Patents by Inventor William C. Schafer

William C. Schafer 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: 7997849
    Abstract: A grain bag unloader is described for unloading grain from a grain bag wherein the unloader is moved rearwardly and operated by a tractor. The grain bag unloader includes a wheeled frame having a grain hopper at the rearward end thereof with a transversely extending unloading auger which is adapted to be inserted into the lower end of a field grain bag and which conveys grain from the grain bag into the grain hopper. The grain bag unloader also includes a discharge auger which extends upwardly and laterally from the grain hopper. The grain bag unloader also includes a grain bag winder tube. The grain unloader includes a first clutch which is able to disengage the operation of the unloading auger while permitting the discharge auger to continue to operate. The grain bag unloader also includes a second clutch which is designed to disengage the bag winder tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Terry B. Twiestmeyer, Steven C. Hood, William C. Schafer
  • Patent number: 7850107
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a tree cutting attachment for a skid loader. The rotor assembly is made up of a central driven shaft journaled for rotation in the frame of the tree cutting attachment. Circular endplates are disposed proximately on the opposed ends of the central driven shaft. Two diametrically opposed rows of regularly spaced-apart semicircular support plates extend between the circular end plates. The semicircular support plates are held in parallel-spaced relationship by a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced bars extending between the endplates. Swinging hammers are mounted for free pivotal movement in an alternating pattern between the support plates. Each hammer includes a main shaft extending between the support plates, a body member pivotally connected to the main shaft at the pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the central driven shaft and a generally flat tooth member extending radially outward from the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Loftness Specialized Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20100147984
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a tree cutting attachment for a skid loader. The rotor assembly is made up of a central driven shaft journaled for rotation in the frame of the tree cutting attachment. Circular endplates are disposed proximately on the opposed ends of the central driven shaft. Two diametrically opposed rows of regularly spaced-apart semicircular support plates extend between the circular end plates. The semicircular support plates are held in parallel-spaced relationship by a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced bars extending between the endplates. Swinging hammers are mounted for free pivotal movement in an alternating pattern between the support plates. Each hammer includes a main shaft extending between the support plates, a body member pivotally connected to the main shaft at the pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the central driven shaft and a generally flat tooth member extending radially outward from the body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Loftness Specialized Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Schafer
  • Patent number: 7096900
    Abstract: A tree cutting attachment for a skid loader or other types of self-propelled work vehicles to be used at construction and landscaping sites. The device is used to cut down brush and trees of up to about 12 inches in diameter. The tree cutting attachment is made up of a motor driven rotor assembly which is journaled within a frame of the attachment. The rotor assembly comprises a cage-like mounting system having pockets in which tempered steel blades, approximately ten inches in width are bolted in a side-by-side relation. Two rows of blades are mounted 180 degrees apart proximate the periphery of a rotor comprised of a series of parallel, generally circular plates that are welded to longitudinally extending rods. The knife blade elements are bolted to the blade holders with the non-sharpened end of the blade elements abutting a flat steel bar that forms part of the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Loftness Specialized Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Schafer
  • Patent number: 7025147
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it. One embodiment includes the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder along with upper and lower holders having wedge members also with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section. In this embodiment the drill pipe and wedge members can be rotatable with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Oil & Gas Rental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Burt A. Adams, William C. Schafer, Norman A. Henry
  • Patent number: 6871485
    Abstract: A tree cutting attachment for a skid loader or other types of self-propelled work vehicles to be used at construction and landscaping sites. The device is used to cut down brush and trees of up to 8-10 inches in diameter. The tree cutting attachment is made up of a motor driven rotor assembly which is journaled within the frame of the attachment. The rotor assembly comprises a cage-like mounting system having pockets in which tempered steel blades, approximately 6 inches in width are bolted in a side-by-side relation. Two rows of blades are mounted 180 degrees apart proximate the periphery of a rotor comprised of a series of parallel, generally circular plates that are welded to longitudinally extending rods. The knife blade elements are bolted to the blade holders with the non-sharpened end of the blade elements abutting a flat steel bar that forms part of the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Loftness Specialized Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040244869
    Abstract: A tree cutting attachment for a skid loader or other types of self-propelled work vehicles to be used at construction and landscaping sites. The device is used to cut down brush and trees of up to about 12 inches in diameter. The tree cutting attachment is made up of a motor driven rotor assembly which is journaled within a frame of the attachment. The rotor assembly comprises a cage-like mounting system having pockets in which tempered steel blades, approximately ten inches in width are bolted in a side-by-side relation. Two rows of blades are mounted 180 degrees apart proximate the periphery of a rotor comprised of a series of parallel, generally circular plates that are welded to longitudinally extending rods. The knife blade elements are bolted to the blade holders with the non-sharpened end of the blade elements abutting a flat steel bar that forms part of the cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Loftness Specialized Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040244350
    Abstract: A tree cutting attachment for a skid loader or other types of self-propelled work vehicles to be used at construction and landscaping sites. The device is used to cut down brush and trees of up to 8-10 inches in diameter. The tree cutting attachment is made up of a motor driven rotor assembly which is journaled within the frame of the attachment. The rotor assembly comprises a cage-like mounting system having pockets in which tempered steel blades, approximately 6 inches in width are bolted in a side-by-side relation. Two rows of blades are mounted 180 degrees apart proximate the periphery of a rotor comprised of a series of parallel, generally circular plates that are welded to longitudinally extending rods. The knife blade elements are bolted to the blade holders with the non-sharpened end of the blade elements abutting a flat steel bar that forms part of the cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Loftness Specialized Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040074647
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it through the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder, in combination with upper and lower holders having wedge members with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section, the shoulder of the drill pipe and the shoulders of the wedge members being rotatable with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Burt A. Adams, William C. Schafer, Norman A. Henry