Patents by Inventor Robert Needham

Robert Needham 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).

  • Mining roof support system
    Patent number: 9206687
    Abstract: A support system for a mining roof includes a base, a cylinder coupled to the base and configured to extend and retract, a pivot mechanism coupled to the cylinder, a roof support beam coupled to the pivot mechanism and configured to contact a surface of the mining roof, wherein the roof support beam and the pivot mechanism are raised relative to the base when the cylinder is extended and lowered relative to the base when the cylinder is retracted, and a support structure coupled to the base on a first end and coupled to the pivot mechanism on a second end, the support structure being configured to limit movement of the roof support beam about an axis provided by the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC
    Inventor: Robert Needham
  • MINING ROOF SUPPORT SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20150300169
    Abstract: A support system for a mining roof includes a base, a cylinder coupled to the base and configured to extend and retract, a pivot mechanism coupled to the cylinder, a roof support beam coupled to the pivot mechanism and configured to contact a surface of the mining roof, wherein the roof support beam and the pivot mechanism are raised relative to the base when the cylinder is extended and lowered relative to the base when the cylinder is retracted, and a support structure coupled to the base on a first end and coupled to the pivot mechanism on a second end, the support structure being configured to limit movement of the roof support beam about an axis provided by the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventor: Robert Needham