Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Ackermann

Stephen J. Ackermann 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: 4650207
    Abstract: A retainer assembly retains a pair of connecting pins in place within a drawbar arrangement. The connecting pins connect various draft implements to the drawbar and hold the drawbar in a preselected angular position. The retainer assembly provides easy connection of the pins to, or removal from, the drawbar while maintaining the pins in a secured working position. The retainer assembly includes a retainer plate which is spring loaded and is easily manipulated from a first position in which the pins are covered and constrained, and a second position in which the pins are vertically unconstrained. Previous pin retainers for drawbar arrangements used various means to lock or retain a pin in a coupled position, including keys, detents, screw threads, etc. Such previous pin retainers were cumbersome and generally required considerable time and effort to unlock and remove the pin. A worker generally needed to use two hands to couple or release the locking pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Ackermann