, e.g. beyond tensioning mechanisms or under the belt. The handle and the cartridge assembly can have an over center locking mechanism therebetween for providing the operator tactile feedback as to when pivoting of the lever handle has caused the cartridge assembly to be shifted to its operative position on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Gregory Lee Westphall, Richard W. Gilman
  • Publication number: 20130284565
    Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back towards a correct travel path are provided. The apparatus and method both utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for directing or steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. In this manner, the tilting of the idler roller is not mechanically coupled to the downstream shifting of the roller end portion allowing the belt tracking apparatus herein to be bi-directional for use with conveyor belts that may be run in opposite travel directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Publication number: 20110203904
    Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that has an insertion device for ease in installing an elongate cartridge assembly carrying belt cleaner assemblies onto an elongate support extending across a conveyor belt in an operative position thereon. In one form, an elongate lever handle pivotally connected to the elongate cartridge assembly can be used to generate a leveraged insertion force, preferably by an operator that does not need to reach into the operating envelope of the conveyor system, e.g, beyond tensioning mechanisms or under the belt. The handle and the cartridge assembly can have an over center locking mechanism therebetween for providing the operator tactile feedback as to when pivoting of the lever handle has caused the cartridge assembly to be shifted to its operative position on the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Gregory Lee Westphall, Richard W. Gilman
  • Patent number: 7815040
    Abstract: Impact bed assemblies are provided, both static and dynamic, for absorbing impact forces taken by conveyor belts. The static and dynamic bed assemblies generally are constructed to optimize their impact absorption capacities while minimizing their space requirements under the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Publication number: 20090294257
    Abstract: Impact bed assemblies are provided, both static and dynamic, for absorbing impact forces taken by conveyor belts. The static and dynamic bed assemblies generally are constructed to optimize their impact absorption capacities while minimizing their space requirements under the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman