Patents Examined by Jean Charleston
  • Patent number: 9663164
    Abstract: An undercarriage system for a tracked work vehicle is provided that includes a tensioning system configured to provide tension to a continuous track. Additionally, the undercarriage system includes an undercarriage beam having a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is located on an upper face of the undercarriage beam and is configured to enable insertion of the tensioning system inside a cavity of the undercarriage beam. The second opening is located at one longitudinal end of the undercarriage beam and is configured to enable a portion of the tensioning system to extend through the second opening. Furthermore, the tensioning system pivotably couples to an idler wheel via a pivot assembly, and the idler wheel is configured to engage the continuous track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Vik, Daniel J. Zurn
  • Patent number: 9656705
    Abstract: A track roller for a mobile machine is disclosed. The track roller may have a shaft defining a central axis, and a roller body connected to the shaft and configured to rotate around the central axis relative to the shaft. The track roller may also have a sealing member positioned between the shaft and the roller body, and a collar member secured to the shaft and at least partially covering the sealing member. A passageway having an opening may be defined between the collar member and the roller body. The track roller may further have a guard member secured to the shaft, the guard member having a main body and an upper rim extending from the main body towards the roller body. The guard member may also have a plurality of projections extending from the main body towards the roller body, and a plurality of openings formed between the upper rim and the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Donald John Kalmes, Allen Jay Weeks, Connor John Haas, Timothy Richard Hoyt
  • Patent number: 9656706
    Abstract: A drive sprocket for driving a track of a tracked vehicle is provided. The drive sprocket includes an interior ring, an exterior ring, and an intermediate ring situated between the interior ring and the exterior ring. The interior ring, exterior ring, and intermediate ring are oriented in a substantially spaced-apart manner, each of the rings have an outer peripheral surface. A plurality of rods is attached to the rings adjacent to the outer peripheral surface thereof. The interior, exterior, and intermediate rings have a substantially “U” or “J” shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Jimmy N. Eavenson, Sr., Peter Joseph Buchanan
  • Patent number: 9650091
    Abstract: A crawler track includes a link and is driven in a direction of travel by a sprocket having a plurality of teeth. The link includes a pad, a first grouser, and a second grouser. The pad defines a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end, and a second end spaced apart from the first end along the direction of travel. The pad defines at least one opening extending through the pad between the first surface and the second surface, and the opening is operable to receive a sprocket tooth. The first grouser is positioned on the first surface proximate the first end of the pad, while the second grouser is positioned on the first surface proximate the second end of the pad. The first grouser and the second grouser extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 9636944
    Abstract: An irrigation wheel traction lug, comprising a lug having a bent-paddle, a base and a one or more chains. Said bent-paddle comprises a first side, a second side and a front portion. Said bent paddle comprises a substantially “V” shape when viewed from above. Said first side and said second side flare backward away from a front portion of said base portion toward a rear edge. and Said lug selectively attaching to an irrigation wheel, having a tread pattern and a rim, by placing said base on said treat pattern, wrapping said one or more chains around said irrigation wheel between said rim and said tread pattern, and securing said lug to said irrigation wheel with said base and said one or more chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Joey Woolley
  • Patent number: 9636947
    Abstract: A bicycle axle assembly has a nut, a main body member and an adjustment structure. The nut includes a bore having an internal thread. The main body member includes a nut bore. The nut is disposed in the nut bore. The adjustment structure adjustably couples the nut to move axially with respect to the main body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano (Singapore) PTE. LTD
    Inventor: Puat Thiam Lim
  • Patent number: 9636946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure and a method for coupling a wheel bearing that include a wheel hub for mounting a vehicle wheel, a hollow inner ring press-fitted into an end portion of the wheel hub, an annular outer ring disposed at a radial exterior of the wheel hub and the inner ring, and rolling elements disposed between the wheel hub or the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the wheel hub and the inner ring are splined to each other and the inner ring and the joint member are coupled through facial spline. According to the present invention, driving torque of a constant velocity joint may be stably delivered to the wheel hub and noise may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: IL JIN GLOBAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jae Myeong Song, Hee Jae Yoon, Sangji Bang
  • Patent number: 9636954
    Abstract: A tire pressure maintenance device is shown and described. The tire pressure maintenance device may include a sensor mechanism configured to detect at least one predetermined condition of a vehicle. The tire pressure maintenance device may also include a control mechanism operatively coupled with the sensor mechanism, the control mechanism applying a predetermined pressure to a tire of the vehicle in response to the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Servitech Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Therber, Clyde Stech
  • Patent number: 9630448
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft wheel comprising a rim and a tire (20) received on the rim, the rim comprising two parts (1; 2) assembled with one another by means of assembly bolts (5), one of the parts comprising a recess (3) in which is arranged a seal (4) which is interposed between the two parts, the wheel being characterized in that at least one of the parts comprises at least one duct (6) extending beneath the seal so as to establish a leakage path between on one hand a volume of gas delimited by the rim and the tire, and on the other hand a space between the parts, the path being nominally closed by the seal when the bolts are tightened correctly but allowing gas to leak from said volume when the bolt associated with said opening is not tightened correctly or is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Xavier Delayre, Yohann Mazan
  • Patent number: 9618125
    Abstract: A connector (1) for transferring a fluid or for applying a pneumatic pressure from an inlet conduit (2) to an outlet conduit (3) that may rotate with respect to the inlet conduit (2), in which the connector (1) comprises a rotating shaft (17) defining the outlet conduit (3) therein, which has an inlet opening (70), said rotating shaft (17) defining a rotational axis (S-S) and comprising a sealing disc (19) extending radially from said rotating shaft; an insertion chamber (5) to which said inlet conduit (2) is sealingly securable, said chamber leading towards said inlet opening (70) of the outlet conduit (3); at least one first cylinder-piston unit (100) comprising a cylinder (9) and a piston (21) slidable in said cylinder (9), said piston (21) having a sealing surface (22) facing the sealing disc (19), and said cylinder (9) being fluidically connected or connectable to said insertion chamber (5); said piston (21) being configured to be selectively actuated between a sealing position in which the sealing surfa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ANKOL EOOD
    Inventor: Andrey Atanasov Kolakov
  • Patent number: 9616705
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a rim, or a rim of a vehicle wheel, is provided wherein the rim consists of a fiber-reinforced plastic material in the form of several layers of a fiber-reinforced semi-finished plastic product. The layers are shaped to form a finished component in a press while heat is supplied. The rim conventionally consists of a rim well, whose two sides are adjoined by a rim shoulder, which transitions into a rim flange. The rim well is formed by several layers of a base laminate, which extends to the rim flange, between which layers further layers are inserted in the area of the rim shoulder as well as of the rim flange. The further layers have an essentially tangential fiber alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, BBS Motorsport GmbH, Kringlan Composites AG
    Inventors: Hubert Burlefinger, Markus Tomasini, Niccolo Pini, Roman Mueller
  • Patent number: 9616703
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an attachment body (11) attached to an axle, an inner tubular body (12) fitted onto the attachment body (11) from the outside, an outer tubular body (13) configured to surround the inner tubular body (12) from the outside in a tire radial direction, and a plurality of connecting members (15) disposed between the inner tubular body (12) and the outer tubular body (13) in a tire circumferential direction and configured to connect both of the tubular bodies (12) and (13) while maintaining relative elastic displacement therebetween, wherein at least one of an outer circumferential section of the attachment body (11) and an inner circumferential section of the inner tubular body (12) that are locked to each other is inclined throughout the circumference in the tire circumferential direction from the outside toward the inside in a tire radial direction as it goes from both of the outsides toward the inside in a tire width direction (H), and is formed in a V shape when seen in a cross-s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Nishida, Akihiko Abe
  • Patent number: 9604496
    Abstract: A customizable tire rim includes an outer housing capable of being attached to an existing vehicle wheel, a spinning rim portion in rotational communication with an inner wall of the outer housing, and an interchangeable central hub cap in rotational communication with the spinning rim portion. Advantageously, the interchangeable central hub cap is removably attached to the spinning rim portion in such a manner that the interchangeable central hub cap remains stationary relative to a first rotational movement of the spinning rim portion as well as a second rotational movement of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Pedro Velasco
  • Patent number: 9604682
    Abstract: A track system for use as a wheel replacement on typically wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The track system comprises a drive wheel configured to be mounted to the vehicle, a support frame, front and rear idler wheels respectively pivotally mounted at the front and at the rear of the support frame, road wheels pivotally mounted along the support frame between the front and read idler wheels, and an endless track mounted about the wheels. The position of the front and/or rear idler wheels is adjustable in order to modify the overall shape of the perimeter of the track system generally defined by the endless track, thereby changing the riding behavior of the track system. A method to change the position of the adjustable idler wheels is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SOUCY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Louis-Frédéric Marchildon, Martin Bellemare
  • Patent number: 9604681
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The second link may include a sealing portion surrounding an axial end of the axial end portion. The sealing portion may include material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
  • Patent number: 9604509
    Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly includes a hub, which is mounted on a cylindrical axle body so that it can rotate about a central longitudinal axis, and an axially inner and an axially outer shaft sealing ring for indirect or direct sealing between the axle body and the hub. In order to enable an autonomous feed of pressure medium into a vehicle tire, the vehicle axle assembly includes an annular chamber that is formed between the two shaft sealing rings, the axle body and the hub, a first pressure medium line that extends through the axle body or one of the two shaft sealing rings and opens out into the annular chamber, and a second pressure medium line that extends out of the annular chamber through the hub and is designed to be connected to a wheel that is secured on the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GV ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventor: Konstantinos Tsiberidis
  • Patent number: 9592865
    Abstract: A track assembly is disclosed for use with a mobile machine. The track assembly may have a plurality of crawler shoes. Each of the plurality of crawler shoes may include a ground engaging surface and first and second pairs of links laterally spaced apart on a side opposite the ground engaging surface. The track assembly may also have a first pin connecting the first pair of links of each of the plurality of crawler shoes to form a first continuous chain, and a second pin connecting the second pair of links of each of the plurality of crawler shoes to form a second continuous chain. The track assembly may further have a drive wheel having dual sprockets configured to simultaneously engage the first and second continuous chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Ellmann
  • Patent number: 9586438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for a wheel rim of a wheel, more particularly for a wheel rim of an alloy wheel for motor vehicles, wherein the wheel rim has a rim inner well, which merges into a rim inner flange that is arranged facing a motor vehicle when the wheel is mounted, and as a result, the wheel rim has an uninterrupted contoured section on the axially inner side. The invention, the rim inner flange can be sealed in the axial direction (a) by means of the cover. The invention further relates to a wheel, particularly having such a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: BBS GMBH
    Inventor: Joerg Wurft
  • Patent number: 9579927
    Abstract: A multidirectional wheel for traversing a surface that includes at least one hub is provided. The hub defines a first axial direction of rotation. A plurality of rollers are disposed around an outer periphery of the hub. The rollers are mounted for rotation in a second axial direction that is at an angle to the first axial direction. The wheel includes at least one magnet that is mounted to the hub. The hub is made of a magnetically inducible material that concentrates the flux of the at least one magnet toward the surface being traversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Brian Parrott, Pablo Eduardo Carrasco Zanini Gonzalez, Ali Outa, Fadl Abdel Latif, Hassane Trigui
  • Patent number: 9573414
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a vehicle wheel (1) comprising a rim (2) for receiving a tire at its radially outer side (3) and provided with an edge along the circumferential of the rim at its radially inner side, a wheel hub connected to the rim via a support element, wherein the material of the rim and the support element are different, the support element provided with openings at its end facing the rim to receive a connecting element, the edge of the rim provided with openings in line with the openings of the support element and wherein the support element is connected to the rim via the connecting elements present in the openings in the edge and in the openings of the support element, wherein the opening in the edge is a radial elongated opening or is a indentation in the edge or the openings in the support element are radially elongated openings or indentations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Louis Huidekoper