Patents by Inventor Todd A. Lutz

Todd A. Lutz 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: 8899627
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a mobile machine, such as hydronic surface heater designed to be transported to a potentially remote worksite and operated for an extended period of time. The machine has a fueled component, such as a burner, fueled by a fuel supply system having at least two fuel tanks that are operably connected to one another by a connection line having an electronically controlled valve therein. The valve is coupled to the machine's electrical system, such as being coupled to the output of the machine's main breaker, so as to be opened whenever the machine is operating but to be otherwise closed. The fuel supply system thus has, in effect, a single tank when the machine is running and multiple separated tanks when the machine is not running. Fuel spill risks therefore are mitigated without having to sacrifice operating time and without significantly complicating the machine's fuel supply systems or its controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLC
    Inventors: Paul Krause, Jason Fu, John Lane, Todd Lutz
  • Publication number: 20120180778
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a mobile machine, such as hydronic surface heater designed to be transported to a potentially remote worksite and operated for an extended period of time. The machine has a fueled component, such as a burner, fueled by a fuel supply system having at least two fuel tanks that are operably connected to one another by a connection line having an electronically controlled valve therein. The valve is coupled to the machine's electrical system, such as being coupled to the output of the machine's main breaker, so as to be opened whenever the machine is operating but to be otherwise closed. The fuel supply system thus has, in effect, a single tank when the machine is running and multiple separated tanks when the machine is not running. Fuel spill risks therefore are mitigated without having to sacrifice operating time and without significantly complicating the machine's fuel supply systems or its controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Krause, Jason Fu, John Lane, Todd Lutz
  • Publication number: 20060006369
    Abstract: A method is provided of making and using a walk behind rotary trowel that is “dynamically balanced” so as to minimize the forces/torque that the operator must endure to control and guide the trowel. Characteristics that are accounted for by this method include, but are not limited to, friction, engine torque, machine center of gravity, and guide handle position. As a result, dynamic balancing and consequent force/torque reduction were found to result when the machine's center of gravity was shifted substantially relative to a typical machine's center of gravity. Dynamic balancing can be achieved most practically by reversing the orientation of the engine relative to the guide handle assembly when compared to traditional walk behind rotary trowels and shifting the engine as far as practical to the right. This shifting has been found to reduce the operational forces and torque the operator must endure by at least 50% when compared to traditional machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Todd Lutz, Gregory Kruepke, Darrin Dauffenbach, Richard Goldberg
  • Publication number: 20050169707
    Abstract: A portable vibratory screed machine is configured with a vibration restraint operable to reduce undesirable vibration of the engine and to extend the life of the engine. The portable vibratory screed machine includes a machine frame having a reference structure. The machine further includes an engine mounted on the reference structure via a mount that surrounds a drive shaft that is driven by the engine's output. A vibratory assembly remotely located from the engine is powered by the engine to vibrate a screed plate. The vibration restraint directly couples the engine housing to the reference structure at a location that is spaced apart from the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventor: Todd Lutz
  • Publication number: 20050100404
    Abstract: A walk behind rotary trowel is configured to be “dynamically balanced” so as to minimize the forces/torque that the operator must endure to control and guide the trowel. Characteristics that are accounted for by this design include, but are not limited to, friction, engine torque, machine center of gravity, and guide handle position. As a result, dynamic balancing and consequent force/torque reduction were found to result when the machine's center of gravity was shifted substantially relative to a typical machine's center of gravity. Dynamic balancing can be achieved most practically by reversing the orientation of the engine relative to the guide handle assembly when compared to traditional walk behind rotary trowels and shifting the engine as far as practical to the right. This shifting has been found to reduce the operational forces and torque the operator must endure by at least 50% when compared to traditional machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Todd Lutz, Gregory Kruepke, Darrin Dauffenbach, Richard Goldberg
  • Publication number: 20050076298
    Abstract: Printing a print job on an image producing device by storing print data from the print job to an external storage device, retrieving the print data from the external storage device to the image producing device, and generating an image for the print job using the image producing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventor: Todd Lutz
  • Publication number: 20030184794
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for supporting a network device. In one arrangement, the system and method pertain to establishing a network connection, communicating with a code source via the network, downloading operating code from the code source via the network, and booting using the downloaded operating code. In another arrangement, the system and method pertain to receiving a communication from the network device requesting operating code, determining which operating code to provide to the network device, and downloading operating code to the network device via the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Gary Stringham, Todd A. Lutz
  • Patent number: 5993109
    Abstract: A power trowel incorporates a counterbalanced blade pitch adjust assembly that is relatively easy to manufacture and to install (and hence that can be retrofitted onto an existing power trowel machine) and that is easy to operate. The blade pitch adjust assembly includes 1) a blade pitch adjustment mechanism, 2) a pivotable control lever assembly that is coupled to the adjustment mechanism by a cable or other tension element, and 3) a counterbalancing mechanism such as a torsion spring. The counterbalancing mechanism imposes a force on the control lever assembly that is significantly lower than the resistive force imposed on the control lever assembly by the tension element to avoid potentially dangerous control lever snap-back and to provide the operator with a sense of feel as he or she adjusts blade pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Wacker Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Motl, Ronald R. Sartler, Todd Lutz, Darin Noyes