Patents by Inventor Terry M. Thomas
Terry M. Thomas 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).
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Patent number: 10144316Abstract: A mining shuttle car that trams on underground roadways includes a conveyor system and an operator's compartment adjacent to the conveyor system. The operator's compartment includes a rotatable seat and a control station. The operator's seat module is coupled to one or more joysticks that control the car, and the operator's seat module and the control station are mounted on a rotatable platform so as to be rotatable as a unit between a plurality of secured positions for operating the mining shuttle car. Forward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point in front of the seat, and rearward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point behind the seat. Forward and rearward movement of one of the joysticks steers the mining shuttle car in the same manner regardless of the rotational position of the rotational position of the seat.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLCInventors: Adam S. Peterson, Douglas F. Anderson, Terry M. Thomas, Darin M. Sutton, Randy Arnold
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Patent number: 9315325Abstract: A belt for a conveyor system generally includes a ribbon of elastomeric material and a plurality of reinforcing cords connected to the ribbon. The ribbon defines a central longitudinal axis and a pair of side edges extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least some of the cords have ends positioned between the longitudinal axis and a side edge.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Brian C. Ziegler
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Patent number: 9221651Abstract: A sheave bracket directs a trailing cable of a mining vehicle. The bracket is hingedly secured to the vehicle and includes a plate and a plurality of sheaves coupled to and extending from the plate. The sheaves are arranged to guide the cable. The sheave bracket also includes a force control mechanism movable between two positions to adjust tension in the cable. The force control mechanism dampens strain in the cable when the direction of the bracket is changed.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Brian J. Hoffman, Adam S. Peterson
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Publication number: 20150151655Abstract: A mining shuttle car that trams on underground roadways includes a conveyor system and an operator's compartment adjacent to the conveyor system. The operator's compartment includes a rotatable seat and a control station. The operator's seat module is coupled to one or more joysticks that control the car, and the operator's seat module and the control station are mounted on a rotatable platform so as to be rotatable as a unit between a plurality of secured positions for operating the mining shuttle car. Forward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point in front of the seat, and rearward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point behind the seat. Forward and rearward movement of one of the joysticks steers the mining shuttle car in the same manner regardless of the rotational position of the rotational position of the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2015Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Adam S. Peterson, Douglas F. Anderson, Terry M. Thomas, Darin M. Sutton, Randy Arnold
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Patent number: 8985263Abstract: A mining shuttle car that trams on underground roadways includes a conveyor system and an operator's compartment adjacent to the conveyor system. The operator's compartment includes a rotatable seat and a control station. The operator's seat module is coupled to one or more joysticks that control the car, and the operator's seat module and the control station are mounted on a rotatable platform so as to be rotatable as a unit between a plurality of secured positions for operating the mining shuttle car. Forward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point in front of the seat, and rearward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point behind the seat. Forward and rearward movement of one of the joysticks steers the mining shuttle car in the same manner regardless of the rotational position of the rotational position of the seat.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Adam S. Peterson, Douglas F. Anderson, Terry M. Thomas, Darin M. Sutton, Randy Arnold
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Patent number: 8989929Abstract: A device for reducing damage to an electric vehicle powered by a trailing cable, the device including an electric sensor for determining the mobile equipment's position relative to a hazard, and an electric controller responsive to the electrical means for operating a motor to change the operation of the electric vehicle to reduce the likelihood of adverse effects to the trailing cable if the electric vehicle's position is near the hazard.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Douglas F. Anderson, Darin M. Sutton, David K. Herdle, Phillip E. Smith
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Publication number: 20130306444Abstract: A belt for a conveyor system generally includes a ribbon of elastomeric material and a plurality of reinforcing cords connected to the ribbon. The ribbon defines a central longitudinal axis and a pair of side edges extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least some of the cords have ends positioned between the longitudinal axis and a side edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Brian C. Ziegler
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Publication number: 20120224941Abstract: A mining shuttle car that trams on underground roadways includes a conveyor system and an operator's compartment adjacent to the conveyor system. The operator's compartment includes a rotatable seat and a control station. The operator's seat module is coupled to one or more joysticks that control the car, and the operator's seat module and the control station are mounted on a rotatable platform so as to be rotatable as a unit between a plurality of secured positions for operating the mining shuttle car. Forward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point in front of the seat, and rearward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point behind the seat. Forward and rearward movement of one of the joysticks steers the mining shuttle car in the same manner regardless of the rotational position of the rotational position of the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Inventors: Adam S. Peterson, Douglas F. Anderson, Terry M. Thomas, Darin M. Sutton, Randy Arnold
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Publication number: 20110184597Abstract: A device for reducing damage to an electric vehicle powered by a trailing cable, the device including an electric sensor for determining the mobile equipment's position relative to a hazard, and an electric controller responsive to the electrical means for operating a motor to change the operation of the electric vehicle to reduce the likelihood of adverse effects to the trailing cable if the electric vehicle's position is near the hazard.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Douglas F. Anderson, Darin M. Sutton, David K. Herdle, Phillip E. Smith
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Patent number: 6729464Abstract: A conveying system for receiving and conveying material from a mobile material transporter adapted for travel on a floor, the conveying system comprising a main conveyor on the floor, and a main conveyor extension on the floor and having an upper surface. The main conveyor extension comprises a plurality of interconnected frame units, and means for supporting an endless conveyor belt on the interconnected frame units. The conveying system further includes an auxiliary conveyor in contact with and moveable over at least a part of the main conveyor extension upper surface. The auxiliary conveyor comprises a plurality of interconnected frame units identical to the frame units used in the main conveyor extension, means for supporting an endless conveyor belt on the auxiliary conveyor interconnected frame units, and means for driving the endless conveyor belt.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Thomas A Schwabenbauer, Lynn N. Wheatcraft
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Patent number: 6651804Abstract: A material conveying system capable of traversing a floor along a curvilinear path, the system comprising a plurality of framework members arranged in tandem on the surface along a portion of the path to form an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor train; and connector means on each framework member cooperate with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling the plurality of framework members, the connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members. The conveying system also includes a plurality of the framework members including a crawler chain assembly comprising a plurality of crawler chain pads interconnected by chain links to form an endless loop. The crawler chain assembly extends over a lower portion of each of the plurality of framework members wherein the crawler chain pads are maintained in engagement with the floor, and over an upper portion having an upper surface that supports the chain pads.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Gregory M. Chandler
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Publication number: 20030201150Abstract: A material conveying system capable of traversing a floor along a curvilinear path, the system comprising a plurality of framework members arranged in tandem on the surface along a portion of the path to form an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor train; and connector means on each framework member cooperate with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling the plurality of framework members, the connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members. The conveying system also includes a plurality of the framework members including a crawler chain assembly comprising a plurality of crawler chain pads interconnected by chain links to form an endless loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Gregory M. Chandler
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Publication number: 20030201151Abstract: A conveying system for receiving and conveying material from a mobile material transporter adapted for travel on a floor, the conveying system comprising a main conveyor on the floor, and a main conveyor extension on the floor and having an upper surface. The main conveyor extension comprises a plurality of interconnected frame units, and means for supporting an endless conveyor belt on the interconnected frame units. The conveying system further includes an auxiliary conveyor in contact with and moveable over at least a part of the main conveyor extension upper surface. The auxiliary conveyor comprises a plurality of interconnected frame units identical to the frame units used in the main conveyor extension, means for supporting an endless conveyor belt on the auxiliary conveyor interconnected frame units, and means for driving the endless conveyor belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Thomas A. Schwabenbauer, Lynn N. Wheatcraft
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Patent number: 5348130Abstract: An advanceable auxiliary conveying apparatus that comprises a trackway and an elevated roadway and conveying assembly movably attached to the trackway. The elevated roadway and conveying assembly is constructed to support a mobile conveyor thereon while receiving and conveying the material that is being discharged therefrom. An access ramp is movably attached to the elevated roadway and conveying assembly by at least one extendable cylinder that is used to advance the ramp away from the elevated roadway and conveying assembly. The elevated roadway and conveying assembly is equipped with elevation members that serve to elevate the elevated roadway and conveying assembly between a first elevated position wherein the trackway is suspended by the elevated roadway for advancement relative thereto and a second elevated position wherein the elevated roadway and conveying apparatus is movably supported on the trackway for advancement thereon.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1993Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventor: Terry M. Thomas
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Patent number: 5165766Abstract: A connection link for coupling together the first and second chain links of a tram chain normally used to propel mobile articulating mining conveyors. The first and second tram chain links are hooked through a "U"-shaped member and are captively held in a relatively static position by a retaining member. The ends of the "U"-shaped member are threaded and extend through the retaining member to engage corresponding fastening nuts to thereby enable the retaining member to be separated from the "U"-shaped member. A tram chain crawler pad, similarly adapted to engage the "U"-shaped member, may also serve as a retaining member.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1991Date of Patent: November 24, 1992Assignee: Joy Technologies Inc.Inventor: Terry M. Thomas
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Patent number: 4828339Abstract: An endless crawler chain capable of driving machinery across a surface. The endless crawler chain includes a plurality of first links interconnected with a plurality of second links to form the endless chain. Each of the second links has a pair of openings to accommodate adjacent first links. The openings allow the first links to move a predetermined amount in the longitudinal direction thereby allowing the chain to collapse while not under tension. The second links also include a pair of holes for rigidly attaching two halves of a crawler pad to each side of the second link. The entire crawler chain is so designed to be capable of being driven in an orbit to thereby propel the machinery across the surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1986Date of Patent: May 9, 1989Assignee: Joy Technologies Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Thomas, Joseph S. David