Patents by Inventor Steve C. Wiechmann

Steve C. Wiechmann 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: 9764360
    Abstract: A separator attachment for use with a vibratory apparatus, the attachment including a housing mountable to a vibratory apparatus below a material-conveying surface of the vibratory apparatus, the housing defining a pressure chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The housing has at least one wall with a wall surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end. The attachment also includes a deflector plate with a deflector plate surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end, the deflector plate surface facing the wall surface. The deflector plate is translatable relative to the at least one wall to vary the spacing between the deflector plate surface and the wall surface. A system including a vibratory apparatus and the attachment may also be defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 8881910
    Abstract: A system for sorting has an inlet end, a first separation section disposed downstream of the inlet end and including a fluidizing section and a hood disposed above the fluidizing section, a negative pressure developed adjacent the fluidizing section to draw a first class of materials into the hood, a second separation section disposed downstream of the first separation section and including an air knife and a dropout, a second class of materials passing through the air knife and into the dropout and a third class of materials passing over the dropout and through an outlet end, and a vibration generator coupled to the first separation section and the second separation section to convey material from the inlet end to the outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Richard H. Reeves, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 8602219
    Abstract: A system includes a vibratory apparatus with a housing having a floor with an opening and a chamber, a deck disposed in the chamber between the chamber inlet and the opening, a section of the deck having a plurality of apertures and a plenum defined beneath the deck section, and an air knife disposed between the deck section and the chamber outlet. The system includes an air handling system with a first path in communication with the plenum, a second path in communication with the air knife, a third path in communication with a space beneath the air knife, a fourth path in communication with the chamber above the deck between the inlet and the deck section, a return path from the outlet, and an air mover having an outlet in communication with the first, second, third, and fourth paths and an inlet in communication with the return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 8528846
    Abstract: A vibratory crushing apparatus includes at least one trough having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall defining a material-receiving space having a first cross-sectional area. The apparatus also includes at least one crusher disposed in the trough, the at least one crusher having an outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the wall about a circumference of the crusher, and a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area so as to define a gap between the outer surface of the at least one crusher and the inner surface of the wall. Further, the apparatus includes a vibration generator coupled to the at least one trough to cause material to move between the inlet end and the outlet end and to cause the at least one crusher to move relative to the wall of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Kempf, Tobin L. Imes, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20120261314
    Abstract: A system for sorting has an inlet end, a first separation section disposed downstream of the inlet end and including a fluidizing section and a hood disposed above the fluidizing section, a negative pressure developed adjacent the fluidizing section to draw a first class of materials into the hood, a second separation section disposed downstream of the first separation section and including an air knife and a dropout, a second class of materials passing through the air knife and into the dropout and a third class of materials passing over the dropout and through an outlet end, and a vibration generator coupled to the first separation section and the second separation section to convey material from the inlet end to the outlet end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Richard H. Reeves, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 7954644
    Abstract: A separator system may include a first trough having an inlet end, a downstream, outlet end and a trough floor, a first screen section supported in the trough spaced from the trough floor, the first screen section having a first end and a second downstream end, a material-retaining surface disposed at the downstream end of the first screen section, the material-retaining surface disposed at an angle relative to the first screen section to limit the movement of material across the first screen section, and a vibratory generator coupled to the trough. The separator system may alternatively or in addition include a gate disposed at the end of the screen section, the gate having a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel T. Lease, Dan Britton, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20110089278
    Abstract: A vibratory crushing apparatus includes at least one trough having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall defining a material-receiving space having a first cross-sectional area. The apparatus also includes at least one crusher disposed in the trough, the at least one crusher having an outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the wall about a circumference of the crusher, and a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area so as to define a gap between the outer surface of the at least one crusher and the inner surface of the wall. Further, the apparatus includes a vibration generator coupled to the at least one trough to cause material to move between the inlet end and the outlet end and to cause the at least one crusher to move relative to the wall of the trough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard P. Kempf, Tobin L. Imes, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20100177591
    Abstract: A system includes a vibratory apparatus with a housing having a floor with an opening and a chamber, a deck disposed in the chamber between the chamber inlet and the opening, a section of the deck having a plurality of apertures and a plenum defined beneath the deck section, and an air knife disposed between the deck section and the chamber outlet. The system includes an air handling system with a first path in communication with the plenum, a second path in communication with the air knife, a third path in communication with a space beneath the air knife, a fourth path in communication with the chamber above the deck between the inlet and the deck section, a return path from the outlet, and an air mover having an outlet in communication with the first, second, third, and fourth paths and an inlet in communication with the return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 7735653
    Abstract: An attrition mill for reclaiming foundry sand from deposited material having lumps of used foundry sand and included material includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving the lumps of used foundry sand and included material. A base is disposed within the housing and has an elevated end defining a reject outlet adjacent a reject end of the mill and a lower end, and a discharge wall is positioned adjacent the base lower end to define a sand outlet adjacent a sand end of the mill. A resilient support is attached to the housing, and a vibratory drive is attached to the housing and includes first and second eccentrically loaded motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Musschoot, William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20090211949
    Abstract: A separator system may include a first trough having an inlet end, a downstream, outlet end and a trough floor, a first screen section supported in the trough spaced from the trough floor, the first screen section having a first end and a second downstream end, a material-retaining surface disposed at the downstream end of the first screen section, the material-retaining surface disposed at an angle relative to the first screen section to limit the movement of material across the first screen section, and a vibratory generator coupled to the trough. The separator system may alternatively or in addition include a gate disposed at the end of the screen section, the gate having a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel T. Lease, Dan Britton, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20090178958
    Abstract: A separator attachment for use with a vibratory apparatus, the attachment including a housing mountable to a vibratory apparatus below a material-conveying surface of the vibratory apparatus, the housing defining a pressure chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The housing has at least one wall with a wall surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end. The attachment also includes a deflector plate with a deflector plate surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end, the deflector plate surface facing the wall surface. The deflector plate is translatable relative to the at least one wall to vary the spacing between the deflector plate surface and the wall surface. A system including a vibratory apparatus and the attachment may also be defined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20090126219
    Abstract: A system includes a container having a curved inner surface disposed about a generally horizontally extending longitudinal axis, the container having an input end and an axially-spaced output end opposite the input end, the container being mounted on a plurality of resilient members so as to be resiliently supported above a base. The curved inner surface is defined by at least one deck plate having a plurality of apertures to direct air tangential to the curved inner surface. The system also includes a vibration generator coupled to the container for producing a vibratory force to cause material within the container to be moved in a generally rising and falling path of rolling movement along the curved inner surface, and a fan coupled to a heater and to the plurality of apertures to pass heated air through the plurality of apertures. A method of drying material is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oscar Lee Mathis, JR., Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 7527153
    Abstract: A separator system may include a first trough having an inlet end, a downstream, outlet end and a trough floor, a first screen section supported in the trough spaced from the trough floor, the first screen section having a first end and a second downstream end, a material-retaining surface disposed at the downstream end of the first screen section, the material-retaining surface disposed at an angle relative to the first screen section to limit the movement of material across the first screen section, and a vibratory generator coupled to the trough. The separator system may alternatively or in addition include a gate disposed at the end of the screen section, the gate having a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel T. Lease, Dan Britton, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 7240800
    Abstract: An attrition mill for reclaiming foundry sand from deposited material having lumps of used foundry sand and included material includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving the lumps of used foundry sand and included material. A base is disposed within the housing and has an elevated end defining a reject outlet adjacent a reject end of the mill and a lower end, and a discharge wall is positioned adjacent the base lower end to define a sand outlet adjacent a sand end of the mill. A resilient support is attached to the housing, and a vibratory drive is attached to the housing and includes first and second eccentrically loaded motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Musschoot, William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20040069690
    Abstract: An attrition mill for reclaiming foundry sand from deposited material having lumps of used foundry sand and included material includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving the lumps of used foundry sand and included material. A base is disposed within the housing and has an elevated end defining a reject outlet adjacent a reject end of the mill and a lower end, and a discharge wall is positioned adjacent the base lower end to define a sand outlet adjacent a sand end of the mill. A resilient support is attached to the housing, and a vibratory drive is attached to the housing and includes first and second eccentrically loaded motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Paul R. Musschoot, William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann