Patents by Inventor Robert L. McNutt

Robert L. McNutt 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: 4730690
    Abstract: An arrangement for sensing an object relative to the side of a vehicle requires physical contact between the arrangement and the object. Therefore, mechanically operated object sensing arrangements are prone to damage, frequent malfunctions, and premature failure. An object sensing arrangement for identifying an object within a preselected minimum distance spaced from a first side of a vehicle has first reflective target movably connected to the first side at a location on the first side adjacent a first end portion, and a first connecting apparatus movably connects a first signaling apparatus to the first side at a first location on the first side adjacent a frame second end portion. The first signaling apparatus delivers a first signal to the first reflective target and receives a reflection of the first delivered signal from the first reflective target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Caterpillar Industrial Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. McNutt, John E. Wible
  • Patent number: 4706772
    Abstract: Detection systems for identifying an object in the path of a vehicle are affected by external interferences which render them unreliable. An oscillating scanner arrangement having first and second spaced apart transceiver assemblies is mounted on a frame of the work vehicle at spaced apart locations and are each pivotally movable between spaced apart angular positions. First and second devices pivotally connect the first and second transceiver assemblies respectively to the frame, and a power device reciprocally moves the first transceiver assembly between the first and second positions. A tie arrangement connects the first transceiver assembly to the second transceiver assembly and reciprocally moves the second transceiver assembly between the third and fourth positions. Thus, the problems related to external interference are solved in an efficient and economical manner. The oscillating scanner arrangement is particularly suited for use on a material handling vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Caterpillar Industrial Inc.
    Inventors: Ian J. Dawson, Robert L. McNutt
  • Patent number: D295105
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Caterpillar Industrial Inc.
    Inventors: Ian J. Dawson, Bernard E. Erlacher, Robert D. Higgins, John E. Wible, Robert L. McNutt