Paul W Carter

US Patent:

58788441, Mar 9, 1999

Filed:

Nov 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/747534

Inventors:

Paul T. Carter - Salt Lake City UT
Paul K. Gines - Kaysville UT

Assignee:

HK Systems, Inc. - New Berlin WI

International Classification:

B66F 920

US Classification:

187233

Abstract:

An automated guided vehicle for carrying a load comprises a mast, a lift carriage, a ball screw drive assembly and a ball screw joint. The ball screw drive assembly has a lift nut and a vertically oriented ball screw. The ball screw joint operatively couples the drive assembly to the lift carriage so as to transmit upward vertical forces from the drive assembly to the lift carriage. The ball screw joint includes first, second, third and fourth shafts which permit the lift nut to move in any horizontal direction and to pivot about any horizontal axis with respect to the lift carriage. As a result, the ball screw joint advantageously prevents the transmission of horizontal forces and angular moments between the ball screw and the lift nut, thereby reducing the wearing out effects of component misalignment on the ball screw assembly.

US Patent:

55396461, Jul 23, 1996

Filed:

Oct 26, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/143334

Inventors:

John A. M. Petersen - Centerville UT
Gary L. Whatcott - Salt Lake City UT
Paul Carter - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

HK Systems Inc. - Brookfield WI

International Classification:

G01C 2118
G06F 9455

US Classification:

364453

Abstract:

A low-cost solid state replacement circuit for an inertial platform with the resulting consequence of increased resolution, significantly reduced cost, and improved reliability and accuracy. The invention comprises no moving parts and permits the use of a strap-down angular rate sensor system which has a fixed orientation relative to an AGV on which the circuit is used. The invention creatively emulates encoder signals previously emanating from the inertial table through the use of a voltage controlled oscillator, a direction of turn determining circuit and an encoder emulator. Cabling which exists in current inertial tables does not need to be changed and information format previously used remains unchanged.

US Patent:

53261232, Jul 5, 1994

Filed:

Sep 3, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/940284

Inventors:

Vaughn W. Guest - Farmington UT
Paul T. Carter - Sandy UT

Assignee:

Eaton-Kenway Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

B62D 5312

US Classification:

280434

Abstract:

A connector assembly for interconnecting a vehicle and a trailer having a hitch element includes a gripper assembly which is operable to engage the hitch element. The gripper assembly includes a plurality of jaws which are pivotally connected with and are disposed in a circular array on a base. A rotatable ring circumscribes the circular array of jaws. A motor is connected with the ring and is operable to rotate the ring in a first direction to pivot the jaws toward each other. The motor is operable to rotate the ring in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, to pivot the jaws away from each other. The ring and jaws are interconnected by a plurality of links. The motor is connected with the ring by a drive chain. A hitch element detector detects when the hitch element is positioned in the gripper assembly.

US Patent:

56173202, Apr 1, 1997

Filed:

Apr 10, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/628557

Inventors:

John A. M. Petersen - Centerville UT
Gary L. Whatcott - Salt Lake City UT
Paul Carter - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

HK Systems, Inc. - New Berlin WI

International Classification:

G01C 2118
G06F 9455

US Classification:

364453

Abstract:

A low-cost solid state replacement circuit for an inertial platform with the resulting consequence of increased resolution, significantly reduced cost, and improved reliability and accuracy. The invention comprises no moving parts and permits the use of a strap-down angular rate sensor system which has a fixed orientation relative to an AGV on which the circuit is used. The invention creatively emulates encoder signals previously emanating from the inertial table through the use of a voltage controlled oscillator, a direction of turn determining circuit and an encoder emulator. Cabling which exists in current inertial tables does not need to be changed and information format previously used remains unchanged.