Patents by Inventor William E. Cheek, JR.

William E. Cheek, JR. 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).

  • Tire buffing debris collecting system
    Patent number: 8523635
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for collecting debris generated during a tire buffing operation on a tire buffing machine, the tire buffing machine having a cutting head cutting surface rotatable about a cutting head axis. The system includes a rotatable shroud being rotatable about a shroud axis, the shroud comprising a side member surrounding a majority of the cutting head cutting surface, a cutting head access window to expose the cutting head for buffing the tire casing, and a vacuum suction port that is adjacent to the cutting head access window. The system may further include a driver to rotate the shroud during buffing, wherein rotating the shroud during buffing aligns the vacuum suction port with the projected path of debris being discharged from the cutting head cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Stephen Manuel, Robert Young, William E. Cheek, Jr.
  • TIRE BUFFING DEBRIS COLLECTING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100319732
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for collecting debris generated during a tire buffing operation on a tire buffing machine, the tire buffing machine having a cutting head cutting surface rotatable about a cutting head axis. The system includes a rotatable shroud being rotatable about a shroud axis, the shroud comprising a side member surrounding a majority of the cutting head cutting surface, a cutting head access window to expose the cutting head for buffing the tire casing, and a vacuum suction port that is adjacent to the cutting head access window. The system may further include a driver to rotate the shroud during buffing, wherein rotating the shroud during buffing aligns the vacuum suction port with the projected path of debris being discharged from the cutting head cutting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Stephen Manuel, Robert Young, William E. Cheek, JR.